Elsewhere, in a shadowy corner, a masked man was conversing with a pale, humanoid figure about nearly the same topic.
"Uchiha Haru is a formidable one," the masked man said. "I saw with my own eyes—Kurokiri Raiga, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, couldn't even put up a fight against him."
"The Uchiha Clan... truly a den of hidden monsters and sleeping giants. Hehehe…"
Despite his words, the white figure's tone remained relaxed, clearly unconcerned.
The masked man stood with one hand behind his back, his gaze fixed on the distance.
His mask concealed any expression, but his demeanor made it clear—he wasn't taking the situation seriously at all.
Kurosuki Raiga?
To most, he was a terrifying, high-ranking shinobi.
To the masked man, he was nothing.
Still, he didn't act carelessly. Out of caution—and to avoid any disruption to his grand plan—he had thoroughly investigated Uchiha Haru.
A young elite with a fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan.
But it was just the three-tomoe. No matter how impressive Haru's taijutsu and battlefield adaptability were, the masked man didn't consider him a real threat.
"Have you confirmed what's being transported to the Land of Lightning?" he asked in a low, gravelly voice after a pause.
"It's confirmed. Just a shipment of gold, silver, and gemstones—nothing else," replied the white figure.
"Very well."
The masked man gave a small nod.
He had overanalyzed the situation. He suspected the Uchiha had uncovered something and were calling for aid, or perhaps planning a move of their own. That's why he had commanded the controlled Mizukage to dispatch Kurosuki Raiga to intercept them.
But it had turned out to be a routine delivery mission.
"Intensify surveillance," the masked man ordered, his voice colder now. "The day is drawing near. We can't afford even a single mistake."
"No problem."
The pale figure nodded, then hesitated slightly. "Still, Uchiha Haru is… unusual. I think he might've sensed me."
"Huh?"
A glint of surprise flickered behind the masked man's eye.
"Sensed you?"
"I'm not completely certain—it's just a feeling," the figure replied.
"…I'll make alternate arrangements."
The masked man's brief shock vanished as quickly as it came. His voice returned to its calm, confident tone, as though everything was still within his control.
"Yes."
Without another word, the white figure began to slowly sink into the ground. At the same time, dozens of thin, root-like tendrils rose up, encircling his head and torso before pulling him completely beneath the earth.
Silence returned.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!"
Under the warm glow of morning light, in a wide, empty field, Uchiha Haru was relentlessly training his fire-style ninjutsu.
His sweat-soaked hair clung to his forehead, his clothes damp from effort.
But he paid no mind.
His focus was absolute—eyes sharp, chakra surging, movements precise.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, he finally stopped, exhaling a steady breath before turning and heading home.
Only two days had passed since the last simulation.
The cooldown period of the Uchiha Clan Extermination Night Simulation System was nearly over. Soon, he'd be able to begin another simulation.
A chance to gain new skills, solidify his abilities—and face deadly combat scenarios that would force real growth.
Compared to repetitive real-world training, the simulations were exponentially more effective.
In life-or-death battles, his strength grew at an entirely different pace.
This was not an opportunity he could afford to waste.
Luckily, he'd just completed a mission and, by standard protocol, had two days of rest.
That gave him a full day—more than enough time for another run through the simulation.
After returning home, Haru took a quick shower, changing into a clean outfit.
The timing was perfect.
12:00
[The Uchiha Clan Extermination Night Simulation System has finished cooling down!]
[Initializing Uchiha Clan Extermination Night Simulation System!]
[Simulation System Activated!]
Transparent text shimmered in midair.
"System, begin simulation."
Haru gave the command without hesitation.
[Simulation Initiating…]
[Current Solidified Ability: "Ōtsutsuki Physique (Gold Rank)" — Possesses extraordinary regenerative power, approaching immortality in a heightened state. Capable of absorbing ninjutsu and holds near-limitless chakra reserves.]
[Also referred to as: The Immortal Body]
[Available Abilities to Select: Taijutsu +100, Lightning Release Mastery, Chakra +1000, Shuriken Mastery…]
Ten total abilities appeared before him. Haru could choose three new ones in addition to the gold-ranked Ōtsutsuki Physique he had already solidified.
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on his side this time.
Most of the listed skills were low-tier—blue or white rank.
Not a single purple ability in sight.
Still, Haru didn't let disappointment cloud his judgment.
After all, he'd started the last simulation the same way.
And hadn't he ended up with a gold-ranked ability in the end?
No matter what, one must remain calm.
Analyze with logic. Make the best possible decision under the circumstances.
Complaining about bad luck only wastes time and weakens resolve.
In the previous run, Haru had just obtained the Ōtsutsuki Physique—then time ran out.
He hadn't been able to test it properly.
Now, after two full days of hard training and fighting Kurokiri Raiga, he had a better sense of how powerful the golden ability truly was.
He'd been looking forward to this.
This time, he wanted to see how many members of the Root organization he could kill.
With the Immortal Body in play, how far could he push the simulation?
He was also eager to test his growth against the true powerhouses—Uchiha Itachi, the prodigy of the clan, and the masked man, Uchiha Obito, masquerading as Madara.
But everything had to come step by step.
One stage at a time.
Simple to difficult.
This was the path Haru chose.
He selected three random abilities from the available list—none were particularly meaningful—and immediately entered the simulation.
In the blink of an eye, the world shifted.
A dark night blanketed the scene in eerie silence. Wind howled outside, sharp and unsettling.
Just like before.
Haru didn't hesitate. He moved to the window, ready to leap outside.
His target remained unchanged—Root agents stationed near the outskirts of the Uchiha compound.
He wanted to test how long he could last and how many he could eliminate with his newly enhanced strength and the power of the Ōtsutsuki bloodline.
He also sought to measure the true gap between himself and the elite—Itachi and Obito.
But everything in due course.
He reached for the window.
Then froze.
His entire body went still.
Outside the window… someone stood there.
Looking in.
The masked man.