Naruto: How to Be an Undercover Shinobi

In the murky underground base of Kirigakure, Reiji sat cross-legged, staring at Samehada, which was cowering far off. "Samehada, come here.

In the murky underground base of Kirigakure, Reiji sat cross-legged, staring at Samehada, which was cowering far off.

"Samehada, come here. I've got something good to show you."

Samehada didn't move an inch.

"Come on, I'll feed you some chakra."

Still no reaction.

"Hurry up! Don't make me get rough!"

Even after that, Samehada stayed rooted in place.

Watching the sword refuse to budge, Reiji's patience wore thin.

He sprang to his feet and walked toward it.

That's when the thing finally reacted. Its blade bent and writhed like a slippery worm, twisting and slipping away at high speed.

"Oh, you little—! Trying to run? Flying Thunder God Technique!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Reiji vanished. When he reappeared, his hand snapped shut around Samehada's hilt like an iron vice.

Instantly, black spikes shot up from Samehada's body, stabbing at Reiji as the blade writhed violently.

Zzzzak!

Metal screeched against metal, and sparks scattered across the floor.

Reiji looked down at his shredded clothing—and snapped.

"So you don't want a drink, huh? Fine! You want punishment instead?

Try stabbing me now!"

Ignoring the rows of barbs, he reached out and yanked one off with a sharp pop.

Samehada convulsed like a fish flopping on dry land. It thrashed wildly, then twisted its blade, opened its gaping maw, and lunged to bite him.

Faced with a mouthful of fangs inches from his face, Reiji held his breath and grimaced.

"Seriously? When was the last time you brushed? You stink!"

He drove his fist straight into Samehada's front tooth.

Crack.

A sharp fang broke loose and clattered to the floor.

Samehada froze. In that moment, it finally understood the frustration Fuguki Suikazan had felt before dying.

This guy's body was absurdly hard.

It couldn't pierce him, and its teeth shattered trying.

As it stood there, mouth gaping, Reiji wasted no time. Grabbing the sword with both hands like a seasoned fishmonger, he pinned it down with ease.

"Scrape the scales off, roast it over a volcano—perfect gift for Kitty, a lava-grilled salted fish!"

He muttered while working quickly.

The sound of scraping echoed through the base as black barbs rained across the floor.

Samehada thrashed in agony, twisting like a fat catfish caught in a net.

Right then, it wished it could just die.

Since its creation, everyone who'd seen it had been starstruck—desperate to hold it, to wield it.

Its former master had pampered it, even wrapped it in bandages to keep it clean.

Now?

This brute didn't just disrespect it—he stripped away every last one of its prized barbs.

He even knocked out one of its treasured teeth.

And worst of all... there was nothing it could do to stop him.

His chakra? Disgusting. It tasted like mud and weeds—one bite made it gag for minutes.

Eventually, after who knows how long, Samehada finally gave in.

Now it was nothing more than a pitch-black iron club, its barbs littered across the floor.

Its once-sharp teeth were completely gone—bald and bare.

Slashing was no longer an option. The best it could do now was smash.

At this point, all Samehada wanted was to behave and follow orders.

Anything to avoid being tortured by this demon again.

Reiji grabbed a strip of bandage, wrapped the now-bare Samehada, and slung it over his back.

Back at Fuguki Suikazan's house, he stood before a mirror to inspect his disguise.

Not bad—he looked sharp.

Next, he planned to test whether Samehada could boost his chakra reserve—and slowly build up credits to climb Kirigakure's ranks.

...

Night fell.

In Konohagakure, the Hokage's office was still blazing with lights.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared wearily at the report on the Uchiha Clan. The burden weighed heavily on him—he'd been planning to go home and spend time with Biwako, but now those thoughts felt distant.

The Uchiha issue had reached a critical point. If he couldn't find a solution, the clan might fracture entirely—and that would be the best-case scenario.

The Uchiha clan head had approached him multiple times, each time pushing to fill the senior counsellor position—left vacant for lack of a suitable successor. If this continued, it could spell disaster for the village.

Hiruzen understood what was being asked: the clan head wanted the role. But was he really fit for it? The prospect made Hiruzen uneasy. If the clan leader became counsellor, the Uchiha would dominate over those aligned with the Hokage. It might maintain internal peace, but the seeds for future conflict would be sown.

Frustrated, Hiruzen filled his pipe, lit it, and took a deep drag.

This Uchiha dilemma was the toughest he'd faced in office—complex, fraught, and dangerous.

Just then, the office door opened.

Hiruzen set down his pipe and called the visitor in.

A masked ANBU walked in, flanked by two young boys—each with black eyes and bruised cheeks. Behind them stood Rie and the Hyūga clan head.

Hiruzen recognized the boys as Hiashi Hyūga's sons: Hizashi and Hiashi Jr.

"What happened?" he asked calmly.

The ANBU approached and whispered:

"Lord Hokage, it was Lieutenant Fugaku Uchiha—he saw the two young masters fighting by the roadside and beat them. When the Hyūga clan head stepped in to stop them, he got punched too."

"Punched?!" Hiruzen's tone turned stern.

The ANBU swallowed and replied:

"Yes... he was also punched."

Hiruzen stared at him, stunned.

What kind of meddling was this? Brothers fight, and the Uchiha step in? Absurd.

He took a shaky breath, glancing at the group.

"Where is Fugaku Uchiha?"

"He—he said he went to get backup," the ANBU stammered.

Hiruzen slammed a fist on the desk.

"Bring him here now!"

Is this a street brawl... or a clan war?

Suppressing his outrage, he turned to Rie Sakuhō, stewing but trying not to smile.

"Rie Sakuhō, what do you want?"

Rie paused, smiled, and stepped forward.

"Hokage-sama, I'd like to assign a mission."