Chapter 43 – Accident
"This risk is far too great. The Hyūga clan's strength is not inferior to the Uchiha's. Is it wise to act at such a tense time…?"
After hearing Izaya's detailed plan, a look of deep conflict flashed across Uchiha Itachi's face. Any move now could inadvertently provoke the Hyūga clan. Yet, he had to admit, the core of Izaya's plan was dangerously alluring.
"Waiting will only make us more passive," Izaya countered firmly.
He was not one to sit and wait for death. The moment he learned the Hyūga clan was preparing to move against him, he had begun planning his counterattack. While Itachi saw immense risk, Izaya saw a necessary gamble.
The plan itself was simple: use the secret of the Byakugan's evolution as bait to force Hyūga Hiashi into a cooperative agreement. Despite their hostile first encounter, Izaya refused to believe that the Hyūga clan head could truly resist such overwhelming temptation.
"Are you truly decided?" Itachi asked once more, his voice low. Seeing the unwavering resolve in Izaya's eyes, he stepped closer. "If your mind is made up, then let me be the one to make the initial contact."
"Alright," Izaya nodded, his tone grave. "The plan is set. You decide the timing for the contact."
"Understood. I will return to the clan first."
With a final nod, Uchiha Itachi, who was never one to shy away from necessity, agreed. After ironing out a few more details, he slipped out of Izaya's home as silently as he had arrived, leaving Izaya alone in the suddenly quiet house.
"Whether we can change the original story's plot hinges on this plan…" Izaya murmured, his eyes drifting to the shifting shadows outside his window. A thread of tension coiled within him.
While he felt a strange confidence, both from his knowledge of the original story and the soundness of the plan itself, it was still just a plan. It was impossible not to feel nervous.
His greatest worry wasn't the plan's failure, but something else entirely.
What if failing a choice from the system carries a penalty?
This was his paramount concern. The thought sent a jolt through his mind.
"System, are you there?" he called out internally, deciding to seek answers directly.
"Present." This time, the system responded immediately. Its voice was the same emotionless, mechanical tone, yet Izaya sensed something different lurking beneath—a flicker of awareness. It was clear this "God-Level Selection System" possessed a degree of intelligence.
"I want to ask: if I make a choice but fail to complete the requirements, will the system penalize me?" Izaya pushed aside his other thoughts; understanding the system's rules was his top priority.
"Negative."
The system's response was succinct. Then, a new prompt materialized in Izaya's consciousness—a simple introduction to the system's functions.
Ding. The primary purpose of this system is to assist the host in becoming the strongest in the shinobi world. There are no punitive measures for any choices made. However…
…after making certain choices, the host may be placed in corresponding danger. Once a choice is made, it cannot be rescinded. Abandoning the chosen path will result in the revocation of the associated reward.
With that final explanation, the system's presence faded from his mind.
Izaya was left feeling somewhat dumbfounded.
"This system…" He shook his head with a wry smile.
While the explanation confirmed there were no direct punishments, the underlying message was clear. Every choice was free, and failure wouldn't bring retribution. However, some choices would inherently place him in peril. In short, the power to choose was his, but making the wrong choice could lead him into deadly danger.
"This system is brutally straightforward."
Understanding the implicit stakes, Izaya felt a wave of helplessness. The rules seemed liberating, but the risks were monumental. Just like his current choice to help Uchiha Itachi—the rewards were great, but inserting himself into the Uchiha Massacre meant facing dangers from Danzō, Obito, the Akatsuki… forces he couldn't possibly confront head-on yet. A single misstep could mean actual death.
"It seems I must be even more careful with my choices in the future," he concluded, a chill settling in his heart. He was fortunate his previous choices hadn't led him into an inescapable pit.
Hm?
Just as Izaya finished his internal inquiry, a figure suddenly appeared outside his house—and this one wasn't hiding. It stood plainly in view, not moving for a long time.
Instantly, Izaya was on high alert.
"Who's there?!" he called out, slowly approaching the door.
If it were ANBU or Root, he reasoned, they wouldn't expose themselves so blatantly.
Then…
Is it the Hyūga?
His mind raced as he reached the door. After steadying his breathing, he called out in a deliberately puzzled tone, "May I ask who is there?"
"…"
There was no response. The silence only heightened Izaya's caution.
Should I open the door?
He hesitated. With three factions already lurking around his home, the appearance of this mysterious, unresponsive figure made the tense atmosphere feel suffocating. A nameless sense of crisis prickled at his skin.
"No, I need to know who this is!"
His initial instinct was to keep the door shut, but the thought of someone brazenly watching him from his doorstep forced his hand. He had to see who it was.
Creak…
The moment Izaya pulled the door open, the middle-aged man standing there collapsed forward, falling straight down.
Thud.
The sound of the body hitting the floor was dull and heavy.
It was an ANBU chūnin.
And what shocked Izaya even more was that the ANBU operative in front of him was clearly, unmistakably…
…dead.
✨ Want to read ahead and uncover what happens next? ✨
Gain early access to up to 40 to 50 exclusive chapters before anyone else!
🌑 Join the journey now at:👉 Patreon.com/VELORIAN
Your support helps the story grow, chapter by chapter.
🔥 Don't forget to drop your Power Stones!
Every stone lights the path forward. ⚡