"Holy crap, Sasuke's dad is seriously inhuman—he's letting a kid decide the fate of the clan?"
"Itachi is only thirteen!"
"Fugaku's a real beast—what does he expect Itachi to do?"
"Holy crap!! Crap! Don't tell me... the man Sasuke has to kill is Itachi?"
The world has never lacked netizens with wild imaginations.
Many, following the plot, speculated that Itachi wiped out the whole clan and earned Sasuke's hatred.
However...
Masahiko observed that it might not all be the viewers' own guesswork.
Judging by some bullet chat claims, this world has its own analysts, too—people who compared the episode frame-by-frame with the original manga.
Even the identity of the Black-Robed Man had been pinned on Masahiko.
In the bullet chat, Fugaku naturally faced a storm of condemnation.
Yet...
The original Fugaku had apparently been even less "human"; he'd never once opened his heart to Itachi.
Only at the very end, when Itachi stood before him with a blade, did he finally speak his mind.
Now, at least, everything was out in the open.
Masahiko was rather curious what choice Itachi would make next.
Because—
Right after this scene came another in which Itachi returned at night to comfort Sasuke.
But after consoling his brother, Itachi didn't stay for dinner; he found an excuse and left.
When the picture shifted, night had already fallen.
That evening the moonlight saw him drinking with Kurenai, while Itachi met a mysterious man on the outskirts of the Village.
The same spiral mask.
Unlike his attitude toward Shisui, this time the spiral-Masked Man's aura was overwhelming—he truly seemed to be Uchiha Madara.
"Have you thought it through? If I act, I'll kill them all—you know I'm capable of it."
\"I have a question.\
Itachi's face was ice-cold as he looked up. "Why must you wipe out our clan?"
"Have you ever learned my story?"
The other gave a low chuckle.
Itachi shook his head.
So the Masked Man said coldly, "It's a tale of betrayal. I tolerate neither traitors nor fools—better to erase the lot."
Itachi gripped his sword hilt, then slowly relaxed it.
After a brief standoff he turned and walked away, giving no answer.
Instantly the screen flooded with bullet comments.
Masahiko skimmed them—many were stunned, many more crowing that they'd guessed right.
Yet plenty were still debating the plot:
"So it's really Itachi—and he's being forced?"
"Right now it looks like Konoha and the hidden powers all want the Uchiha dead, while the Black-Robed Man and Shisui want to save them?"
"Wrong. The Black-Robed Man isn't that kind."
"If that guy is the Old Thief, I'd bet he's after lab materials."
"+1."
The editor was a genius: the very next second he cut to Masahiko's meeting with Yakushi Kabuto, skipping the fight.
One handed over a scroll, the other accepted it, along with the line: "Give my thanks to Lord Orochimaru."
It looked as if the two had been on the same side all along.
In reality... Masahiko had never defected to Orochimaru.
The next scene flashed to Masahiko accepting the "approach-Orochimaru" mission from Danzo.
Again, with the beginning and end lopped off.
By contrast, his meeting with the Third Hokage was shown in full.
"Masahiko, you sly Old Thief—truly cunning!"
"Jeez, conning both sides—no, all four sides—what a snake!"
"Prologue? Make the Old Thief the main character already!"
"Aaaah! Kishimoto, update faster—I want the manga, I want to see Masahiko in canon!"
Packed as it was, his part of the episode ended there.
What followed were the Third's recollections.
Judging by time and setting, it should be Hiruzen Sarutobi and Naruto—
The previous evening the old man had sat down for another casual chat with Naruto.
Clearly...
Before speaking with Masahiko, the Third had talked to Naruto first.
Naruto was kind and simple, with little scheming in him.
From the boy the Third could get the clearest, most direct view of Masahiko.
The answer, naturally... was good!
Naruto was a bit tsundere, unwilling to call Masahiko a good person, yet every word showed he believed Masahiko had helped him a lot, trust shining through.
Hiruzen listened with a smile, but also a sigh of reminiscence.
Below, plenty still berated Masahiko as a "movie king," "actor," "sinister."
Masahiko snorted at that.
Who'd risk "life and limb" playing the villain if he could be the hero?
It was life that forced his hand!
The Third's actions surprised him not at all.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was no fool; of course he'd investigate and observe—Naruto was only one part.
What bothered Masahiko... was that, judging by the bullet chat, his reputation in the other world seemed truly awful.
Not quite top-tier villain, but roughly in Orochimaru's camp.
Fine.
At least his character setting was rock-solid.
Masahiko smiled as, over the ending song, lines of text appeared before him.
[Popularity Rating: S]
[Comprehensive Evaluation...]
[Your appearance sparked heated discussion and gained huge attention; your pay bonus has increased.]
[Reward Received: Basic Module Upgrade Card]
Oh?
Masahiko's eyes lit up; he claimed it at once.
The next moment its purpose and usage surfaced in his mind.
This Basic Module Upgrade Card could upgrade any basic training module he had unlocked.
Right now he had Taijutsu and Ninjutsu modules; after upgrading, their AI and knowledge base would improve.
Later, modules of the same level would merge, making projection abilities richer and more varied.
"Good stuff!"
Masahiko thought for a second, then without hesitation chose—
\"Upgrade the Ninjutsu module.\
,
Loading Training Module – Ninjutsu Section
,
Load Successful!
,
Module functions updated; please explore on your own.
The next second he lay on his bed and arrived in a blank training space.
Two options appeared before him.
Intelligent Projection, Personalized Projection.
"I want personality too—shame my wallet says no."
Masahiko sighed.
Senju Tobirama was a fantastic research tool, but his appearance fee was sky-high; for ordinary studies Masahiko could hardly afford him.
After collecting his thoughts, he looked at the first line.
\"Choose Intelligent Projection.\
Soon a projected version of himself appeared again.
"What can you do?"
Masahiko asked back.
The other was silent a moment.
"I can help optimize your Ninjutsu techniques, assist in raising your Ninjutsu ability, master new Chakra nature and shape transformations..."
He rattled off his functions like a waiter listing dishes.
Masahiko listened and got the gist.
Besides the basic Ninjutsu abilities, the module could now help optimize jutsu, just like the Ninja Body module.
Convenient.
His gaze swept the panel and quickly locked on the Great Fireball Technique.
It was the only Fire Release jutsu he currently knew.
"I'll start training the Great Fireball Technique; help me improve my Fire Release."
\"Understood.\
The intelligent projection stood by like an AI life-form, analyzing his Fire Release.
It finally concluded—
The best way for Masahiko to advance was to weave Chakra-compression techniques into the Great Fireball Technique.
At the same time, by varying his Chakra, he could flexibly control the flame's size and strength.
Masahiko followed the advice and began to train and refine it again and again.
After a long while a fireball burst from his mouth, the flames so condensed their very color had shifted.
Masahiko continued to alter the Chakra he poured in.
"Boom!"
Several paces ahead the flames suddenly expanded, the fireball doubling in size and blanketing a wide area.
[Great Fireball Technique: Perfect]
Done!
Masahiko's thoughts stirred. "Can you help me research Soft Body Modification?"
"I can."