Compared to the systems in the transmigration novels Uchiha Hiraku had read, this system—which required no effort and only consumed the idle slots—left him utterly satisfied.
Now, he just needed to figure out the system's idle rate, and he'd fully understand how it worked.
The system in its initial version only had two idle slots, so it was even more crucial to arrange things properly.
Besides, some skills might start at a very low level, but their potential could be unpredictable.
The cooking skill, for instance, filled him with imagination. Cooking ingredients was one thing—but cooking the rules? That was also a form of cooking.
Who knew? This seemingly white-grade skill might turn into a bug-level ability after the system restructured it.
Still, compared to the Sharingan and the Uchiha bloodline—both of which provided reliable power gains—cooking wasn't exactly stable. There was no guarantee it would evolve into a bug-tier skill in the long run.
Plus, bringing out the advantages of that skill might take a lot of time, which would slow down his progress and undercut the system's biggest strength.
With that thought cleared up, Uchiha Hiraku stopped hesitating and decided to prioritize leveling up the Sharingan and his bloodline.
After wrapping up everything with the system, Uchiha Hiraku took his money and left the room, planning to stroll around outside—and maybe grab a bite while he was at it.
When he first arrived, he had been too busy with his parents' funeral and too anxious about the future to think about sightseeing.
Now that the system had appeared, not only had it calmed his restless heart, it also gave him the confidence to face what lay ahead.
Plus, it had already been several days since he arrived here. It would be a shame not to take a good look around now that the things he once loved were right in front of him.
With mixed feelings, Uchiha Hiraku stepped onto the street.
The sight before him left him a little disappointed, though there was something vaguely familiar about the scenery that made him pause.
The layout resembled what he'd seen in the anime, but it was much more worn down.
Right now, it was the tail end of the First Great Ninja War. Although the conflict was winding down, those who had died weren't coming back.
Under such conditions, the streets were almost empty, and familiar shops were nowhere to be seen. Not even the famous Ichiraku Ramen had made an appearance. Only BBQ Q, a name that lived on in the future, remained open.
Even the snack shops didn't seem to be doing well. That in itself reflected Konoha's current grim situation.
Compared to the prosperity of the future, today's Konoha was barely holding itself together.
As Uchiha Hiraku walked along the worn-down road, the Uchiha clan crest on his back made passersby frown slightly.
That reaction made him sigh internally. 'So even this early on, the Uchiha name was already unpopular... Must be due to the Second Hokage's policies.'
The Uchiha clan was known for their deep capacity to love—and for their obsession. Losing that love was the catalyst for awakening the Sharingan based on one's innate talent.
The most gifted among them could even awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
But the moment they awakened it, they were often consumed by their own inner world. The most iconic examples were Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Itachi.
After witnessing Rin's death, Obito fell into a delusional obsession—believing Infinite Tsukuyomi could bring people true happiness. He killed even his own mentor's wife without hesitation.
Itachi, on the other hand, after experiencing war and mental manipulation, witnessed Shisui's death and became convinced the Uchiha clan would eventually bring about an irreversible disaster. So he massacred the entire clan without turning back.
To prevent such outcomes, Tobirama Senju created the Konoha Military Police Force.
On one hand, it gave the Uchiha clan a peaceful way of life and reduced their involvement in battle, weakening their fighting spirit and limiting the number of Sharingan awakenings.
On the other hand, Tobirama knew the Uchiha's obsessive nature would make them ruthless enforcers of the law—damaging their public image.
"To become Hokage, one must be acknowledged by everyone." That statement may have had loopholes, but it wasn't entirely without merit.
The Uchiha's poor reputation and lack of support from the common folk made it impossible for them to produce a Hokage.
Tobirama's plan had to be called brilliant—but also, only the Uchiha could be so hard-headed.
If only the Uchiha had restrained their obsessive tendencies and used the Military Police Force to build a positive reputation…
Even if they still couldn't produce a Hokage, at least they would have held some weight in the upper echelons of power.
But they were manipulated without realizing it, and even after seeing their limitations, they refused to change.
Though the Uchiha were gifted by nature, most of them wallowed in clan pride and remained stagnant. In a way, they were just birds in a cage of their own making.
After wandering around for a while, Uchiha Hiraku came to a stop. The strange looks from the villagers drained any desire to continue strolling.
So he turned and made his way toward BBQ Q, the yakiniku restaurant run by the Akimichi clan—one of the most famous dining spots in the Naruto world.
Asuma Sarutobi was known to bring Shikamaru and the others here to eat. Plus, given how the Akimichi were famous for their appetites, they practically served as walking ads for the place.
The moment he stepped inside, the smell of grilled meat hit Uchiha Hiraku's nose, triggering a wave of hunger. He hadn't eaten well in days, and the aroma made his stomach growl.
Unlike the desolate streets outside, the restaurant was buzzing. Many ninja in uniform were laughing and dining together.
At a glance, only one little girl with golden hair looked familiar.
Uchiha Hiraku narrowed his eyes and sat at a nearby table.
After ordering, he began casually observing the familiar figure.
"Mom, Dad… are you leaving so soon? Isn't the war already over?"
The two adults smiled helplessly, their tone gentle and doting as they replied to the golden-haired girl.
"Little Tsunade, your mom and dad are from the Senju clan. We have to set an example…"
Before they could finish, Tsunade interrupted, tears welling in her eyes.
"No! I don't want you to go!"
"Granduncle said the same thing last time, and he never came back! He's a liar! I hate you!"
With that, Tsunade burst into tears and ran outside, catching her parents completely off guard.
But their training as ninja kicked in. They quickly gave chase. Just as the man reached out to hold her, the woman stopped him.
"Let her vent a little. Uncle Tobirama's death hit her hard. Let's just follow her for now."
The father nodded silently, realizing she was right, and followed behind Tsunade without saying a word.
Watching Tsunade sob and run off, both of their eyes turned red with emotion.
Adults had to be strong—because if they weren't, who could children rely on?
After listening to their conversation, Uchiha Hiraku confirmed that this was indeed a young Tsunade.
What he hadn't expected was that Tsunade hadn't been emotionally strong even as a child.
Maybe something happened later on that pushed her past her breaking point and forced her to hide behind a hardened mask.
The brash, foul-tempered Tsunade everyone knew was likely just a facade.
And when she eventually lost her lover and brother, it shattered the last barrier in her heart—causing a top-level medical ninja to develop hemophobia. Now that was ironic.
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