Year 56 of Konoha.
Downstream from the Naka River.
Uchiha Zhengye was hiding in a tree with the brothers Uchiha Inabi and Uchiha Tekka, watching the cliff above.
"Zhengye, is the day of change you mentioned today?"
Zhengye calmly watched the cliff and gave a slight nod. "This is the most critical turning point for the Uchiha."
"Whether the Uchiha can turn things around or slowly fade away depends on today."
Inabi and Tekka exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in the other's eyes.
Ever since Zhengye had been injured two months ago, he seemed like a different person.
He had been a neutral party, but had directly thrown in his lot with their hardliners.
After several unsuccessful attempts to persuade Fugaku, he had made the shocking claim that "Fugaku will lead the Uchiha to the grave."
Although Fugaku had stripped Zhengye of his clan duties, his standing among the hardliners had risen considerably.
Uchiha Yashiro, an elder of the Uchiha Clan, especially admired Zhengye and had told Inabi and Tekka to get closer to him.
Today, Zhengye had sought the two of them out and told them that the Uchiha's day of change was coming. He had brought them here to wait.
Though they were puzzled, they had the patience expected of shinobi.
A translucent panel appeared in front of Zhengye, scrolling with blood-red text:
[System Alert: Historical Event Begins: Uchiha Shisui's Suicide.]
Zhengye had been here for two months.
Though this body's parents were both dead and he was all alone, the clan had shown him kindness. Naturally, he didn't want the Uchiha Clan to perish.
Besides, what was the point of transmigrating if he didn't make a few waves?
Zhengye had planned to gather some people and help as many as possible escape during the Clan Massacre Night two years from now. He hadn't expected a system to show up.
With a cheat, Zhengye wasn't planning to run away anymore.
If they were going down, they'd go down fighting—starting today!
Naruto was five now, which meant it had been five years since the Nine-Tails Attack.
Though the Uchiha had moved to the outskirts of Konoha, countless people were still causing them trouble.
Uchiha Fugaku, their clan head, was indecisive with his own people and let the Konoha F4 lead him around by the nose.
After sending Itachi into ANBU, he spent every day dreaming of a bloodless revolution. He was arrogant and stubborn, refusing to listen to anyone's advice.
And today, Uchiha Shisui—the Uchiha's biggest pushover—had his eye gouged out by Danzo. Instead of using the chance to confront Konoha, he was planning to kill himself to buy time.
He was throwing away the Uchiha's only chance to turn things around.
His death would put all the pressure on Itachi, who was only eleven years old.
Two years from now, thirteen-year-old Itachi would be brainwashed into serving Konoha and turn his blade against his own people.
Even though Zhengye knew the story in advance, he still wasn't confident about facing Itachi with his Mangekyō Sharingan, Danzo's Root, and Obito, who would come later.
Thankfully, fate hadn't abandoned Zhengye. The system had arrived.
He, Zhengye, would rewrite everything today!
[Fate Turning Reincarnation System loaded.] Current lottery draws: 0 "Sever the old cycle. Begin a new destiny." Core rules of "Fate Turning Reincarnation": ① Change fate --For every person whose predetermined fate you change, gain 3 lottery draws. ② Earn recognition --When an important character recognizes you and is sincerely convinced, gain 1 lottery draw. ③ Recruit subordinates --When you formally bring a character who recognizes you into your faction, gain 2 additional lottery draws. ④ Historical events --Change the outcome of a famous event to earn extra rewards based on the extent of the change. The lottery pool contains: attribute points, ninjutsu scrolls, bloodline experiences, legendary ninja tools, development resources... and even opportunities to change the fate of a clan. Every choice you make rewrites the cycle.
Zhengye's eyes swept over the system interface, but his attention was drawn to the two figures on the cliff.
"They're here!"
"The Uchiha coup can no longer be stopped. If a civil war breaks out in Konoha, the other nations will surely take advantage of it and invade. War is inevitable."
"I wanted to use Kotoamatsukami to stop the coup, but I never expected Danzo to take my right eye. He never trusted me."
Blood streamed from Uchiha Shisui's right eye, and pain twisted his face.
"He'll sacrifice anything to protect the village in his own way."
"My left eye is probably a target too. Before that happens, I'm entrusting this eye to you."
Shisui reached up, removed his own eye, and handed it to Itachi.
"You're the only one I can trust with this... my friend."
"You must protect this village and the Uchiha name."
"If I die, things will surely change. I've already written a letter..."
"Don't stop me, Itachi. Not if you're my friend."
With that, Shisui fell backward without hesitation, plunging toward the Naka River...
Seeing Shisui plummet, Uchiha Itachi cried out in anguish!
"Shisui!!!"
Overwhelming grief surged through Itachi. His pupils contracted violently, and the three tomoe spun faster and faster—
Until they joined together, becoming a new, sharp, three-pointed pinwheel pattern.
The Naka River cliff stood a hundred meters above the water.
Even if Shisui landed in the river, he would surely die.
But Zhengye and the others were already waiting below. Inabi and Tekka leaped into the air.
As elite Jōnin, they pushed off the cliff wall twice and easily caught Shisui in their arms.
They landed safely on the riverbank below.
They laid Shisui on the ground and saw that both his eyes had been gouged out and his body was covered in blood. He had clearly been through a fierce battle.
For a member of the Uchiha Clan, having a Sharingan stolen was an especially grave offense.
And Shisui was one of the clan's renowned experts!
"Zhengye, what happened!?" Shisui was unconscious, but his life wasn't in danger.
Inabi and Tekka couldn't help asking Zhengye.
Zhengye let out an exasperated snort but crouched down to examine Shisui's injuries.
"Treat him first. Someone else is coming down. I'll explain everything then."
Footsteps sounded. Itachi, looking somewhat exhausted, ran down along the cliff face.
He had just awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan and had nearly passed out.
"Shisui! Shisui!"
When he reached the bottom, he found that Zhengye, Inabi, and Tekka had already rescued Shisui and laid him on the ground.
Itachi felt both joy and shock. "You... how are you here...?"
He was glad Shisui had been saved, but shocked that Zhengye, Tekka, and Inabi seemed to have known all this would happen.
Though Inabi and Tekka disliked Itachi, who was usually so arrogant, they had no desire to talk to him just then.
They simply gave a cold snort in reply.
Shisui groaned and woke up. "I... didn't die?"
Zhengye said, exasperated:
"Shisui, you coward. You actually tried to kill yourself. Didn't I tell you to watch out for Danzo? And you still let him take your eyes."
"Danzo!?" Inabi's pupils contracted. "Danzo took Shisui's eyes?!"
Tekka clenched his fists until they cracked, and his Sharingan activated without him realizing it.
"Zhengye, what's going on? How do you know all this?"
Zhengye didn't answer right away. He first bandaged the wounds around Shisui's eyes, then said gravely:
"That's not the important part. The important thing is that the Uchiha are already on the edge of a cliff."
Hearing Zhengye's voice, Shisui gave a bitter laugh through his bloodied eyes.
"Is that you, Zhengye? I'm sorry to disappoint you, but only my death can change the situation in the clan."
Zhengye was so furious he laughed.
"Idiot! Do you know that your death will lead to the Uchiha Clan's destruction!?"
"What...!?"
Before you continue