Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 35: I Will Use My Eyes to Illuminate the World!

"Hidan, do you still remember your ninja way?"

Uchiha Ci's gaze sharpened, staring directly at the brat before him.

Under the intensity of that sincere and fervent gaze, Hidan involuntarily avoided eye contact and muttered:

"My... ninja way..."

"Exactly!"

"Your ninja way!"

"You tilted your head to the sky, flaring your nostrils with confidence, giving a thumbs up!"

"You shouted at the top of your lungs that, despite having nothing, you would become the leader of the Hot Water Village, end the chaos in the Land of Hot Water, drive all the ninjas out of this land, and become the next demigod!"

Uchiha Ci looked straight at Hidan, the corners of his mouth lifting in a slight, mocking smile:

"These are your words. Do I need to help you recall them?"

Hidan's face revealed a trace of discomfort, and with a complex expression, he stammered:

"Th-That was just..."

However, before he could finish, Uchiha Ci's tone turned cold, cutting him off:

"You mean to say it was just talk, empty words, lies?"

"That the reality of the world is far more brutal than that?"

He grabbed Hidan by the collar, and the spinning tomoe in his blood-red eyes exuded overwhelming force.

"Don't be foolish!"

"Denying your heart, denying your will, denying your dreams, and then accepting reality—filling your empty head with fantasies—pushing yourself towards the gallows, bowing down and wagging your tail to powers greater than the Hot Water Village."

"Tell me, what difference is there between you living and being dead?"

"Wait, I..." Hidan was choked by these words, desperately wanting to argue, to find some justification for his actions, to persuade Uchiha Ci—and himself—that what he was doing was right, that it was the best choice in a world without options.

But Hidan couldn't finish his sentence because, deep down, he knew—

The Jashin Cult's doctrine of killing to end all killing, of slaughtering everyone, was just a poison disguised as salvation.

Uchiha Ci exhaled and spoke in a low, firm voice:

"Hidan!"

"You are a strong person. You have the resolve to face death. You want to offer yourself as a sacrifice in exchange for Jashin's blessing!"

"But let me tell you, that's just another form of escape!"

Uchiha Ci's words were like a hammer, smashing through the barrier built up in Hidan's heart, tearing it apart.

The sugar-coated exterior of the Jashin Cult was nothing more than a rotten core emitting a foul stench.

This forced Hidan to face reality.

His face flushed red, then pale, veins bulged on his forehead, and one hand clenched tightly onto Uchiha Ci's grip on his collar.

He wanted to pry it off, but with his strength, how could he possibly be a match for Uchiha Ci, who was already a Chunin?

In the end, his face turned bright red as he shouted angrily at Uchiha Ci:

"Enough! Uchiha Ci, enough!"

"Get lost! I don't need your pity, and I don't want to hear your preaching!"

"I've heard enough of this crap in the Land of Hot Water over the past ten years!"

"How could you possibly understand my situation, my suffering?"

"Should I say, it's just as expected from a ninja of a great nation?"

"Don't you find that high-and-mighty attitude of yours disgusting?!"

But in the face of Hidan's hysterical outburst, Uchiha Ci simply smiled.

"Is that so?"

He tightened his grip on Hidan's collar and slammed him to the ground, his expression growing more sinister.

Then, like a final boss emerging from the shadows, he mercilessly humiliated the level 1 warrior wielding a beginner's sword, belittling his so-called dreams to nothing!

With a fierce glint in his eyes, Uchiha Ci roared:

"Listen up, kid—"

"I'm not preaching to you, I'm proving to you—"

"My ninja way surpasses yours!"

Uchiha Ci released Hidan and stood up, gazing at the full moon in the boundless night sky, his eyes becoming deep and distant.

After a moment of silence, he lowered his gaze, a rebellious and indifferent expression on his face:

"Hidan."

"The Land of Hot Water, which you see, is but a small corner of the entire ninja world!"

"Your goal is merely a trivial side quest on the path of my ninja way, something I will accomplish eventually!"

"As for my ninja way—"

Uchiha Ci suddenly opened his blood-red Sharingan, his tone taking a sharp turn as he coldly and emotionlessly declared:

"It is to overthrow the current five great nations, unify the entire ninja world, and end the endless wars that have raged since the Warring States Period!"

"I will bring eternal peace to this world!"

"This is something I must do, even if it means facing life and death head-on!"

"I will use my eyes to illuminate the entire world!"

As soon as his words fell, a sudden silence enveloped the surroundings.

Hidan, with a look of shock, the red-haired girl, and Shinno, who had been sitting quietly in the corner as if he didn't even exist, all focused their gazes on Uchiha Ci.

Their eyes flickered continuously, as if deep within their hearts, they were all moved by Uchiha Ci's words.

Hidan couldn't help but swallow hard, staring at Uchiha Ci in disbelief.

"Ci, you..."

Before Hidan could continue, the reddish brown haired girl stood up from the tree stump beside them, her gaze calm as she scrutinized Uchiha Ci, as if looking at a delusional madman.

Then, she coldly asked:

"What will you use to achieve your ninja way? What gives you the confidence to make such promises? How can you be so sure that you can accomplish something no one else has ever done?"

"Standing in your way are the five great nations, the entire ninja world!"

"The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, hailed as the strongest, the Third Raikage A, possessing the strongest offense and defense, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, who surpassed the Bloodline Limit and reached the realm of Bloodline Selection, the Three Legendary Sannin, the Demigod, the Tailed Beasts, and the Jinchuriki..."

"So many legendary ninja, figures of legend, have never da to make such bold claims!"

"And you—what gives you the right?!"

Her words were sharp and pointed, like a dagger pressed against Uchiha Ci's throat, leaving him no room to retreat.

But Uchiha Ci had never intended to avoid the question.

As a man with a mission from the heavens, his role had been determined from the start. So, in this moment, he spoke without hesitation, his resolve unwavering:

"The important thing isn't saying it—it's doing it! It's not running away!"

"No one starts at the top. Even the most difficult tasks are achieved step by step."

Then, he looked at Hidan, whose face was still full of shock, and calmly said:

"Hidan, you and I are no different."

"In the grand scheme of the ninja world, all I possess is this insignificant life!"

"But all I need to know is that my feet have already set upon this path."

"As long as I stand at the forefront of this road, my back will naturally draw countless others to follow!"

"Even if I fall, behind me, countless others like me will rise!"

Uchiha Ci's voice was resolute, and with unwavering determination, he said:

"In the end, this dream will undoubtedly be realized!"

"And the first step to achieving this ideal has already been taken!"

"Now, I just need to take the second step—"

"Starting with the Land of Hot Water!"

"From here!"

"I will end the chaos on this land!"

"And bring peace to this country!"