[Our clan has declined.]
[After a night of crimson conspiracy, the name of Uchiha has been tarnished and reduced to ashes.]
[Now, as the final bearer of this bloodline, you must reclaim its glory at any cost—make the Uchiha great again.]
[Host has reached eighteen years of age. Loading: Strongest Family Revival System.]
Tendo stared at the translucent panel slowly unfolding before his eyes, subconsciously holding his breath.
He shook his head, closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again.
It was still there.
Not an illusion.
A dull roar echoed in his mind, leaving his head slightly numb.
Tendo had lived in a place called the Hidden Leaf Village for eighteen years. His parents had been unremarkable chunin who died years ago, leaving behind no legacy worth mentioning. His own talent was similarly average. He had only reached the rank of chunin by accumulating time and experience, not brilliance. His future had always looked painfully clear—and painfully bleak.
No secret techniques.
No special bloodline—at least, that was what he had believed.
No outstanding chakra reserves.
Aside from being somewhat handsome, he excelled at neither academics nor combat.
For eighteen years, he had lived like a potted plant.
He woke up at seven every morning, exercised briefly, ate breakfast—usually at Ichiraku Ramen or at home—then reported to work at the Hokage Building. Dinner was light and simple, and he always went to bed before eleven to ensure eight hours of sleep.
A life so predictable that he could see the end from the beginning.
He had thought he would continue like this forever.
Until now.
The system panel hovered silently before him, radiating an undeniable sense of authority.
But something felt… off.
"System?" Tendo asked mentally, testing the waters. "Are you sure you didn't bind to the wrong person?"
"The Uchiha Clan was wiped out four years ago. The only survivor in Konoha is Uchiha Sasuke—and he should still be pretending to be a ninja at the Academy right now, shouldn't he?"
[Host identity confirmed: Uchiha descendant.]
[Core objective: Revive the Uchiha Clan.]
[Primary directive: Increase strength and restore clan prestige until 'Kage-level' standards are met, allowing the Uchiha banner to rise once more across the ninja world.]
The reply was cold, mechanical, and utterly dismissive of Tendo's doubts.
New information refreshed automatically.
Under the words Kage-level, a line of fine print appeared.
['Kage-level' is a comprehensive evaluation standard defined by this system.]
[Condition One: Awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.]
[Condition Two: Publicly defeat at least one individual recognized by the ninja world as possessing Kage-level strength or status.]
[Meeting either condition is sufficient.]
[All rights of interpretation belong to this system.]
"Mangekyō…" Tendo felt his temples throb.
He didn't even possess a Sharingan, and the system was already demanding a Mangekyō?
Was this thing designed specifically to mock him?
Maybe uninstalling it was the wiser option.
Just as he was about to give up, the panel refreshed again.
[Phased Growth Mode activated.]
[Current host evaluation: Genin-level.]
[Novice Guidance Mission issued: Peak of Genin.]
[Mission Objective: Defeat the currently recognized 'Strongest Genin' of the Hidden Leaf Village in a direct confrontation—Uzumaki Naruto.]
[Mission Reward: One-Tomoe Sharingan.]
Tendo paused.
Then stared.
Then swallowed.
The system had only just awakened—it was normal for it to be a little slow.
But the real question was…
Was the reward real?
His heart began to pound.
Eighteen years.
A full eighteen years.
Looking back, he realized those years had barely counted as a human life. The ninja world was built on bloodlines. If you weren't connected to the Ōtsutsuki lineage in some way, the world would grind you down without mercy.
Relying solely on effort?
Leaving Might Guy aside, even possessing Rock Lee's ability to train like a madman was itself a rare talent. An ordinary person attempting that regimen would cripple themselves long before seeing results.
And even Rock Lee had eventually faded into the background.
So no, the system wasn't wrong.
He had been an Uchiha all along.
From today onward, he was Uchiha Tendo.
After silently swearing loyalty to the system, Tendo turned his gaze toward the window.
Almost simultaneously, a loud, triumphant laugh—full of mischief—rang out from the direction of Hokage Rock.
He walked over and pushed the window open.
The noise grew clearer, mixed with shouts, curses, and hurried footsteps. His eyes traveled over rows of rooftops before settling on the distant Hokage Rock.
Atop the stone head of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, an unmistakable orange figure darted around energetically, bucket in hand.
Bright streaks of paint stretched from Hashirama's cheeks all the way across the statues of the Second and Third Hokage. Though the distance obscured the details, the colors and laughter made the culprit obvious.
"Naruto-kun," Tendo muttered, lips curling slightly. "My first pot of gold."
The future Child of Prophecy.
The savior of the ninja world.
The Seventh Hokage.
The system-designated Strongest Genin.
But that was the future.
Right now, Uzumaki Naruto was just the Academy's dead last—terrible chakra control, weak theoretical knowledge, and no standout talents beyond stamina and stubborn determination.
More importantly, he hadn't yet learned his signature cheat from the Scroll of Seals: the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
At best, he was a discounted version of his future self.
Below Hokage Rock, villagers had already gathered.
"It's that Demon Fox brat again!"
"My fruit stand! He knocked it over!"
"Where's Iruka? Catch him already!"
"What did he paint this time? Unforgivable!"
"The Third Hokage is too soft on him!"
"Wait… are those cat whiskers on the Hokage's face?"
"Stop staring—he went that way!"
Iruka Umino, sweating heavily, struggled to coordinate a pursuit while chasing the orange blur across the rooftops.
"Naruto! Stop right there!"
Naruto only laughed louder, glancing back and sticking out his tongue.
"Hahaha! Try harder, Iruka-sensei! Doesn't Hokage Rock look way more artistic now?"
After adding a ridiculous finishing touch to the Fourth Hokage's statue, Naruto leapt away—directly toward Tendo's building.
Tendo calmly calculated timing and distance.
Just as Naruto passed the window—
Tendo moved.
"Got you, Naruto-kun."
Naruto struggled, squinting against the sunlight. He saw messy blond hair, a handsome face—and eyes that startled him.
They weren't cold.
They weren't hateful.
They weren't pitying.
They were… friendly.
Because Tendo had just seen the system notification.
[Mission Complete.]
[Reward available: One-Tomoe Sharingan.]
Relief washed over him.
"Who are you?! Let go!" Naruto shouted.
"Just a helpful passerby," Tendo replied casually. His eyes flicked toward the paint stains. "Though next time, use oil paint. Ink washes off too easily."
Naruto stared, stunned.
Iruka arrived moments later. "Naruto! You—eh? Tendo-kun?"
After handing Naruto over, Tendo requested leave and headed to a familiar training ground.
Once alone, he closed his eyes.
[Claim reward.]
Heat exploded through his body.
Pain flared behind his eyes as something ancient awakened.
When it passed, the world looked sharper—clearer.
One-Tomoe Sharingan acquired.
Tendo smiled faintly.
"This… is just the beginning."