The battle in the valley shifted in an instant.
Eiji's Hell Viewing Jutsu had completely turned the tide.
Even a veteran like Tekka, Captain of the Force's First Squad, couldn't help but be momentarily shocked. For a boy wielding only a One-Tomoe Sharingan to cast such an effective genjutsu… it was beyond impressive. But Tekka's combat instincts left no room for hesitation.
"Finish him!"
Pfft!
Blood sprayed in the moonlight.
The rogue ninja trapped in Eiji's illusion didn't even manage a proper defense before Tekka's katana flashed, separating head from shoulders in a single, clean strike.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Boom! Boom!
Raging fire and cutting wind engulfed the remaining two rogue ninja. Without the iron triangle of their coordinated formation, they crumbled under the combined assault of Tekka and the others. Screams tore through the valley, only to be smothered by flames.
And just like that—the battle was over.
The stench of blood and charred earth hung heavy in the night air.
Eiji leaped lightly down from his rocky perch. His face was pale, sweat trickling along his temple. Casting Great Dragon Fire jutsu followed immediately by genjutsu had pushed his twelve-year-old body to its limits.
Tekka approached, his uniform spattered in blood, his expression complicated.
"Eiji…" He opened his mouth, but words failed him. Instead, he placed a firm hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Good kid… well done."
A simple compliment, but the weight of recognition in Tekka's voice said more than a thousand words.
"Captain, you flatter me," Eiji said calmly, his tone as light as if the decisive strike had been nothing more than routine.
That understated composure only deepened the respect in the squad's eyes.
'Neither arrogant nor impatient… this child's future will be limitless.'
"Luck, he says? Hah!" Tekka laughed. "If that's luck, the rest of us might as well quit now! That Great Dragon Fire was nearly at my level—and your genjutsu? To disable an enemy instantly with just a single tomoe… Even most of our clan couldn't pull that off!"
In truth, Eiji's Sharingan mastery, refined through the system, had elevated his genjutsu application to a terrifying level, far beyond what his age or single tomoe suggested.
"Clean up the battlefield. Check for casualties. We return to the village at once!" Tekka ordered.
The journey back to Konoha was nothing like the tense departure.
The squad's eyes drifted toward Eiji with subtle reverence. In the Uchiha clan, strength was the only language of respect, and tonight, Eiji had spoken it loudly.
The battle had pushed his chakra and Sharingan control to the limit, yet he could feel subtle changes—his chakra capacity had grown, and the Sharingan responded with a sharper clarity than ever before.
Then, the familiar chime of the system echoed in his mind:
Ding!
Squad Mission: Annihilate Rogue Ninjas—Completed!
Mission Rating: Upgraded to A-rank due to three Jonin-level enemies.
Performance Evaluation: Host played a decisive role.
Reward: 200 Points
Current Points: 735
'A-rank mission… not bad. But the true reward is the points and fame.'
By the time the squad returned to the headquarters, the story of the battle had already begun to ripple through the Uchiha compound.
Vice-Commander Yatsushiro listened to Tekka's debrief with his usual stern expression, but his brows rose at the mention of Eiji's feats.
"Tekka… are you certain you're not exaggerating?"
"Yatsu-san, I swear on my honor," Tekka said firmly. "Without Eiji's genjutsu and timely intervention, we would have suffered heavy casualties."
Yatsushiro was silent for a long moment, his gaze lingering on Eiji, deep and complicated.
"…Eiji. Well done. The force will remember your contribution."
"This is my duty," Eiji replied humbly.
As they left headquarters, Tekka slapped his shoulder with a hearty laugh.
"Kid, you've made your name tonight. Even Yatsushiro can't look down on you anymore. From this day, no one in the clan will underestimate you!"
Eiji only gave a faint smile.
'This is just the beginning.'
Over the next few days, the story of Eiji—the boy who turned an A-rank mission with a single strike and a single genjutsu—spread like wildfire throughout the clan.
The Uchiha admired only strength, and they gave it without reservation to those who earned it.
Eiji's prestige soared. His system panel reflected the change—
Strength: Elite Chunin (Chakra approaching early Jonin; Yin release at Jonin level; overall combat at borderline Jonin)
Skills:
Fire Release, Full Series (Proficient – Beginner level)
Sharingan (One-Tomoe; Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Jutsu Mastered; Insight Enhanced)
Uchiha-style Taijutsu (Proficient)
Clan Status: Uchiha Police Force – First Squad Ace
Points: 785
And for Eiji, this was only the first step toward the peak of the clan.
—
In just a single month, the name Eiji had risen from "promising recruit" to undisputed genius of the Uchiha Police Force.
A few days later, he stood in front of the force's bulletin board.
A fresh notice had just been pinned up:
[Platoon Leader Selection Assessment Notice]
"…Platoon Leader, huh." Eiji murmured under his breath.
It was exactly what he needed—higher rank meant authority, resources, and, for him, generous rewards from the system.
"Eiji, checking the notice too?"
A familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts. Tekka approached with his usual confident stride. He glanced at the board, then at Eiji, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.
"Interested?"
Eiji's expression didn't change. "Do you think I should be?"
Tekka laughed heartily. "You brat! If you're not interested, then no one in the force is qualified. I already signed you up!"
"Thank you, Tekka-senpai."
"Save the thanks for after you get promoted," Tekka said, patting his shoulder with genuine expectation. "Don't embarrass me out there."
Three days later, the clan training ground buzzed with anticipation.
Six candidates were competing for the position of Platoon Leader—five seasoned Chunin over twenty, and one twelve-year-old prodigy.
First test: Practical Combat.
Opponents were chosen by lot.
Eiji's first opponent: Uchiha Mikazuki, a senior Chunin known for fierce taijutsu and sharp Fire Release.
Both of them made a seal of confrontation. The next moment the match began—
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A blazing sphere roared toward him.
Eiji's figure flickered, ghostlike, hands already weaving signs.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"
Dozens of fist-sized fireballs erupted, scattering like a deadly rain of embers. Their trajectories twisted midair, guided by precise chakra control, forcing Mikazuki into a frantic dodge. A few fireballs grazed his clothes, leaving blackened streaks and the smell of scorched fabric.
Gasps rose from the spectators.
"Such speed… and his control is flawless!"
Mikazuki steadied himself, jaw tightening. He formed hand seals and inhaled deeply.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
A concentrated orb of searing heat tore through the air toward Eiji.
This time, Eiji didn't retreat. His eyes flashed blood-red—
One-Tomoe Sharingan, activated!
His body twisted with inhuman agility, letting the Flame Bullet scorch past by a hair's breadth.
Seeing his opponent's Sharingan, Mikazuki's own tomoe spun to life, but the gap in their mastery was immediately apparent.
They clashed repeatedly, weapons and limbs blurring. Sparks flew as steel met steel; bursts of fire marked their rapid exchanges.
Then—an opening.
Eiji's whip kick, backed by explosive chakra, slammed into Mikazuki's ribs.
Bang!
The older Chunin flew backward like a broken kite, skidding across the ground before collapsing, breathless and defeated.
A hush fell over the field—then, thunderous applause erupted.
"Too strong!"
"Mikazuki-senpai didn't even last two minutes!"
"Is he really just a Chunin…?"
And that was only the beginning.
One by one, the other candidates fell. Even the strongest Chunin lasted barely thirty exchanges before Eiji decisively overwhelmed them.
By the end of the practical combat round, Eiji held an undisputed full score.
Second test: Tactical Analysis.
The scenario: A spy infiltrates Konoha's perimeter, suspected of carrying critical intelligence. Devise a capture plan that prioritizes intelligence retrieval, minimizes casualties, and prevents the target from escaping or destroying evidence.
The other candidates proposed their strategies—standard, cautious, and predictable.
When it was Eiji's turn, he spoke with crisp precision:
"First, block all major exit routes and utilize our patrol network to create a tightening perimeter."
"Second, deploy elite reconnaissance—Sharingan users or those with sensory jutsus—to pinpoint the target without alerting them."
"Third, attempt silent capture via genjutsu specialists. Controlling the spy prevents the destruction of intelligence."
"If genjutsu fails, initiate a swift, overwhelming strike with a dedicated capture team, prioritizing the target's survival."
"Finally, establish a secondary perimeter to intercept potential reinforcements or prevent the use of escape jutsu."
The examiners exchanged glances, nodding in approval.
Uchiha Setsuna, one of the three examiners, clapped once. "This kid isn't just strong—he thinks like a commander."
Full marks—again.
Final test: Genjutsu
Setsuna, as an experienced genjutsu specialist, stepped forward.
"Eiji. Ready?" His voice was cold.
"Please."
Setsuna's gaze sharpened. Invisible pressure descended as his genjutsu flared.
'Genjutsu: Haze Clone Jutsu!'
A swirl of illusions engulfed Eiji—Setsuna's figure multiplied into dozens, attacking from all directions.
But Eiji's tomoe spun faster, analyzing the chakra flow. He pinpointed the disruption instantly.
"Release!"
Chakra surged; the illusion shattered like glass in barely three seconds.
Setsuna's composure cracked for the first time.
'Even many Jonin would take longer to break my Haze Clone Jutsu…'
The assessments concluded with no suspense.
Vice-Commander Yatsushiro stepped forward and declared—
"By unanimous decision, Eiji achieves first place with perfect scores across all categories! Effective immediately, he is promoted to Platoon Leader of the Uchiha Police Force. He is granted command of a platoon and may personally select three subordinates."
Whoosh!
The training ground erupted in cheers, louder than any before.
The boy who had entered the force as a "talented recruit" had now become its youngest-ever Platoon Leader.