Cursing Me to Die Young? I Can't Pretend I Didn't Hear That!

Uchiha Fugaku looked utterly helpless. "He hates me. He hates our whole family! Besides Danzo, he's a huge threat too!"

Uchiha Mikoto stumbled and sank to the ground.

In the shadows of the corridor, a pair of eyes watched it all in silence. Those eyes were black as ink, without a flicker of emotion, colder than frost and snow.

Sure enough, someone from Root arrived early the next morning.

It was the same unlucky ninja Yongye had frightened twice before. He was even more respectful than last time, with "please don't kill me" practically written across his face.

He presented a sealing scroll with both hands and spoke with utmost deference.

"Lord Danzo said it's one hundred million ryo, not a coin less. Lord Yongye, please... check it."

Yongye took the scroll, unfurled it, and glanced over it. The sealing formula was intact, the Chakra fluctuations were stable, and there really was a cash box sealed inside.

He couldn't be bothered to count it on the spot. As far as keeping himself alive went, that old dog Danzo had been reasonably reliable so far. The old man wouldn't dare try anything at a time like this.

Yongye put away the scroll and headed out, delighted.

The sun was shining, but a cool breeze made the weather pleasantly comfortable.

Konoha's streets had a lazy, lived-in feel, framed by the wooden doors and cloth curtains of the shops on either side.

An old man selling roasted sweet potatoes pushed his cart along at an unhurried pace. A few children crouched at a street corner playing ninja, arguing until their faces turned red.

Nearby, a tabby cat lay atop a wall, its tail swishing as it prepared to pounce on a little sparrow.

Yongye strolled along with his hands in his pockets, looking for a sucker whose heart he could crush and a good opportunity to spend big.

As a transmigrator with a system and the power of miracles at his disposal, he figured he ought to think bigger.

He couldn't act like some country bumpkin who suddenly struck it rich and spent every day doing nothing but... picking women, picking women, and picking more women!

Though picking women was pretty damn fun!

But women like Uchiha Mikoto and Ayame, who didn't cost him a thing, were even better!

He was looking this way and that, pondering how to use his money to make a real splash, when a conversation ahead drifted clearly into his ears.

"Those bastard Uchiha are getting more arrogant by the day! Over a little thing like that, they went straight to beating someone up." The man's voice was full of indignation.

"Keep your voice down. Their clan has Uchiha Yongye now, and they're feeling awfully pleased with themselves. If they hear you, they'll come after you." A woman spoke, her voice equal parts warning and wariness.

Yongye paused. Oh? Talking about me? His lips curled slightly. He quieted his footsteps and moved closer without a sound.

The man spoke again, more heated than before, with the stubborn air of someone determined to say it anyway.

"Hmph. I'm not afraid of them. Even that Uchiha Yongye is just an idiot, opening the Eight Gates Release at the drop of a hat! He's putting that much strain on his body that often—I bet he won't live to see twenty!"

Yongye stepped out of the street corner's shadow and recognized them both at a glance.

The man was thin as a bamboo pole, his face as pale as if he never saw the sun. His eyes were slightly sunken, and he had a sickly air about him that wouldn't go away.

Gekko Hayate!

A main character's name, an extra's treatment, an extra's fate, and an extra's brains.

In the original story, this guy had discovered Sunagakure's plot in his own village, yet instead of immediately throwing an Explosive Tag to alert everyone, he'd foolishly fought the enemy one-on-one.

In the end, Baki had killed him without a sound. He hadn't even gotten a proper memorial service.

The woman, on the other hand, was quite attractive. Long purple hair fell to her waist, and she had a pretty face and a shapely figure. Her tight ANBU uniform traced clean, graceful lines. She'd make a fine bedwarmer.

Uzuki Yugao!

Gekko Hayate's girlfriend. In the original story, apart from her looks and her graveside tears, she hadn't had a single memorable scene.

Yongye flickered forward and blocked their path.

He was so fast that Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao saw only a blur before someone appeared in front of them.

His crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan turned faintly in the sunlight. A mocking half-smile played on his lips, and his hands remained in his pockets. He looked as relaxed as if he'd run into old friends.

"We've got no grudge against each other..."

Yongye spoke slowly, drawing out the words in a mocking tone, as though chatting with old friends. But an icy light churned in his Sharingan.

"Cursing me to die young that viciously? I can't pretend I didn't hear that!

"So tell me, you two, how do you want to die? Chopped to pieces, or ground to dust?"

Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao cried out together, "Uchiha Yongye!"

Both their faces changed at once—Gekko Hayate's pallor turned deathly, while the color drained from Uzuki Yugao's pretty face.

They had been talking about this Uchiha madman behind his back, and now he had appeared right in front of them!

Getting caught red-handed by this terrifying man sent a worse chill down their spines than an enemy ambush on a mission.

Their reactions were textbook ninja instinct: both sprang back to open up space, drew their swords with a clang, and readied themselves.

Gekko Hayate began forming Hand Seals with one hand, preparing to attack. Uzuki Yugao took a defensive stance, her long purple hair flying in the rush of air from her sudden retreat.

Their movements were crisp and their coordination seamless, worthy of ANBU elites. But both of them looked awful.

A reputation could be as intimidating as the person who bore it!

These days, Uchiha Yongye's name was known throughout Konoha!

He'd kicked Danzo to the ground, slaughtered Root ninja like lambs, and forced the Third Hokage to back down in public!

He'd used the Heir-Breaking Kick on Uchiha Itachi and Asuma! He'd refused a mission from the Third Hokage and beaten up Sarutobi Shinnosuke, an ANBU squad leader!

Could the two of them afford to provoke a lawless villain like that?

Worse still, rumor had it... there was something wrong with his head. He was a madman with no restraints whatsoever!

And Gekko Hayate had just cursed him to die before twenty. If that wasn't asking to be killed, what was?

Uzuki Yugao took a deep breath, forced down her fear, and tried to keep her voice steady.

Her gaze stayed locked on Yongye past the edge of her sharp blade as she asked, each word distinct:

"What do you want?"

There was a show of toughness in her voice, but the hand gripping her sword trembled slightly.

Getting beaten to death over this would be such a waste!

Yongye looked at them and suddenly smiled.

It was a bright, sunny smile, like he was joking with friends.

But the words that came out of his mouth sent a chill straight from the soles of their feet to the tops of their heads.

"I just want to beat you two to death..."

"Or have you two beat me to death!"