Kazuki watched until Tsunade and Shizune disappeared into the distance.
He withdrew his gaze, turned his head toward the side, and curled his lip.
“My dear brother, we really are related.
We even share the exact same hobbies.” “Hobbies?
What do you mean by hobbies?” *Poof!* A cloud of white smoke rose into the air.
A young shinobi materialized before Kazuki, watching him silently.
He wore a dark, high-collared short-sleeved top with triangular shoulder guards, matching pants, and leg wraps.
The Uchiha Clan crest was emblazoned on the back of his shirt, and a short katana was strapped across his back.
A member of the Uchiha Clan!
Surprisingly, he possessed a bulbous, rounded nose—a rare feature among the Uchiha.
That single detail alone made his identity unmistakable.
“Peeping?” he said.
“I have zero interest in that.” “Brother Shisui, you need to have a little more confidence in yourself,” Kazuki said with a sigh.
“You’re a talented shinobi.
If you’re willing, I can recommend you to Master Jiraiya.
I’m certain that with the legendary Shisui of the Teleportation’s strength, you could help expand Master’s *Make-Out* series and my *Cute* series to—” “Stop, stop, stop!” Shisui cut him off hastily, looking helpless.
“I don’t need any talent in that area, and I certainly don’t need to take on a master for it.” Besides, was Jiraiya someone you could just decide to study under?
Not only was Jiraiya extraordinarily powerful, but his political standing was also delicate.
An Uchiha joining his lineage was nothing short of a pipe dream.
At that thought, Shisui looked at the boy with a strange expression.
This younger brother of his had been publicly acknowledged by Jiraiya as a disciple.
Even if Jiraiya’s instruction had strayed in a wildly twisted direction…
he was still a disciple.
Kazuki wore a look of deep regret.
“Ah,” Shisui sighed suddenly.
“Speaking of talent, my brother, you’re a genius among the Uchiha—stronger than both Itachi and me.
I hope you can help me.” “Help you?” Kazuki rolled up his sleeves, his face twisting into a fierce scowl.
“Who bullied you?
Leave them to me!
If I don’t beat the absolute crap out of them, I’ll consider it my failure!” “…Do I look like I’m joking?” Shisui straightened up, his tone turning serious as his eyes grew sharp.
The surrounding air instantly grew heavy.
“Enough nonsense.
I came here for serious business,” Shisui said grimly.
“Kazuki…” “Iku!” Kazuki interrupted immediately.
“Call me Iku!
Uchiha Iku!” Shisui: “…” As someone born and raised in the Hidden Leaf Village, Shisui had no idea what “Iku” meant, but he had a strong feeling his brother was thinking about something terribly vulgar.
“Don’t you think that name sounds awesome?
It naturally has ‘cool’ built right into it!” Kazuki said, his expression turning bizarre as a strange smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
*Is he thinking about delicious food?* Shisui thought.
*Right, it is around dinnertime!* “Kazuki!
I am serious!” Shisui frowned deeply, his voice heavy.
“The tensions between the village and the clan are escalating.
This can’t go on—sooner or later, something terrible will happen.
We need to change the clan, and I want you to join us.” “You, Kazuki Uchiha, are a clan elite, a genius of the younger generation, and an acknowledged disciple of one of the Legendary Sannin.
If you stand with us, our chances of success will be far greater.
You could become the bridge between the village and the clan.” By the end of his speech, Shisui’s eyes burned with fanatical intensity.
He stepped forward and tightly grabbed Kazuki by the shoulders.
Kazuki put on a bashful look.
“Brother Shisui, that hurts.
You’re squeezing me too tight.” “…” A sudden chill swept down Shisui’s spine.
He recoiled like he had touched a hot stove, his face twisting in discomfort.
“Kazuki, can you please be serious for once?” No wonder so many Uchiha…
no, no wonder so many people in the village avoided Kazuki like the plague!
Even the Darkness of Shinobi himself would have veins popping on his forehead and bloodshot eyes if he had to listen to this kid!
Could a guy like this really be of any help?
Looking at Kazuki’s blank, innocent face, Shisui felt equally lost.
He was already physically and mentally exhausted from trying to mend relations between the village and the clan, but right now, he was utterly speechless.
*What terrible sin did I commit in my past life?!
Is this really my blood brother?
He’s a living curse sent to collect a debt!* Even with Shisui’s gentle temperament, he felt a desperate urge to curse him out.
The complicated political situation drained his energy, but Kazuki was actively torturing his soul.
The two stood facing each other.
One looked on with deep, spark-filled affection; the other looked hollowed out, as if he had just been beaten over the head by eighteen muscle-bound thugs.
Ultimately, Shisui could only sigh and turn away.
“Kazuki, you’re a smart guy.
You know what I mean.
Think it over carefully.” He turned and departed in defeat.
Watching Shisui’s lonely, crestfallen back, Kazuki let out a soft sigh.
*Poor Brother Shisui.
I really want to…
blast a Fire Style right at your back.
Think it over?
If we weren’t born from the same parents, making it hard to move against you, I’d be pointing right at that one-of-a-kind nose of yours and cursing three generations of your ancestors.* *You have grand ambitions and are willing to give everything for the village.
In the end, what did you get?
Your eyes ripped out, dying an untimely death!
By the time your body was found, you were probably swollen like a balloon in the water!* *And your little buddy, Itachi, the Ninja World’s number-one dutiful son!
Just as broad-minded as you, overflowing with the Will of Fire right down to his fingernails.
And how did he end up?
Even worse!
He slaughtered his own parents, his girlfriend, and his entire clan, dying reviled as a villain.
What was the point?
The worst part is he actually died with a smile on his face!* Kazuki covered his face in agony.
*They really brainwashed him into complete delusion!
Itachi, your parents having a ‘filial’ son like you must be the cosmic payback for a thousand lifetimes of bad karma!* *And after all that, you actually want me to end up like you?
Shisui, you really are my brother!
What a pair of brothers we are in this crazy Ninja World!* Shaking his head, Kazuki turned to leave.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted an eight- or nine-year-old boy walking by silently with his head bowed, looking timid.
The boy had spiky blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and distinctive whisker-like marks on his cheeks.
Uzumaki Naruto!
Naruto during his Ninja Academy years—the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Kazuki sighed deeply in his heart, a trace of gloom surfacing on his face for the first time.
He was a transmigrator.
It had been fifteen years since he arrived in this Naruto world, and he was fifteen years old now.
While he hadn’t memorized every detail of the original story, he knew the major plot points.
When he first realized he was an Uchiha, he hadn’t panicked; as long as he avoided the major crisis events, he could survive—and maybe even carve out some benefits for himself.
Who could have guessed…
*Holy crap.* The timeline here was completely different from the original canon!
It was likely because his arrival and participation in the Third Shinobi World War had subtly altered the course of history.
It was currently Konoha Year 51.
The night of the Nine-Tails attack had already passed, meaning the next major catastrophe was the Uchiha Clan Downfall Night.
Itachi was twelve years old now, which meant it was supposed to happen this very year.
Yet Naruto, Sasuke, and the rest of the Konoha 12 were three or four years older than they were in original canon!
Kazuki was utterly bewildered.
Would the Downfall Night still happen on schedule?
Was his advance knowledge going to be completely useless?
*Sigh.* The timeline was always the greatest mystery in the Naruto universe.
Looking back at history, who could ever make sense of it?
In his past world, countless online theorists had tried to unravel it, only to end up utterly defeated.
Now, things were even more convoluted.
It was leaving him no way out!
*Whatever!* Kazuki made up his mind.
*Time to execute Phase One!
As long as my own strength increases, dealing with that one-eyed snake and the old monkey will just be a matter of a single blade strike.* He looked back in the direction Shisui had departed, murmuring softly, “My dear big brother, don’t blame me.
I’m doing this to fulfill your wish too.
Don’t worry, I’ll definitely make sure Konoha and the Uchiha coexist.” As he spoke, three tomoe emerged in his dark eyes, spinning rapidly before slowly connecting to form an intricate, exotic pattern.
The Mangekyo!
“Brother Shisui, I awakened the Mangekyo a long time ago.
What about you?
Do you have it yet?” “You’d better have it!” “Because we’re brothers!” “Real brothers!” “Real Uchiha brothers!” A strange, unfathomable smile curled on Kazuki’s lips.