Chapter 27: Only One Life – Too Late for Regrets

Returning to his room, Mirai activated the barrier he had set up around the space. Carefully pulling the curtains, he ensured every precaution was in place before sitting down, closing his eyes, and beginning to focus on the reward he had just received.

After a while, he opened his eyes, thrilled. This reward was beyond his expectations.

Just as he had once absorbed Uchiha Fugaku's Uchiha Style Kenjutsu, this time he had acquired not only the Flying Thunder God Technique from Namikaze Minato but also Minato's years of experience and insights into the technique. All of that knowledge, along with the method to train in the Flying Thunder God Technique, poured into Mirai's mind.

What's more… as with his earlier mastery of the Chidori, his understanding of spatial concepts had deepened, granting him a natural aptitude for space-time ninjutsu. In the original story, only Tobirama Senju and Minato had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, underscoring just how challenging space-time ninjutsu was to learn.

But now, thanks to this reward, Mirai had gained an affinity for space-time ninjutsu—an incredible advantage.

"Let's give it a try."

After absorbing the knowledge, Mirai took a kunai from his tool pouch, and with a thought, a complex Flying Thunder God seal appeared on the blade.

"Go!"

With the seal in place, Mirai threw the kunai across the room. The next instant, his figure vanished from his original spot and reappeared beside the kunai.

"It worked!"

Gripping the kunai, Mirai's face lit up with excitement. The Flying Thunder God Technique was invaluable, not only as an offensive strategy but also as an unmatched survival tool. With this skill, he could retreat whenever needed, placing him in an almost invincible position. In the original story, if Minato hadn't sacrificed himself to protect Konoha against the Nine-Tails, it was hard to imagine anyone capable of killing him.

"This opens up a whole new realm of possibilities."

Mirai smirked to himself. As long as he had enough Flying Thunder God seals in place, no one could endanger him. Fight if he wanted, retreat if he didn't. Home isn't just for Minato now—it's for Mirai!

…

At the Konoha border.

Nara Shikaku looked at Mirai and his team, his eyes showing a hint of weariness.

"It's now confirmed. Sunagakure is preparing to wage war against Konoha."

"Orders from the village are clear: Any Sunagakure ninja who crosses into the Land of Fire is to be eliminated on sight!"

"Starting today, you'll work in teams to patrol the border."

Mirai nodded at Shikaku's orders and led the way out of the command tent. Watching him leave, Shikaku's gaze was tinged with complexity. He could hardly believe a Uchiha would step up to take initiative like this.

…

In the dense border forest.

Mirai watched as Kurenai and Asuma set traps carefully, while he sat casually on a tree branch, secretly leaving a Flying Thunder God seal. It barely used any chakra, so he saw no harm in scattering a few seals for good measure.

Suddenly, the sharp crack of an explosive tag went off nearby. Before Asuma and Kurenai could react, Mirai disappeared from his spot.

A kilometer away.

Three Sunagakure shinobi, caught in the trap, immediately leapt back. They were only genin, so retreating was their best option upon being discovered. But before they could get far, a young swordsman appeared, dashing toward them.

Seeing the boy, the three exchanged glances, a cruel smile spreading across their faces. They halted, waiting for Mirai to draw closer before surrounding him.

"Lucky day for us. A little punk just walked right into our hands."

"Hmph, seen plenty of fools like him. Chase the enemy blindly and ignore your own safety—typical rookie mistake."

"Too bad… there's only one life. Too late for regrets now."

As the Sunagakure shinobi advanced on Mirai, they looked gleeful. To them, he was just a naïve kid barely out of the academy—a gift-wrapped rabbit.

"You're not wrong."

"Huh?"

Mirai's words left the three momentarily baffled.

In the next instant, a flash of his blade—and one of their heads hit the ground.

"What?!"

"Such speed!"

The remaining two, shocked at their comrade's death, couldn't believe their eyes. They hadn't even registered Mirai's movements before their ally was dead.

Realizing they'd provoked the wrong person, they exchanged a glance, now desperate to flee. This seemingly reckless kid was far more skilled than they had anticipated—a rare prodigy among shinobi!

"Split up!"

They dashed in opposite directions, hoping at least one of them would escape and relay the intel.

Just ten meters in, one of them collapsed, his throat slit. He could feel his life slipping away, but a glimmer of relief flickered in his eyes as he saw his partner escape hundreds of meters in the other direction. His sacrifice wasn't in vain.

They had to warn Sunagakure—such a formidable Konoha ninja had to be eliminated before he could grow stronger. That information was more valuable than his life.

But as his consciousness faded, he watched in horror as a kunai flew in his ally's direction, closing the distance in an instant. His partner deflected it, but then his eyes widened as Mirai materialized right beside him, thrusting his blade through his heart.

"How… did he do that?!"

"Damn… this intel is so critical…"

With that last thought, his vision faded to black.

Mirai wiped his sword, collected the kunai, and listened as the system's notification sounded in his mind.

Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully acquiring Chakra +1!

Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully acquiring Chakra +1!

Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully acquiring Chakra +1!

----------------

Read 10 chapters ahead for free on my patreon, read pinned message!

+70 chapters on patreon.com/Jixo