"Ding!"
"Congratulations, Host, for triggering a hidden storyline and successfully activating the God-Tier Choice system."
"Option One: Sternly reject Nagato and Yahiko's request."
"Option Two: Agree to help them rescue Konan from Hanzo the Salamander."
"Option Three: Ignore them and go back to sleep in the coffin, waiting for the next hidden plotline to be triggered."
Shippū stared at the glowing screen before him, struggling to process what he was seeing.
Why did he wake up to find himself in total darkness, surrounded by ancient walls covered in obscure and incomprehensible runes?
This seemed to be some kind of forbidden ground!
"Tch..."
Just then, a wave of memories surged through his mind.
"This is way too ridiculous..."
As he finished digesting the memories, Shippū's expression turned strange.
Because he had just realized…
he had taken over the body of someone with a Sage Physique!
His identity was none other than the young clan leader of the Uzumaki clan, a descendant of the Sage of Six Paths' bloodline, distantly related to the Senju clan—renowned throughout the ninja world for their monstrous vitality and powerful sealing techniques.
But because other clans feared the Uzumaki's terrifying sealing arts, multiple nations and clans banded together to invade the Land of Whirlpools, resulting in its total destruction and the genocide of the Uzumaki.
In their final moment of despair, the clan sealed their young heir within the clan's sacred forbidden grounds, hoping that one day he might be reborn and rise again for revenge!
No one expected that before that moment could arrive, Yahiko and Nagato would stumble into the place and accidentally break the seal—leading to the boy's final breath.
And just like that, Shippū had successfully taken over the body.
Now aware of his reincarnation, Shippū should have been thrilled.
But at this moment, he didn't feel even a shred of joy—in fact, he wanted to curse out loud.
This so-called system choice—are you kidding me?!
Do I even really get a choice here?
On the surface, it looked like he had three options.
But Shippū knew all too well: the world of Naruto's future was unimaginably dangerous.
Even the slightest disturbance could lead to an utterly irreversible death.
Even Kage-levels were nothing in the eyes of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
In this world, a single battle could easily wipe out entire villages.
If he wanted to survive, he needed overwhelming strength to back him up.
Otherwise, relying solely on the Uzumaki clan's powerful life force would only make him a slightly bigger ant—nothing more.
Right now, the three options presented by the system felt especially critical.
Option One: Refuse Nagato and Yahiko's request.
Reward: Title "It Ain't Raining on My Turf" and one C-rank Ninjutsu.
This would be absolutely useless to Shippū.
Option Three: Ignore the two and go back to sleep in the coffin.
Forget about the reward—just this choice alone, what kind of sane person would even consider it?
Sleep?
What did the system think he was, a turtle?
And the only way to trigger the next plot point would be to lie dormant until Orochimaru, Sasuke, or others come to the Uzumaki's forbidden grounds looking for the Mask of the Shinigami to undo the Reaper Death Seal.
The reward?
Just a random illusion technique scroll.
Not even remotely worth the cost.
Realizing this, Shippū couldn't help but grumble at the system:
"So basically, you're forcing me to pick the option where I help Yahiko and Nagato rescue Konan from Hanzo the Salamander?"
But…
Hanzo the Salamander was known as a Demi-God—a Kage-level powerhouse!
Even Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade—along with a group of Konoha elite—couldn't defeat him!
And now, right at the start, Shippū had to go up against him?
He'd probably be cut down in one move!
But this option came with an exceptional reward:
Wood Release: a Kekkei Genkai!
A secret technique developed by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, with power far surpassing other elemental Kekkei Genkai.
It was a fusion of Water and Earth chakra.
At the same time, Shippū understood the true origin of Wood Release: it came from the Divine Tree.
A legacy of immense significance!
The Divine Tree was the primordial being of heaven and earth—revered by humans as the sacred pillar of the world, worshiped as a god.
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya stole the divine fruit that grew on the tree and gained divine power, using it to end the ceaseless wars among mankind.
But the Divine Tree, stripped of its fruit, transformed into the Ten-Tails, going berserk in an attempt to reclaim the chakra that had been taken.
"In other words, if I want to achieve power beyond the Kage level, stand toe-to-toe with the Ōtsutsuki clan, or even surpass them… this Wood Release is the absolute key!"
Understanding this, Shippū couldn't help but mutter to the system:
"I'd love to help Yahiko and Nagato… but at my current strength, going up against Hanzo is nothing short of suicide."
"Ding!"
"Congratulations, Host! You've triggered a hidden reward: Beginner's Gift Pack!"
Option One: One-time use scroll — Sage Art: Wood Release — True Several Thousand Hands!
Option Two: One-time use scroll — Scorch Release: Light Wheel Gale Black Arrow Zero Style!
Option Three: One-time use scroll — Talk-no-Jutsu, Naruto-grade, 10-minute duration!
The system's cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"Of course there's a starter pack right at the beginning… that's a universal rule," Shippū raised an eyebrow, gritting his teeth.
"As they say, fortune favors the bold. This time, I'll bet on the second craziest option—go up against Hanzo right from the start!"
"Ding!"
"Congratulations, Host! You have acquired the ability to use the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai!"
"Congratulations, Host! You have received the Beginner's Gift Pack: One-time use scroll — True Several Thousand Hands!"
"Congratulations, Host! You have officially begun your grand journey across the ninja world!"
Current Background Update:
At the early stages of the Akatsuki's formation, Yahiko and Nagato enter the Uzumaki clan's forbidden grounds seeking knowledge on how to use the Rinnegan.
Hanzo the Salamander seizes the opportunity to betray them, conspiring with Shimura Danzo to kidnap Konan and eliminate multiple core Akatsuki members.
The true root of this conspiracy:
Hanzo fears the Akatsuki's growing power will threaten his control over Amegakure.
He plans to use Konan as a hostage in Amegakure to force Yahiko and Nagato into mutual destruction.
After receiving the system's long stream of notifications, Shippū turned his gaze to Yahiko and Nagato, whose eyes were filled with hope.
He nodded and said:
"For the sake of your mother being from the Uzumaki clan, Nagato… I'll help you this time."
Hearing this, the two of them immediately lit up with joy.
There was no doubt—Shippū's involvement gave them new hope of success!
"But don't get too happy just yet," Shippū suddenly changed his tone, eyes locking onto the two of them.
"There's one condition I need to make clear before I agree to anything. Otherwise, I'm out."