The Strongest in the Shinobi World

Genya looked at his gentle mother and father.

This heartwarming scene was the treasure he cherished most since arriving in this world.

It all felt so real.

Yet that very warmth was like a thorn, stabbing deep into his heart.

The night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre.

The night orchestrated by Shimura Danzō, when Obito Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi would drag the entire Uchiha Clan into hell with their own hands.

When that time came, his parents, Nami, the clansmen he knew... all of them would lie in pools of blood.

Bone-chilling killing intent spread through his heart and coalesced.

I have to kill Danzo!

That thought had never been so clear or so powerful.

"Yes, Mother. I'm looking forward to it."

Genya answered his mother's remarks about dinner.

He had to grow stronger, faster. Before that irreversible night arrived, he had to gain enough power to change their fate.

Perhaps... if I could find the right opportunity to eliminate the source of this disaster ahead of time...

"The village hasn't been very peaceful lately. The Konoha Military Police Force's workload has increased considerably, too."

Sosuke Uchiha hadn't noticed the turmoil within his son and spoke casually.

"Some rats lurking in the shadows have been more active than usual."

Genya immediately thought of Root.

"No matter what, your own strength is what matters most."

Sosuke stressed that point again.

Dinner.

Genya chatted with his parents as usual, sharing amusing stories from his training.

But deep inside, a plan was gradually taking shape.

He would throw himself into training with even greater intensity and uncover every bit of the system's potential.

At the same time, he would wait for-and create-that possible opportunity for an "accident."

Time flew.

The days slipped quietly by amid grueling training, everyday moments with Nami and Hinata during their occasional "chance encounters," and lingering worries about the future.

Genya finally reached the age to enter the Ninja Academy.

It was worth mentioning that Nami Uchiha, being two years older than Genya, had already enrolled.

By now, she was the "beautiful Uchiha girl genius" whom the younger boys at school discussed in private, possessing both strength and looks.

Her affection for Genya had steadily risen to the intimate stage at [80/100], needing only the right opportunity to advance further.

Meanwhile, Hinata Hyuga remained at the budding stage of [75/100].

The day of enrollment.

Dressed in his Uchiha uniform, Genya walked into the familiar yet unfamiliar school grounds with a shoulder bag on his back.

Among the students entering alongside him was Naruto Uzumaki, the blond boy with whisker-like markings on his face whom most children deliberately avoided.

They were assigned to the same class.

At the entrance ceremony, just as Genya had expected-

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, stood on the stage with a pipe between his lips.

In his usual stirring tone, he addressed the new students below, speaking of the Will of Fire: "Where leaves dance, the fire burns on."

Genya stood among the crowd, his expression calm and his heart utterly unmoved.

Perhaps there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the philosophy itself.

But knowing certain dark truths, he found it difficult to relate to its implications of sacrificing the individual for the greater good, or the possible hypocrisy of the village leadership.

Listening to the excited whispers of the children around him as their blood stirred, he found it all unbearably ironic.

After all that rambling, it still boils down to maintaining stability and passing on the same old legacy...

After the ceremony, the new students returned to their assigned classrooms.

The homeroom teacher for Genya's class was Umino Iruka, a man with a scar across his face who looked stern but had gentle eyes.

"All right, everyone! Starting today, we're all classmates and comrades!"

Iruka tried hard to make his voice sound enthusiastic.

"To help everyone get to know each other, let's introduce ourselves! Tell us your name, what you like, what you dislike, and your dream for the future!"

The students stood up one after another, most brimming with childish innocence and hope.

"My name is Sakura Haruno. I like... I hate having a wide forehead... My dream is..."

Her eyes secretly flicked in a certain direction.

"My name is Ino Yamanaka. I like... My dream is..."

"My name is Choji Akimichi. I like potato chips... I hate being hungry..."

"My name is Shikamaru Nara. I like taking it easy... I hate trouble... As for my dream, I guess I'll just become a ninja and marry an ordinary woman..."

When it was the blond boy's turn, the atmosphere in the classroom subtly stiffened.

He sprang to his feet and shouted.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki! I like instant noodles! But what I'd like even more is for everyone to acknowledge me someday! My dream is-to become Hokage! And surpass every Hokage before me!"

Snickers and whispers immediately filled the classroom.

"Idiot..."

"As if..."

"Someone like him..."

Naruto held his chin high, but his clenched fists and the emotions in his eyes didn't escape Genya's notice.

Naruto was destined for a difficult road, but it was also a necessary part of his growth.

The next to stand was the handsome Sasuke Uchiha, carrying the distinctive air of the Uchiha Clan.

"Sasuke Uchiha."

He spoke in an even tone.

"There's nothing I particularly like or dislike. My dream is... to become stronger, then surpass someone."

Hinata Hyuga, who sat beside Genya, had been nervously keeping her head down the whole time.

When she heard her name called, her body visibly stiffened.

"Hinata... Hyuga..."

It took all her strength to stand up. Her voice was tiny, and her head remained bowed low.

"I-I like... um..."

Her mind went blank with panic, and out of the corner of her eye, she instinctively glanced at the black-clad figure sitting beside her.

"I-I dislike... seeing F-Father disappointed..."

Remembering her father's stern expression, her voice grew even quieter.

"M-My dream is..."

After speaking, she quickly sat down, her little face so red it looked ready to give off steam.

Iruka and most of the other students hadn't heard her clearly, but kindly refrained from pressing her.

Next came Genya's turn.

He rose calmly, his gaze sweeping across the classroom.

When his eyes met those of Sasuke Uchiha in the front row, who had been casting cold sidelong glances his way-

He could see the defiant fire in Sasuke's eyes burn even brighter.

"Genya Uchiha."

His voice held a composure beyond his years.

"I like... getting stronger."

"I dislike... things I'm powerless to change."

Finally, the corners of his lips lifted, his eyes full of confidence.

"As for my dream... for now, let's say it's to become the strongest person in the Shinobi World."

The absolute confidence behind his casual tone brought the classroom to silence.

"The strongest?!"

"People from the Uchiha Clan really are amazing..."

"I think he's that genius everyone's been talking about..."

The children murmured among themselves, looking at Genya with wonder and a touch of awe.

Meanwhile, Sasuke Uchiha clenched his fists in the front row, his nails nearly digging into his palms.

The strongest in the Shinobi World... damn it, that bastard!

To him, Genya's seemingly casual declaration of his dream was nothing less than a blatant provocation and another humiliation on top of his earlier crushing defeat.

I'll surpass you, Genya Uchiha! I'm the one who'll be the strongest!

Sasuke swore fiercely to himself, his gaze cutting toward Genya like a blade.

Feeling Sasuke's fighting spirit in that stare, Genya glanced at him and sat down.

Uchiha Sasuke's determination meant nothing to him.

The introductions continued.