Chapter 1: Just For That One Glance
The evil Senju clan!
That damned Tobirama Senju!
Inside an office at Konoha Hospital, Uchiha Dan was gnashing his teeth, cursing under his breath.
Whenever he thought of his current predicament, Uchiha Dan simply couldn't suppress his hatred for Tobirama Senju.
He wished he could dig up Tobirama Senju's grave, exhume his corpse, and grind his bones to dust.
Seven years ago, he had inexplicably transmigrated into the Naruto world, merging with the soul and memories of a 10-year-old boy from the Uchiha clan, thus becoming Uchiha Dan.
On that very same day, the reborn Uchiha Dan walked happily through the streets of Konoha, seeing Tobirama Senju for the first time.
The moment he saw Tobirama Senju, a notification sound suddenly echoed in Uchiha Dan's mind.
[Ding! System activated! Host has gained all of Tobirama Senju's talents (upgradable)!]
The sudden notification startled Uchiha Dan, followed by a rush of euphoria.
But as Uchiha Dan, unable to contain his joy, looked up, he met Tobirama Senju's wary, scrutinizing gaze directly.
The latter's cold, monster-like stare instantly made Uchiha Dan feel as if he'd fallen into an ice abyss.
"What the hell are you looking at me like that for?"
"You're not going to kill me, are you?"
"Just because I glanced at you in the crowd?"
"Is there no common sense anymore?"
Luckily, Tobirama Senju was in a hurry to get to Kumogakure for peace talks with the Second Raikage at the time.
So, he merely gave Uchiha Dan a cold warning glance before swiftly leaving Konoha, surrounded by his disciples and escorts.
Seeing Tobirama Senju leave, Uchiha Dan breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
He probably knew why Tobirama Senju's gaze towards him had been so off.
Tobirama Senju was inherently wary of the Uchiha clan.
Uchiha Dan's sudden moment of exhilaration had shown Tobirama Senju a strong sense of familiarity—the kind of look Tobirama Senju himself would get when immersed in his research.
In Tobirama Senju's eyes, such a look was a super dangerous signal.
This child must not be allowed to live!
Tobirama Senju was a ruthless character; he wouldn't feel pity just because Uchiha Dan was only 10 years old.
So, Uchiha Dan loudly cursed Tobirama Senju in his heart: "Yashiyare! (Go to hell!)"
He knew that this time, Tobirama Senju was going to Kumogakure for alliance negotiations and would be ambushed and gravely wounded by the rebellious Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
Ultimately, to protect his disciples, he'd lead the enemies away and perish.
Thinking of this, Uchiha Dan's mood significantly improved.
You dared to glare at me? Those who glare at me die!
Sure enough, not long after, Konoha received news of Tobirama Senju's death.
The entire village was immersed in an atmosphere of grief, but Uchiha Dan breathed a profound sigh of relief.
Just when he thought he could finally rest easy, the miserable days began.
Because Uchiha Dan discovered that as soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had just assumed the Hokage position, returned to Konoha, he was, in fact, being monitored.
Not only was he monitored, but he was also inexplicably expelled from the Ninja Academy, losing his chance to become a Genin upon graduation.
Furthermore, he was ordered that from that day forward, Uchiha Dan was forbidden from any form of cultivation or learning any ninjutsu; he could only live as an ordinary person under surveillance.
"Are they trying to keep me from getting stronger, and also keep me from running away?"
"So, they want to completely cripple me?"
He had finally transmigrated to the Naruto world; who wouldn't want to gain immense power, with Tsunade on his left and Mei Terumi on his right?
Instead, he died before even starting his journey.
Just because Tobirama Senju glanced at him in the crowd, his entire life was ruined.
The most miserable transmigrator, truly deserving of the title.
What's more, Uchiha Mirror, an elder of the Uchiha clan, became uncharacteristically adamant, citing Uchiha Dan's violation of clan rules, and single-mindedly expelled him from the Uchiha clan.
For a long time afterward, whenever Uchiha Dan made any slight movement, a small squad of ANBU ninjas would take turns monitoring him; the scale was astounding.
He didn't need to think twice to know that Tobirama Senju must have instructed his disciples before his death.
"So, Tobirama Senju, what grudge do you have against me?"
"Why won't you let me go even after you're dead?"
"Was it really that serious, just for a glance?"
While hating Tobirama Senju to his core, Uchiha Dan felt a strong sense of helplessness well up inside him.
His "cheap" parents had died in the prolonged First Great Ninja War when he was very young.
Therefore, Uchiha Dan had not received a formal Uchiha clan education; all the knowledge he had was learned at the Ninja Academy.
He hadn't shown much talent, and at 10 years old, his strength was only slightly better than that of a rookie who had just become a Genin.
In such a situation, Uchiha Dan found himself in a hopeless predicament, with no one to turn to.
Even if he possessed all of Tobirama Senju's upgradable talents, what good was it?
Did he dare to research? Did he dare to cultivate?
With so many eyes watching him, it was clear what awaited him if he showed even the slightest hint of abnormality.
In the years since becoming Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been quite decisive in his actions.
So, for these seven years, Uchiha Dan could only spend day and night conducting theoretical research in his mind.
He pondered the principles of various ninjutsu, the feasibility of ninjutsu improvements, and the possibility of creating certain specialized ninjutsu.
But as of yet, none of these had been put into practice.
Fortunately, the family that adopted Uchiha Dan was very kind, taking good care of him and practically treating him as their own son after seven years of living together.
Especially after the unwilling Uchiha Dan displayed astonishing medical talent, his unwitting adoptive father, Minato Namikaze's mentor, Hazama Senju (though the name "Namikaze Shodai" is a bit ambiguous here and might be a misinterpretation or a fanon name, sticking to general interpretation of "Hokage's mentor" in a fanfic context for flow) took it upon himself to use his connections to get him an apprenticeship at Konoha Hospital.
Perhaps thinking that a doctor, even a medical ninja, posed no threat, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't interfere, effectively giving his tacit approval.
This allowed Uchiha Dan to become a medical... no, that's not right.
Just a doctor. Because he held no ninja title and couldn't become a medical ninja, even though he had already mastered quite a few medical ninjutsu.
"Doctor Dan, a casualty needs surgery!"
Just as Uchiha Dan was silently cursing Tobirama Senju, a nurse rushed into his office, speaking urgently.
"Is it a ninja or a civilian?" Dan asked as a matter of routine.
Everyone in the hospital knew that Uchiha Dan used different treatment methods for ninjas and civilians, so the question didn't seem out of place.
"It's a ninja!" The nurse replied quickly, not suspecting anything.
"I'll be right there; get the operating room ready!" Dan said, while organizing his specialized medical kit.
Inside the operating room.
Uchiha Dan quickly stitched and bandaged the grotesque wound on the casualty's arm.
"How are you feeling?" Uchiha Dan asked the injured ninja with concern.
"Doctor Dan, I feel much better," the ninja, relieved that his arm was saved, replied.
"Next, I'll perform some treatments to aid your recovery."
Uchiha Dan nodded, taking out silver needles from his medical kit as he spoke earnestly.
"You try to perform the ninjutsu you're best at. You don't need to actually use it, just simulate the chakra's trajectory within your body as you would during the jutsu. Remember, the slower, the better."
"Uh... Doctor, why is that?" The injured ninja asked, a bit puzzled.
"You don't want to heal faster?" Dan asked, feigning displeasure and furrowing his brow.
"I understand!" The ninja no longer hesitated. "I'll do it right away!"
With that, the injured ninja lifted his heavily injured arm and, along with his uninjured hand, slowly began to form hand signs.
Uchiha Dan, meanwhile, placed his hand on the injured ninja's abdomen, carefully sensing.