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â° Resets Monday!
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Midday sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, falling upon two ice sculptures and scattering into dazzling, fragmented light.
Itachi Uchiha stared at the frozen figures of Shisui and Juri, then at Heshu. Astonishment filled his mind.
He never expected someone who couldn't even throw shuriken properly to be this powerful.
Heshu couldn't actually freeze them for too long. He stepped forward and shattered the outer layers of ice.
Shisui and Juri landed on the ground, their skin erupting with goosebumps.
"You okay?" Heshu helped them up.
Their muscles, having been frozen stiff, were now tingling and numb.
"Fine!"
"Heshu, you're amazing! I need to step up my own training!"
Juri flashed him a grin, clenching his fist with determination.
Tomorrow. He'd ask his father to teach him powerful ninjutsu. He'd ask how to awaken the Sharingan.
He couldn't afford to fall too far behind.
Shisui pressed his lips together, the same resolve burning in his eyes.
Heshu's mouth twitched. Juri's training regimen was already brutal. 'More training'?
Truly, the king of self-imposed grind.
"Alright, it's getting late. Let's go eat at my place!" Juri extended the invitation.
Heshu and Shisui both nodded.
Juri then looked at Itachi. "You too, Itachi!"
Itachi Uchiha blinked, then nodded.
Lunch at Juri's was lavish. The four of them ate their fill.
A maid cleared the empty plates and brought out a fruit platter.
They lay side-by-side on the tatami, basking in the warm sunlight.
Heshu closed his eyes contentedly⊠then sensed a distinct stare from beside him.
"Something on your mind?"
Caught, Juri coughed lightly and looked away, the tips of his ears turning red. "N-nothing!"
Shisui's gaze shifted from Juri's flushed ears, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
"Want some shaved ice?" Juri asked, turning his head towards Heshu.
"Yes!" Heshu nodded.
Shaved ice in summer was one of life's great pleasures.
Four bowls arrived. Heshu chose the strawberry-flavored one.
Juri went for the sour pineapple, Shisui the mild vanilla, and Itachi the intensely sweet red bean.
Ah, Heshu thought, so the 'Itachi has a sweet tooth' anime trope holds true. This isn't just a preference. This is a commitment*. That red bean monstrosity could send teeth into early retirement.*
After the shaved ice, they simply lay there for a nap.
Itachi had wanted to leave, but Heshu firmly pushed him back down.
Somehow, his favorability rose by five points. Now at negative ten.
Some time later, a clear chime sounded from the wind chimes on the eaves, followed by hurried footsteps.
Heshu opened his eyes first. Soon, the others blinked awake drowsily.
On Itachi's small face was a rare look of innocent, sleepy confusion.
Heshu's hand almost twitched with the urge to pinch his cheeks.
"What's going on?" Juri frowned, standing up to face the maid before him.
"Young master, the master has returned from the battlefield⊠but he's gravely injured!" the maid reported.
"What?!" Juri's eyes widened, fear and panic seizing him completely.
"Where is he? Take me to him, now!" he ordered immediately.
"Yes." The maid nodded and led Juri towards the main hall.
Heshu and Shisui exchanged a glance, then followed. Itachi trailed behind.
Juri's father was the son of an Uchiha elderâpowerful, of high status. Before they even entered the hall, Heshu sensed several unfamiliar chakra signatures.
The hall was filled with Uchiha clansmen.
Juri ran forward, trembling, his steps halting before a white stretcher.
The smell of blood hung thick in the air. Slowly, the white fabric was soaking through with crimson.
Juri Uchiha's father, YĂŹ Uchiha, struggled to open his eyes. His son's tear-streaked face swam into view.
"Don't⊠cryâŠ" Blood gurgled from YĂŹ Uchiha's mouth, saturating his dark robes.
Juri choked back his panic. Tears welled in his eyes. His hands clenched his clothes so tightly his knuckles turned white. His body trembled slightly.
An Uchiha clansman beside him placed a hand on his shoulder, a gesture of comfort.
This man's expression was stern, his gaze heavy and composed. It was none other than the clan head of the Uchiha, Itachi's fatherâFugaku Uchiha.
Heshu and Shisui stood outside the door, not entering. Itachi watched the scene in silence.
He had been to the battlefield. Not long ago.
He had even ended a life with his own hands.
He was accustomed to death, yet he still didn't understand it.
He understood the meaning of living even less.
"HeshuâŠ" Shisui looked at him, a plea in his eyes.
Juri was drowning in grief. He might have forgotten, in that moment, about Heshu's ability.
Heshu nodded.
Even if Shisui hadn't asked.
He would have stepped forward anyway.
He couldn't stand by and do nothing, not for Juri's father.
The hall was filled with elite Uchiha ninja. The moment Heshu and Shisui stepped inside, they were noticed.
"Shisui." A middle-aged manâShisui's guardianâacknowledged him.
"Uncle." Shisui bowed politely.
Itachi entered too, moving to stand behind Fugaku Uchiha.
Heshu was the only non-Uchiha present, but his deceptively innocent appearance didn't raise any alarms.
Heshu walked forward and knelt beside Juri.
He placed a small hand on Juri's shoulder. The despair radiating from the boy was palpable.
He spoke softly. "Juri, did you forget? You still have a friend here."
Juri shuddered, his head snapping up. A pair of crimson eyes locked onto Heshu.
How could he have forgotten?
Heshu was here!
"The Sharingan!"
"The boy's awakened it!"
Exclamations of shock rose from the Uchiha behind them.
Heshu felt the power of the Uchiha bloodline limit, the Sharingan, firsthand. Facing it directly, the blood-red pupils with two spinning black tomoe emanated a profound, oppressive sense of foreboding.
Heshu's gaze fell on the injured man before him. He extended his hands.
A soft, luminous green light erupted.
It was like a miracle. As time passed, YĂŹ Uchiha's faint heartbeat grew stronger. The wounds that had been steadily seeping blood began to knit together, new flesh forming. His breathing evened out.
This was the most intense application of Reverse Cursed Technique Heshu had attempted so far. The severity of YĂŹ Uchiha's injuries, coupled with the man's own powerful constitution, made the healing incredibly taxing.
Cold sweat beaded on Heshu's forehead, dripping down. His hands began to tremble slightly.
Finally, the light in his hands faded. His vision went black, and he slumped backward.
Shisui moved fast, catching him swiftly. "Heshu! Are you okay?" he asked, worried.
Heshu was too exhausted to speak, slowly fighting off the encroaching darkness.
Juri froze. He looked at Shisui, then withdrew his own hand, which had been hovering in mid-air.
His eyes remained a stark crimson. Freshly awakened, he didn't know how to deactivate the Sharingan.
Fugaku Uchiha placed his fingers on YĂŹ Uchiha's wrist. His pupils constricted. He looked at Heshu with utter disbelief.
This pulse⊠it was as strong as a man who had never been injured.
[Ding! Favorability of target Fugaku Uchiha +10!]
Heshu, who had been drifting toward sleep, was jolted awake by the system's chime.
He pushed himself up with Shisui's support. "Should you rest a bit more?" Shisui was still concerned. Heshu's collapse had scared him.
[Ding! Favorability of target Shisui Uchiha +75!]
[Ding! Favorability of target Itachi Uchiha +10!]
This barrage of good news snapped Heshu fully awake. The brief dizziness was just from chakra depletion and mental strain. Not a big deal.
"Heshu⊠thank you." Juri turned and bowed deeply to him.
His eyes were rimmed red. Within the crimson Sharingan was profound, wordless gratitude.
Heshu shook his head slowly, a small smile touching his lips. "We're friends. Of course I'd help."
Their first meeting hadn't been pleasant, but their time together since, fighting side-by-side⊠the ice between them had long since melted into something warm.
Juri smiled back, his gaze holding something Heshu couldn't quite name.
YĂŹ Uchiha, utterly spent, was carried away to rest.
In the now-vast hall, the attention of the senior Uchiha elders focused squarely on Heshu.
'A treasure!'
'Indeed!'
'Such medical ninjutsu⊠even Lady Tsunade couldn't do this, could she?'
'Shisui called him Heshu, right?'
'I heard Lady Tsunade has a disciple named HeshuâŠ'
'Oh?'
'Let's recruit him into the clan!'
'Agreed!'
'Seconded!'
Behind Fugaku Uchiha, the elders' eyes darted back and forth, information passing silently between them.
A decision was made.
Recruit this little girl into the Uchiha!
"Young lady, what is your name? We are deeply indebted to you." Fugaku Uchiha's voice was low, carrying sincere thanks. His eyes swept between Heshu and Shisui, a look that was slightly unnerving.
"Hello, sir. I'm Heshu Tsukimi." Heshu answered politely. "Juri is my friend. I had to help."
He bit his lip, offering an angelic smile. "Besides, I could never stand by and watch someone suffer if I could help. It's a medical ninja's duty."
Ugh!
A collective arrow seemed to pierce the hearts of the older generation present.
Their smiles grew a little dreamy.
What a sweet, kind, little angel!
Why wasn't she born an Uchiha?!
Heshu received the enthusiastic hospitality of the Uchiha clan head.
"Heshu, Shisui. You'll both join us for dinner at our home tonight." Fugaku Uchiha's lips twitched into a stiff, slightly awkward smile. Smiling didn't come naturally to him.
They couldn't refuse.
Heshu smiled. "Thank you, sir."
Shisui also answered, "Thank you, Clan Head."
Fugaku Uchiha shook his head, then left with the council of elders. Today's eventsâYĂŹ Uchiha's miraculous recovery and the existence of this 'Heshu Tsukimi'ârequired an urgent meeting.
The hall fell empty once more.
Under Fugaku Uchiha's earlier guidance, Juri had finally deactivated his Sharingan. Exhaustion was etched on his face. The Sharingan drained mental energy fiercely.
The day had been too suddenâhis father nearly dying, then saved; his own Sharingan awakening.
"Juri, you should go rest for a while." Seeing his fatigue, Heshu suggested.
Shisui nodded. "He's right. You look worn out."
Juri didn't argue. He was at his limit. He left the hall.
Itachi stood beside Heshu and Shisui, his eyes fixed intently on Heshu.
"What are you looking at, kid?" Heshu ruffled Itachi's hair.
This time, no favorability points were deducted. Heshu's eyes gleamed with amusement.
Today's haul was indeed good. He'd met both Itachi and Fugaku and secured a foothold in their favorability.
"You are⊠remarkable." Itachi spoke up.
On his youthful face was an expression of absolute seriousness.
Heshu couldn't help but grin.
Being a transmigrator was great! Playing spy for Madara, out-acting Obito, having Shisui as a defeated rival, and now Itachi, future god-like ninja, calling him remarkable with admiration.
The system saw no actual 'admiration' on Itachi's face, but it let it slide.
Shisui took Heshu to the riverside.
A cool breeze blew, carrying the scent of fresh grass.
Heshu was already tired.
In this environment, his eyelids grew heavy fast.
Shisui lay down beside him and fell asleep too.
Unlike the two of them, lost to the world, little Itachi Uchiha stood by the riverbank. His eyes followed the flowing water, pondering the philosophy of existence.
Gradually, the sun dipped westward.
Heshu slowly opened his eyes.
Amazing.
Sleeping in a place like this was incredible. Unpolluted air, pristine scenery, warm but not scorching sunlight.
"What is the meaning of life?"
"What purpose does living have?"
Itachi murmured to himself by the river.
"..." Heshu was silent.
Truly, the man destined to be called a god. While other kids play in the mud, he's contemplating existence.
Silently reciting the Core Socialist Values in his heart for strength, Heshu walked over, ready to begin his brainwashing⊠ahem, his guidance.
"Itachi, you're too young to be worrying about things that give you white hairs." Heshu sat down beside him, donning his most convincing, gentle smile.
"But if I don't contemplate it, I will remain lost." Itachi turned his head, looking at Heshu earnestly.
"Also, I don't have white hairs."
Heshu replied, "True, you don't have white hairs. But you have nasolabial folds."
"..." Itachi had no retort.
He couldn't very well tell Heshu he was born with them.
"Don't you ever feel lost?" Itachi asked. He looked like a child carrying the weight of the world.
Heshu shook his head. "No. I never feel lost."
"Why?" Itachi's eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and sudden eagerness in them. He was searching for an answer.
None of his peers could even understand his questions. Then again, what four-year-old asked about the meaning of life? Getting hit with mud would be a polite response.
"Because I have a goal," Heshu said with a smile.
A goal to become an idol for all, the most beloved person in the ninja world!
["Very enlightened."] The system approved of his ideological enlightenment. As a reward, it decided to carefully pick a skill its host would truly appreciate next time.
The road to becoming universally adored was long and arduous, but he would seek his goal relentlessly.
"A goal?" Itachi was puzzled. He had no goal. He didn't know what he wanted.
So he asked Heshu, "What is your goal?"
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