The academy was full of students, parents, and teachers. Excited voices echoed throughout the halls, and I found myself surrounded by classmates talking about the future. Some were eager to embark on exciting missions, while others seemed nervous about working with a team.
I, on the other hand, was trying my best, but I could barely focus. My mind was divided between leveling up, mokuton, and Itachi Uchiha.
"Find out more about Itachi Uchiha." It was as if the system was constantly pressuring me.
When my name was finally called, I got up and walked to the stage, where Sensei Daikoku handed me the Konoha headband. The metal reflected the sunlight, and for a moment, I felt genuine pride. I was truly a ninja now.
The ceremony continued, and when it was over, the students were gathered in groups to form their teams.
My name was called for Team 11, along with two other students I didn't know very well:
Sora, a girl with short hair and a determined expression, who looked eager to show off her skills.
Renji, a tall, calm boy with dark hair and sharp eyes, always watching everything around him. He was an Uchiha.
Our sensei was introduced next. He was Tetsu Hyuuga, a jōnin with a relaxed appearance, but with eyes that seemed to see everything. He wore a slightly tilted headband and carried a short sword on his back.
"Congratulations, Team 11," he said with a smile. "Starting today, we will work together. I hope you are ready to learn and grow."
We discussed and talked a little, but the formal introduction of the group would not take place until the next day. That was when I noticed something.
After the ceremony, while everyone was excitedly discussing the future, a conversation between two students nearby caught my attention.
"Have you heard? The Uchiha clan has been acting strangely lately," said one of them in a low voice.
"Yes," replied the other. "My father said they've been isolating themselves more. Something big is happening."
I listened carefully to every word. The massacre was getting closer, and the tension of the Uchiha clan was certainly spreading throughout the village.
"Riku, are you okay?" asked Sora, looking at me.
"Yes, I'm fine," I replied quickly, trying to hide the concern in my eyes.
Renji watched our interaction silently.
"I need to move forward with my mission before I lose the chance to act," I thought to myself.
*
Later, after interacting a little more with my teammates, I decided to put aside my personal goal of finding out more about my clan for a while and follow the system's advice by searching for information about Itachi. I knew he spent a lot of time around the Uchiha clan, so I decided to try my luck.
As I walked along the edge of the Uchiha district, I felt a chill. The place was quieter than usual, and the atmosphere was almost oppressive.
While I was distracted, trying to understand what was going on there, I accidentally bumped into a huge man. He had long, slicked-back hair and wore a Konoha headband on his forehead. His expression was serious, and he looked like someone with few friends, which only accentuated this characteristic. He was wearing a ninja vest, and I noticed a symbol on the sleeves of his shirt.
He was from the Konoha Military Police.
"Are you looking for something, kid? Or are you just lost?" said the policeman in a harsh tone.
I knew that angering him could cause problems, but at the same time I needed to continue exploring. So I took a chance.
"Oh, yes, well, I'm looking for a friend," I replied casually, hoping he would just let me go.
He placed a hand on my chest, stopping me from moving forward, and said, "I think you're in the wrong place, young man. You'd better look somewhere else. Or go home. It's getting late, and you know how dangerous the streets can be at night, don't you?"
The threat in his tone was unmistakable.
"Maybe you're right. I should head home." I said, turning around and walking out of sight.
But I wasn't ready to give up so easily. Once I felt I was free of any immediate threat, I decided to do something reckless and risky. Forming hand seals and channeling my chakra, I performed a jutsu.
[Ability Activated: Transformation Jutsu]
"Hope this works," I muttered, now with a different appearance and tone of voice. I wore the Uchiha police uniform and looked older.
Then, running in another direction, I tried to enter the clan through a different path. At first, it was easy. Some people stared at me, but the disguise held up.
My heart pounded as I walked among the Uchihas. Even under the Transformation Jutsu, I couldn't ignore the weight of their gazes.
That place radiated power and tension — a strange mix that only heightened my anxiety.
I knew I was in dangerous territory. One mistake could cost me dearly, but urgency pushed me forward.
While passing through a narrow street, I spotted some Uchiha children training under the watch of an adult. He seemed to be evaluating them strictly, but his posture hinted at concern — like he was more focused on the surroundings than the training.
'I have a bad feeling about this,' I thought, but kept walking, trying to appear confident. That's when I noticed a familiar figure in the distance.
It was Itachi. He wore his ANBU uniform, fists clenched.
He stood in front of a house, speaking to someone I couldn't identify. His posture was different from the one I'd seen in the village. His expression was darker — something I'd only seen during specific episodes of the anime.
I lowered my head slightly to avoid drawing attention and hid behind a nearby fence, trying to catch some of the conversation.
"I know what's at stake," said Itachi, his voice low but filled with emotion. "But that doesn't mean I'll act without thinking."
The other voice was deeper, more authoritative. "You have no choice, Itachi. It's for the good of the village. For all of us."
The conversation went on, but the details were hard to make out. I moved in slightly, but a sound behind me made me freeze.
"Hey, you there!" a female voice called. I turned slowly and saw a young Uchiha glaring at me. Her Sharingan was activated. "You don't look familiar. Who are you?"
Damn. My mind raced for a way out. Keeping the disguise would be hard now that she was suspicious.
"I'm a new patrol member," I said, trying to sound confident. "Assigned to monitor this area."
She narrowed her eyes, clearly not convinced. "Why haven't I heard of you?"
Sweat trickled down my forehead. I had to think fast. That's when the system flashed before me.
[System Alert: Risk Situation]
"Very helpful, system," I muttered, gritting my teeth.
I considered using the Substitution Jutsu to escape quickly. So I went ahead with the plan, stalling for time by keeping her talking.
"You must be new to the patrol too, right? It's normal not to know everyone at first," I said, maintaining my tone casual.
Before she could respond, I noticed a moment of hesitation on her part and used the Substitution Jutsu to switch places with a wooden log.
I reappeared in an area further away from the district and started running, disabling the Transformation Jutsu to avoid further suspicion.
My heart was pounding in my chest as I escaped to the safety of Konoha's main street. I stopped in an alley to catch my breath.
"That was close..." I muttered to myself.
The system screen appeared in front of me with an update.
*
[Mission Updated: Find out more about Itachi Uchiha]
(Progress: 40%)
*
'Progress has jumped significantly. Could it be because he was wearing ANBU clothes? And that voice — who could it have been?' I began to reason with myself.
Itachi was already part of the ANBU. Maybe Danzo had already begun trying to manipulate him to destroy the Uchiha clan.
I needed to find a way to watch them, but how?
Surely, watching ANBU without being detected wouldn't be easy, but it could be crucial to uncovering the secrets surrounding Itachi and the impending massacre.
As I walked back home, a new determination began to well up inside me. I knew I was playing with fire, but if I wanted to make a difference in this world, I had to face these challenges head-on.
...
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