Chapter 2: Future Plan and Directions
Uchiha Clan Residence
Morning arrived quietly, accompanied by the restless chirping of birds drifting through the air.
Kenzo's eyes slowly fluttered open, taking in the wooden ceiling of his home, while the surrounding windows allowed strands of pale sunlight to spill across the room.
With a small grunt, he rose from his bed and lazily walked toward the mirror, his posture relaxed yet steady.
In the reflection stood a teenage boy with fair skin and pitch-black almond-like eyes. Lean hair framed a razor-sharp jawline, a high nose bridge, and sharp eyelids. His athletic body stood upright, silent and composed, as if carved from still water.
So this is the new me, he thought, a quiet trace of reproach passing through his mind.
From a human standpoint, he was handsome—like most members of the Uchiha clan. In his past life, perhaps that would have mattered more. In this life, however, it carried little weight.
To him, people's emotions and perceptions were weaknesses—tools to manipulate and control. Appearance held no real value. He was merely another piece of flesh walking among other pieces of meat.
In essence, all human beings are equal. Whether they die sooner or later, eventually everyone meets the same end.
Thus, it made no difference.
With that conclusion, he stepped toward a nearby table and took out a sheet of paper to summarize his current situation and future goals.
He wrote in English. Since everyone here used Japanese, it would be nearly impossible for others to read.
First, according to the memories of this body's previous owner, he was a war orphan. His parents had died during the Third Great Ninja War. Since then, he had received internal training within the Uchiha clan and participated in a dozen or so missions, gaining some experience—though nothing remarkable. He had minimal contact with other clan members and lived mostly in isolation, known as a quiet and reserved individual.
Before his death, perhaps sensing the tense atmosphere within the clan—or driven by a desperate desire to grow stronger—he pushed himself into extreme training. With only a Two-Tomoe Sharingan, he attempted an advanced kunai technique without proper precautions.
The result was death.
Second, he needed to verify certain locations mentioned in the anime—places such as the Land of Lōulán, the Land of Demons, the Land of Bears, the Land of Snow, and the Sky Ninja Village—to determine whether they truly existed in this world.
Third, he required practical knowledge of his system and needed to understand where its limits lay.
Lastly, he had to uncover the source of the gaze he had felt yesterday.
After organizing his thoughts, he calmly shredded the paper with his hand and discarded it into the dustbin.
Without hesitation, he freshened up, changed into his ninja gear, and left for the training ground.
On the way, he quietly observed his surroundings.
Classic Japanese-style houses stretched along the streets, their wooden frames illuminated by the morning sun. Food stalls and small family restaurants had already begun serving early customers, thin wisps of steam rising into the cool air.
He walked unhurriedly into one of the family restaurants. An elderly woman stood behind the counter and greeted him politely.
"Oh, it's you, little Kei. Come on in," she said, a warm and gentle smile softening her aged features.
Her name was Uchiha Haruno, the owner of this modest establishment. The previous owner of this body had visited her almost daily for breakfast and lunch since childhood.
"Good morning, Granny Haruno," he replied with a faint smile and a slight bow, carefully maintaining the usual habits and subconscious mannerisms of the original owner.
"The usual, please."
He took a seat beside the window, which offered a clear view of the slowly awakening street outside.
Granny Haruno nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. After several minutes, she returned with fried rice, grilled fish, and tofu, placing the dishes gently on the table.
With a silent nod in return, he began eating in a slow, measured manner.
After finishing the meal, he stood, placed the money neatly on the table, and gave the old woman a small nod before leaving.
As he walked toward the training ground, his expression remained calm.
What a sharp woman, he thought.
Even though he had perfectly replicated the original owner's eating habits and mannerisms, she had still sensed that something was different.
The morning breeze brushed past him as he continued forward.
For a brief moment, a cold, suffocating killing intent flickered within his eyes—only to disappear instantly, swallowed by his eternally calm pitch-black gaze.
After some time, he arrived at the Uchiha clan training ground.
Kenzo stepped forward calmly, his sandals pressing lightly into the dirt. A few younger clan members were already present, practicing shuriken throwing at wooden targets carved with deep impact marks. The repeated thud of metal piercing wood echoed rhythmically through the clearing, blending with the faint rustling of leaves overhead.
Kenzo, however, did not spare them a single glance, nor did he attempt to approach.
He immediately turned and headed toward a more secluded area of the training grounds, where the forest thickened and the sounds of practice faded into distant murmurs.
After completing some basic stretches to loosen his muscles, he began searching the underbrush for insects, intending to test whether killing them would trigger the system.
With that thought in mind, he ventured deeper into the forest. Before long, he found several ants and other small insects crawling across a fallen log. Without hesitation, he crushed them beneath his sandals.
Nothing happened.
No notification. No response.
Kenzo narrowed his eyes slightly.
Perhaps it requires something larger… or something infused with chakra.
With that conclusion, he immediately used the Body Flicker Technique and dashed toward a nearby pond he remembered from the previous owner's memories.
After a fifteen-minute sprint through the trees, he finally arrived at the location.
The pond was clear as starlight, its surface reflecting the sky like polished glass. The water was fresh and faintly sparkling, and fish could occasionally be seen gliding beneath the surface. It was obvious the area had been well maintained.
Without a second of hesitation, Uchiha Kenzo removed his sandals and upper garments before stepping into the cool water. Moving with swift precision, he caught a fish barehanded and swiftly killed it with a kunai. Blood spread into the water in thin crimson threads, dissolving into the blue.
Kenzo paid it no heed.
Instead, his focus shifted entirely to the system panel that appeared before him.
Current Understanding of the Path of Killing:
Beginner — 0.002% (0–10%).