Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 175: Phantom Dog Cannon! The Emergence of the Artificial Tailed Beast Mode!

When Uchiha Hachidai mentioned a so-called "inheritance trial," Uchiha Ci initially thought it would involve some mystical secret realm similar to those in fantasy novels. He imagined entering the secret realm, undergoing tests like heart inquiries, goal enlightenment, or the trolley dilemma, followed by encountering an ancient projection of an Uchiha ancestor who would bestow cryptic advice before granting rewards.

However, what actually happened left him scratching his head—

Uchiha Hachidai, right in front of him, began writing letters to call for reinforcements.

The irritable uncle, who clearly didn't think much of Uchiha Ci, brought him back to the upper grounds of the Naka Shrine, leading him to a Zen garden behind the shrine.

The garden was meticulously arranged, exuding a sense of ingenuity. Its trees, sand, sky, earth, rock formations, and statues gave off an air of profound symbolism that Uchiha Ci found intriguing yet overwhelming.

The scene included a deer drinking from a stream, a red bridge partially hidden by the forest, a prominent tea pavilion, a pristine white sandy beach, and playful fish in a pond—all illuminated by the lazy afternoon sunlight.

In such a tranquil and beautiful setting, Uchiha Ci was ordered to change into a short-sleeved kimono and wait in the garden.

For a long time, no one came.

Barefoot on the white sand, curiosity got the better of him, and he ended up breaking two pieces of the deer fountain. Panicking at the thought of paying for damages, he hastily hid the broken bamboo tubes behind a rock formation in the garden. However, in his clumsy attempt, he accidentally collapsed half of the hollowed-out stone.

For a moment, the scene resembled a tornado ripping through a parking lot.

From then on, Uchiha Ci didn't dare touch anything else in the garden.

Everything looked so expensive, and with his ninja salary already depleted by paying for lessons on the Fourth Hokage's Rasengan, there was no way he could afford to pay for damages.

Eventually, with nothing left to do, he simply stood in the middle of the garden, closing his eyes to feign the demeanor of a master.

At that moment, two elderly voices echoed from afar.

"Not bad!"

"This young man has great composure!"

"Unshaken by calamity, undistracted by trivialities!"

"Truly a prodigy of the Uchiha clan!"

Uchiha Ci was silent for a while, recalling how just a month ago, he was labeled as the "disgrace" of the Uchiha clan—neglecting training, wasting time on low-ranking D-class missions, disrespecting elders, arguing with superiors, and even getting kicked out of brothels.

The title of "prodigy" now brought a blush to his face.

Opening his eyes, he saw Uchiha Hachidai approaching, accompanied by two distinguished-looking elders.

All three were dressed in armor reminiscent of the Warring States period, equipped with long swords, and carrying massive scrolls on their backs. They were armed to the teeth, exuding a formidable presence.

As they marched forward with an imposing aura, they looked every bit like legendary masters.

Stopping before Uchiha Ci, Uchiha Hachidai's sharp gaze locked onto him as he spoke coldly:

"Kid,"

"As you can see, these two are Uchiha Ketsu and Uchiha Takei, esteemed seniors of our clan. Together with me, we are currently the strongest within the clan!"

"The three of us are elite jonin, battle-hardened veterans!"

"Even so, the three of us combined cannot defeat the strongest man in the clan—Uchiha Fugaku!"

"If you wish to challenge Fugaku for the position of clan leader, even with the support of the Great Elder, your strength cannot lag too far behind!"

"In the Uchiha clan, we adhere to only one rule: The Strong Reign Supreme!"

Drawing a deep breath, Hachidai unsheathed his chakra-infused blade.

The blade gleamed coldly under the sunlight, its tip pointing directly at Uchiha Ci.

"Come then!"

"Give it your all. If you can withstand our combined assault for ten minutes without dying, you will pass the inheritance trial!"

The declaration prompted frowns from the two elders. Their gazes toward Uchiha Ci showed a hint of concern.

"Hachidai, isn't this too much for the boy?"

"Yes, when Fugaku was his age, he was still playing house with Mikoto."

"If we go all out, even a normal jonin wouldn't last a minute without being killed!"

"But since it's the Great Elder's decision, we must follow it. The Elder surely has his reasons!"

Hachidai frowned, his voice stern as he rebuked:

"The Great Elder is the Great Elder! I am me!"

"Even if we don't push him now, what happens when he faces other clan members?"

"This is something he must confront. In the Uchiha clan..."

Before he could finish, a clear, youthful voice suddenly interrupted:

"Hachidai-senpai, are you sure you want me to go all out?"

Startled, the three turned to look at Uchiha Ci, who scratched his head nervously.

"Are you certain about this?" he asked hesitantly.

Heaven help him. Uchiha Ci rarely faced normal ninjas in battle. His encounters were mostly against Kage-level foes, while lesser opponents were obliterated en masse by his AOE attacks.

He was planning to stand there and let these three stab him for ten minutes. Surely they'd tire out and realize the vast difference in strength.

But if Uchiha Hachidai insisted on seeing his full power...

"???"

For a moment, Uchiha Ci was baffled. Didn't Hachidai know from Shisui and Shinichi's reports that Uchiha Ci had single-handedly wiped out an entire Sand Village unit?

Or were the two elders Hachidai brought truly exceptional warriors, equipped with family-exclusive secret techniques capable of countering him? Were the massive scrolls on their backs some kind of super sealing jutsu rivaling that of the Uzumaki clan?

Hachidai, sensing Ci's hesitation, sneered dismissively. How dare this twelve-year-old kid speak to him like that?

"Do it!" he barked.

"Show me your full power!"

"Don't blame me for not warning you—"

His Sharingan activated, the three tomoe spinning menacingly.

"If you don't take this seriously, you will die!"

Uchiha Ci's expression turned serious. Taking a deep breath, he clenched his fist over his chest.

"Understood!"

"I'll give it my all!"

"Perfect timing—I've recently developed a new form!"

With that, his eyes widened, pupils narrowing sharply as a bloody hue engulfed his irises. Vein-like markings spread around his eyes, resembling those from the activation of the Byakugan.

In his eye sockets emerged scarlet snake-like pupils with two tomoe—a physical manifestation of the natural energy he had adapted to.

This transformation allowed his eyes to absorb natural energy, effectively replacing the need for the Heaven Curse Mark!

The Eight Trigrams Seal on his abdomen began glowing, its spiral design morphing into a dark, chaotic pattern. His rapidly beating heart ignited with blazing white flames, which surged throughout his body, intertwining with the pitch-black chakra pouring from his abdomen.

A primal instinct resonated deep within him, a calling that told him his idea was viable. The Artificial Tailed Beast Mode could be achieved!

Raising his palm, his snake-like pupils glinted with a crazed light.

There was another way to harness this raw, untamed power.

Artificial Tailed Beast Mode: Phantom Dog Cannon!

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