Rebuilding Uchiha By Removing Fugaku

As noises erupted from the civilian side's seating area, the entire venue fell into an eerie silence.

All eyes turned to the contestant tunnel in anticipation. Even if there was just a sliver of hope, the audience wanted to believe that Uchiha Toki wasn't merely toying with them.

As the footsteps grew louder, tension built in the stands. Orochimaru, lurking in a shadowy corner, watched with intense curiosity.

Like a mad scientist in pursuit of truth, Orochimaru had long abandoned conventional morals for the sake of uncovering the roots of all knowledge. As someone obsessed with mastering the mysteries of ninjutsu, he couldn't help but be intrigued by the bold bet Shiyu had made.

"Could it be some new technique?" Orochimaru pondered. He was engrossed in his research on forbidden jutsu and cursed seals but found himself distracted by the spectacle unfolding before him.

Everyone in the stands held their breath as they waited for the civilian team to emerge. But when the children finally appeared, they looked nothing like the disciplined and formidable opponents some had hoped for.

Instead, they came out bouncing and giggling, behaving more like carefree kids than aspiring shinobi. At the forefront were three children: the Kamano trio, infamous for being troublemakers in the same class as Uchiha Itachi years ago.

In the original story, these three had picked fights with senior students and were promptly humiliated by Itachi's swift retaliation. Despite their antics, they ended up idolizing Itachi, following him around like loyal lackeys.

Now, however, these three boys stood at the head of the civilian lineup. Yet, as soon as they faced the massive audience, they froze. Their confidence evaporated, and their steps faltered.

The sight of their timid demeanor sent waves of laughter through the ninja clan spectators.

"With nerves like that, they'll fail before they even start," one clan member chuckled.

Such laughter was rooted in more than arrogance. In ninja combat, mental fortitude was as crucial as physical strength. Chakra relied on a balance of physical and spiritual energy, and without mental resilience, even the most skilled techniques would falter.

The mood among the civilian supporters, however, was far more somber. Many of them began to believe that Toki had set up these children for failure, feeding them to the wolves.

At that moment, a Chunin from the Moonlight Clan, Moonlight Raiden, stepped into the center of the arena to act as referee.

"I am Moonlight Raiden, your host for today's competition," he announced. "This assessment will test Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and overall combat ability. To ensure fairness, there are no restrictions on how these tests are conducted."

The announcement was met with boos from the stands.

The civilians were already disadvantaged; now, there wouldn't even be restrictions to even the playing field. Most of the ninja clan children had grown up practicing basic techniques, whereas the civilians were just starting their training.

In the VIP section, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio whispered among themselves.

"What do you think Toki is planning?" Akimichi Choza asked while munching on barbecue skewers.

"He's clearly going to make fools out of these kids," Yamanaka Inoichi remarked, shaking his head. "It's obvious they stand no chance."

Nara Shikaku sighed, deep in thought. "Don't be so quick to judge. Toki wouldn't have gone to all this trouble if he wasn't confident. He's always been calculated."

"Do you think the civilians can actually win?" Choza asked incredulously.

Shikaku smirked. "Absolutely."

"Why's that?"

"Remember the reports we got from the front lines a while back?" Shikaku replied.

Choza and Inoichi exchanged puzzled glances. "What reports?"

Shikaku shook his head and gestured toward the arena. "Just watch."

The competition began with the first round: a Ninjutsu assessment.

The rules were simple: as long as a child could demonstrate any Ninjutsu, they would pass.

The ninja clan children stepped forward confidently, each performing the basic Academy Three techniques—Clone Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Substitution Jutsu—with ease.

The civilian spectators gasped in awe. Most of these techniques were only mastered by ninja school graduates, yet these clan children had already mastered them before even enrolling.

It was no secret that the children of ninja clans received private training from birth. Their enrollment in the Academy wasn't for education but for the chance to impress elite jounin and secure a mentorship.

In stark contrast, the civilian children stood awkwardly in the middle of the arena, some visibly trembling.

The crowd waited, holding their breath, as Kamano and the other civilians prepared to show what they'd learned.

And then, the unexpected happened.

The civilian ninjas in the stands booed in dissatisfaction.

If it weren't for the influence of the prominent ninja families, they might have already secured sponsorship from a jōnin teacher. But without connections, they now found themselves stuck. To gain recognition from a jōnin, one must be recommended by another jōnin.

This was the largest obstacle blocking the promotion path of most civilian ninjas. There were only so many jōnin positions available, and if someone else filled them, there wouldn't be enough left. Without a teacher-student relationship or connection, no one would risk their reputation to recommend someone for a promotion.

Additionally, high-ranking missions in Konoha were limited. Those who controlled them often prioritized their close circles, leaving others without opportunities. A jōnin teacher's recommendation was often the only way to ascend. At each jōnin meeting convened by Hiruzen Sarutobi, only a few dozen jōnin appeared, representing Konoha's management.

Many ninjas with jōnin-level skills and combat abilities never officially attained the rank due to politics and favoritism. Mitarashi Anko was a clear example in the original series—despite her strength and ability, her status as Orochimaru's former student disqualified her from ascending under Sarutobi's leadership. Her fate was in stark contrast to Kurenai, who achieved recognition despite less impressive combat records.

Now, watching the spoiled children of ninja families performing confidently, the civilian ninjas couldn't help but recall their lost opportunities and unfulfilled potential. Many tokubetsu jōnin clenched their fists, glaring at the privileged competitors below.

Their anger turned to the other side of the arena, where the civilian children's performances made their blood boil with humiliation. Kamano and his group struggled to form hand seals, their faces flushed with embarrassment. Despite all their effort, most couldn't even execute a basic transformation or clone technique. Even the few successful ones produced results so sloppy they were laughable compared to the refined techniques of their ninja family counterparts.

Seeing this, the civilian ninjas' resentment deepened, anger surging as they thought bitterly, If it weren't for the dominance of these prominent families, I would have been a jōnin by now!

---

Meanwhile, far away in the deserts of Sunagakure, the roar of a motorcycle broke the silence. Dust trailed behind the vehicle, kicked up as its tires tore through the arid terrain.

At the front of the motorcycle was Uchiha Toki, wearing a black royal robe that billowed dramatically in the wind, revealing glimpses of his well-defined abs and mermaid lines beneath.

Behind him, a group of exhausted Sunagakure ninjas pursued desperately, their faces red with effort.

"Stop right there!" shouted the leader of the group. "You've entered the Wind Country! Halt for inspection!"

Toki smirked, raising his hands and extending both middle fingers before gunning the throttle. The motorcycle roared, disappearing into the horizon. Despite their chakra-enhanced speed, the ninjas could not catch up to him.

---

The motorcycle was no ordinary machine; it was a reward from Toki's family log system. After completing clan-related emotional tasks, he received advanced technological items far beyond the Naruto world's era. Though Toki initially questioned the usefulness of these "non-combat" rewards, he soon realized their immense value for research and development.

The ninja world was technologically fragmented—while they had TVs, telecommunication poles, and advanced genetic engineering, the everyday life of the populace resembled an agricultural society. Toki's motorcycle was a marvel of futuristic design that the world had never seen before.

---

As Toki approached Sunagakure Village, a dense formation of sand ninja surrounded him.

"Get off the vehicle! Surrender now!" a chūnin barked nervously, his hand gripping a kunai.

Toki raised his hands theatrically, smiling. "Relax, relax! I'm just a traveling merchant. My name is Monkey D. Luffy. I came to do some business in Sunagakure. I mean no harm!"

The sand ninjas exchanged confused glances. "Monkey D. Luffy? What kind of strange name is that?"

"Why were you riding around like a madman if you're just a merchant?" asked another ninja, clearly skeptical.

Toki kept his innocent smile and replied, "War is everywhere nowadays. It's a dangerous world for a small merchant like me! I can't afford to stay in one place too long."

---

Finally, a young elite jōnin stepped forward—Baki, the future advisor of Sunagakure, though only 18 at the time. Baki scrutinized Toki and the motorcycle, his sharp eyes filled with suspicion.

"So, you're here to issue a mission?" Baki asked.

Toki nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, an S-rank escort mission! I need to travel to the Hidden Mist Village."

Baki frowned but waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to inspect Toki's belongings. After carefully searching the motorcycle, they found no weapons or dangerous items—just strange-looking technological gadgets they couldn't understand.

---

"Follow me to the reception area," Baki ordered. "Sand Village is at war. You'll need clearance before any missions are assigned. But I'm warning you, don't wander around. If the ANBU mistakes you for a spy, I won't be able to save you."

Feigning nervousness, Toki widened his eyes and asked, "Kill me? Just like that?! Isn't that a little extreme?"

"Who knows what your true intentions are?" Baki replied coldly, eyeing the motorcycle with undisguised interest. He was already plotting how to confiscate such a marvel for the village's use.

Soon, Toki was escorted to Sunagakure's administration building, where he came face to face with the Fourth Kazekage.

"What mission do you want to issue?" the Kazekage asked bluntly.

Toki smiled confidently. "An S-rank escort mission. I need your ninjas to accompany me to Kirigakure."