Kumogakure's Conditions Were Too Harsh!

"Prioritize Kumogakure. If that truly doesn't work, then choose Kirigakure."

Uchiha Setsuna made his decision.

A day of classes came to an end.

Uchiha Setsuna returned home, trained, ate dinner, bathed, and rested.

Early the next morning, Uchiha Setsuna eagerly began a Life Simulation.

"Begin simulation!"

[At age 6, you were utterly unremarkable.]

[At 6 years and 1 month, you secretly investigated information on Kumogakure spies in Konoha. You wanted to contact Kumogakure.]

[At 6 years and 2 months, you continued your secret investigation.]

[At 6 years and 3 months, you found a Kumogakure spy and established contact with him.]

[However, he did not trust you and made a demand.]

[He demanded that you seize Hyuga Hinata's Byakugan when the opportunity arose. Only by handing Hyuga Hinata's Byakugan over to Kumogakure could you earn Kumogakure's trust. Otherwise, they would not communicate with you further.]

[You refused his demand.]

[At 6 years and 4 months, you discovered the Kumogakure spy's location. You killed him and used Mind Invasion on his corpse, obtaining a way to contact Kumogakure.]

[At 6 years and 5 months, you attempted to contact Kumogakure.]

[At 6 years and 6 months, Kumogakure responded to you.]

[However, Kumogakure did not trust you very much and made a demand.]

[Kumogakure demanded that you find a way to provide them with a pair of Byakugan. Only then would they send ninja to receive you. Otherwise, you would have to travel to the Land of Lightning on your own.]

[You did not obtain the Byakugan.]

[At 6 years and 7 months, Konoha's Anbu discovered that you had been contacting Kumogakure and moved to arrest you.]

[You fought the Anbu Ninja and killed several of them.]

[You chose to flee Konoha.]

[More Anbu Ninja appeared.]

[You were captured.]

[You died.]

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

[1: Nothing.]

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

Uchiha Setsuna: "..."

To be honest, Uchiha Setsuna had not expected this Life Simulation to end like this.

Uchiha Setsuna had thought that after he expressed his willingness to defect to Kumogakure, Kumogakure would welcome him.

After all, he was an Uchiha, and he possessed the Sharingan.

Whether it was the Byakugan or the Sharingan, both were extremely coveted Kekkei Genkai.

Since Kumogakure craved the Byakugan so much, it stood to reason that they should have had high expectations for the Sharingan as well.

But Uchiha Setsuna had not expected Kumogakure to seemingly have little interest in him.

"Could it be that, in Kumogakure's eyes, the Sharingan is inferior to the Byakugan?"

A scene surfaced in Uchiha Setsuna's mind.

After the Fourth Raikage fell under the Sharingan's genjutsu, he was not alarmed, but blamed himself instead.

I actually fell for such low-level genjutsu? Unforgivable!

Was the Sharingan's genjutsu low-level?

Not at all.

Compared to ordinary genjutsu, the Sharingan's genjutsu was far stronger.

For example, Uchiha Itachi's genjutsu utterly crushed Yūhi Kurenai's.

Then why had the Fourth Raikage said such a thing?

Uchiha Setsuna's eyes flickered.

"Perhaps Kumogakure really doesn't think much of the Sharingan?"

"Maybe they believe that what was powerful back then was not the Sharingan, but Uchiha Madara?"

"Just like the Senju Clan. What was powerful was Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, not the Senju Clan's bloodline?"

"On top of that, they don't trust me. They think this could be bait or a trap."

"They may think this is Konoha's retaliation against them."

"They aren't willing to pay too high a price for a pair of Sharingan."

Quite a few people had witnessed Uchiha Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan.

Ōnoki was one of them.

Kumogakure surely had people like that as well.

But they might not have known the name Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Kumogakure only gave me two choices."

"One, I rely on my own strength to reach the Land of Lightning, and they will contact me."

"But reaching the Land of Lightning on my own is extremely difficult."

"Konoha's Root and Anbu Ninja are very strong, and the route to the Land of Lightning is exceptionally complicated."

"The second is to seize Hyuga Hinata's Byakugan."

Uchiha Setsuna had hesitated during the Life Simulation, but he still had not made that choice.

For one thing, this was different from taking advantage of Yamanaka Ino's feelings.

Forcefully gouging out Hyuga Hinata's eyes was simply too cruel in Uchiha Setsuna's view.

For another, if he did that, he would have absolutely no chance of escaping Konoha.

The Hyuga Clan kept a close watch over members of its Main Family.

If Uchiha Setsuna did that, Kumogakure might indeed have a chance to obtain the Byakugan, but Uchiha Setsuna would die.

"Kumogakure's conditions are too harsh."

"With my current strength, it's basically impossible."

"Even if I reveal the information about the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall within the Uchiha, it still won't buy me enough time."

"Kumogakure is too arrogant."

"Now it seems that even if I overcome every obstacle and somehow make it to Kirigakure, their attitude toward me will probably be terrible too."

"I'll give up on Kumogakure for now. In the next Life Simulation, I'll try choosing Kirigakure."

Uchiha Setsuna made his decision.

Today's classes were particularly easy.

The morning consisted of academic lessons.

Some students listened attentively, while the others did not listen at all. They did whatever they pleased—those who wanted to sneak snacks did so, those who wanted to space out did so, and those who wanted to let their minds wander did so.

Iruka had already given up.

Now, Iruka could only look forward to the monthly exam.

Once the monthly exam came, he would announce the results.

Only by using the grades to provoke the students and stir up their competitive spirits would they work hard in academic classes.

"Students, this afternoon is our organized group meal."

"You've been in the Ninja Academy for three weeks now. I believe you've more or less gotten used to the academy's studies and life, but you still aren't familiar enough with your classmates."

"Today is an opportunity. You'll have plenty of time to talk with one another."

"Work together and divide the tasks."

"Everyone, come with me."

Iruka led everyone to the Training Ground.

The so-called group meal was actually a group activity, with Iruka organizing everyone to play some games together.

To Uchiha Setsuna, it was absurdly childish.

But in order to conceal himself, Uchiha Setsuna could only pretend to be interested.

Winning a game earned points.

The points could be exchanged for toys or snacks.

Even if someone lost, there would be a consolation prize.

The afternoon passed quickly.

Other than Uchiha Setsuna, everyone else was thoroughly absorbed in it.

Even Second Pillar was the same.

After all, Second Pillar was currently a genuine six-year-old child.

"Ring, ring, ring!"

A bell rang out.

"Students, quiet down. Dinner is ready, and there's enough for everyone."

"Return to your seats. Don't wander around."

"Dinner will be brought in shortly."

Everyone returned to their respective places.

A fragrant aroma drifted in from outside.