Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 184: Shipwreck Interrogation! As Expected, You Didn't Disappoint Me!

Beneath Konoha, a steel bridge connected the surrounding cliffs and the abyssal rock walls. At the center stood a steel tower—a high tower built deep underground.

In front of the platform of the tower, Shimura Danzo stood silently at the railing. His expression was so calm it bordered on indifference. With his hands clasped behind his back, he stared into the dark, quiet depths below.

His right face was wrapped in bandages, his short brown hair neatly cropped. His figure was lean, dressed in a gray-black kimono that left his left shoulder and arm exposed, revealing the white undergarment beneath.

This man, who had wholly devoted himself to the darkness, seemed to dim the surrounding light just by standing there, as if an ominous aura enveloped him entirely.

After the high-level council meeting, Danzo had come here, waiting to meet the Uchiha Ci, who had unexpectedly fallen under his control.

Yet, strangely enough, Danzo's eyes held no killing intent at this moment.

Instead, hidden within his deep, cunning gaze was a mixture of expectation and nostalgia.

Such a peculiar expression on this man's face seemed wholly out of place.

Behind him, a Root ninja wearing a white-painted tiger mask carried a stack of documents.

"Lord Danzo, I've already dispatched people to capture Uchiha Ci, but—"

Hearing the hesitation in his subordinate's voice, Danzo remained motionless and replied coolly,

"Are you wondering why I didn't implement additional precautions?"

The Root ninja remained silent but couldn't hide the deep apprehension in his eyes.

After all, this was a Jinchuriki—a human weapon!

The two explosions that shook the entire Konoha were still fresh in everyone's memory, a vivid reminder of Uchiha Ci's terrifying combat prowess. Such power was utterly beyond human capabilities.

Faced with such a threat, the Root ninja couldn't comprehend why the ever-cautious Danzo would adopt such a seemingly casual approach. Shouldn't he have recalled more Root operatives, set up layers of sealing formations, and suppressed Uchiha Ci on the spot?

Even if he didn't intend to extract the Tailed Beast from Uchiha Ci afterward, he could still use him as leverage or a bargaining chip.

Danzo turned his head slightly, casting a sidelong glance at his subordinate, and said flatly,

"You don't understand, and you can't understand. That's to be expected."

"That child has grown far beyond your imagination."

"Numbers can no longer restrain such a monster. He can no longer be treated like an ordinary Uchiha."

"And the only one who can control such a monster—"

"Is me!"

The Root ninja was momentarily startled. He raised his eyes to look at Danzo, surprise flashing across his gaze before he quickly lowered his head.

"Understood!"

After responding, the ninja retreated quickly, leaving Danzo in the suffocating darkness.

At that moment,

Danzo retrieved a report from his robes, submitted by various individuals—Aburame Ryoma, Orochimaru, and Root operatives from the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Rain who had witnessed Uchiha Ci's battles.

"Uchiha Ci..." Danzo chuckled suddenly, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

"Like Uchiha Kagami, a brilliant meteor. Such a pity..."

"A short-lived one."

"I'll tolerate you for another two years. Then, with Konoha's second Tailed Beast and the power of 'Alpha's' Wood Release..."

"At that time, hahahahaha—"

---

Gurgle, gurgle—

Sitting in a wheelchair, Uchiha Ci was being pushed into the Root headquarters by two operatives.

As soon as they reached the bridge leading to the underground tower, a hoarse and aged laugh erupted—

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Looking at the dark old man by the railing, Uchiha Ci twitched the corner of his mouth.

What's with this performance now?

Moreover, this setting—

A bridge, Danzo, an Uchiha, and maniacal laughter.

Was this going to turn into a prelude to the Bridge Battle?

After pushing Uchiha Ci into place, the two operatives immediately disappeared, leaving the space to the elder and the young man.

Holding a syringe that Orochimaru had given him, Uchiha Ci frowned. Though he didn't know what it contained, the Zero-Tails within him reacted strongly, squeaking with desire.

He glanced at Danzo, standing at the bridge's edge, shrouded in his ominous aura.

Unlike the respect Uchiha Shisui and Itachi would show Danzo in the future,

Uchiha Ci was neither polite nor treated him as a superior.

Instead, he spoke bluntly:

"Shimura Danzo, you wanted to see me?"

Hearing this, Danzo's laughter abruptly stopped.

He turned around, walking steadily toward the wheelchair-bound Uchiha Ci, his gaze dark and predatory, like a wolf eyeing its prey.

"You are Uchiha Ci?"

Stopping three meters away, Danzo stared intently with his single eye and suddenly declared,

"I see... You carry the aura of death!"

Uchiha Ci blinked in confusion. "Aura of death?"

"To know death, one must first transcend life. This is the aura of death," Danzo said coldly.

"Your inner flame burns hotter than anyone else's, but it will eventually transform into the karmic fires of the underworld, consuming you entirely."

"Under the sun or the moon, you cast no shadow."

"In your life, there is no shadow."

Subconsciously, Uchiha Ci glanced at the ground—there was indeed a shadow.

What kind of riddles is this old man spouting? he wondered impatiently.

Can we fight already? You think I came all this way for chit-chat? My fists are itching!

Danzo, seemingly unfazed by Uchiha Ci's growing irritation, continued in a somber tone:

"Since Konoha's founding, you are the fastest to be promoted to jonin. I have one question for you."

Uchiha Ci remained silent, glaring impatiently, waiting for Danzo to finish his nonsense.

Unbothered by the attitude, Danzo presented his question:

"On a sinking ship, there are ten of your comrades, but one is afflicted with a deadly contagious disease.

"If he continues to live, the other nine will also die.

"If you were the ship's captain—"

Danzo's single eye narrowed as he asked with a faint smile,

"What would you do?"

Uchiha Ci raised an eyebrow. This question was familiar—it was the same question Danzo posed to Uchiha Itachi in Itachi Shinden.

Back then, Itachi's answer was:

The diseased individual is destined to die; that is his fate. If I were the captain, I would prioritize saving the other nine lives and choose to sacrifice one to save nine.

This question, coupled with Fugaku's spartan parenting, planted the seed of madness in young Itachi's heart, eventually leading to the Uchiha massacre.

Uchiha Ci's expression turned cold. He sneered at Danzo and countered,

"What if the captain were the one diseased? And how can you be certain the sick person is doomed to die?"

Danzo's lips curled into a deeper smile. His gaze grew darker, and he replied sternly:

"Uchiha Ci, don't evade the question. With the power you wield, you should understand—"

"Reality is a cruel choice between two extremes."

"Now tell me, what would you do?"

Uchiha Ci smiled faintly and raised the syringe in his hand.

Without hesitation, he stabbed it into his neck!

As the liquid was injected, his heart surged with vitality.

He raised his head abruptly, his scarlet Sharingan flashing with dual tomoe.

"No one will die!"

"Because I will create miracles! Even if it costs me my life to fulfill this promise!"

Hearing such bold words and seeing Uchiha Ci's confidence,

Danzo's face broke into a satisfied grin.

"As expected, I didn't misjudge you!"

"You gave the same answer as Uchiha Kagami."

"Now then,"

His expression darkened as he took a step back, his tone chilling as if conjuring an icy wind around them.

Just when Uchiha Ci thought Danzo was preparing for a fight,

out of nowhere, Danzo declared—

"Uchiha Ci,"

"I will entrust you with great responsibility!"