Battle Space Opens

Of course, as someone who had crossed into this world, Uchiha Yi had a cheat of his own. When he learned that Kagami Uchiha had died and the shock awakened his Sharingan, his cheat activated too.

It was nothing complicated: a Battle Space. Each month, it randomly generated five virtual opponents. Defeating one would grant Uchiha Yi a random ability from that opponent—perhaps a ninjutsu, a bloodline, or a talent.

If the Battle Space had allowed him to choose his opponents, Uchiha Yi would have challenged Kaguya Ōtsutsuki as a newborn over and over. Even if he failed to obtain her bloodline the first time, surely enough attempts would do it.

Uchiha Yi had an excellent bloodline and the Battle Space. Given enough time, he was confident he could grow strong enough that neither the Uchiha Clan nor the Hokage Lineage would pose much of a threat to him.

Uchiha Yi was no Sasuke Uchiha. People loved to criticize Sasuke for this and that, but had they considered how he was treated after the massacre, before he met Kakashi?

Sasuke had not even received the Uchiha Clan's teachings, let alone proper training in the Sharingan. When using his Eye Power, he mostly relied on brute force.

He had inherited little of the Uchiha Clan's ninjutsu, either. It was a grim situation when you thought about it.

Uchiha Yi was different. As Kagami Uchiha's son, he had been exposed to some of the clan's teachings from childhood. Even with Kagami dead, he still had someone to teach him. Uchiha Mikoto's grandfather was a ninja who had lived through the Warring States Period, and he was more than capable of teaching Yi.

Failing that, Uchiha Yi could put on a convincing act in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others. The benefits would surely follow.

The Hokage Lineage needed a divided Uchiha Clan. With Kagami Uchiha gone, who was their best choice?

His son, of course. Uchiha Yi had been taught the "Will of Fire" from childhood and got along well with his classmates at the Ninja Academy. He was the obvious future leader of the Uchiha Dove Faction. As long as he played his part, Hiruzen Sarutobi would help him rise even if Yi did nothing to seek it.

Uchiha Yi had no intention of becoming anyone's tool. But until he was strong enough, he would take whatever benefits they offered.

"A single Tomoe is already amazing. I haven't even awakened my Sharingan yet." Envy flashed through Uchiha Mikoto's eyes as she spoke.

"Awakening the Sharingan comes with pain and loss. If I had my way, you'd never awaken those eyes." Uchiha Yi deactivated his Sharingan and looked at her earnestly.

Uchiha Mikoto pressed her lips together. What he said was utterly unlike anything she had heard from other Uchiha.

Even her own grandfather was probably hoping she would awaken hers.

"Mikoto, I'm a little hungry. Could you make me something?" Uchiha Yi asked.

Despite her young age, Uchiha Mikoto was already a good cook. She made the lunches he ate at school.

"Just wait a moment! I'll make something right away." As Uchiha Mikoto hurried off, a complicated look flickered in Uchiha Yi's eyes.

In this Shinobi World, Uchiha Mikoto was the very model of a devoted wife and mother. In the original story, she married Uchiha Fugaku and ultimately died at Uchiha Itachi's hands.

After Uchiha Yi was born, he had been entrusted to the Second Elder's care. He and Uchiha Mikoto had grown up together as childhood friends.

Could he stand by and let Uchiha Mikoto marry Uchiha Fugaku?

Obviously not!

For now, though, he needed to study the Battle Space.

Uchiha Yi focused his mind on it, and this month's five opponents soon appeared in his thoughts.

Night of the Uchiha Massacre—Sasuke Uchiha

Akatsuki's Last Stand—Yahiko

Fourth Shinobi World War—Tsume Inuzuka

Third Shinobi World War—Stone Shinobi Sumashi

Konoha's Gatekeeper—Izumo Kamizuki

Uchiha Yi fell silent when he saw the five choices.

Honestly, apart from Sasuke Uchiha, he doubted he could beat any of them.

Yahiko from Akatsuki's last stand must have been Yahiko from the time Danzo and Hanzō had nearly wiped out his group. By then, he had to be at least a Jonin. Otherwise, Hanzō would never have considered Akatsuki worth his attention.

Uchiha Yi did not know much about Tsume Inuzuka during the Fourth Shinobi World War, but she was probably a Special Jōnin or Jonin.

Izumo Kamizuki seemed to have been a Chunin when he first appeared and became a Special Jōnin later on.

As a gatekeeper, he should have been a Chunin—and a fairly strong one at that...

As for Sumashi, the Stone Shinobi from the Third Shinobi World War, Uchiha Yi had never heard of him. Still, he was surely stronger than someone who had only just entered the Ninja Academy.

So of the five opponents generated this month, Sasuke Uchiha was the only one Uchiha Yi could fight.

And Sasuke Uchiha was the one most worth challenging!

Both had only recently entered the Ninja Academy, and both were considered geniuses of the Uchiha Clan.

Unlike Sasuke, however, Uchiha Yi had understood things from an early age. He knew that in this dangerous Shinobi World, personal strength was what mattered.

His body was naturally gifted, and his soul gave him an exceptional talent for Yin Release.

He could not compare to the Indra's Chakra within Sasuke, but he had trained since childhood. If he had not wanted to keep a low profile and hide his strength, Uchiha Yi could have graduated from the Ninja Academy long ago. He had always held back his true abilities.

He had already shown enough to be called a "genius," displaying strength roughly on par with Uchiha Mikoto. She was regarded as a talented young woman of the Uchiha Clan, and Yi was two years younger than her. Reaching her level was impressive enough.

With a thought, Uchiha Yi's consciousness entered the Battle Space.

Seeing Sasuke across from him, bearing such a strong resemblance to Uchiha Mikoto, left Uchiha Yi with mixed feelings.

Before Uchiha Yi could say anything, Sasuke Uchiha's face twisted into a crazed expression. "Uchiha Itachi, I'll kill you!"

With that, Sasuke pulled out two Shuriken and hurled them at Uchiha Yi.