Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 190: Secret Training Technique, The Minato Chronicles · Sudden Change!

After giving Uchiha Ci a brief lesson, Orochimaru was quickly summoned away by the Anbu dispatched by the Third Hokage.

The entire process was so seamless it seemed like it had been prearranged. No, to be precise, it must have been preplanned.

Considering the content packed into that scroll Orochimaru had just brought, it would be impossible to make such a comprehensive arrangement in such a short time without prior preparation.

Thinking further, the Uchiha clan assigning the Hell Valley mission to Konoha might have been orchestrated by Orochimaru as the mediator. Could it be that this plan had been set in motion a long time ago?

Reintegrating himself into the Shinobi World War, Orochimaru might have already mapped out Konoha's overall strategy during its four-front battle phase.

Although the recent actions of the Cloud Village seemed abrupt, they too likely fit into Orochimaru's original contingency plan.

At this thought, Uchiha Ci suddenly had a moment of realization, feeling as though he'd learned something new. He scratched his slightly itchy head reflexively.

---

As Orochimaru was about to leave, he suddenly turned back, narrowed his golden snake-like eyes, and casually plucked a book from the bookshelf near the door. Tossing it to Uchiha Ci, he nonchalantly instructed:

"Stay here and wait for me. No matter what you see, don't wander off."

"Just read some books to pass the time."

"?" Uchiha Ci blinked in confusion, unsure of what Orochimaru was implying.

Lowering his gaze, he saw the title of the book on the cover: "Introduction to Genetic Engineering"!

Instantly, Uchiha Ci felt as if he'd been handed a scalding hot potato, far more intimidating than a Fire Release to the heart. He flung the book away in reflex.

"How am I, a simple-minded Uchiha who only knows how to fight, supposed to read something like this!?"

By the time Uchiha Ci looked up again, Orochimaru's silhouette had already disappeared into the night outside the laboratory.

This laboratory, situated within Konoha Village, seemed remarkably proper, with a giant tree growing right outside its entrance.

---

The night wind howled, lifting green leaves off the ground and swirling them gently into the air. Although it was only April, there was an inexplicable stifling tension in the atmosphere, making one's heart uneasy.

Uchiha Ci gazed at the cloudy, moonless sky, the heavy clouds blanketing the stars. A foreboding sense of an impending storm gripped his chest.

He had done everything within his power. What came next could only be left to fate.

If Konoha's higher-ups refused to let him leave the village, he would force his way out to save Uchiha Setsuna if necessary.

With his current skillset and combat strength, as long as Minato didn't personally lead a team to capture him, he wouldn't face much trouble.

His genjutsu shortcomings had been addressed, and when it came to sealing techniques or poison, as long as he moved swiftly and acted decisively, his combat instincts would help him avoid most traps. Even Orochimaru himself would struggle to capture him easily now.

---

With nothing else to occupy his time, Uchiha Ci let his mind wander. Eventually, out of sheer boredom, he took out the only cultivation scroll he could understand and found a spot in the lab to sit cross-legged and study it.

"Ninja Art: Wild Lion's Mane Technique."

The principle behind this technique involved manipulating one's hair to harden it through something akin to Earth Release properties and regenerate it using medical ninjutsu methods. Fundamentally, it was a hybrid ninjutsu variant.

What set this technique apart from typical Earth Release jutsu, elevating it to a high-level secret technique, was that it used human tissue—hair—as the medium.

A ninja's hair also contained a chakra network.

By leveraging these networks, ninjas could perform a variety of jutsu. For instance, the Regeneration Jutsu Tsunade once used to heal Neji involved using hair as a medium to alter its cellular composition and regenerate missing body parts.

Similarly, Kidomaru's spider web techniques utilized his silk glands and sweat glands.

Jiraiya's technique was another application of a hair-based chakra network. Its uniqueness lay in modifying the hair's internal pathways, enabling rapid growth, root activation, and enhanced metabolism. These processes could channel chakra, unlike typical physical jutsu like the Eight Gates or the Seven Heavens Breathing Method, which imposed stress on the body.

Hair, as part of the body, could undergo similar enhancements without overloading the system.

As a result, this technique offered powerful offense, exceptional durability, low chakra consumption, and regenerative properties. The only effective counters were extreme heat from advanced Fire Release techniques or the pinpoint strikes of Gentle Fist. Even powerful slicing techniques like Chidori or Water Severing Wave would struggle against it. Cutting it was futile—it would just grow back.

Essentially, it functioned as a constantly regenerating armor.

The ultimate evolution of this technique could be seen in pairing it with the Byakugan for precise targeting, creating devastating jutsu capable of even breaching Susanoo—like Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's All-Killing Ash Bones.

Fortunately, such techniques were easy to learn but difficult to master. While Uchiha Ci struggled to comprehend much of the advanced content, the basics were relatively straightforward.

He raised his hand, forming the "Ram" seal to aid his control, channeling chakra into his hair as he followed the scroll's instructions to harden, grow, and launch it.

Having previous experience using Earth Release: Earth Spear for hardening and manipulating Kakuzu's threads for growth, he found the first steps manageable.

After a few attempts, a notification appeared before him:

[You have learned: Ninja Art: Wild Lion's Mane Technique (B, Beginner, can be upgraded with Sage Mode).]

"Sigh, it can't be helped. I'm getting even more durable without trying."

Opening his eyes, Uchiha Ci glanced at his reflection in the lab's mirror and styled his hair into a "lazy spiky look." He marveled at the styling potential of this technique, imagining a dramatic entrance with wild, flowing black hair like a demonic overlord.

"Tch, this is ridiculously cool!"

He playfully pinched his hardened hair, chuckling at its granite-like toughness, before sitting down again to further hone his technique and await Orochimaru's return.

---

However, at that moment—

Bang! Crash!

A shockwave, accompanied by a deafening roar, erupted outside, instantly shattering the lab's glass!

Uchiha Ci looked up in shock and saw the eastern side of Konoha.

There, a towering, clawed figure with nine thrashing tails emerged—a shadowy fox silhouette rising into the sky!

"That's… the Third Training Ground? Has Kushina gone berserk!?"

His eyes widened in disbelief, pupils shrinking.

"This is The Minato Chronicles storyline, but the timing is wrong! How is it happening now?!"

"And this scale… it's far more intense than depicted in the story!"

---

Realizing the implications, Uchiha Ci quickly assessed the situation:

1. The timeline was off.

The events of The Minato Chronicles occurred during the day, but it was now night.

2. Konoha wouldn't have left Kushina guarded by just two Anbu after her last semi-Tailed Beast rampage, which had caused massive damage.

Yet now, Kushina had clearly escaped, and the chaos exceeded what had been described in The Minato Chronicles.

---

In the story, Kushina's rampage had peaked at eight tails. But now… the fully formed Nine-Tails seemed ready to break free!

An eight-tailed Kushina had almost killed Minato before barely regaining control.

Now, with a full Nine-Tails within her, the destruction would be catastrophic.

And worse, Minato and Kushina hadn't yet conceived Naruto. If something happened to Minato now, where would the world find its savior?

---

Realizing the stakes, Uchiha Ci leapt to his feet, hurriedly stuffed the scroll into his storage pouch, and bolted for the door.

But just then—

Two Anbu operatives appeared, blocking his path. Both raised their hands and spoke apologetically:

"Lord Shura!"

"Please stop!"

"Lord Orochimaru instructed you to stay here and read!"

---

Uchiha Ci froze mid-step, frowning at the two masked Root operatives blocking his way.

Strangely, they felt familiar.

"Where have I seen them before...?"