Night gradually deepened.
One by one, the lights of Konoha came alive, casting a soft glow over the streets.
Chiya and Tsunade walked side by side along the road leading to a small sake house.
Their shadows stretched long across the stone-paved street.
“Are you sure you want to go drinking?”
Tsunade glanced sideways at Chiya.
There was a faint, barely noticeable trace of concern in her voice.
“We’re leaving tomorrow.”
Chiya smiled slightly, his eyes settling on the sign of the sake house in the distance.
“Precisely because I’m leaving tomorrow, I want to have a drink with Lady Tsunade tonight.”
He paused.
His voice lowered slightly.
“After all…”
“No one knows what might happen on the battlefield.”
Tsunade’s footsteps slowed for a moment.
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she quickened her pace and walked straight toward the sake house.
There weren’t many customers inside.
Chiya chose a secluded private room and closed the door behind them, shutting out the noise of the outside world.
A server soon brought them sake and several small dishes before respectfully leaving.
Chiya filled Tsunade’s cup.
“Tonight, let’s forget about the Hokage and the medical-ninja training program for a while.”
Tsunade accepted the cup and drained it in one gulp.
The strong liquor burned as it passed down her throat, causing her to frown slightly.
She put down the cup and looked directly at Chiya.
“Why did you agree to go with Orochimaru?”
“You could have refused.”
Chiya didn’t answer immediately.
He poured himself a cup and slowly drank.
The alcohol began to take effect, and his eyes became deeper.
“Some things have to be done by someone.”
“The fact that the Sharingan has a natural advantage against tailed beasts is undeniable.”
“If my abilities can help our comrades on the front lines, I have no reason to back down.”
Tsunade unconsciously rubbed the rim of her cup with her finger.
Her voice became quieter.
“But do you understand how terrifying a jinchūriki can be?”
“If something goes wrong…”
“I know.”
Chiya interrupted her.
His voice was calm but firm.
“If even the Uchiha, who have a natural advantage against tailed beasts, refuse to fight them, then who else in the village will?”
“Other clans are fighting for Konoha on the battlefield.”
“If the Uchiha refuse to contribute, how will people view our clan in the future?”
“Only when every clan stands together against a common enemy…”
“Can Konoha hope to win this war.”
Tsunade suddenly raised her head.
A ripple passed through her eyes.
She opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something, but ultimately swallowed the words.
Instead, she picked up the sake bottle and refilled both their cups.
The two silently drank several more times.
The alcohol gradually rose to their heads.
The atmosphere inside the private room became subtle.
It was as though a thin veil had settled between them—hazy, intimate, and enough to make both their hearts beat faster.
“Actually…”
Chiya suddenly spoke.
His voice was slightly hoarse.
“There are some things I’ve wanted to tell Lady Tsunade for a long time.”
“If I wait too long…”
“I might not have the chance anymore.”
Tsunade’s heart skipped a beat.
She raised an eyebrow, pretending to remain calm.
“Oh?”
“What is it?”
Chiya looked directly into her eyes.
His expression was more serious than she had ever seen before.
“Lady Tsunade…”
“From the first time I met you, I was drawn to you.”
“Everything about you makes it difficult for me to look away.”
A blush immediately spread across Tsunade’s cheeks.
She instinctively turned her face away.
Her voice softened.
“You smooth-talking brat.”
“Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“I know exactly what I’m saying.”
Chiya chuckled softly.
His voice suddenly carried a hint of self-mockery.
“I just didn’t expect that before I could get to know you better…”
“I’d already have to go to the battlefield.”
“Perhaps…”
“This is simply fate.”
“Fate?”
Tsunade suddenly turned toward him.
For a moment, she thought of her deceased younger brother.
A trace of anger flashed through her eyes.
“Don’t talk as though something is bound to happen to you!”
“Besides, you’re going with Orochimaru and several elite shinobi…”
Chiya didn’t argue.
He simply looked at her.
There were complicated emotions in his eyes, enough to make her heart ache.
Tsunade was pierced by his gaze.
Her chest tightened.
She grabbed her cup and drained it, trying to use the alcohol to numb the emotions surging inside her.
“Lady Tsunade.”
Chiya’s voice was as gentle as a breeze.
“If…”
“I mean, if I really encounter a jinchūriki…”
“Or even Hanzō of Amegakure…”
“And I don’t make it back…”
“Will you remember me?”
“Shut up!”
Tsunade suddenly slammed her hand onto the table and stood.
Her eyes were slightly red.
“Don’t say things like that!”
“You’re coming back safely!”
Chiya stood and slowly walked toward her.
They were so close that they could feel each other’s breath.
He raised his hand and gently brushed a strand of blonde hair away from her cheek.
Tsunade’s breathing stopped for a moment.
The defenses around her heart finally collapsed.
She suddenly grabbed Chiya’s wrist.
Her voice trembled slightly.
“You brat…”
“Why do you have to act so tough?”
“You’ve barely even left the village on missions.”
“And now you’re going with Orochimaru to deal with a jinchūriki.”
“He’s crazy.”
“Are you crazy too?”
Chiya didn’t explain.
Fight a jinchūriki alone?
I’m not stupid enough to do that.
Orochimaru would be at the front.
There would also be experienced elite shinobi around him.
If things went wrong, Chiya could simply retreat.
As long as I stay alive, there will always be another opportunity.
He understood that principle perfectly.
As for Hanzō…
That had merely been something he’d said to make Tsunade worry.
What kind of terrible luck would he need to have to encounter Hanzō immediately after arriving in Amegakure?
Looking at the normally proud Tsunade now, her expression softened entirely because of him, Chiya knew his plan had already succeeded.
This is my chance.
He reached out and pulled her firmly into his arms.
Tsunade didn’t resist.
Instead, she buried her face against his shoulder.
“Promise me…”
“You have to come back.”
Chiya tightened his arms around her, feeling the warmth of the person in his embrace.
Alcohol and emotion intertwined.
The atmosphere inside the private room seemed to freeze.
After a long while, Tsunade pushed him away and raised her head.
She looked directly into Uchiha Chiya’s eyes.
Then, suddenly, she rose onto her toes and kissed him.
Their lips touched for only an instant before separating.
“Lady Tsunade…”
“I don’t want us to have any regrets.”
Tsunade’s body trembled.
Her eyes gradually became hazy.
“You brat…”
“How dare you say something so shameless…”
“When you come back, I’ll properly teach you a lesson!”
She leaned against Chiya, her light-brown eyes filled with complicated emotion.
What a troublesome man.
Fine.
I’ll leave it to fate.
Click.
The light went out.
The private-room door was locked.
That night, the final barrier between them was finally broken.
…
The next morning.
When Chiya woke up, the other side of the room was already empty.
He shook his head, which was still heavy from the previous night’s drinking, and slowly got to his feet.
When he opened the private-room door, he found an elaborate breakfast waiting outside.
It was still warm.
Beside it was a note.
Eat properly.
I’ll be waiting for you to come back.
Chiya knew immediately who had left it.
The corners of his mouth curved upward.
Damn.
She’s actually this considerate!
After spending most of the night together, Chiya was naturally starving.
He didn’t hold back.
He immediately began devouring the breakfast.
That night’s exertion had clearly taken a toll on him.
Twenty minutes later, Chiya was finally full and left the sake house.
After returning home, he began preparing his equipment for the battlefield.
Then—
[Steal Tsunade Mission completed.]
[Please select your reward.]
Chiya’s movements stopped.
Completed?
Joy surged through his heart.
His attention immediately focused on the reward selection.
“I choose the Advancement Card!”
“Advance my Three-Tomoe Sharingan!”
[Congratulations, host. You have obtained: Advancement Card.]
[The Advancement Card is strengthening the Bloodline Limit: Sharingan.]
Chiya suddenly felt a cool sensation spread through his eyes.
His pitch-black eyes shimmered.
The three tomoe appeared faintly.
Then—
A surge of intense emotion erupted from his eyes and rushed directly into his mind.
Chiya groaned.
He instinctively closed his eyes.
Standing where he was, his hand tightened around the kunai.
It trembled slightly.
“Ugh…”
After a moment, Chiya opened his eyes.
His previously black eyes, marked by three tomoe, had transformed.
A six-petaled blood-red red spider lily pattern now filled his irises.
At its center was a tiny pattern resembling the Rinnegan.
[Sharingan advancement successful.]
[Congratulations, host. You have obtained the Mangekyō Sharingan.]
[Congratulations, host. You have obtained the dōjutsu: Yomi no Higan.]
[Congratulations, host. You have obtained the dōjutsu: Causality Reincarnation.]
Chiya’s chakra surged at the same time.
His clothes fluttered violently from the pressure.
Ten minutes passed.
Only then did the frightening pressure finally subside.
The crimson Mangekyō Sharingan remained hidden within his eyes.
“System.”
“Display my character panel.”
[Name: Uchiha Chiya]
[Age: 18]
[Chakra: 10 Kakashi]
[Bloodline Limit: Sharingan — Mangekyō Sharingan]
[Skills: Mangekyō Dōjutsu: Yomi no Higan, Causality Reincarnation Genjutsu Mastery, Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, Body Flicker Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Three Basic Techniques, etc.]
Two new dōjutsu.
And his chakra had increased by the equivalent of nine Kakashis.
Chiya understood why.
The massive increase in chakra was caused by the special Yin Release chakra that had flooded his mind when his Sharingan advanced to the Mangekyō stage.
Activating dōjutsu required ocular power.
And ocular power was itself a form of chakra.
The increase in ocular power had therefore caused his total chakra reserves to surge to ten Kakashis.
Chiya let out a long breath.
A new confidence filled his eyes.
With this power…
This mission to the Land of Rain is completely different now.
Forget that little jinchūriki.
Even if I encounter the “Demigod” of Amegakure, I have the power to kill him.
“Jinchūriki?”
“Demigod?”
Let them face my Mangekyō dōjutsu.
“Chiya!”
A voice suddenly came from outside.
Chiya immediately used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared outside the room.
When he saw who had arrived, he froze.
It was Uchiha Sōsuke—
Mikoto’s grandfather.
“You were too impulsive about going to the front lines.”
“Lord Sōsuke.”
“Some things…”
“Someone has to do them.”
Hearing that answer, Sōsuke fell silent.
The words he had been about to say died in his throat.
“If you come back alive…”
“I will no longer oppose your relationship with Mikoto.”
You were still planning to oppose it?
Chiya couldn’t help complaining inwardly.
I’m a fine young man, and Mikoto and I make a perfectly good match.
Who needs an old man interfering?
But seeing the concern in Sōsuke’s eyes, Chiya decided not to provoke him.
He reassured him firmly.
“I…”
“I’ll come back alive.”
“And I’ll come back completely unharmed.”
As Chiya spoke, a trace of crimson appeared in his otherwise dark eyes.
Sōsuke’s brow furrowed.
His confidence made him uneasy.
The battlefield was no place for child’s play.
Sōsuke was just about to lecture Chiya about being careful when—
He saw the change in Chiya’s eyes.
His pupils suddenly contracted.