Seeking Refuge with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Only to Become a Discarded Pawn! (Please Vote, Please Follow)

[At age 6, after entering the Ninja Academy, you displayed extraordinary talent and attracted everyone's attention.]

[Awakening your eyes at age 6 drew all eyes to you.]

[You caught the attention of Fugaku Uchiha, Hyuga Hiashi, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Shimura Danzō.]

[At age 6 years and 1 month, Second Pillar challenged you and was utterly defeated. Second Pillar was deeply unwilling to accept it and swore that he would defeat you before graduating from the Ninja Academy.]

[At age 6 years and 2 months, Yamanaka Ino confessed to you. She received no response and was greatly disappointed.]

[At age 6 years and 3 months, Fugaku Uchiha invited you to his home, praised your talent, and, after asking you about it, gave you a scroll of the Shadow Clone Technique.]

[At age 6 years and 4 months, you learned the Shadow Clone Technique.]

[At age 6 years and 5 months, Hyuga Hinata developed a strong curiosity toward you.]

[At age 6 years and 6 months, you took the initiative to find Hiruzen Sarutobi and told him that the Uchiha Clan was about to rebel. Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed a surprised expression.]

[Hiruzen Sarutobi had you join the Anbu and assigned you the task of monitoring members of the Uchiha Clan.]

[At age 6 years and 7 months, you monitored the Uchiha Clan.]

[At age 6 years and 8 months, you monitored the Uchiha Clan.]

[At age 6 years and 9 months, you monitored the Uchiha Clan.]

[At age 6 years and 10 months, you monitored the Uchiha Clan.]

[At age 6 years and 11 months, you monitored the Uchiha Clan.]

[At age 7, the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall erupted, and the Uchiha Clan was exterminated.]

[After Uchiha Itachi and the Konoha High Command reached an agreement, they decided that only one member of the Uchiha Clan could survive.]

[That was Second Pillar!]

[You attempted to escape but were caught by Anbu Ninja.]

[You fought back desperately and killed two Anbu Ninja, but more Anbu Ninja appeared.]

[You died!]

[This simulation has ended.]

[Please choose the reward you want from the two options below.]

[1: Shadow Clone Technique.]

[2: The item you were holding when you died.]

"I choose 1!"

A stream of information entered Uchiha Setsuna's mind.

In an instant, Uchiha Setsuna completely mastered the Shadow Clone Technique.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi is just as unreliable. I sought refuge with him, and in the Life Simulation, I even gave him quite a bit of useful information. Yet he did not hesitate to send me to my death."

"Someone like that is not worth anyone's allegiance."

"In the Life Simulation, I gave him genuine loyalty."

"Yet I still became a discarded pawn."

"And Uchiha Itachi... did he really believe that every Uchiha besides Second Pillar deserved to die?"

Uchiha Setsuna looked toward Hokage Rock.

Four statues stood there.

They were Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Minato Namikaze.

At that moment, Uchiha Setsuna suddenly noticed something.

Something he had never noticed before.

The faces of all four Hokage had been carved into Hokage Rock, but their heights differed. Minato Namikaze's face was the lowest, followed by Tobirama Senju's.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face stood a full section higher than those of the other three Hokage.

"Does that mean he represents the strongest Hokage of all time?"

A cold smile appeared on Uchiha Setsuna's lips.

"He truly lives up to that title of being strong."

After breakfast, Uchiha Setsuna headed to the woods.

Today was still a rest day.

Uchiha Setsuna did not need to go to the Ninja Academy, so he trained on his own.

As he trained, Uchiha Setsuna pondered.

"This Life Simulation gave me the Shadow Clone Technique."

"It's a very useful ninjutsu."

"Used together with the Transformation Technique, it can help me shake off quite a few eyes."

"But that depends on me not already being watched."

"My previous attempts in the Life Simulation told me that, even now, I and the other members of the Uchiha Clan are already being watched in secret."

"Once we make any unusual move, we'll immediately be targeted."

"Just like that Life Simulation where I used the Transformation Technique to leave Konoha early. Root ninja caught up with me very quickly."

"As an Uchiha, trying to escape Konoha is nothing short of hell difficulty."

"Unless I possess sufficient strength."

"In tomorrow morning's Life Simulation, I'll try seeking refuge with Shimura Danzō. If that still doesn't work, I can only think of another way."

Uchiha Setsuna felt himself growing somewhat agitated.

He forcibly stopped himself from thinking too much.

"It's fine. Failing once or twice is normal."

"This is only the eleventh Life Simulation. There will be many, many more chances."

At noon, Uchiha Sagiri came again.

Unlike yesterday, Uchiha Sagiri brought only one bento today—the one for Uchiha Setsuna. She had eaten lunch at home before coming.

Uchiha Riko was at home today.

Uchiha Sagiri accompanied Uchiha Setsuna through his afternoon training.

"That's enough for today."

Uchiha Setsuna stopped.

"Sagiri, let's go back."

"Okay."

Uchiha Sagiri slipped her small hand into Uchiha Setsuna's palm.

The two held hands as they walked out of the woods.

Not far away, someone's gaze fell upon Uchiha Setsuna.

It was Second Pillar.

"That's Uchiha Setsuna?"

"Is that little girl his younger sister?"

"What was Uchiha Setsuna doing?"

"He looks exhausted. He's covered in dirt and sweat."

"Training?"

Second Pillar's eyes flickered.

Then he could not help feeling a trace of self-reproach.

"Second Pillar, what are you doing?"

"Didn't you say you would restore the glory of the Uchiha and lead the Uchiha Clan back to its peak?"

"A rest day is a rest day, but even Uchiha Setsuna is training. Are you really going to rest?"

"How are you supposed to lead the Uchiha Clan like this?"

"As a genius, you need to work even harder."

"You can't give anyone the chance to surpass you!"

Second Pillar harshly berated himself in his heart and made a decision at the same time.

"From now on, Second Pillar, you will have no rest days."

"Whenever you have time, train."

"Only then can you catch up to your brother."

"Only then can you revitalize the Uchiha together with him."

Second Pillar knew nothing at all about Uchiha Itachi's thoughts or what Uchiha Itachi would do in the future.

Uchiha Itachi would never revitalize the Uchiha.

All Uchiha Itachi did was exterminate the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Setsuna sensed the gaze behind him and glanced to the side, but saw nothing.

"A gaze watching me in secret?"

"Someone from the Anbu?"

"Someone from Root?"

"Or one of Uchiha Itachi's people?"