Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 310: Playing God, A Fleeting Disease!

On the walled city platform,

Upon hearing Yahiko's words, which could only be described as arrogant,

Everyone present furrowed their brows slightly.

God?

What kind of person could truly be called a god?

One day ago, Uchiha Ci had fought within the inner city of Yunming, facing seven powerful figures, all possessing Kage-level strength. He directly killed two, scared off two, gravely injured two, and the last—Young A—chose to retreat under their deterrence.

This terrifying battle record was the first of its kind in the entire ninja world!

Yet, to say that he had already become the strongest in the ninja world—

That would be an overstatement.

There were still those who stood at the pinnacle of Kage-level power:

The Third Raikage, A, who wielded the strongest spear and the strongest shield.

The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, who possessed the unparalleled Bloodline Selection.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the "Strongest Hokage" and the "Ninja Hero."

And the Third Mizukage, whose strength was so mysterious and unfathomable that no one could accurately gauge his limits.

These were the true giants standing at the peak.

And as for Uchiha Ci—

During the Hell Valley battle, the fact remained that he had lost.

No matter the reasons, even if he had the opportunity to kill the Third Raikage during the fight, the outcome was clear:

He had been defeated, knocked off a cliff, and went missing.

This was the consensus among those present:

If he wasn't even confirmed as the strongest in the ninja world, how could he possibly call himself—God?

"Hmph!"

The first to sneer was Kakuzu, the one who had lived the longest and seen the most.

He scoffed, staring at Yahiko with disdain, then let out a mocking laugh:

"God?"

"Kid, have you ever seen what a real god looks like?"

After laughing coldly, Kakuzu instinctively turned to look at Uchiha Ci, preparing to mock him as well.

But the moment his eyes landed on that face—

A face eerily similar to Uchiha Madara's—

Kakuzu fell silent.

After a long moment, he simply shook his head and sighed:

"Even if he has the potential… he's still far from it."

"You people have no idea how powerful a true god really is."

At that moment, Sasori, Terumi Mei, and Hozuki Mangetsu, though they didn't openly refute Yahiko, all clearly shared the same skepticism.

Especially Hozuki Mangetsu—

His gaze swept toward Uchiha Ci, filled with battle intent, as if to say:

"I could go toe-to-toe with him. What nonsense are you talking about?"

Meanwhile, at the edge of the walled city, Oyashiro En had been wearing a bewildered expression the entire time.

Having a century-long gap in knowledge of the ninja world, he couldn't understand a word of what was being discussed.

He had no idea what this kid named "Yahiko" was trying to say, despite pouring his heart out for half the conversation.

But in order to maintain his "strong warrior" persona, Oyashiro En deliberately put on a face of "I understand everything," standing with his hands behind his back, staring solemnly toward Yunming's inner city.

In reality,

His toes were awkwardly digging into the ground, much like a player desperately looking for the "skip" button in an unskippable cutscene.

He really just wanted to ask:

"Minna-san, when are we going to chop down the Daimyō?"

But since Kakuzu had already taken the lead in speaking, it wasn't the right time for him to interject.

His pale face turned a little red from holding back.

On the other side,

Even after his idea was dismissed, Yahiko showed no anger.

Instead, he turned to exchange glances with Nagato and Konan.

Upon reading the determination in Nagato's eyes,

Yahiko took a deep breath and spoke:

"Everyone,"

"I understand your concerns!"

"However, the core of my plan is— 'Creating a God'!"

"Not turning Ci into an actual, untouchable deity."

"The entire plan revolves around deterring the Five Great Nations, rather than waging direct war against them."

"In the long run, Ci's assassination of the Daimyō is beneficial to the entire ninja world's structure."

"However—"

"The consequence of such an action will inevitably be a conflict more catastrophic than any past ninja war."

"In the short term, the five rulers of the Five Great Nations will direct all their fury toward Uchiha Ci, along with anyone associated with him—including us, Akatsuki, and all of you who helped him."

"Since you have all chosen to assist Ci at this critical juncture, I assume you've already accepted the risks that come with it."

"However—"

Yahiko spread his arms wide, raising them high above his head.

His gaze burned with unshakable conviction as he declared:

"We cannot sit and wait for death!"

"On the contrary—"

"For us, who are about to bear the first wave of the entire ninja world's wrath—"

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"This is the very core of Akatsuki's plan!"

"At this moment, when all the pressure is on us—"

"When the old powers unleash their fury upon us—"

Yahiko swung his fists, eyes blazing with battle spirit:

"We must meet their attack head-on!"

"Shatter their offensive completely!"

"Before the entire ninja world, we shall create an unstoppable 'God'!"

"A presence so terrifying that all must bow before it!"

At that moment,

Konan gently pushed Uchiha Ci forward, causing him to stumble a few steps ahead of the crowd.

Her gaze was unwavering as she looked at him.

"A lone warrior facing seven Kage-level foes."

"Surviving a battle against the Third Raikage and two Jinchūriki, even slaying one."

"Carrying the name of 'Shura,' single-handedly shifting the war in the Land of Rain, killing Ebizō."

"There is no doubt—"

"Uchiha Ci, you, who shake the entire ninja world time and time again—"

"Are the most suitable person to 'play God'!"

At those words, everyone turned their eyes toward Uchiha Ci.

Their gazes shimmered, deep in thought.

All those gathered here had come because of him.

Some, like Kakuzu, whether for money or personal reasons, had chosen to stand by his side.

Others, like Sasori, sought eternal artistry.

Hozuki Mangetsu and Terumi Mei had old ties to him.

Oyashiro En, whose fate had intertwined with his after their fateful cliffside encounter.

And of course, the three from Akatsuki, who had always chased after his shadow in pursuit of their dreams.

Everyone present (except for Oyashiro En) understood that taking this step essentially meant standing against the entire ninja world. Once they made their choice, they were tied together like grasshoppers on a string.

"Playing the role of a god?"

Uchiha Ci couldn't help but furrow his brows, but his gaze swept over Yahiko and Nagato, lingering on the look they exchanged.

Upon seeing the eye contact between Nagato and Yahiko, along with Nagato's resolute expression, he could roughly guess what these two were plotting.

A performance rather than reality, intimidation rather than war.

By channeling Akatsuki's power through himself, he could stage a grand display of divine might before the world, deterring the Five Great Nations from recklessly waging war, suppressing the intensity of the upcoming conflict, and ultimately achieving a peaceful transformation of the ninja world's system.

At the core of this plan lay Nagato's Rinnegan!

In the original timeline, during the battle where Yahiko perished and Nagato, in his rage, summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Konan had anxiously asked him, "Are you going to use that power?"

This proved that before that moment arrived, the three of them had likely conducted some experiments on Nagato's eyes and had witnessed that overwhelming power firsthand.

This was also why, even on the verge of death, Yahiko still believed that Nagato could change the world.

Based on Uchiha Ci's current capabilities:

Combining Susanoo, summoning the giant serpents of Ryuchi Cave, wielding the Sword of Raijin, and storming into the Five Kage Summit—

Then, riding atop Nagato's summoned Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, he would rise into the sky,

Striking a domineering pose before the assembled leaders, while Nagato secretly unleashed an ultra-powerful Shinra Tensei and the Chakra Dragon of the Demonic Statue!

With one overwhelming explosion, Kumogakure's Yunming City would be leveled, and most of the gathered Kumogakure forces would be crushed.

On the surface, it would appear as though Uchiha Ci had single-handedly annihilated one of the Five Great Nations.

Such a feat would be worthy of the title "God"!

At this moment, the three young Akatsuki members were only fifteen years old, and the Akatsuki organization had been founded and developed for just over a year.

Compared to Uchiha Ci—whose battle achievements were illustrious, whose influence spread throughout the ninja world, and who was regarded as a thorn in the side of the Great Nations—their reputation, though present, was insufficient to instill fear in the world.

However, if Uchiha Ci, a "peerless genius" from the prestigious Uchiha clan, were to accomplish such a feat, with Uchiha Madara as a precedent from forty years prior, the Great Nations would have no choice but to curb their arrogance and carefully consider how to deal with Uchiha Ci in this new form.

Perhaps even Hiruzen Sarutobi would be forced to revoke his rogue ninja status overnight?

However—

Uchiha Ci couldn't help but sigh.

Real is real. Fake is fake.

This plan was fundamentally based on Nagato's sacrifice and Yahiko's foresight, yet it was racing against an unforgiving tide.

Though only fifteen, Yahiko could already foresee how Uchiha Ci's assassination would lead to an unprecedentedly brutal war in the future.

And in such a high-intensity war, the Land of Rain, already the battleground of the Third Ninja War, would likely face total annihilation.

Although Akatsuki was on the rise, it was powerless to stop a war that would engulf the entire ninja world. Saving the Land of Rain was simply out of the question.

That was why Yahiko abandoned his ongoing struggle against "Demi-God" Hanzo the Salamander, gave up his original plan, and rushed straight to the Land of Lightning to aid Uchiha Ci, attempting to carry out such a reckless scheme.

He hoped to lend his strength to Uchiha Ci,

He hoped that Uchiha Ci could prevent the impending "chaos."

It was fear that had driven the three members of Akatsuki here.

"I understand what you mean."

"However."

Upon realizing all this, Uchiha Ci's gaze toward the three of them subtly changed.

He could understand Yahiko's foresight, he could understand Nagato's sacrifice, and he could understand Konan's concern.

However, he lifted his head, hesitating to speak.

Uchiha Ci deeply despised others sacrificing themselves for his sake, hated having their will imposed upon him, and detested the burden of expectations that came with forging ahead.

Power is merely a phenomenon, a manifestation of matter.

It is not about screaming that one must not lose and attempting to overturn fate through sheer effort.

This plan was Yahiko's only conceivable way to save the Land of Rain, but he had overlooked one critical point—

The power of the Five Great Nations was not so easily dismissed.

The hidden forces lurking in the shadows of the ninja world would not act according to his wishes.

Moreover—

The system of the daimyo,

In Uchiha Ci's eyes, was nothing more than a minor ailment.

He had never even regarded it as a force worth his attention.

To waste Nagato's power, a comrade's strength, on something like this was far too extravagant.

The greatest enemy of the entire ninja world,

From beginning to end, was none other than the root cause of all these tragedies—

The Otsutsuki Clan!

Otsutsuki Toneri, Otsutsuki Hamura, Otsutsuki Hagoromo, Otsutsuki Kaguya, Otsutsuki Urashiki, Otsutsuki Kinshiki, Otsutsuki Momoshiki, Otsutsuki Isshiki.

And even—

Otsutsuki Shibai, who had seemingly transcended everything by fusing all power into himself!

The ultimate battle in the ninja world was meant to reach the level of the Sage of Six Paths, in order to resist these extraterrestrial invaders.

In a world where strength was paramount, what was the point of reforming the system? Even if you reformed it and gathered like-minded allies to create a brief utopia—

So what?

Could it resist Uchiha Madara's Infinite Tsukuyomi?

Could it stop the planting of a second Divine Tree?

Could it counteract a ridiculous divine technique that forcibly rewrote everyone's will and reset everything back to zero?

Having walked this path to this point, Uchiha Ci's resolve had long since solidified, even to the point of excess.

His desire to change the world burned intensely.

To give everything, to prove his determination through battle after battle, that desire shone brilliantly!

From the very beginning, he had been swept along by unexpected events and by people who died for him, forcing him to grow stronger and stronger, until he reached this point.

Now, as Yahiko attempted to cast him in the role of a god, arranging his future for him—

Uchiha Ci simply felt—

It was enough!

Continuing down a path dictated by others was a mistake!

At the peak of the shadows, Uchiha Ci had already arrived. From this point forward, no one could serve as his reference.

Not Yahiko, not Nagato, not even Uchiha Madara, the wielder of the Rinnegan!

He must make his own decisions, form his own thoughts!

Uchiha Ci—he alone could become a god!

Just as he was about to make his decision and reject Yahiko's proposal—

In that moment, as if some unseen contract bearing his name had been abruptly triggered,

Uchiha Ci slightly tilted his head and looked toward the corner of the barbican.

There—

A small white snake, its tongue flickering with a soft hiss, was gazing at him with an eerie, knowing look.

"Forgive me for speaking bluntly—"

At that moment, Terumi Mei stepped forward, cutting Uchiha Ci off. She fixed her eyes on Yahiko and spoke in a firm, unwavering voice:

"Your plan is completely reckless!"

"You're only thinking about elevating Ci to a divine pedestal—but what happens after that?"

"What will you do then? Huh? Establish an organization that roams between nations, stopping wars?"

"Sorry, but this isn't some childish game! The greed lurking in human hearts is something that no amount of power—no matter how immense—can suppress, restrain, or control!"

"Listen—"

"Compared to your plan, I have one that is far more reliable!"

"Enough!"

Just as Terumi Mei was about to voice the vision burning within her heart—

Uchiha Ci took a deep breath and gently pushed away Nagato, who had been supporting him. His body swayed unsteadily, but his gaze swept over everyone around him, calm and resolute.

"I'm tired."

"Please… give me some time to think."

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