The midnight bell struck three times.
Tobika stood alone in his room, arms crossed, still staring at the long blade resting in his palm.When it first appeared, he could've sworn the hilt was warm—as if the sword had been in someone else's hand only seconds earlier.
This system… was disturbingly advanced.
"Fresh off the forge?" he muttered.
Impressive. And unsettling.
After a moment's admiration, he finally shifted his attention to the remaining reward: a sealed letter from an unknown sender.
Sender: Uchiha Izuna.
Tobika froze.
Of course he knew the name.Uchiha Izuna—the second-strongest Uchiha in clan history, Madara's younger brother, killed by Senju Tobirama.Long dead.
So why was Izuna mailing him letters from the afterlife?
He opened it.
The handwriting was elegant, deliberate, and heavy.
[My vision is deteriorating faster than expected.Brother continues to fight the Senju with his Sharingan, and his sight must be failing even faster.My strength alone cannot support the Uchiha, nor stand against the Senju.From this day onward, I will drastically reduce my use of the eyes.Unless in life-or-death battle, the Mangekyō will remain sealed.Three tomoe are enough for ordinary Senju.If I fall, I entrust these eyes to Brother.I hope he will carry this power forward and continue to protect our clan.Our pride runs deep, but that pride prevents us from ever living peacefully alongside others.Our emotions are too fierce—leading us again and again into darkness and into their hatred.]
Tobika lowered the letter and blinked slowly.
"…Okay? And what does this do for me?"
Was the system just reminding him that Mangekyō makes you go blind if you use it too much?
Maybe.
He thought of pregnant Mikoto and unborn Sasuke, then of Uchiha Madara—alive but hanging by the thinnest thread.
Was this letter meant to be delivered to Madara?For trading?Leverage?
But no… by the time Sasuke should receive this letter, Madara would be literal dust.
Then Tobika thought of the masked man wearing "Madara's" name like a stolen coat.
Obito.
"That makes more sense," Tobika muttered.Anything involving Izuna and a forged identity probably tied back to him.
He tossed the letter aside and returned to the system text.
[New Task Initiated: Due to your unique method of befriending Nara Shikamaru, a hidden branch quest (Family Matters) has been unlocked.Although the phrase "You call me Dad, I call you Bro" is a joke, humor reflects truth.Friendship breaks easily from small conflicts.Family bonds endure.Becoming Shikamaru's father and being his friend are not contradictory.A wise, diplomatic wife will greatly ease your future dealings with major clans.Defeat Nara Yoshino in any meaningful way and earn her unwavering support.]
[This task may be abandoned.][Rewards: One S-rank jutsu, a crate of elite soldier pills, and a book titled "Skin Care Secrets for Women Age 30."]
Tobika nodded appreciatively.
Good rewards.S-rank jutsu were rare; he only had one, and he'd invented it himself.Top-tier soldier pills were battlefield treasure.And the skincare book… well, some woman would appreciate it.
But—
"Nara Yoshino is married."
"Abandon task."
[Confirm task abandonment?]
"Yes."
[Task abandoned. Generating replacement task…]
Tobika waited.A moment later, light flared on the system panel.
[New Task: Your older brother has joined ANBU and now guards the Third Hokage alongside Hatake Kakashi.Uchiha Itachi has earned the full trust of ANBU and become a squad captain.One day, Kakashi witnesses you and Itachi sparring.Even with Itachi suppressing his strength to the bare minimum, you fail to make him break a sweat.Kakashi does not mock you, but praises your brother as "the Uchiha's true number one genius."Implication: your ability, like your birth order, is eternally second.Earn Kakashi Hatake's recognition.]
[This task may be abandoned.]
[Rewards: large Sharingan progression boost, a mysterious key, and unlimited instant Super-Stinky Extra-Spicy Luosifen (ready-to-eat edition).]
Tobika stared.
Then grinned.
Then burst into wild laughter.
Finally—a normal task.Bullying children and coaxing unborn babies was one thing, but earning Kakashi's respect?Now that was a proper challenge.A real shinobi-style objective.
He cracked his knuckles.
Hatake Kakashi.Jonin.Prodigy.Perpetually tired.
He wondered if Kakashi was home.
If so—he'd knock on the door at dawn.
No, he'd kick it.
Early the next morning, Tobika shot awake, didn't even brush his teeth, and sprinted toward the Hatake residence.
But as he crossed the Uchiha compound—
"Good morning, Tobika-kun."
"Morning," Tobika replied automatically.
He stopped.
Uchiha Mikoto stood there with a vegetable basket.Beside her, carrying another basket with both hands, was Uchiha Itachi.
Tobika gave her a thumbs-up.
"Itachi is so filial. Truly admirable to raise such an outstanding son, Mikoto-san."
Mikoto's smile twitched.Everything Tobika said sounded… wrong.Even when technically polite.
She stroked Itachi's head lovingly.
"Itachi is very disciplined. He wakes early to train, then accompanies me to the market each morning."
She glanced pointedly at Tobika's uncombed hair and wrinkled shirt.
"Tobika-kun seems less concerned with his appearance lately."
Tobika rubbed his messy hair and jerked his chin toward the clan leader's house.
"I'm not dating anyone, so who cares how I look?But some men… after marriage… still putting effort into appearance?That's when you should worry."
"…Yes. Quite right."
Mikoto's eye twitched again.
She stared at Tobika with a smile that was 90 percent irritation and 10 percent murderous intent.
"Some men may be innocent… but certain lunatics whisper poison into their ears every day.Don't you agree, Tobika-kun?"
She did not let him respond.
Mikoto dragged Itachi into their home and slammed the door shut.
Inside, she pressed her back to the door and sighed.
"Itachi… there are people you should not spend too much time around. Do you understand?"
Itachi blinked."…Mother, do you mean—?"
"Uchiha Tobika."
Itachi exhaled in relief.
He'd thought she was banning him from Shisui.