The Meaning of Life

Two years passed like a gentle stream, slipping away without a sound.

It was now Year 47 of Konoha, the year of the Third Shinobi World War.

Over those two years, the ninja world had changed unpredictably, with upheavals rising one after another and many unforeseen events occurring in succession.

The Third Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village had mysteriously vanished during an inspection trip, throwing the entire village into panic.

To find their highly respected Kazekage, the Hidden Sand Village mobilized a large number of ninja and organized an unprecedented search operation.

However, as the investigation deepened, all signs pointed toward the Hidden Leaf Village, as though a storm shrouded in dark clouds was about to descend.

As these events escalated, they ultimately became the fuse that ignited the Third Shinobi World War, once again dragging the ninja into endless conflict and bloodshed.

At that moment, on the border battlefield between Konoha and the Hidden Stone Village, smoke filled the air, thick with the stench of rust and scorched earth.

Uchiha Fugaku, the clan leader, watched with a piercing gaze.

Although Uchiha Feng possessed memories of his previous life, the wreckage-strewn battlefield made him deeply uncomfortable. His gaze drifted among the ninja corpses scattered across the ground, and his heart could not settle.

Those lives that had once been so vibrant had now become cold corpses. At that moment, the boundary between life and death seemed incomparably blurred. Blood stained the earth red, and the brutality of battle pierced deep into his soul.

So this was the cruelty of a shinobi world war...

Uchiha Itachi, meanwhile, wore a grave expression, complex emotions flickering in his eyes.

[Name] Uchiha Feng.

[Bloodline Limit] Mangekyo Sharingan (+) (Amplification) (Left Eye: Soul Flame; Right Eye: Void).

[Special Bloodline] Uchiha Bloodline.

[Attributes] Yin (+); Yang (+); Fire (+); Water (+); Wind (+); Lightning (+); Earth (+).

[Ninjutsu] Clone Technique (+); Transformation Technique (+); Substitution Technique (+); Body Flicker Technique (+); Fire Release—Great Fireball Technique (+); Fire Release—Majestic Destroyer Flame (+); Fire Release—Majestic Annihilation Flame (+).

[Evolution Points] 2 points.

Excitement surged through Uchiha Feng's heart in an instant. It had been a full two years.

His heartbeat quickened, and wild joy flooded his heart. "Eternal Mangekyo, here I come! Hahahaha..." His voice brimmed with uncontrollable excitement and fervor.

Uchiha Fugaku silently watched his son, complicated emotions flickering in his eyes.

"This is the cruelty of shinobi war." He took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "The reason I brought you here was so you could witness this world's darkness and cruelty with your own eyes. You are both my sons. You must grow up as quickly as possible if you wish to survive in the world to come."

Suddenly, as if driven by the heat of battle, Uchiha Feng activated the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing from where he stood and leaping into the air.

His body dove downward through the sky, his gaze firm as blazing fighting spirit ignited within him.

"Fire Release—Majestic Annihilation Flame!" he roared. With his cry, endless flames descended like a colossal dragon, sweeping toward the corpses below. The searing blaze devoured everything, turning the battlefield into a sea of fire.

The sight greatly shocked Uchiha Fugaku, who marveled inwardly.

After all, Uchiha Feng was only five years old. Yet at such a young age, he could perform such a powerful Fire Release ninjutsu. He was a genius among geniuses, a monster among monsters.

He felt proud of his son's talent, yet he also secretly worried about the road ahead of him. Those people in the village...

Before long, the corpses that had once covered the devastated battlefield had been burned to nothing but ash. A faint smell of charred flesh hung in the air, sickening to the stomach.

Uchiha Feng raised his head toward the sky, his brows furrowing slightly as he muttered, "There were too many corpses. Seeing such a horrific sight really affects one's mood... It was better to burn them all."

Uchiha Itachi stood quietly at his side, a hint of stubbornness and resolve in his eyes. "Brother, let's go back," he said softly. There was a trace of reluctance in his words, yet they were filled with firm determination.

When they returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound, the surrounding peace brought them a measure of comfort.

Uchiha Itachi looked at his brother beside him, an indescribable emotion rising in his heart. At last, he gathered his courage and spoke. "Brother, I want to ask you something."

Uchiha Feng turned his head, a trace of amusement flashing through his eyes. With a chuckle, he said, "Go ahead, little brother." His slightly relaxed tone seemed intended to ease the heavy atmosphere.

Uchiha Itachi took a deep breath, his gaze becoming exceptionally serious. "There are such frequent wars between the major ninja villages, and ninja constantly lose their lives in battle. What is the meaning of all this?"

His words revealed his deep contemplation of war and life, as though he were seeking some truth beyond bloodshed and violence.

Uchiha Feng pondered for a moment, then gently wrapped an arm around Uchiha Itachi's shoulders. In that instant, the closeness between them seemed even deeper and warmer.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering mottled patches of light and shadow, as though it too were quietly listening to their conversation.

"Hehe, little brother! How could you ask such a profound question?" Uchiha Feng's voice carried a hint of teasing, while concern glimmered in his eyes, as though he wanted to use a lighter tone to ease the weight on Itachi's heart.

Uchiha Itachi frowned slightly, a trace of contemplation in his eyes. "But those ninja who died in battle... what was the meaning of their lives?"

His words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into the depths of the heart and forcing one to reflect.

"Everyone must face death in the end. Whether they die in battle, of old age, or from illness, what difference does it make?" Uchiha Feng narrowed his eyes slightly and shook his head, helplessness in his tone. "A hundred years from now, all life will return to dust. Why care about the way they died?"

Though his voice was light, the philosophy contained within it invited deep thought, as though reminding Itachi that the meaning of life perhaps did not lie in how one died, but in how one cherished every moment in the present.

Uchiha Itachi fell into thought again, his gaze passing through the sky beyond the window as though considering a deeper meaning. He spoke slowly. "Since everyone will ultimately walk toward death, what is the meaning of living? Is it merely for endless war and slaughter?"

"Of course not for war. There are countless beautiful things in life worth pursuing, such as delicious food, drinking to one's heart's content, and even those ordinary yet thrilling pleasures! Though some things are not praised by society, the exhilaration felt amid that excitement is what truly makes life intoxicating!" Uchiha Feng's lips curled into an amused smile. "Simply put, four words—eat, drink, play, and enjoy!"