First Class Assembles

Uchiha Itachi naturally received the order from the Third Hokage.

However, he was also a member of the Uchiha clan, and Uchiha Fugaku had told him to "look after" Ryosuke.

Having already read the stone tablet beneath the shrine, Uchiha Itachi naturally understood Uchiha Fugaku's intentions.

But as a middleman caught between the three forces of Konoha, the Uchiha, and Madara, he felt a glimmer of hope for his otherwise bleak life after meeting Ryosuke.

Therefore, he wanted to test whether Ryosuke was the person he was looking for.

If Ryosuke knew that a nine-year-old child could possess such depth of character, he would likely be startled himself.

Ryosuke returned home, took off the forehead protector from his arm, and placed it on his bedside table.

"The first goal has been achieved; the next step is to start performing ninja missions."

"This way, I can maximize the system's utility to increase my strength, while also avoiding the Uchiha clan's night of slaughter at the appropriate time."

"But it seems that to leave the village for missions, I need a team leader, right?"

While pondering these questions, Ryosuke drifted off to sleep.

"Wait, why can't I move my body? Is it the Shadow Possession Technique? No, I don't feel any binding sensation; it's more like my control over my body has been seized."

"Could it be a genjutsu?"

In his sleep, Ryosuke suddenly sensed an abnormality in his body.

He wanted to open his eyes and use the Sharingan to dispel the abnormal state, but he found himself unable to do so.

[Ding, B-rank ninjutsu Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique detected and recorded.]

It really was a genjutsu, and a B-rank one at that; it seemed he had encountered an expert.

He had only ever seen Itachi use the Sharingan to reflect this technique, but that was still too difficult for Ryosuke.

There were actually many genjutsu-type ninjas who knew this technique, but how could the intruder have infiltrated the Uchiha clan's compound?

What about the Uchiha clan's guards?

Damn it, a bunch of useless fools.

Or could it be that Konoha had already begun the purge of the Uchiha clan ahead of schedule?

Had he inadvertently influenced the world line again?

But how could he not have realized it at all?

That didn't seem right either; to counter the Sharingan, one could only use the Sharingan.

It was precisely for this reason that Danzo and Obito had chosen Itachi.

But Itachi was only nine years old now and was incapable of carrying out the massacre.

What on earth was going on?

"Lightning Release: Sandamurei!"

In the critical situation, Ryosuke silently cast the strongest ninjutsu he had plundered.

Countless blue electric arcs exploded within the room.

And the first to bear the brunt was Ryosuke himself.

A tingling pain surged through his body.

This pain allowed him to break free from the genjutsu.

He immediately used Sonido to appear at the doorway, a kunai in his hand.

His two-tomoe Sharingan activated instantly, and he cast the Pesquisa skill.

He saw a dark figure crouching on his windowsill.

A pair of scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan were looking at Ryosuke with curiosity.

"Not bad. To be able to break a genjutsu in such a way, it seems you have a certain understanding of it."

Before the voice had even faded, the figure on the windowsill appeared instantly by Ryosuke's side.

A hand rested on his shoulder.

Ryosuke's Sharingan had failed to capture the opponent's movement.

Fortunately, the other party did not seem to have any malicious intent.

"Who are you?"

Although he had judged through his Sharingan that the person was a member of the Uchiha clan, he knew very few people from the clan.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Shisui, Uchiha Shisui, and I am the teacher of the first squad you have been assigned to."

"Shisui? The first squad?"

A look of surprise appeared on Ryosuke's face.

He had not expected Shisui to be his teacher.

At this time, the legend of "Shisui of the Body Flicker" was no less formidable than that of the "Yellow Flash."

Had Shisui not been only fourteen years old, and a member of the Uchiha clan, he would likely have been the more probable candidate for the next Hokage.

"Then, just now?"

"That was merely a test for you. I wanted to see what level a genius who has only attended the Ninja Academy for three days is truly at."

Shisui revealed a warm smile.

Ryosuke nearly fell for it, but he immediately reminded himself.

Shisui, much like the Third Hokage, was a pacifist.

It was precisely because of this that, despite possessing the Uchiha clan's strongest genjutsu, "Kotoamatsukami," he still had his eye stolen by Danzo.

It was also because of the tragedies of Shisui and Itachi.

That made Ryosuke feel that Konoha was not as reliable as it appeared on the surface.

Of course, the primary reason was also that he himself was born into the Uchiha clan.

"Then when do we begin executing missions?"

Ryosuke asked directly.

"Are you in such a hurry? We still need to undergo a period of training."

Shisui said.

"Training for what?"

"Naturally, training your survival capabilities in combat. You must know that the mortality rate for novice ninja is the highest, and I have seen enough death. That is why not a single person has been injured or killed in the two graduating classes I have led."

Shisui explained.

Shisui had experienced the Third Shinobi World War, and it was during that time that "Shisui of the Body Flicker" spread throughout the ninja world.

That was why he longed for peace even more.

Ryosuke nodded silently, saying nothing.

Perhaps he could record more ninjutsu from this man.

However, he was also somewhat worried about his super genjutsu, "Kotoamatsukami." He wouldn't use that move on him, would he?

I shouldn't be worth that much, and besides, that move requires over a decade of chakra to accumulate; it wouldn't be triggered lightly.

If the Uchiha incident this time could not be avoided, then at the very least, Shisui's eyes must not fall into the hands of others.

Ryosuke made a secret resolution in his heart.

"Do you want to continue sleeping, or would you like to grab a meal with me? We can also take the opportunity to meet your other two teammates."

Shisui extended an invitation to Ryosuke.

The corners of Ryosuke's mouth twitched; he had completely forgotten about that.

But when he thought about how there were only four other students who graduated from the Ninja Academy this time, his other two teammates wouldn't be chosen from among them, would they?

If he were placed in a squad with that Nara kid, he was truly worried he wouldn't be able to stop himself from killing him.

Although he felt some hesitation, he still put on his clothes and left the house with Shisui.

Because the Uchiha clan lived far from the main village of Konoha, they had their own small market street.

Although it was late at night, it had no effect on the people of the Uchiha clan.

The two arrived at a barbecue restaurant. The owner simply nodded upon seeing them; it seemed they had already been notified.

"This is the place. Let's go in."

Shisui slid open a door and said to Ryosuke.

Inside, a boy and a girl, both around ten years old, stared toward them with their Sharingan activated.

They were both children of the Uchiha clan?

Ryosuke breathed a sigh of relief.

However, he had absolutely no impression of these two. It seemed they were just two extras who died on the night of the clan's annihilation.