"Looks like I'll have to kill a few more Kage and make them raise the price."
Chiya casually tossed the Bounty Notice worth 500 million ryō onto the desk. The thin sheet fluttered through the air before settling like a fallen leaf over the spot on the Hokage's desk reserved for the Hokage hat.
It marked the complete end of the old era.
"Shikaku."
Chiya stood and straightened his slightly tattered Uchiha Attire, stained with the blood of powerful foes.
"Here." Shikaku Nara immediately lowered his head.
"Post this Bounty Notice at the village gates." A mocking smile tugged at Chiya's lips. "If they want to play, I'll play along. Let all those bounty hunters come. My blade has quite an appetite lately."
"Yes!" Shikaku was inwardly shaken. Posting his own Bounty Notice at his own front door? What arrogance and confidence! Yet looking at this man, who could even cut down the Death God, he felt it was only natural.
With the minor matters settled, Chiya left the Hokage Building.
The morning sunlight was bright, but as it fell toward the Uchiha Clan Compound, it seemed to pass through an invisible, blood-red filter.
That was where last night's slaughter had begun-and where it had ended.
[Uchiha Clan Compound · Street]
Dead silence.
Aside from the wind moaning past the utility poles, not a single human voice could be heard throughout the compound.
Dark red bloodstains covered the streets, remnants of last night's massacre. Although the Anbu had quickly removed the bodies-mostly Danzo's Root members and the "traitors" Chiya had killed-the thick, overpowering stench of blood stubbornly lingered in the air.
At the end of the compound's main street, before the gates of the Fugaku Residence.
A small, thin figure huddled on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
Sasuke Uchiha.
In a single night, this seven-year-old child had gone from heaven to hell.
First, his beloved older brother, Uchiha Itachi, had tortured him with Tsukuyomi, forcing him to witness his parents' murder in the illusion. Then he had been knocked unconscious. After waking, he had witnessed Chiya and Obito's world-shattering battle.
Now his mind was blank, his entire understanding of the world shattered.
My brother was the killer? Mom and Dad are dead? My cousin Chiya killed my brother? Even Lord Hokage... is dead?
Too much information battered his young mind, pushing him to the brink of a breakdown.
Tap, tap, tap.
Steady, unhurried footsteps came from the other end of the street.
Each step sounded as crisp as a footfall on water, yet carried a suffocating pressure.
Sasuke jerked his head up.
Against the morning sunlight, he saw that man.
Dressed in black, the terrifying long blade hanging at his waist, his expression was as indifferent as if he were strolling through his own back garden.
Chiya Uchiha!
"You..."
Sasuke opened his mouth, wanting to scream, wanting to run, but his body felt nailed to the ground. It refused to obey him.
It was fear born of primal instinct.
The instant he saw Chiya, images of Obito's Severed Arm and space burned through rose unbidden in Sasuke's mind.
Chiya walked up to Sasuke and stopped.
He did not speak at once. Instead, he silently looked down at the "Uchiha Sasuke" of the original story with a lofty gaze, as though inspecting an ant.
Where was even a trace of the proud, prickly avenger from the original story?
Now he was nothing but a quail frightened out of its wits.
"Are you the only one left?"
Chiya spoke flatly, his gaze sweeping over the empty residences around them. "Looks like Itachi was pretty thorough."
At the name "Itachi," Sasuke shuddered violently. A flash of searing hatred crossed his eyes, but confusion outweighed it.
"Why..."
Sasuke finally squeezed out a faint sound, tears spilling uncontrollably. "Why did it turn out like this... my brother... Mom and Dad..."
"Why?"
Chiya chuckled and slowly crouched, bringing his eyes level with Sasuke's.
"Because you're weak."
Those simple words stabbed straight into Sasuke's heart like a knife.
"Your parents were weak, so Itachi killed them."
"Your brother was weak, so I killed him."
"And you..."
Chiya reached out and gently caught Sasuke's chin, forcing him to lift his head and look straight into his scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan.
"You're so weak it's pathetic."
"Weakness is the original sin. In this Shinobi World, the weak don't even have the right to choose how they die. They can only be cut down like weeds by the strong."
Sasuke stared into those eyes, his whole body turning cold.
He could see no family affection in them, no pity-only an endless abyss and indifference.
"Kill... kill me..."
Sasuke spoke in a trembling voice. Better to die than live in this hell.
"Kill you?"
Chiya released him and stood, as though he had heard a funny joke.
He took a handkerchief from his clothes, wiped the fingers that had touched Sasuke's chin, then casually discarded it.
"Sasuke, you think far too highly of yourself."
"Killing you would dirty my blade."
Chiya turned his back on Sasuke and looked toward the distant Hokage Rock.
"Besides, keeping you around might add a little amusement to this boring life."
At that, Chiya tilted his head slightly and glanced at Sasuke on the ground from the corner of his eye. His tone suddenly turned playful-a twisted "tribute" to a classic line from the original story, but imbued with even greater arrogance.
"As you are now, you're not even worth the effort."
"Do you want to kill me? Do you want to avenge your brother and your parents?"
Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply.
"Then hate me."
"Cling to that laughable hatred of yours and keep living, ugly and wretched... like a rat in a sewer."
"Run. Run. Run all you like."
"When you have eyes like mine, when you have the courage to stand before me without trembling..."
Chiya's voice grew more distant, yet rang in his ears like a demonic whisper:
"Come before me again and entertain me."
"Foolish little brother."
Boom!
Those words shattered the last of Sasuke's mental defenses.
Hatred, fear, humiliation... countless negative emotions exploded within him.
"Aaaaaah!!"
Sasuke let out a young but piercing howl. His eyes rolled back, and, unable to withstand the immense mental pressure, he fainted on the spot.
Chiya watched the unconscious Sasuke coldly and shook his head.
"So easily frightened."
"With that kind of mental fortitude, he's nowhere near awakening the Mangekyō."
Just then.
Whoosh!
A silver figure appeared atop a utility pole behind Chiya with the Body Flicker Technique.
Kakashi Hatate.
He looked at Sasuke lying on the ground, then at the indifferent Chiya, his one exposed, listless eye filled with conflicting emotions.
He had spent last night dealing with Root's remaining members on the outskirts and had only now freed himself up.
"Chiya..."
Kakashi's voice was a little hoarse. "He's still a child."
"A child?"
Chiya turned to look at his former Anbu senior. "In this man-eating Shinobi World, there are no children. Only shinobi and corpses."
"Itachi could think like an adult at seven. This kid was still playing in the mud at seven."
"If you don't want him to become useless, put away that overflowing sympathy of yours."
Chiya pointed at Sasuke on the ground.
"Kakashi, I'm leaving this nuisance to you."
"You were Obito's teammate and the Fourth's student. That practically makes you half this kid's guardian."
"To me?" Kakashi froze.
"That's right."
Chiya slipped his hands into his pockets, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Starting today, you're his jōnin instructor. Teach him ninjutsu, teach him to kill, teach him how to get stronger."
"I don't care what methods you use. I want to see him grow stronger."
"Because..."
A bloodthirsty gleam flashed in Chiya's eyes.
"My garden has no need for weeds. If he can't grow into a towering tree, next time I'll uproot him myself."
Kakashi's heart tightened.
He understood what Chiya meant. He was treating Sasuke like a venomous creature to be cultivated!
But he did not refuse, nor could he.
Left with Chiya, Sasuke might die. Left with him, Sasuke could at least stay alive.
"I understand."
Kakashi jumped down and picked up the unconscious Sasuke. Looking at this last orphan of the Uchiha in his arms, he sighed inwardly.
Konoha's tragedy, the Uchiha's tragedy-both had, in the end, carried on into the next generation.
"One more thing, Chiya."
Kakashi had been about to leave when he suddenly stopped. "About the choice for Fifth Hokage..."
"The village is in complete chaos right now. All the clan leaders are waiting for you in the Hokage Building, hoping you can..."
"Make me Hokage?"
Chiya cut him off, a look of distaste crossing his face.
"That lousy job where you have to process tons of paperwork every day, argue with a bunch of old foxes, and even show up to settle neighborhood disputes? Whoever wants it can have it."
"I'm not interested."
The corner of Kakashi's mouth twitched.
The Hokage Position, which people across the Shinobi World fought tooth and nail over, was just a "lousy job" to this man?
"Then..."
"Bring Tsunade back."
Chiya spoke casually. "That old woman may love gambling, but at least she has some brains, and her standing is enough to keep everyone in line."
"As for the time before she returns..."
Chiya's gaze sharpened, and an invisible air of dominance radiated from him.
"Establish a 'Supreme Council.'"
"Hyuga Hiashi and Shikaku Nara will handle daily affairs."
"And I..."
Chiya looked up at the sky, where the newly risen sun shone over the ruins.
"I will be Konoha's 'law.'"
"As long as I'm here, Konoha won't descend into chaos."
"If anyone objects..."
Chiya patted Ryūjin Jakka at his waist, a cruel smile curling his lips.
"Let them come to me."
With that, Chiya ignored Kakashi and turned to walk deeper into the Uchiha Clan Compound.
The "Clan Leader Exclusive Reward" the system had just notified him about was still waiting for him to claim it there.
Kakashi watched Chiya's retreating figure. It was not especially tall or imposing, yet with the sunlight stretching its shadow, it seemed to blot out all of Konoha.
He knew a new era had begun.
An era of domination-ruled by Chiya Uchiha through absolute power!
[Uchiha Naka Shrine · Basement]
Chiya pushed open the heavy stone door.
This was the Uchiha Clan's forbidden ground. The Stone Tablet, said to have been left behind by the Sage of Six Paths, stood silently in the darkness.
Chiya walked up to the Stone Tablet without rushing to read its contents-most of it had been altered by Black Zetsu anyway.
His attention was fixed on the small golden text that had just appeared on his retina.
[Ding! Congratulations, host!] [Successfully established absolute control over the Uchiha Clan (even if only two people remain)!] [Successfully intimidated Konoha and become its de facto ruler!] [Achievement reward obtained: Indra's Chakra · Complete Awakening!] [Special item obtained: Uchiha Gunbai (Divine Artifact)!] [Skill obtained: Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame (No Hand Seals Required)!]
"A divine artifact Gunbai, huh?"
Chiya reached out and grabbed, and a huge, gourd-shaped Gunbai appeared in his hand out of thin air.
This had once been Madara Uchiha's weapon, possessing the formidable ability to reflect ninjutsu.
"Paired with Ryūjin Jakka, one for offense and one for defense. A perfect match."
Chiya swung the Gunbai, feeling the ancient power contained within it, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Sasuke, oh, Sasuke..."
Chiya glanced back at the shrine's entrance, a calculating gleam in his eyes.
"Go on, hate me."
"The day you awaken your Mangekyō Sharingan will be the day I reap this last crop of 'familial affection.'"
"After all, only your eyes can help me awaken those..."
"Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
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