Chapter 3 — The Bloodline of the Uchiha Clan
Inside the room, Tetsuya's main body received a string of notifications at the same time.
[Historical projection target confirmed: Uchiha Sasuke]
[Extracting abilities from target…]
A massive roulette wheel appeared before Tetsuya and began spinning at high speed. As the pointer illuminated different slots, countless rewards that ordinary ninja would drool over came into view.
Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique, Uchiha-Style Kenjutsu, Great Dragon Fire Technique…
The wheel gradually slowed, about to stop. The pointer was landing on [C-Rank Ninjutsu: Great Fireball Technique].
At the very least, it was an offensive ninjutsu. For Tetsuya, a cannon-fodder genin who only knew the Three Basic Techniques, a C-rank ninjutsu was already enough to serve as a trump card.
Just as he consoled himself with that thought, the light over the Great Fireball slot suddenly went out. When the wheel came to a complete stop, the illuminated reward had changed to [Uchiha Clan Bloodline].
He had drawn a golden legend on the first try?
Joy spread uncontrollably across Tetsuya's face.
Compared to directly drawing something like the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan or the Rinnegan—bloodline limits that a mere genin could not fully utilize—the Uchiha bloodline was far more suitable for him.
As descendants of the Ōtsutsuki clan, even Uchiha who had not awakened the Sharingan possessed chakra reserves far beyond those of ordinary ninja. Whether training in ninjutsu or taijutsu, they progressed at twice the efficiency. They were, without exaggeration, the aristocracy of the shinobi world.
Moreover, this bloodline had been drawn from Sasuke himself. Even excluding the influence of Indra's chakra, Sasuke could still be considered one of the most outstanding Uchiha in history.
Many people mocked the fact that even after witnessing the tragedy of the Uchiha massacre, Sasuke had only awakened a single tomoe—vastly inferior in "talent" to Uchiha Obito, who unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan upon witnessing Rin's death. But that was clearly confusing cause and effect; it could not be used to determine who truly had greater potential.
As the youngest son of the Uchiha clan head, Sasuke had been well protected by his parents and his "filial" older brother. During the massacre, he had only just entered the academy. His mentality was immature, and his chakra reserves were limited. How could he compare to Obito, who had already experienced the brutal life-and-death battle at Kannabi Bridge?
In nearly a thousand years of Uchiha history, the number of clan members capable of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan likely barely reached two hands. Yet three generations of Sasuke's family alone produced four such individuals. That said everything.
Tetsuya was already eager to fuse the bloodline into his body.
—————
This is… Konoha?
I've returned to the moment when Team Seven first assembled?
The one-armed, black-cloaked Uchiha Sasuke's eyes shifted slightly. He quickly cast off his daze, becoming as vivid and real as a living person.
The Rinnegan hidden beneath his dark hair trembled faintly. Sasuke confirmed that what he saw was not an illusion. His gaze locked instantly onto Tetsuya.
In his memory, this figure had never appeared before. And Sasuke had a premonition—his inexplicable arrival here was absolutely connected to this person.
A member of the Ōtsutsuki clan?
That was the first thought that surfaced in Black-Cloaked Sasuke's mind.
"Future Uchiha Sasuke, your past self wants to know—did he kill Uchiha Itachi in the future? Did he avenge your parents and your clan? I think that question should be answered by you personally."
Seeing the smile on Tetsuya's clown face, Black-Cloaked Sasuke felt an uncontrollable urge to strike. Yet the moment that impulse arose, his body flickered violently. An invisible force was already pulling him back to his own time.
So I really can't attack him?
Understanding dawned in Sasuke's mind. He shifted his gaze to his younger self.
Uchiha Itachi…
If I tell him the truth, can I ease the regret in my heart?
"You really are me from the future?"
Sasuke's voice carried a hint of excitement, as if he were looking into a mirror reflecting another version of himself.
Back then, I was so immature. And Naruto… Sakura…
A faint smile curved Black-Cloaked Sasuke's lips. A breeze lifted the black hair covering his forehead, revealing the crimson Sharingan—and the purple Rinnegan.
"Sasuke, don't act rashly. This could very well be a genjutsu!"
Even as he felt the overwhelming ocular power emanating from Black-Cloaked Sasuke's eyes, Kakashi kept his hand firmly pressed on Sasuke's shoulder.
No matter what the enemy's goal was, he could not allow Sasuke to leave his protection.
"A friendly reminder—you have ten seconds left."
Tetsuya watched everything with interest, curious how events would unfold.
Feeling himself fading rapidly, Black-Cloaked Sasuke closed his eyes and swiftly organized his thoughts.
If he revealed the entire truth, his younger self would inevitably face retaliation from Danzō—or even the entirety of Konoha's leadership. Besides, the hatred that once blinded him would not vanish simply because of a few words.
"Uchiha Itachi did indeed die by my hand…"
Black-Cloaked Sasuke deliberately paused, just as expected, seeing wild joy spread across his younger self's face.
"…but it became an eternal regret in my heart."
His voice, heavy with sorrow and remorse, echoed across the rooftop as his figure completely vanished before Team Seven's eyes.
Killing Uchiha Itachi… became a regret?
What did that mean?
"Bring him back! I have to ask him clearly!"
Fueled by some unknown surge of strength, Sasuke broke free from Kakashi's grip and rushed at Tetsuya with all his might.
"The Miracle Invoker's performance has ended. Until we meet again."
Tetsuya placed his right hand across his chest and gave a slight bow, like an artist concluding a performance. Then he vanished instantly—without the slightest sign.
Not a space-time ninjutsu.
Kakashi pressed his lips together. His sensory range was empty—Tetsuya's presence had completely disappeared. Yet the scorched marks left behind on the rooftop were clearly captured by his three-tomoe Sharingan, giving him a clue.
Damn it!
Sasuke, having lunged at nothing, clenched his fists until they cracked.
Sakura, who had collapsed earlier, slowly opened her eyes and struggled to sit up, completely unaware of what had just occurred.
Just as Team Seven thought everything was finally over, a light screen roughly one square meter in size emerged from the spot where Black-Cloaked Sasuke had vanished. Images began to appear upon it.
Night shrouded the sky. A massive full moon illuminated Konoha, which was brightly lit below. A gigantic meteor wrapped in flames descended from above, plummeting toward the village at terrifying speed.
Even through the screen, Team Seven could feel the crushing pressure of its fall.
The scene shifted.
On a vast platform stood a white-haired Kakashi, solemn and composed, appearing before Team Seven.
"Sixth Hokage, seven o'clock direction. The target is extremely large!"
Beside him stood seven or eight figures—Might Guy seated in a wheelchair, Ino wearing a sensory communication device, and others.
This was… the future?
The era where the black-cloaked, one-armed version of me existed?
The Kakashi-sensei standing before me becomes the Sixth Hokage in the future?
Uchiha Sasuke stared at the screen without blinking, deeply shaken.
Becoming Hokage meant Kakashi had reached the pinnacle of Konoha's strength. If I become his disciple, could I catch up to that man?
"It's Ino!"
Even with the sensory device covering half her face, Sakura instantly recognized her longtime rival's grown-up appearance.
Compared to Team Seven, Kakashi's eyes widened even more.
To his shock, the future version of himself had both eyes intact. His left eye socket no longer housed the crimson Sharingan.
Had future me mastered a way to deactivate the Sharingan?
Or… had Obito's Sharingan been taken?
Compared to becoming the Sixth Hokage, this discovery disturbed Kakashi far more.