Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 36: A Challenge to Your Future Self! Embarking on the Lonely Path to Death!

As Uchiha Ci's words fell, a gust of wind suddenly blew, dispersing the thin mist under the moonlight and stirring the flames, causing the campfire to flare up violently. Sparks crackled and flew into the air.

The young man's profile, illuminated under the radiant full moon, was deeply imprinted in the eyes of the three people present.

Though his entire body was wrapped in bandages, looking like a mess fresh off the battlefield, the arrogant smirk on his face had a kind of suffocating charm!

Looking at Uchiha Ci's confident smile, the girl with long reddish-brown hair and emerald-green eyes was momentarily dazed. As their gazes met, it felt as though she was being drawn into the grand vision that lay within the boy's ideals.

But soon, she snapped back to reality, unable to suppress a smile as if she'd thought of something amusing.

"Is that so?"

"In that case, I recognize you as my opponent."

"Uchiha Ci."

She curved her emerald eyes and swept the reddish-brown tassels from her ear, glanced up at the full moon in the sky, carefully choosing her words, then smiled:

"Let's reintroduce ourselves. My name is—"

"Ming, Tsukimi Ming."

"Although it might disappoint you, neither you nor I have yet reached the moment where we truly stand on the shinobi world's brightest stage."

"However,"

"As long as you continue to dream of becoming a conqueror of the world, carrying such a crazy ambition,"

"There will surely come a day when we meet again on the battlefield."

The girl's emerald eyes shimmered with a gentle and earnest light, but deep within her pupils, a trace of cold, calculating killing intent flickered.

"By then, I will show you no mercy."

Uchiha Ci, with his Sharingan still activated, naturally captured every subtle change in the expression of the girl who called herself 'Tsukimi Ming.'

That name, that hair color, that beauty, combined with her resolute will, made Uchiha Ci finally recognize her true identity.

Tsukimi Ming, or rather—

Terumi Mei.

The future Fifth Mizukage of the Mist!

A powerful kunoichi who, wielding two unique Bloodline Limits, would end the chaotic era of the "Bloody Mist"!

Uchiha Ci couldn't help but want to laugh. Looking at Terumi Mei's still-childish cute face, he almost blurted out:

"You're actually quite adorable!"

It was an inexplicable feeling of having an enemy suddenly set before him, with her declaring she would one day scatter his ashes.

To be honest, it was a little exhilarating.

But seriously, couldn't we skip to that part now? How about scattering my ashes right this instant?

Uchiha Ci raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a mix of curiosity, arrogance, and defiance as he provocatively asked:

"So, is this your declaration of war against me?"

Terumi Mei shook her head, somewhat regretfully.

"Uchiha Ci, your battle in the village was impressive, even in my eyes."

"Exceptional shuriken techniques, relentless Fire Release, and the battle intelligence you displayed at the final moment—all these make you quite the talent, even by the standards of my village."

"But I'm sorry—"

"At your current level, you wouldn't be a match for me."

"Nor would you stand a chance against the true geniuses among your peers who are even stronger than me."

"The likes of Minato Namikaze from Konoha, Mangetsu Hozuki from the Mist, the missing Sasori of the Red Sand from the Sand, and Killer Bee from the Cloud—they are the true rising stars of the shinobi world right now. Their talents even make me envious."

Terumi Mei paused, her emerald eyes reflecting her serious expression.

"You bear such a terrifying ambition and carry the Uchiha name. In the future, you may very well surpass us all."

"You can consider this my declaration of war against you."

"A declaration of war against your future self!"

The girl's words drifted with the wind, her unyielding resolve shining brightly under the moonlight.

Hearing this, Uchiha Ci felt a little helpless.

As a genius from the Mist, Terumi Mei had likely already mastered her two Bloodline Limits by this point—Lava Release and Boil Release. Killing him now would be as easy as a game to her.

If she harbored any hostility, he'd have a reason to fight her right then and there—speeding up his own demise and reaping the rewards in the afterlife.

But she didn't want to kill him now, and he couldn't exactly force her to.

However, Uchiha Ci wasn't discouraged. He just thought to himself that she probably wouldn't live to see that day.

It was laughable.

After all, Uchiha Ci was about to head off to the Jashin Cult.

A long line of blades was waiting for him ahead—there was no way Terumi Mei would get the chance to finish him off!

Of course, he wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. After all, it wasn't a bad bit of insurance, was it?

With that, Uchiha Ci looked seriously at Terumi Mei, suddenly smiled, and spoke with full confidence:

"Very well, Tsukimi Ming."

"I'll look forward to the day you come to kill me."

"I hope that when that day comes, you, trying to stand in the way of my charge, will give me a good fight!"

However, hearing Uchiha Ci's words, Terumi Mei's brain seemed to freeze for a moment.

"Look forward to," "that day," "charge," and "good fight"—the words swirled in her mind, automatically rearranging into something that made her heart race and her face flush.

Terumi Mei blinked rapidly, sucked in a sharp breath, and her emerald eyes trembled. Her delicate white ears quickly turned red with embarrassment.

She immediately turned her back to him, huffed awkwardly, and said:

"Whatever, do as you please. I won't be happy about it."

Uchiha Ci's smile froze, thinking, What are you blushing for? I was just trying to schedule a time for you to kill me. If you're late, you won't even find my ashes!

Where did this sudden attitude come from?

Shaking his head, Uchiha Ci quickly dismissed the thought. He turned to look at Hidan, who had already gotten up from the ground, and slapped him on the shoulder with a grin.

Then, he spoke seriously:

"Hidan."

"The Jashin Cult is no good. Killing everything around you won't solve the problem."

"On the contrary, for the Land of Hot Water, the Jashin Cult is not a savior but a threat."

"This parasite, leeching off the country's lifeblood, stealing children for its rituals, will only hasten its downfall."

"I believe a well-read guy like you understands that."

Hidan nodded heavily, his eyes dimming into silence.

Knowing didn't mean he could sever the tie.

Due to war and the inaction of both Hot Water's shinobi and its nobles, the Jashin Cult had grown uncontrollably on this land. As a mere academy student, Hidan had no better option than to choose the lesser of two evils.

Seeing the now-cleared-up Hidan, Uchiha Ci smiled, feeling relieved at his little brother's realization.

He had said all this because, deep down, he didn't like owing anyone anything.

Hidan had saved him twice, so it was only right to repay the debt.

And the best way to repay it was to prevent Hidan from getting involved with the Jashin Cult.

His little brother, Hidan, was smart, perceptive, and well-read, with a keen understanding of the shinobi world.

He was clearly not the same type as the future crazed version of Hidan.

And the only reason for that shift, Uchiha Ci could guess, was the Jashin Cult's bloody and brutal rituals.

There is always a price for gaining power from a demon.

Among countless test subjects, only the tormented and insane Hidan had successfully pleased Jashin, gaining immortality.

He would offer his brain for the future of the Land of Hot Water, but after losing his mind to madness, he turned on the very village that raised him.

It was, undoubtedly, a tragedy.

And Uchiha Ci would not let that tragedy repeat.

"Don't look so down. You've got me, don't you?"

Uchiha Ci laughed loudly, giving Hidan a hearty slap on the shoulder.

"I said I'd bring peace to this country, and I mean it!"

"I'll deal with anyone Hot Water's shinobi fear to touch!"

"I'll kill anyone Hot Water's shinobi fear to kill!"

"I'll destroy the Jashin Cult that Hot Water's shinobi are too afraid to provoke!"

"All you have to do is stay behind me and watch as I shine!"

Uchiha Ci wrapped an arm around Hidan's shoulders, hammering a fist against his own chest, chuckling softly.

"That's enough."

Uchiha Ci released Hidan, said nothing more, and turned to walk away.

"No need to see me off, Hidan. Go home and wait for my good news."

With those words, Uchiha Ci raised his hand in farewell to the three, saying his goodbyes.

Alone, under the glorious moonlight, he stepped across the campfire, past the three of them, and walked toward the lonely path of death.