After several successful gatherings, Uchiha's Fantasy Hut had become increasingly famous within Shinji's inner circle, already their most eagerly anticipated refuge from the tedium of training. But Shinji Uchiha's ambitions went far beyond that. He understood perfectly well that attracting Konoha's worldly adult shinobi, some of whom had weathered a lifetime of hardship-especially the elites who wielded real authority or possessed formidable strength-would take far more than the "novelty" he currently offered. He needed a "bombshell" that could strike straight at the heart and resonate widely.
He decided to "borrow" the wisdom of his previous life again and "create" two new songs with very different styles, both deeply moving.
Drawing on his unique trove of memories as a transmigrator, along with the subtle boost to his musical instincts provided by the extraordinary mental power of Mental Abnormality, he spent several sleepless nights at work. He carefully reproduced and adapted the crystal-clear melodies in his mind using this world's instruments-the flute's pure, ringing notes, the shamisen's desolate tones, and the grandeur of his homemade "chakra keyboard," which used chakra conduction technology to produce a piano-like sound. He not only recreated the melodies but also rewrote the lyrics, freeing them from their original cultural contexts and incorporating themes of "freedom," "fate," "legacy," and "protection" that spoke more broadly to the Shinobi World.
He named the first song "Blue Bird." His public explanation was that he had discovered its score in a damaged clan scroll containing ancient poems, then completed and refined it using his musical instincts. Its melody was stirring and powerful, its rhythm brisk as a drumbeat, brimming with the vitality of breaking free from every restraint and yearning for the boundless sky. The lyrics told the story of a bird trapped in an invisible cage, its desperate longing for the blue sky, and its final, all-out struggle to shatter its shackles and spread its wings. Shinji knew that the pursuit of absolute freedom and defiance of fate's restraints held an almost instinctive appeal for shinobi living under the rigid village system, weighed down by their clans, missions, and village rules.
He named the second song "Sign." Its style was entirely different from "Blue Bird." The opening carried a lingering, plaintive sorrow, its emotions building layer upon layer before rising into something stirring, even tragic and heroic. The pain of loss and the resilience to rise again woven into its melody seemed to echo some trajectory of fate. While polishing the song, Shinji had a faint premonition that its heavy emotions might one day touch the most tender scars deep within certain people's hearts, particularly when they faced an unavoidable "loss." In the Shinobi World, where death and separation were everyday occurrences, that resonance would hold immense power.
One weekend evening, the sunset's lingering glow painted Konoha a warm orange-red. Shinji deliberately expanded his invitation list, bringing together not only his close friends but also older Ninja Academy students who stood out in their studies or came from families with deep traditions, all at Uchiha's Fantasy Hut. In a rare move, he opened the entire acoustically treated hall, preparing to hold a small "new song launch."
Inside the hall, improved chakra lamps cast a soft yet bright light, and a faint sense of anticipation hung in the air. Shinji stood on the small makeshift stage, adjusting the central "projector" and the amplification equipment connected to it, which operated by converting chakra into sound waves. He took a deep breath and steadily fed a tiny thread of chakra into specially prepared pathways in his throat and the microphone in his hand, ensuring that his voice would remain steady and carry clearly.
"Blue Bird" came first. As its lively, bounding opening melody burst forth like the first light of dawn, it instantly seized the attention of everyone in the hall. The rhythm seemed to strike directly against their heartbeats.
"Spread your wings and soar,
And you can reach the far shore of your dreams...
Engraved upon your heart,
A faith that never changes..."
Shinji's clear, penetrating voice burst through the confined space alongside the rousing rhythm, only to be contained just enough by the sound-absorbing material lining the walls, creating a powerful field of sound. The lyrics' burning yearning for freedom, their almost instinctive longing for the blue sky, and their determination to break through every visible and invisible cage pierced deep into the hearts of the young shinobi present. They might not have been able to express it clearly, but they shared that suffocating sense of being bound by layers of rules, grueling missions, their clans' lofty expectations, and even certain interpretations of the will of fire. Now, the song seemed to become a collective outlet for their suppressed emotions, stirring an urge in their chests to break something, to seek something.
As the song reached its chorus, Shinji's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unstoppable force that seemed capable of tearing through the sky:
"Fly! Fly! Toward that blue sky!
Break through these clouds, cast off these chains!
Let the wind scatter your doubts, let the light show you the way-"
A strange silence settled over the hall, leaving only the music and singing stirring their souls. Everyone held their breath. Even Tsume Inuzuka, usually the most rambunctious of them, unconsciously clenched her fists, excitement and longing shining in her eyes. Shikaku Nara, known for his calm intelligence, widened his eyes slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the beat against his knee. Minato Namikaze wore a smile of wonder, as though he had glimpsed some new possibility. Kushina Uzumaki was completely immersed, her long red hair seeming ready to fly with the rhythm. With both fists clenched, she swayed slightly without realizing it, the stage lights reflected in her blue eyes, as though she herself were the blue bird in the lyrics, yearning to shatter its shackles and soar into the heavens.
The song ended, its final notes lingering. After a brief moment of absolute silence came a volcanic eruption of applause, cheers, and screams! With its irresistible emotional power, "Blue Bird" had instantly won over every listener and ignited the flames within their hearts.
Before the excitement had subsided, Shinji moved on, leaving them little time to savor it. He knew emotions needed both contrast and continuity. Giving the audience a slight nod, he began singing "Sign."
Unlike the bright, bounding energy of "Blue Bird," the opening of "Sign" was low and distant, carrying the weight and sorrow of history, like leafing through an ancient, bloodstained scroll beneath the moonlight. Shinji's voice grew steady and husky, rich with stories, as though he were someone slowly recounting a long-buried past he had lived through himself.
"I became aware of the pain that pierced my bones,
Thundering inside my mind...
But I walk onward, bearing my scars...
'Try to forget,
Try not to feel anymore'...
This wounded heart has been fortified..."
Though the lyrics relied heavily on symbolism and metaphor and were somewhat obscure, their images of clan honor and disgrace, inherited responsibility, sacrifice, struggle, and inner resilience left several shinobi from clans with secret techniques or bloodline abilities, including Hizashi Hyuga and Shibi Aburame, deep in thought, their gazes growing complicated. As the song reached its climax, the melody abruptly swelled into something grand and tragic, and Shinji's voice erupted with a wrenching force and resolve:
"I came to tell you... following the traces of your scars!
Before this world is destroyed!
Do you remember... that weeping sky?!
That pain... even now... still protects you!
That pain... will forever... protect you-!"
The final words, "protect you," rang out like a cry that exhausted every last ounce of strength, yet carried the solemnity of a divine vow. They exploded like thunder in the depths of every listener's heart. That soul-piercing force brought warmth to more than a few eyes, and some people unconsciously touched the scars on their bodies or the invisible ones within their hearts.
The arrival of these two "original" songs, utterly different in style yet equally stirring, had precisely the effect Shinji had anticipated. It was like dropping two enormous boulders into the relatively tranquil lake of Konoha's younger generation. Uchiha's Fantasy Hut and Shinji Uchiha's "musical talent" became one of the village's hottest topics with astonishing speed. His "creations" drew widespread attention, amazement, and even admiration.
Business at the Fantasy Hut flourished from then on. Not only students but many young Konoha Chunin, and even Special Jōnin, came after hearing about it, eager to experience this novel form of entertainment for themselves. Shinji took the opportunity to introduce drinks specially blended from this world's ingredients, such as signature fruit juices containing a small amount of Chakra Fruit for an invigorating boost and smooth milk tea, along with easy-to-share snacks. Although the establishment did not serve alcohol like an izakaya, this unprecedented form of entertainment, which let customers actively participate and release their emotions, along with its relaxed atmosphere free of distinctions in rank, still attracted plenty of repeat visitors.
One evening, just as the lights came on, the Fantasy Hut buzzed with voices. In one private room, a group of young Uchiha clan members, who had gradually become more open under Shinji's subtle influence, were roaring out a rousing battle song with abandon. They were badly off-key, but brimming with youthful energy.
Just then, a large hand swept aside the heavy soundproof curtain with a swish.
A remarkably tall man with distinctive white hair, red markings on his face, and a green jōnin vest poked his head inside. His face, practically announcing his curiosity and irreverence, bore an intrigued smile. "Yo! I heard an interesting new hangout opened in the village. The music had me itching to take a look from way down the street. Is this the place? Pretty lively in here!"
Behind his burly frame, a beautiful woman with blonde twin ponytails and a stunning figure followed him inside somewhat reluctantly, a faint trace of irritation and languor lingering between her brows. They were none other than Jiraiya and Tsunade, back from their travels!
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