[At age 6, after entering the Ninja Academy, you performed with exceptional talent, drawing everyone's attention.] [Awakening your Sharingan at age 6 drew every gaze to you.] [You gained the attention of Fugaku Uchiha, Hyuga Hiashi, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Shimura Danzō.] [At 6 years and 1 month old, Second Pillar challenged you and was utterly crushed. Second Pillar was extremely unwilling to accept it and swore that he would defeat you before graduating from the Ninja Academy.] [At 6 years and 2 months old, Yamanaka Ino confessed to you. She received no response and was deeply disappointed.] [At 6 years and 3 months old, Fugaku Uchiha personally invited you to his home. He praised your talent and, after questioning you, gave you a scroll of the Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation Technique.] [At 6 years and 4 months old, you learned Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation.] [At 6 years and 5 months old, Hyuga Hinata developed a strong curiosity toward you.] [At 6 years and 6 months old, you found Fugaku Uchiha and told him about the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall.] [However, you did not gain Fugaku Uchiha's trust.] [Your words angered Fugaku Uchiha, and he directly threw you into the Uchiha Clan's dungeon.] [At 6 years and 7 months old, you were in the dungeon.] [At 6 years and 8 months old, you were in the dungeon.] [At 6 years and 9 months old, you were in the dungeon.] [At 6 years and 10 months old, you were in the dungeon.] [At 6 years and 11 months old, you were in the dungeon.] [At age 7, the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall erupted. Uchiha Itachi entered the dungeon, and you died!] [This simulation has ended.] [Please choose the reward you want from the two options below.] [1: Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation.] [2: The object you held in your hand before your death.]
Uchiha Setsuna: "..."
This Life Simulation left Uchiha Setsuna deeply disappointed—not merely because his plan had failed, but because he was utterly disappointed in Fugaku Uchiha as a person.
"Fugaku Uchiha is completely unreliable."
"It would have been one thing if he didn't believe me."
"But he even locked me in the dungeon."
"He learned about the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall so early, yet when it truly came, he still chose not to resist."
"What right did a person like that have to be the Uchiha Clan Head?"
Uchiha Setsuna's loathing for Fugaku Uchiha rose to its peak.
"Should I say it's no wonder he could raise a son like Uchiha Itachi?"
Whether Fugaku Uchiha lived or died was no longer something Uchiha Setsuna cared about.
This Life Simulation had left Uchiha Setsuna completely disappointed in Fugaku Uchiha.
In the Life Simulation, Uchiha Setsuna had not even mentioned that Uchiha Itachi had already betrayed the Uchiha and sided with Hiruzen Sarutobi, precisely because he feared Fugaku Uchiha would trust his own son even more.
But unexpectedly, even without Uchiha Setsuna saying it, Fugaku Uchiha had not trusted him at all.
He had even chosen to lock Uchiha Setsuna in the dungeon.
"Now it's proven that relying on Fugaku Uchiha to buy time for myself in the Life Simulation is completely impossible. Tomorrow, I'll try making use of Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"Whether Hiruzen Sarutobi is a good person or not, as long as he can give me more time in the Life Simulation, what does it matter if I side with him?"
"As long as I don't do it in the real world."
Uchiha Setsuna rose to his feet.
"I choose 1!"
A surge of information flooded into Uchiha Setsuna's mind.
He mastered the Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation Technique.
Uchiha Setsuna took stock of his current abilities.
Genin-level Chakra.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Jutsu, Fire Style Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu, Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation.
Hell Viewing Technique, Fox Heart Technique, Genjutsu: Sharingan.
And the Three Basic Jutsu.
"Without realizing it, I've already completed ten Life Simulations. As far as ninjutsu goes, I no longer lack ordinary techniques. My overall strength is still at the Genin level."
"However, among Genin, I should count as one of the strongest."
"Some Chunin might not necessarily be my match."
There were no classes at the Ninja Academy today. It was a day off.
After breakfast, Uchiha Setsuna went to the woods for his usual training.
"Brother Setsuna."
Uchiha Sagiri arrived carrying a bento.
"Sagiri."
Uchiha Setsuna stopped training, rubbed Uchiha Sagiri's head, and accepted the bento box.
Today's bento had been made by Uchiha Kayan.
Uchiha Kayan had originally wanted to deliver it himself and watch Uchiha Setsuna train while he was there.
But he ran into Uchiha Sagiri at the entrance.
Uchiha Sagiri volunteered to take on the task.
Besides Uchiha Setsuna's bento, Uchiha Sagiri had brought her own as well.
Uchiha Riko had gone out to handle something today and had prepared Uchiha Sagiri's lunch that morning.
The two sat together on a rock.
"Brother Setsuna, can you tell me about the Ninja Academy?"
Uchiha Sagiri had asked this question before, but Uchiha Setsuna had not answered.
However, seeing Uchiha Sagiri's expectant expression this time, Uchiha Setsuna still gave her a brief explanation.
"At the Ninja Academy, there are mainly lots of classmates your age. They could come from all kinds of ninja clans."
"There are civilian ninjas too."
"By interacting with them, you'll discover many things you had never encountered before."
"However, the most important thing at the academy is still studying."
"There are several subjects: academics, physical training, and Chakra classes. They're all preparation for becoming a ninja."
Uchiha Sagiri's eyes brightened again, and a hint of longing appeared on her face.
"That must be really interesting."
Uchiha Setsuna paused.
"Sagiri, when you enter the Ninja Academy in the future, you must study hard."
"Mm-hmm. I'll be just like you, Brother Setsuna."
After finishing their bento and resting for a while, Uchiha Setsuna continued training.
Uchiha Sagiri stayed beside him, with no intention of leaving.
Only when the sky grew dark did the two leave the woods and return to their respective homes.
That was how Uchiha Setsuna spent his day off.
But Uchiha Setsuna's classmates had much more leisurely days.
Sakura and Yamanaka Ino spent the entire day shopping.
Akimichi Choji ate several good meals, then lay back in a chair in satisfaction once he was full.
Nara Shikamaru leaned against a chair without moving, his eyes unfocused as though he were lost in thought. His entire body radiated an intensely lazy air.
Second Pillar went to the Training Ground in the morning and to a dango shop in the afternoon.
Even Naruto did not spend the entire day training.
A night passed.
Dawn broke.
Uchiha Setsuna opened his eyes.
"The general direction this time is to side with Hiruzen Sarutobi and buy time for myself in the Life Simulation."
"Begin the simulation!"
Before you continue