Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 7: Seijiro, the Pool of Blood, and Glory

"Get out, get out! This is a legitimate establishment, no minors allowed!"

Amidst the rough shouting, Uchiha Ci was thrown out the door by two burly men.

Uchiha Ci, clearly unhappy, scrambled to his feet, cursing under his breath.

"Damn it, what kind of 'legitimate establishment' doesn't even allow minors in?"

"Heh~ tui!"

Hearing the commotion from Uchiha Ci's direction, the villagers inside the building looked at him with peculiar expressions.

"You think we wouldn't see through your Transformation Jutsu? Trying to sneak in, huh?" The doorman sneered disdainfully, his face full of scorn.

"Hurry up and get lost. If you don't leave, I'll call one of your clan's elders to drag you back!"

This immediately made Uchiha Ci shrink his neck in fear.

He glared fiercely at the two doormen.

If only social death wasn't excluded from insurance coverage...

"Still daring to peek inside? Want me to call someone?" The man wrinkled his nose, about to shout into the building.

Uchiha Ci quickly abandoned his scandalous thoughts and hurriedly ran out of the alley, covering his face in embarrassment.

By the time he returned to the street, there were only a few people left on the road.

The full moon quietly observed all things in the world.

The early spring wind, still carrying the chill of winter, cut across his face, sending a shiver down Uchiha Ci's spine and bringing clarity back to his mind.

Just then, another member of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Seijiro, who was also part of the same squad as Uchiha Ci, staggered out of the alley, holding a bottle of alcohol.

Seeing Uchiha Ci, Seijiro glanced him over, and upon noticing the dusty marks on him, couldn't help but smile mischievously.

"Well, if it isn't the pride of the Uchiha clan?"

"What happened? Got thrown out?"

Uchiha Ci's face immediately tightened. "No, I just got stepped on by an elephant while walking down the street."

"Heh, who hasn't been young and foolish once?" Seijiro's face, flushed with alcohol, bore a teasing smile as he spoke, the smell of liquor strong on his breath.

"I understand, I really do."

"Especially considering the mission we're about to undertake…"

Seijiro's tone suddenly grew somber, his gaze shifting as if recalling something unbearable.

He furrowed his brow in irritation and said:

"Your name's Ci, right? Listen up—"

Seijiro paused, his eyes narrowing slightly:

"Don't expect me to help you with this mission."

Uchiha Seijiro now harbors resentment toward you.

Uchiha Ci glanced at the sudden text that appeared before his eyes, raised an eyebrow, and then calmly replied, "Don't worry, Seijiro-senpai."

"I won't drag you down."

"Heh, you really don't understand the gravity of what you've done, do you?" Seijiro's face darkened at Uchiha Ci's indifferent response.

"I don't know why the elder chose to have you participate in this mission."

"But this mission was originally intended for three jōnin-level clan members to execute."

"Yet, because of your little ninja game, the elder changed his mind, forcing someone like me—a mere chūnin—to get involved in something so dangerous!"

Seijiro's gaze grew colder, and he let out a derisive snort.

"You have no idea what kind of lunatics you'll be facing on this mission!"

"Without the Sharingan, you're nothing but a plaything to those lunatics!"

Uchiha Ci raised an eyebrow slightly. How could he not know what was waiting for him in the Land of Hot Water, having read the original story?

The destination of this mission.

In the Hell Valley of the Land of Hot Water resides the Blood Pool Clan.

Their Blood Dragon Eyes (Ketsuryūgan) reflect a hatred for the Uchiha clan that stretches back to the Warring States period!

In truth, Seijiro wasn't wrong.

Without the Sharingan, Uchiha Ci would have no advantage against the Blood Dragon Eyes, another dōjutsu-based bloodline limit.

The Blood Dragon Eyes, much like the Sharingan, require intense emotional stimulation to awaken.

However, unlike the Sharingan, once awakened, the Blood Dragon Eyes come with immediate abilities such as Hypnotic Eyes, enhanced Genjutsu, Blood Release Ninjutsu, and even turning the body into a living bomb—enough to rival the Sharingan at the two-tomoe stage.

As their ocular power increases, even more terrifying abilities might emerge.

An Uchiha who hasn't awakened the Sharingan or has just recently done so would be completely overpowered by the Blood Pool Clan's ninjas, making them easy prey.

Moreover, the Blood Pool Clan has survived in the desolate Hell Valley for years, honing their Taijutsu to an exceptional level just to hunt for food.

Their skill with projectiles is at least at the mastery level.

Conventional ninjutsu is also easily countered by their Blood Release techniques, which have undergone complete Water Release nature transformation in the boiling pool environment.

With the Hell Valley's infernal difficulty, even Uchiha Ci, with his Master-level Uchiha-style Shurikenjutsu, would be at a loss.

It's almost too perfect.

Ahem, what Uchiha Ci means is that they're truly formidable foes.

He must give his all to defeat them!

"Forget it. Telling a kid like you this, you wouldn't understand anyway…" Seijiro took another swig from his bottle, his expression dazed, and muttered to himself.

"I just opened my two-tomoe Sharingan… why does it have to be me..."

He clutched his head in agony, squatting down on the ground, his face full of fear.

Uchiha Ci watched the squatting Seijiro, pressed his lips together, sighed, and stepped forward to pat his shoulder, remaining silent.

The thing he was worried about had happened after all.

Because of him, the plot had changed, dragging this poor man into it.

Even though they weren't well acquainted, Uchiha Ci couldn't help but feel a bit of pressure in his heart.

He shook his head and finally spoke earnestly:

"Seijiro-senpai, don't worry, I'll say it again."

"If someone has to die, it will be me."

Uchiha Ci said solemnly.

"You just need to protect yourself. I've already prepared myself for death!"

"What... what did you say?" Seijiro looked up, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Then, his face darkened slightly, and he sighed.

To him, Uchiha Ci was still too naive, speaking without thinking.

Only when this kid faces death head-on will he truly understand what fear is.

Being from the same clan, he had already said more than enough today. Being too harsh would weigh on his conscience.

After all, Uchiha Ci was still just a child.

"Forget it, this is my fate."

In an instant, as if resigning himself to fate, Seijiro staggered past Uchiha Ci, the bottle in his hand swaying as he trudged towards home.

Under the clear moonlight, his stumbling figure resembled a dog that had lost its way home.

Suddenly, Seijiro slightly turned his head and asked in a deep voice:

"Kid, can you tell me why you've gone to such lengths?"

Uchiha Ci paused, scratching his head with a slightly embarrassed expression.

He couldn't exactly say it was to scam insurance...

After a moment,

Uchiha Ci stood in the face of the cold wind, under the merciless moonlight, with the massive shadow of the Hokage Rock stretching out behind him.

He slowly clenched his fist, pressing it against his chest, over his heart.

"Why, huh..."

Uchiha Ci's expression was hard to read, but his voice that followed was as resolute as a blade piercing through the weakness of the human heart.

"I often wonder what someone as mediocre as me can accomplish..."

"What is the purpose of the village and the Uchiha?"

"But after thinking it over and over, I can only confirm one thing."

"Without power, I can do nothing."

"So, I'm willing to sacrifice myself in the flames of war, offering myself to the blaze, seeking my path between life and death... the path for these eyes to follow!"

"And then, with these eyes, I'll light up the world!"

Looking at Uchiha Ci standing tall in the cold wind, as resolute as a statue,

"Is that so?"

Seijiro nodded slightly, his expression softening as he recalled the words spoken to him earlier by Shisui-sama, a highly respected yet pacifist figure within the clan...

"I see…"

After a moment of silence, Seijiro left with those words.

Leaving behind a thoroughly confused Uchiha Ci, whose eyes darted around in bewilderment, scratching his head.

"What the hell did you understand, you bastard?"