Chapter 3: Three Sentences to Make the Uchiha Open Their Sharingan for Me! Clang!
Heart of Steel was a powerful item from a certain game.
Its effect was straightforward: take a hit, get stronger.
Uchiha Takanotsume was no stranger to it. He was a veteran Sion player with thousands of Aram matches and a level 7 mastery badge.
His style? Bait, die, and gift the kill to the enemy—because the more you die, the tankier and stronger you get!
Now, just when he was itching to get himself killed, this talent shows up.
It… it shouldn't mess with his grand insurance scam plan, right?
Takanotsume's face stayed blank, but deep down, a bad feeling started creeping in.
Still, he knew nothing about this talent, and the Will of Heaven didn't exactly send a user manual.
The priority now was snagging a mission from Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna.
Before this cheat could fully kick in, he needed to get himself to a battlefield, let Iwa or whoever chop him up, and seal the insurance deal!
That was the real goal!
But Takanotsume couldn't shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at him.
He glanced back—
And found the source of his unease standing right beside him.
That so-called Uchiha Shisui, who was more like a little demon, suddenly curled his lips into a gentle smile. In an infuriatingly kind whisper, he said, "Uchiha Takanotsume, don't worry. I'll take on the elder's mobilization missions!"
"You should stay in the clan and focus on training."
Takanotsume's spine prickled with goosebumps, sweat beading on his forehead. Bro, why aren't you bugging Fugaku's kid instead of hovering over me? What's your deal?
Without hesitation, Takanotsume lunged forward through the crowd, before Shisui could react, raising three fingers to the sky in a dramatic oath, his voice ringing out:
"Elder!"
"To restore the Uchiha's glory, it's my duty to step up!"
"I'm not afraid of danger—please send me to the battlefield!"
Takanotsume charged forward, belting out his plea with a voice so melodious it echoed like a lingering song.
He raised his arm with fierce determination: "Whether it's the pouring rain of the Land of Rain or the soothing hot springs of the Land of Hot Springs, nothing can shake my resolve to give everything for the Uchiha clan!"
"If someone must sacrifice, then I hope—"
"It's me!"
His words landed, and the crowd turned to look, their gazes tinged with admiration.
Who's this guy's general? How's he so bold?
"Takanotsume-kun! How could you—"
Shisui, too late to stop him, froze with a look of shock, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Though their time together was short, he'd already decided Takanotsume was a kindred spirit, someone he could trust with his back!
But—
How'd he just throw himself away like that?!
???
Is this what losing a comrade feels like?
This… this… this…
Shisui's face flushed red, an overwhelming urge bubbling up to drag Takanotsume home and whip him a few times.
His eyes, already honed to a breaking point, unknowingly turned scarlet.
A single tomoe spun rapidly in his crimson Sharingan, radiating a mournful aura.
The trigger for awakening his eyes: the loss of a comrade.
Like fate, it activated early in him.
However—
"You're not good enough. Too weak."
Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna frowned, glancing down at Takanotsume. Where'd this idiot come from?
A genin Uchiha who hadn't even awakened his Sharingan—what was he, if not a total loser?
With those words—
Takanotsume's resolute expression froze.
His sharp edges seemed like they could cut someone!
The boy's embarrassment roared louder than thunder!
Can you hear it? Takanotsume's heart is crying!
[Uchiha Setsuna has scorned you.]
Suddenly, in Takanotsume's eyes, a massive red dot flared up on Setsuna's face.
It was so huge it nearly blotted out the elder's expression.
But those disdain-filled eyes pierced through, searing into Takanotsume's heart.
Anger surged within him.
Sure, he was kind of a loser right now, but did the Great Elder have to rip open his wounds like that? I'm pissed, man!
Break my wings, and I'll burn your paradise to the ground!
"Great Elder!" Takanotsume's face hardened. He took a bold step forward, raising his voice:
"This isn't about being weak or not!"
"I know my abilities are limited, and I haven't awakened my Sharingan!"
His voice rose, loud and clear:
"But genin in a war—"
"They don't handle frontline defenses!"
"They mostly skirt the battlefield's edges, doing support tasks."
"Besides, other clans are sending genin to the Land of Rain's battlefield."
"If we Uchihas don't send anyone, won't that make the other clans look down on us?"
The crowd froze at his words, then stared at Takanotsume in horror.
He wasn't wrong, but—
The guy you're mouthing off to is a monster who tried to assassinate the Second Hokage!
And he's the hawkish leader of the Uchiha, the Great Elder!
His influence in the clan could be summed up in four words:
Power. Overwhelming. Sky-high.
And you just went at him like that?
Who gave you the guts?
Setsuna's face darkened, his thoughts souring. Am I giving this kid too much face?
A trash genin who hadn't even awakened his Sharingan, daring to challenge his opinion?
This was like a pig climbing a tree—absurdly cocky.
But then—
Setsuna paused, a new thought striking him.
Wasn't this exactly the kind of person he needed?
As the hawkish leader, Setsuna was tasked with recruiting like-minded clan members.
And it wasn't just about talent.
Personality was key!
Especially the kind of stubborn, hotheaded, ready-to-spill-blood-for-the-Uchiha's-future type—perfect for charging into battle at eighteen!
The more stubborn this kid acted, the more loyal he'd be to the clan!
When the time came for a coup, wouldn't he be the first to scream and chop off Hiruzen Sarutobi's head?
As a coup connoisseur, Setsuna could pat his chest and swear:
No one knew coups better than him!
A guy like Takanotsume was prime coup cannon fodder!
So—
He couldn't let such talent die on some laughable mission for Konoha!
With that, Setsuna's stormy expression cleared, and he even let out a creepy chuckle.
The crowd shrank back at his smile, chills running down their spines.
Even Takanotsume felt a twinge of doubt.
Not that he was scared of the old man.
He was just wondering—
If this geezer snapped and killed him, would that count for insurance?
[It counts.]
The Will of Heaven answered instantly in his mind.
Takanotsume's eyes lit up.
No more panic, no more hesitation. He straightened his back and glared right back.
Setsuna nearly laughed at the kid's defiant little stare.
Suppressing the urge to string him up and thrash him, Setsuna thought of his grand vision and took a deep breath.
He decided—
Fine, I'll give this kid one more chance to back down.
He shot a cold glare and snapped, "Naive! Ridiculous!"
If the battlefield was as rosy as Takanotsume claimed, the Uchiha wouldn't mind sending genin to train.
But reality was far crueler—those sent out weren't ninja; they were fodder.
Setsuna stared coldly at Takanotsume. "Kid, are you deaf or just stupid?"
But—
Takanotsume grinned wickedly, stretching out his neck and slapping it like a butcher showing off prime meat: "What's that, Great Elder? If you've got the guts, chop me down!"
"If you can't kill me, send me to the battlefield!"
His bold defiance seemed to hit some critical threshold.
A clear sound rang in Takanotsume's ears—
[Clang!]