I Got Transmigrated Into Naruto, But I Want to Die

Heartsteel—a powerful piece of equipment in a certain game.

Its effect is quite simple: take a hit, and grow stronger.

Uchiha Renzou was no stranger to this concept. He was a veteran player of over ten thousand chaotic battles, a seasoned master of Full Tank Sion with a Level 7 Mastery.

His specialty? Selling his head for the greater cause—

You dare hit me? Good, this head is now yours, big brother!

The more he gave, the stronger he became. The more he sacrificed, the tankier he got!

Now, at the moment when he was determined to throw his life away, a talent like this appeared before him.

Surely… surely this wouldn't affect his grand insurance fraud scheme, right?

Uchiha Renzou's expression remained blank, but deep inside, an unsettling feeling crept over him.

However, he knew nothing about this so-called talent yet. The Will of Heaven certainly hadn't handed him a cheat sheet on how to use it.

The priority right now was to accept a mission from the Uchiha Elder, Uchiha Setsuna.

Before the cheat had time to react, he needed to get himself sent to the battlefield and let Iwagakure or some other enemy take him out—

Thus completing his insurance fraud plan!

That was the real priority here!

But for some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

Turning his head, he suddenly realized the source of his uneasiness was standing right next to him—

That little devil named Uchiha Shisui, with his signature gentle smile, leaned in and whispered softly,

"Uchiha Renzou, don't worry. I will take on the Elder's mission!"

"You should stay in the clan and focus on training yourself."

A chill ran down Uchiha Renzou's spine, sweat beading on his forehead. Big bro, can you stop obsessing over me and go bother Fugaku's kid instead? What's your deal?!

Without hesitation, he took a bold step forward, raised three fingers to the sky, and declared in a loud, passionate voice,

"Elder!"

"To restore the glory of the Uchiha, I will not hesitate!"

"I fear no danger—please, send me to the battlefield!"

He lunged forward, his voice ringing through the air with a melodious, resounding clarity.

With unwavering determination, he proclaimed,

"Whether it be the torrential rains of the Land of Rain or the soothing hot springs of the Land of Hot Water, nothing can shake my resolve to dedicate everything to the Uchiha Clan!"

"If someone must be sacrificed, then I hope that person—"

"Will be me!"

The moment those words fell, the surrounding crowd turned their heads, gazes filled with a mix of admiration and astonishment.

Whose subordinate is this? Such bravery!

"Renzou-kun! Why would you—"

Shisui's attempt to stop him was too late. His expression turned utterly stricken, his tone filled with sorrow.

In the short time they had known each other, he had already come to regard Uchiha Renzou as a comrade who shared his ideals, someone he could entrust his back to.

But now…

How could he throw himself away like this?!

???

Ah, so this is what losing a comrade feels like?

Shisui's face flushed red, resisting the urge to drag Uchiha Renzou back home and give him a well-deserved whipping.

His eyes, already at the threshold of awakening, turned crimson without him even realizing it.

A single tomoe spun rapidly within his newly awakened Sharingan, exuding a deep sorrow.

The catalyst for his awakening—

The loss of a comrade.

As if bound by fate, it had been triggered prematurely.

However—

"You? No chance. Too weak."

Elder Uchiha Setsuna furrowed his brows, glancing down at Uchiha Renzou. Where the hell did this fool come from?

A Uchiha who hasn't even awakened the Sharingan is no different from trash.

The words fell.

The determined expression on Uchiha Renzou's face stiffened.

The sheer awkwardness of the moment could cut through steel!

The sound of teenage embarrassment was deafening!

Did you hear that? That was the sound of Uchiha Renzou's heart breaking~!

[Uchiha Setsuna has looked down on you.]

At that moment, in Uchiha Renzou's eyes, a massive red marker appeared over Uchiha Setsuna's face.

It overshadowed everything else, nearly obscuring his expression entirely.

Yet those eyes, filled with disdain, remained visible, as if seared into Uchiha Renzou's soul.

A surge of fury rose within him.

Sure, he might be a bit useless right now—

But Elder, do you really have to rub salt in the wound like this?!

You clip my wings, I'll burn down your heavens!

"Elder!" Uchiha Renzou straightened his posture, took a step forward, and spoke with a firm voice,

"This isn't about strength or weakness!"

"I know I lack ability and haven't awakened my Sharingan!"

His tone rose, his voice unwavering—

"But genin don't fight on the front lines in war!"

"They mostly operate at the battlefield's edges, assisting in support tasks!"

"Besides, other clans have already sent their genin to the battlefield in the Land of Rain!"

"If the Uchiha refuse to send ours, won't that make the other clans look down on us?"

Silence fell.

The crowd stared at him, their faces filled with horror.

The argument made sense, but…

Did this guy realize who he was talking back to?!

This was the man who assassinated the Second Hokage!

The leader of the Uchiha's Hawk Faction!

His authority in the clan could be described with four words—

Power. Influence. Overwhelming. Supreme.

And you're just gonna go head-to-head with him like that?

Where the hell did you get this confidence?!

Elder Uchiha Setsuna's face immediately darkened. Did I spoil this brat too much?

A genin who hasn't even awakened the Sharingan dares to contradict me?!

That's like a pig climbing a tree—unbelievable!

However—

A sudden thought crossed his mind.

Isn't this exactly the kind of person I need?

Narrowing his eyes, he fell into deep thought.

As the leader of the Hawk Faction, responsible for expanding its ranks, he knew that raw talent wasn't everything.

Character was equally, if not more, important.

Especially those who were stubborn to the core, hot-headed, and willing to spill blood for the Uchiha without hesitation—

Someone like Uchiha Renzou, who was proving to be the perfect political pawn.

During a coup, wouldn't he be the first to charge in, howling at the top of his lungs as he chopped off Sarutobi Hiruzen's head?

No one understood coup d'états better than Uchiha Setsuna.

And Uchiha Renzou?

An excellent pawn for the revolution!

There was no way he could let him die in some pointless mission for Konoha!

With that thought, Uchiha Setsuna's expression shifted, his grim face softening ever so slightly as a chilling smile curled at the edges of his lips.

The moment the surrounding clan members saw that smile, they instinctively shivered, their backs breaking out in cold sweat.

Even Uchiha Renzou felt uneasy.

Not because he feared the old man—

But because he was wondering…

If this guy killed me here, would it still count as an insurance payout?

[Yes.]

The Will of Heaven immediately confirmed it in his mind.

Uchiha Renzou's eyes lit up.

Alright then, nothing to fear!

He straightened his back and boldly met Uchiha Setsuna's gaze.

The elder almost laughed at the sheer audacity.

Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Setsuna decided—

He'd give the brat an out.

His gaze turned sharp as he coldly rebuked,

"Naïve. Ridiculous!"

If war was as safe as Uchiha Renzou claimed, then sure, the clan would have no issue sending their genin.

But reality was far crueler.

On the battlefield, genin weren't shinobi.

They were cannon fodder.

Setsuna's eyes locked onto him. "Are you deaf, boy?"

Yet, instead of backing down, Uchiha Renzou grinned and tapped his neck, looking every bit like a meat slab on a butcher's block.

"Go ahead, Elder. Cut me down if you dare!"

"If you can't, then send me to the battlefield!"

At that moment—

Ding!