The System's Rewards

After his battle with Hiruzen Sarutobi, news of the fight swept through Konoha like a hurricane.

The leaders of every major clan were stunned when they heard, and all began privately discussing the boy named Uchiha Shinichi.

This ten-year-old Uchiha prodigy almost never showed his strength. He either did nothing or shook the world the moment he acted!

His past military achievements were still fresh in everyone's minds—

He had rescued Tobirama Senju, breaking through Kinkaku and Ginkaku's encirclement alone and bringing back the gravely wounded Second Hokage.

He had rushed a thousand miles to reinforce Tsunade, slaughtering countless enemies on the battlefield. The might of Ryujin Jakka alone had struck terror into the enemy's hearts.

But this time, he had actually injured the Third Hokage in a duel with Hiruzen Sarutobi, using Ice Release he had developed himself!

"The Yuki Clan's Ice Release?"

One clan leader exclaimed during a meeting, but the rest of the report was even more shocking—

Shinichi's Ice Release was completely different from the Yuki Clan's "ordinary Ice Release"!

More precise chakra control, more overwhelming attacks, and even freezing formulas resembling sealing jutsu had created an unprecedented Ice Release lockdown!

This was the embryonic form of a kekkei tōta!

What kind of genius was he?!

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had not used his full strength in this battle, everyone understood that even so, injuring the Third Hokage with Ice Release alone was astonishing enough.

And what was even more frightening—Shinichi had yet to reach his prime!

This battle was more than a prodigy's debut. It had also sent a warning to the entire Konoha High Command.

Konoha's future would inevitably usher in an era belonging to Uchiha Shinichi.

Before Konoha's leaders had recovered from Shinichi's earth-shattering performance, hidden currents were already surging through the shinobi world.

Every major shinobi village—Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and even Kirigakure—received intelligence about Uchiha Shinichi's battle with Hiruzen Sarutobi almost immediately.

The moment news of the battle spread, it drew close attention from each village's leadership.

"A ten-year-old Uchiha... can already fight Konoha's Hokage?!"

The Kage of each village called emergency meetings. Shinichi's existence had become a ticking bomb they could no longer ignore.

If someone like him was allowed to grow, who in the future shinobi world could possibly keep Konoha in check?

The Uchiha Clan was troublesome enough already, and now they had produced another boy with such astonishing talent!

And so, within just a few days, the villages reached an unsettling consensus—

"No matter what, we must stop Uchiha Shinichi from growing any stronger!"

At a Kage-level meeting in Kumogakure, Third Raikage A's gaze sharpened. He slammed his palm onto the table, making the scrolls on it tremble.

"If he's allowed to reach Madara Uchiha's level... Konoha will trample the entire shinobi world underfoot! We have to deal with this threat as soon as possible!"

Second Tsuchikage Mu sat in his seat in Iwagakure with a cold sneer, his eyes narrowed. "Konoha has only just changed Hokage, and already a monster like this has appeared... It seems we'll have to get the Black Market to do something for us this time."

Kirigakure's Mizukage silently studied the intelligence with a chilling gaze. "His Ice Release... is probably no ordinary kekkei genkai anymore. If it's truly a kekkei tōta, then this boy... must die."

And so, with the major shinobi villages working together behind the scenes, a staggering bounty appeared on the Black Market!

Bounty target: Uchiha Shinichi (Konoha)

Age: 10

Dead: 50 million ryō!

Alive: 100 million ryō!

One hundred million ryō!

A bounty higher than those on the Kage of the major shinobi villages!

It was more money than an ordinary jonin could earn from missions in an entire lifetime!

The staggering figure drove the Black Market's assassins, rogue ninja, and even bounty hunters into a frenzy.

For a time, the entire shinobi world's underworld was in an uproar!

Countless eyes quietly turned toward Konoha, toward the boy who, at only ten years old, was already considered an enormous threat by every nation!

Meanwhile, Uchiha Shinichi, still in Konoha, had yet to realize that the world had begun unleashing its first wave of murderous intent against him...

The shinobi world's Black Market was already seething beneath the surface. Assassins, rogue ninja, and even the major villages' ANBU had quietly begun targeting the name "Uchiha Shinichi."

But what about Shinichi?

If he knew, he would probably clap in delight—

"Great! Now I've got a perfectly good reason not to go on missions!"

A sky-high bounty on the Black Market?

What's that got to do with me?

As long as I stay in Konoha, who's going to kill me?

And so, the youngest, most gifted, and most promising Uchiha prodigy in Konoha's history began his "perfectly reasonable slacking-off plan"!

"Lord Hokage! Why has Heir Shinichi still not gone on any missions?"

"Ahem. His talent is simply too extraordinary, and every nation is eyeing him hungrily. For Konoha's future, we must protect him."

"Clan Head Raishin, why doesn't Heir Shinichi patrol with the other clan members?"

"Ahem. He's the Uchiha's hope. We can't let him recklessly put himself in danger."

"Lord Tobirama, isn't Shinichi your student? Why does he never leave the village with you?"

"Ahem. He's conducting in-depth research into sealing jutsu. It's extremely important."

Shinichi lay in the courtyard of the Senju Main Residence with a blade of foxtail grass between his lips, leisurely basking in the sun. As he listened to the village's various rumors about him, the corners of his mouth lifted.

"Hehe, now nobody will dare force me to go on missions, right?"

His carefree days of lazing around were secured!

He had already made up his mind!

During this time, he would quietly build his strength, refine his sealing jutsu, Ice Release, Ryujin Jakka, and taijutsu, and look for opportunities to develop even flashier ninjutsu so he could make a stunning impression in the future!

As for the shinobi world's Black Market and its bounty?

As long as he stayed in the village, what could anyone do to him?

The shinobi world's bounty hunters: ...Would you just come out already?!

Shinichi returned home and flopped onto the tatami, clasping both hands behind his head with the expression of someone who had been thoroughly cheated.

He closed his eyes and called to the System in his mind.

System, where's my reward?

[Ding. The one-year period has ended. The System is evaluating the host's completion rate.]

[The System has determined that the host's completion rate is 50%. Rewards will now be issued!]

Shinichi abruptly sat up, his expression instantly darkening.

"Hey, hey, hey, what the hell?! I nearly defeated Hiruzen Sarutobi, the so-called 'strongest Hokage,' and you're cutting my rewards in half?!"

[The System's judgment is entirely accurate. The host may choose to refuse the rewards!]

"..."

In an instant, a ten-minute torrent of profanity erupted in Shinichi's mind, including but not limited to—

System, are you blind?!

This is ridiculous! I nearly beat the Hokage!!

Can't you learn from other systems?! Have a conscience!

But the System remained unmoved. It even felt like giving him an electric shock.

Right as Shinichi was cursing it out—

[Ding. The System's electric shock training mode has activated automatically!]

Bzzzt—!!!

A powerful current instantly swept through his entire body, leaving Shinichi thoroughly fried, his hair standing on end and smoke rising from his body!

"Fuuuck—aaaaaah!!!"

Shinichi convulsed on the floor for three seconds, then suddenly sprang up, clenching his fists with murder in his eyes.

"System! Remember this!! One day, I'm going to tear you apart!!"

Yet the System remained completely unmoved.

[System notice: Electric shock training has been enhanced. The host's soul power stability has increased by 5%.]

Shinichi braced himself against the wall and stood, taking a deep breath as he began silently considering something—

Wait, the way this current stimulates me... could I use it to develop Lightning Release Ninjutsu?!

If I combine it with a chakra mode and strengthen my soul further...

Could I create Lightning Release Chakra Mode?

The more Shinichi thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He rubbed his chin, eagerness gleaming in his eyes.

Just then, the System's reward notification finally sounded again—

[Ding. The System reward package has been issued. Host, please claim it.]

Shinichi's eyes lit up, and he shouted excitedly:

"Open the package!"

[Ding! Congratulations to the host on receiving—intermediate Sage Body, Six Eyes (basic version), System Special Bonus—??? (Unlock condition: explore on your own)]

Shinichi froze for a moment, then the corners of his mouth lifted.

"Intermediate Sage Body, Six Eyes, basic version... System, you've finally found a little conscience."

But then he noticed the final reward.

"'System Special Bonus'??? What's that?"

[The host must explore independently. Unlock conditions unknown.]

Shinichi rubbed his chin, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"An unknown reward? That's rather interesting."

He chuckled softly and extended his palm. Lightning Release chakra gathered instantly, flickering arcs dancing across his hand like writhing lightning serpents.

"Well then, Lightning Release Chakra Mode..."

"It's time to develop it."

A blazing light shone in Shinichi's eyes. He knew these System rewards might completely change the way he fought!

After receiving the System's rewards, Shinichi immediately headed beneath the Uchiha Clan Head's residence, where the Secret Laboratory he had personally built was located.

The laboratory lay three floors underground. Special sealing jutsu reinforced its surroundings, blocking chakra fluctuations and sound so effectively that even Konoha's sensory ninja would struggle to detect it.

In Shinichi's plans, this was not only his secret base for testing abilities and developing new jutsu, but also Konoha's future ninjutsu research center. At present, the laboratory belonged to Orochimaru, and as for its funding...

Naturally, the Uchiha Heir had reasonably and legally "borrowed" the Uchiha Clan's radical faction's military funds.

They only wanted to stir up trouble anyway. Better to let me use the money for something genuinely worthwhile. At that thought, Shinichi's lips curled slightly, without a trace of guilt.

He walked slowly into the laboratory, narrowing his eyes as the chakra within him began to circulate.

"Since I've gained so many new abilities, let's test them one by one..."

The basic Sage Body granted by the beginner's gift package had undoubtedly played a major role in Shinichi's rise.

Its extraordinary recovery ability had allowed his taijutsu to improve rapidly, while his enormous chakra reserves let him unleash large-scale ninjutsu without restraint and even begin using advanced ninjutsu earlier than other ninja his age.

However, the value of a Sage Body went far beyond vast chakra reserves. Its truly terrifying aspect lay in the leap and evolution of physical capabilities.

Now, Shinichi slowly circulated the chakra within him. As it flowed through his chakra pathways, he clearly felt that his recovery ability had become even stronger. Even tiny wounds healed at a visible rate the instant chakra flowed through them.

Beyond that, he also noticed a subtle change—

Natural energy!

"This... does this mean I've already reached the threshold for training in senjutsu?"

Shinichi's eyes snapped open, a contemplative light flickering within them.

Tsunade had not inherited a Sage Body, and Tobirama Senju had never displayed any related abilities. Yet at only ten years old, he could already faintly sense natural energy...

The realization made Shinichi chuckle softly, excitement and pride shining unmistakably in his eyes.

"If old man Tobirama found out, he'd probably get quite a shock, wouldn't he?"

However, Shinichi quickly composed himself. Now that he had confirmed the advantages of his Sage Body, it was time to attempt something else that had always weighed on his mind—

Awakening the Sharingan!

Naturally, he should also command the Uchiha's power himself!

Shinichi closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly adjusted his chakra flow, steadily gathering it in both eyes.

The Sharingan was a kekkei genkai awakened by intense emotion and psychological shock, but a surge of chakra might also trigger that latent power.

If a method for artificially awakening the Sharingan existed in this world, could the powerful chakra of his Sage Body help him break through that barrier?

Shinichi began trying without hesitation, drawing on the surging chakra within him, compressing it furiously, and driving it into his eyes.

At that moment, an invisible force seemed to pull at his eyeballs, producing a faint, stabbing pain.

"Here it comes—!"

Under the impact of his chakra, his eyes suddenly lit up. He faintly sensed a new power awakening!

Hum—!

When Shinichi slowly opened his eyes, he looked toward the bronze mirror on the wall. In his reflection, a single tomoe rotated quietly in each pupil, radiating a deep, mysterious glow.

Yet instead of the traditional scarlet, they were clear sapphire blue!

"...A blue Sharingan?"

Shinichi paused, then murmured thoughtfully, "Is this the influence of Six Eyes?"

Six Eyes already possessed unparalleled observational abilities, allowing him to perceive his surroundings in all directions without blind spots, even detect hidden enemies or see through barriers and jutsu formulas from a distance, like an enhanced Byakugan.

The Sharingan likewise possessed advanced visual analysis capabilities. Would combining the two produce some special change?

Shinichi's gaze flickered, and a faint suspicion formed in his mind—

This mutated Sharingan will be stronger than an ordinary Sharingan!

At that thought, the corners of his mouth lifted, a fiery gleam shining in his eyes.

"It looks like Six Eyes really has merged with the Sharingan..."

Shinichi gazed at his deep, sapphire-blue tomoe Sharingan in the bronze mirror, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Since the Six Eyes have already begun to merge with the Sharingan, will I unlock Satoru Gojo's other abilities... as the Sharingan evolves?"

"The Limitless Cursed Technique... the Reverse Cursed Technique..."

At the thought of Satoru Gojo's invincible techniques and fighting style, the corners of Shinichi's mouth unconsciously lifted.

"If I could master Limitless, that would be insanely cool!"

Recalling Satoru Gojo's overwhelming, absolute defense in battle and the incredible self-healing granted by his absurdly powerful Reverse Cursed Technique, Shinichi felt his heart beat a little faster.

"If I really could master those abilities... wouldn't I surpass every power system in the Shinobi World?"

He couldn't help clenching his fists, his heart brimming with anticipation and excitement.

Still, he knew perfectly well that this was only speculation. Verifying the ultimate result of fusing the Six Eyes and the Sharingan would require more development and experimentation.

"Forget it. Now that I've taken this first step, I'll leave the rest to time."

Shinichi settled his thoughts and closed his eyes, sensing the unique ocular power born from the fusion of the Six Eyes and the Sharingan.

An unprecedented clarity filled his senses. Every flow of chakra around him became clearer to his eyes, and he could even... see traces on the surfaces of objects so minute that ordinary people could never notice them.

"Interesting... these eyes are even more powerful than I imagined."

The corners of Shinichi's mouth lifted slightly. He knew this was only the beginning...