[System Notification]
[Our clan has declined.]
[After a night of crimson conspiracy, the name of Uchiha has been tarnished and withered.]
[Now, as the last bloodline of the clan, you shall reclaim its glory at any cost make the Uchiha great again.]
[Detected that the host has reached eighteen years of age; the Strongest Family Revival System has been loaded.]
Yagyu Masahiko stared at the translucent panel slowly emerging before him, holding his breath. He shook his head, squeezed his eyes shut, and then snapped them open. It wasn't an illusion; the panel remained, floating silently in the air.
A roaring sound echoed in his mind, making his head buzz. Masahiko had lived in Konohagakure for eighteen years. His parents were obscure Chunin who had passed away years ago, and his own aptitude was hopelessly ordinary.
For eighteen years, he had lived a plant-like life: waking at seven, a simple workout, breakfast at Ichiraku Ramen, and then off to work at the Hokage Building. He was always in bed before eleven. He had thought he would continue along this visible path forever. Until this moment.
"System?" Masahiko muttered in his mind. "Are you sure you've got the right person? The Uchiha Clan was wiped out four years ago. The only survivor in the village is Sasuke, and he's still playing ninja at the Academy."
[Host identity confirmed: Uchiha descendant.]
[Core objective: Revive the Uchiha Clan. Primary step: Increase strength and restore prestige until reaching 'Kage-level' standard.]
['Kage-level' Criteria: Awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan OR defeat a recognized 'Kage' level individual.]
"Mangekyo..." Masahiko felt a wave of wordlessness. "Listen, buddy, I don't even have a base Sharingan, and you're demanding a Mangekyo? Is this system specifically designed to piss me off?"
Just as he was about to give up, the panel refreshed.
[Phased growth mode activated. Current assessment: Genin.]
[Novice Mission: The Peak of Genin.]
[Content: Defeat the currently recognized 'Strongest Genin' Uzumaki Naruto. Prove you possess the potential of the Uchiha name.]
[Reward: One-Tomoe Sharingan.]
Masahiko's heart began to beat uncontrollably fast. Eighteen years! In a world where bloodlines were everything, being an ordinary person was a death sentence or a life of mediocrity.
"System-bro, you weren't wrong," Masahiko swore in his heart. "I've been an Uchiha all along. From today on, I am Uchiha Masahiko."
He turned his gaze out the window. Almost instantly, a burst of piercing, hearty laughter the sound of a successful prank erupted from the Hokage Rock. An orange dot was moving actively across the stone face of Senju Hashirama, splashing paint everywhere.
"Naruto-kun, my first pot of gold..." Masahiko muttered.
The future Child of Prophecy was currently just a "dead last" with terrible Chakra control. Most importantly, he hadn't yet learned the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. He was a "Lite Version" of the strongest Genin.
As Naruto leaped past Masahiko's window to escape the shouting Iruka Umino, Masahiko moved. With a swift motion, he reached out and grabbed the boy.
"Caught you, Naruto-kun."
Naruto froze. He had seen many gazes cold, hateful, pitying but Masahiko's gaze was different. It was friendly. Friendly, because Masahiko was looking at a completed mission.
[Mission Complete: One-Tomoe Sharingan has been issued.]
"You... who are you? Let go of me!" Naruto struggled.
"Just a helpful passing villager, remember that," Masahiko replied. He looked at the paint-stained boy and leaned in. "Ink washes away with water. Next time, try using oil paint instead."
Naruto was stunned. Wait, whose side is this guy on?
Later that afternoon, Masahiko stood in the center of a secluded training ground. After confirming he was alone, he slowly closed his eyes.
Claim reward.
A scorching torrent erupted from his heart. A massive surge of energy flowed into his eye sockets. It was a burning, sore sensation, as if something were breaking through the soil deep inside his eyeballs.
His vision blurred, then snapped into exceptional clarity. He could see the finest veins on distant leaves and the microscopic tracks of insects. The world became vivid, rich, and sharp.
The One-Tomoe Sharingan was his.
He felt a smaller stream of energy wash through his body, repairing old injuries and refining his physique. He removed his bandages; his calluses were gone, his skin smooth and rejuvenated.
He willed his Chakra to move. The process was so smooth it almost made him cry. No more clunky, civilian-level control.
"Now I lack nothing."
He tested his limits, feeling his Chakra surge. A sense of dominance arose within him. "It's about 0.5 Kakashi," he assessed realistically. "I still need to keep practicing."
He knew he had to stay in the shadows. With the Uchiha massacre still fresh, displaying these eyes would invite disaster from Danzo or the elders. He had to be a ghost until he was strong enough to be an overlord.
Just as he was immersed in thought, a bright, sunny voice rang out from the edge of the woods:
"Yo, Masahiko-kun, you've made quite a bit of progress lately."