Uchiha Itachi, You Beast!

"I'll try escaping early this time."

Uchiha Setsuna set a rough direction for this Life Simulation.

He chose to escape early not because he wanted to abandon his family and survive alone.

It was because if he successfully escaped Konoha, this Life Simulation would give him more time.

And in turn, let him gain more benefits.

[At age 6, you entered the Ninja Academy. Because of your Uchiha background, you were assigned to a good class. Hyuga Hinata sat to your left, and Yamanaka Ino to your right.]

[At age 6 years and 1 month, you learned the Three Basic Jutsu.]

[At age 6 years and 2 months, you obtained a ninjutsu scroll from home and learned the Great Fireball Jutsu.]

[At age 6 years and 3 months, Naruto challenged you and was utterly thrashed.]

[At age 6 years and 4 months, Yamanaka Ino confessed to you. She received no response and was deeply disappointed.]

[At age 6 years and 5 months, Second Pillar approached you on his own. He said you were the most talented student in the class after him, that he acknowledged you, and that he planned to train with you to rebuild Uchiha glory together.]

[But you dismissed Second Pillar with disdain. You had no time for a brat who knew nothing.]

[At age 6 years and 6 months, you obtained a ninjutsu scroll from home and learned the Fire Style Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu.]

[At age 6 years and 7 months, you began planning your escape.]

[At age 6 years and 8 months, Second Pillar challenged you and was utterly thrashed.]

[At age 6 years and 9 months, Hyuga Hinata developed a strong curiosity about you.]

[At age 6 years and 10 months, you secretly left Konoha, but Root ninjas quickly caught up to you. You died!]

[This simulation has ended.]

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

[1: Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique.]

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

Uchiha Setsuna: "..."

"The Uchiha Clan is already under complete surveillance. There's no chance of escaping at all."

"The moment I tried to leave Konoha, I was killed."

"I didn't even make it to the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall."

Uchiha Setsuna shook his head.

"I choose 1!"

There were only two options, and Uchiha Setsuna had no idea what the second one was.

But Uchiha Setsuna felt that—

Since he had been captured and killed by Root ninjas, he most likely had nothing in his hands.

Compared to that, the first option was undoubtedly better.

After Uchiha Setsuna made his choice—

A stream of information flooded into his mind.

In an instant, Uchiha Setsuna completely mastered the Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, and at an extremely high level of proficiency.

"But the second option can actually be used as well."

"Now that I know about the second option, the me in the Life Simulator might deliberately hold something extremely valuable in my hand before dying."

"In that case, I can choose the second option."

The second Life Simulation ended.

Uchiha Setsuna did not leave the woods. Instead, he remained there and continued his ninja training.

The Life Simulator could indeed bring Uchiha Setsuna many benefits.

He now possessed genin-level Chakra and the Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique.

But Uchiha Setsuna knew what he was up against.

Uchiha Itachi, who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

The Root Organization led by Danzo.

And even...

Uchiha Setsuna looked toward the Hokage Office Building.

Then quickly withdrew his gaze.

"I can't waste even a single moment."

Uchiha Setsuna began training. Large beads of sweat poured down his body, soaking his clothes completely as heat continuously rose from him.

Noon.

"Brother Setsuna."

A little girl ran into the woods. She was still young, with twin ponytails that bounced up and down as she ran, making her look utterly adorable.

"Sagiri."

Uchiha Setsuna stopped training.

"Brother Setsuna, I came to bring you lunch."

Uchiha Sagiri raised the lunchbox in her hands high above her head.

Just then—

Uchiha Sagiri seemed to trip over something, and her whole body pitched forward as she was about to fall.

Uchiha Setsuna flashed forward, arriving before Uchiha Sagiri before she hit the ground.

One hand caught the lunchbox.

The other steadied Uchiha Sagiri.

"Brother Setsuna, thank you."

Uchiha Setsuna rubbed Uchiha Sagiri's head without saying anything.

He sat down on a nearby rock.

The moment he opened the lunchbox, the aroma of food rushed into his nose.

Uchiha Setsuna's stomach growled.

"Sagiri, have you eaten?"

"I already ate."

Uchiha Setsuna nodded. "Then I'll dig in."

The moment he took a bite, Uchiha Setsuna could tell that this lunch had not been made by his grandfather, but by Uchiha Sagiri's mother. The dishes made by the two of them tasted distinctly different.

It was not that Uchiha Setsuna disliked his grandfather's cooking.

It was simply that Uchiha Sagiri's mother was truly far better at cooking than ordinary people.

Even the most popular restaurants on Konoha's commercial street might not be able to compare with her.

Uchiha Sagiri's mother was also a very kind person and often made lunch for Uchiha Setsuna.

The two families were very close.

Uchiha Sagiri sat beside Uchiha Setsuna, propping up her chin with both hands as she watched him.

"Brother Setsuna, is it good?"

"It's delicious. Aunt Riko's cooking is as good as ever."

"As long as Brother likes it."

Uchiha Sagiri paused before asking—

"Brother Setsuna, aren't you going to the Ninja Academy in a few days? If so, won't we have far fewer chances to see each other?"

"Going to the Ninja Academy doesn't mean I won't come home. You can still come find me, Sagiri."

"But when you come back after class, Brother Setsuna, you'll definitely be tired and need to rest. I can't disturb you."

Uchiha Sagiri sighed.

"If only I were a little older. Then I could go to the Ninja Academy with you, Brother Setsuna, and come home with you too. But I still have two years before I can go. I really want to grow up quickly."

Hearing those words, Uchiha Setsuna fell silent.

Uchiha Sagiri had no idea what would happen a year from now. She was still full of hopes for the future.

But in truth, Uchiha Sagiri no longer had a future.

She would not even get the chance to enter the Ninja Academy.

During the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall one year later, Uchiha Sagiri would also die at Uchiha Itachi's hands.

Uchiha Setsuna looked at Uchiha Sagiri, his heart aching for her.

She was such an adorable little girl. Her life had only just begun, and she had done nothing wrong.

Yet she was destined to face such a fate.

It was simply too cruel, too unfair.