Chapter 94: Seiichiro, Thank You So Much!
The sun hung high in the sky.
A gentle breeze caressed his face, accompanied by the chatter of voices and the rumble of carts.
Uchiha Tsukasa felt his eyelids twitch.
For a moment, he thought he'd returned to his old world—that instant when he'd been hit by a truck, sent flying and crashing to the ground, bleeding out, his fate uncertain.
Hearing the commotion so different from the cave, Tsukasa's spirits lifted slightly.
Could it be? Have I been resurrected?
Sent back to the moment before my death?
Have I actually returned to the real world?
But something felt off. Why hadn't the system options appeared this time?
He'd been fully prepared. If those choices had popped up again, he would have unhesitatingly chosen whatever option would let him cash out and go home!
With this thought, Tsukasa quietly opened his eyes.
Then he saw Seiichiro Uchiha leaning against a massive scroll, sitting before him with his head nodding, drool nearly dripping down his collar.
He was mumbling strange, dreamlike words:
"Hehehe... I've got three tomoe now too... Don't run away, listen to your senior's teachings, you little brat..."
Upon hearing Seiichiro's voice, Tsukasa's expression instantly fell blank.
Wait, what?
I was burned to a crisp and somehow survived?
How? Where did they find a miracle doctor?
He looked around and found himself in an attic room with a scenic view. A sliding wooden door on one side opened onto a balcony facing the street.
Sunlight streamed through the open window, falling warmly across the tatami mat and futon where he lay.
Peering past the potted plants arranged between the window and balcony—oleander and small cacti—he saw a bustling street filled with pedestrians. Unique shops lined up one after another, and merchants driving carts came and went, creating a lively scene.
Izakayas, dango shops, tea houses, general stores, various seafood restaurants, and even hot spring bathhouses dotted the street.
Seeing this, Tsukasa realized he wasn't dead.
This was the destination that Elder Setsuna Uchiha had assigned their team.
Sandwiched between three great nations was the largest city in the Land of Hot Water:
Yugakure Castle Town.
It seemed Seiichiro had completed the mission perfectly—even exceeding expectations by somehow rescuing him from the Jashin Cult's lair.
Even thinking about it now, Tsukasa remained bewildered and unable to accept it.
How had they pulled it off?
With injuries like his, even Tsunade—the greatest medical ninja in the world—would have declared him beyond saving and said, "Wait for death. Goodbye!"
Just then, the sound of him stirring startled Seiichiro awake.
"Huh? Tsukasa, you're awake! How are you feeling? Any better?" Seiichiro immediately approached eagerly.
Tsukasa quickly shifted position, his expression blank.
What's wrong with this guy? Why is he being so enthusiastic?
We've probably exchanged fewer than twenty sentences total, haven't we?
He still preferred the unruly Seiichiro from the village, always eager to put junior clan members in their place.
"Seiichiro-senpai?" Tsukasa frowned, gesturing at the room.
"What's going on here?"
"Oh, this place?" Seiichiro said.
"This is our Uchiha clan's communications base in Yugakure Castle Town. It used to belong to the Ninja Cat Clan, but Captain Fugaku recently purchased it."
"On the surface, it's an izakaya, but in reality, it's the largest ninja tool shop in all of Yugakure—and the entrance to the underground black market."
Tsukasa raised an eyebrow. Though he'd heard of the great clans' wealth, he was still somewhat surprised to hear that Fugaku had so casually purchased such an establishment.
This kind of neutral business also involved the underground black market frequented only by ninja and merchants.
It didn't matter what the store sold—the real value was the information gathered from everyone who came and went each day.
It seems the relationship between the Uchiha and the Ninja Cat Clan runs deeper than the original story suggested.
After understanding his current location, Tsukasa frowned again and asked the most critical question:
"How long was I unconscious? And what happened during that time?"
"You were out for three days! Thanks to Lord Orochimaru—he really deserves his reputation as one of the Legendary Sannin! He brought you back from the brink of death with his miraculous medical skills!"
"Huh?"
Tsukasa was immediately stunned. "Wait, you're saying Orochimaru saved me?"
Orochimaru moonlighting as a battlefield medic who can resurrect the dead?
Isn't Tsunade supposed to be the medical expert among the Sannin?
What the hell is wrong with this timeline?
At the mention of this, Seiichiro instantly perked up, launching into an exaggerated account of the incredible events from three days prior.
Through Seiichiro's narrative—approximately 30% truth, 70% embellishment, and completely lacking logical flow—Tsukasa finally managed to piece together what had happened.
But even so, he still couldn't quite believe it.
Fugaku and seven other Uchiha just standing there? A chunin publicly berating the future clan head? Someone threatening the legendary Orochimaru to his face? And Orochimaru secretly possessing supreme medical jutsu?
What kind of ridiculous plot is this? Even fanfiction wouldn't dare write something this absurd!
Tsukasa immediately opened his system panel with a blank expression and checked the log. This thing wouldn't lie to him.
And there he saw—
[Orochimaru believes you are dead and wants to claim your body for dissection and research.]
[Orochimaru uses a physical technique on you: Cursed Seal Bite.]
[You have acquired: Heaven's Curse Mark (A-, Incomplete, Extremely Dangerous)]
Looking at the system log, Tsukasa blinked, quickly understanding what had actually happened. Then he looked up at Seiichiro in shock.
Holy crap, what he said was actually true?!
Seeing Tsukasa's shocked expression, Seiichiro felt a pleasant tingling sensation spread from his toes to his crown. He couldn't help coughing as he spoke excitedly:
"Ahem, so yeah, that's what happened."
Then his expression immediately changed. He raised his chin, looking down his nose at Tsukasa, and snorted coldly:
"Anyway, we're even now for that time you saved my life."
Tsukasa was nearly knocked unconscious by this sudden burst of classic Uchiha tsundere attitude.
Finally, he could only curse under his breath with a twisted expression:
"Damn it... what have I done to deserve this..."
"What was that?" Seiichiro asked, not hearing clearly.
"Nothing." Tsukasa looked at Seiichiro with a blank expression, his jaw clenched and trembling.
"I said... thank you so much, Seiichiro-senpai!"
"Hmph! Don't think I'll be swayed by such words!" Seiichiro turned his head away, not letting Tsukasa see the secretly pleased grin spreading across his face. His tone remained cold.
"Don't expect me to help you just because of some flattery."
Tsukasa sighed heavily, his face full of despair.
What do I do now?
What can I possibly do?
After being rescued this time, how am I supposed to move forward with my plans?
Immortality + Zero Tail larvae + Dark Chakra + Heaven's Curse Mark + Forbidden Technique: Physical Regeneration.
Too durable. Way too durable. I really can't die now!
Even if I stood still and let an average jonin hack away at me, I probably wouldn't die, right?
How am I supposed to complete my original plan with this kind of setup?
At that moment, Seiichiro suddenly stood up, opened the sliding door, and frowned as he said:
"Since you're awake, come with me."
"There are a few things you need to handle—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a loud and energetic wail rang out from beyond the opened door:
"You red-eyed bastards, just kill me if you're going to!"
"What's the point of tying me up and not giving me food?!"
"AHHHHHH! Three days! Three whole days!"
"Uchiha Tsukasa, when are you going to wake up?! I'm starving to death here!"
End of Chapter 94
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