Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

It was completely different from the vibrant and bustling prosperity of Konoha Village.

In a remote border region, not even clearly marked on the map of the Land of Wind, beneath the yellow sands of the desert lies a secluded abyss.

There was no wind, no light, only the fluorescent stones embedded in the rock walls emitting a faint, ghostly green glow, barely illuminating the outline of the cave.

In the center of the cave is a huge pool made of obsidian, filled with a viscous, light green liquid.

Countless tiny, black, biological-like ducts extended from the bottom of the pool, densely connecting to the young body immersed in the liquid.

"Gurgle... gurgle..."

A few bubbles rose from the surface of the liquid, breaking the stillness.

The young man in the pool slowly opened his eyes.

Those were a pair of pure obsidian eyes, initially somewhat blank, but soon their focus sharpened.

He moved his newly formed, flawless limbs, feeling the unprecedented power contained in every muscle.

He stood up from the pool, the pale green liquid sliding down his smooth muscle lines, revealing a face so handsome it was almost breathtaking. He had sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and lips that naturally curved with a gentle smile, but deep in his eyes lay a faint melancholy that could evoke pity in anyone.

This face belongs to Uchiha Ran, meticulously sculpted and modified by Black Zetsu—the current Uchiha Mine.

"How does it feel? My... masterpiece."

A hoarse sound, as if it had been rubbing against the rock for a thousand years, came from the deepest shadows of the cave.

Black Zetsu, that pure, pitch-black substance composed of will, slowly seeped out from the shadow of the rock wall, like a pool of flowing ink, eventually coalescing into an unstable humanoid shape.

Uchiha Mine, or rather, the current Mine, stood naked by the pool, bowing respectfully to the shadowy figure.

"It feels...good."

His voice was clear and bright, with the unique magnetism of a young man, but his tone was flat and devoid of any emotional fluctuation, like a puppet with a pre-programmed script. "Every part of my body is full of power. The flow of chakra is also several times smoother than before."

"Of course."

Black Zetsu let out a low, guttural laugh, like a leaky bellows. "The cells I replaced for you are the purest. Your body is the most perfect combination of the Uchiha and Senju. The power that old man Madara pursued his entire life has been easily achieved by you."

Black Zetsu stretched out a hand, hovering it over Mine's body in the air, his tone filled with a creator-like admiration and malice.

"Ban is dead. An era has come to an end."

Its voice echoed through the empty basement, striking the stone walls and reverberating, "This is a huge setback for my original plans. But..."

Its voice suddenly shifted, taking on an indescribable, distorted excitement.

"However, this also means that a new era has begun, with a barely perceptible crack appearing. And you, my most perfect creation, will become the first wedge to drive this crack in."

Black Zetsu's will, like invisible threads, surged into Mine's mind, weaving a flawless identity for him.

"Listen up, from today onwards, your name is Uchiha Mine."

"From today onwards, your name is Uchiha Mine."

"You are the child of an Uchiha clansman who died on a mission and a commoner woman. You and your mother depended on each other for survival in a corner of the Land of Wind. Your mother taught you to read and write, told you everything about Konoha, and described that distant village as paradise."

"Two weeks ago, your mother fell ill from overwork and passed away. Her only wish was that you could return to your ancestral homeland, to Konoha, and live like a true Konoha ninja."

"You sold all your possessions, got a little money for the journey, packed your bags, and embarked on a journey to find your roots, carrying your mother's last wish and your longing for your hometown..."

"I have implanted every detail, every question that may be asked, deep into your memory. You just need to 'remember' it, and then, with your most sincere eyes, tell them that you are home."

Every detail, every moment, even the reluctant expression on his mother's face when she passed away, were woven into Uchiha Mine's mind by Black Zetsu like a brand.

Perfect.

The image of a pure, pitiful Uchiha orphan who yearns for Konoha leaps off the page.

Black Zetsu's whispers were seductive, each word like poisoned honey.

Looking at the perfect work before it, it felt an unprecedented, malicious pleasure welling up inside it.

Once upon a time, its goal was simply to resurrect its mother.

For this goal, it lay dormant for a thousand years, guiding countless reincarnation battles between Indra and Ashura, and finally choosing Uchiha Madara, that fool blinded by hatred.

Everything should have unfolded perfectly according to its script.

Until that man appeared—Hiruzen Sarutobi.

That man, in a way it couldn't comprehend at all, turned the ethereal slogan of the Will of Fire into reality.

The Konoha he created was so prosperous, powerful, and united... it was nauseating!

The ninja villages, which should have been destroying each other in hatred, have actually started talking about economic cooperation and even formed some kind of ninja alliance!

All of this felt like a resounding slap across Black Zetsu's face.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's success proves one thing at every moment—humanity may indeed be able to achieve lasting peace by relying on its own bonds and trust.

And this is precisely what Black Zetsu absolutely cannot tolerate.

"Isn't what Hiruzen Sarutobi was most proud of—using the Will of Fire to influence everyone and make Konoha a big family full of love and hope?"

Black Zetsu's body trembled with pleasure.

"Then I will personally send him the most perfect child."

"An Uchiha orphan who was stranded far from home, suffered greatly, yet still yearned for the light and longed for the warmth of home. A genius with extraordinary talent."

"I will make you the perfect embodiment of the Will of Fire. You will win everyone's trust and everyone's love."

Black Zetsu's voice was extremely low, like a curse from hell.

"This is the new Eye of the Moon that I have prepared for you—the collapse of the human heart and the breakdown of will."

"Hehe...hehehe...hahahaha!"

The morbid laughter echoed for a long time in the underground cave.

It then recalled another pawn it had casually placed years ago—that foolish organization called the Cult of Evil Gods.

Unexpectedly, they were alerted beforehand by those three brats, Jiraiya.

Although there was some dissatisfaction, it was nothing serious. Those fanatics would always come in handy when they stirred up trouble in the future.

Feng listened quietly, his face expressionless.

Black Zetsu's laughter gradually subsided, and it looked at Mine with a scrutinizing gaze: "Let me see your eyes."

Feng closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his dark eyes were instantly stained with blood. The three tomoe spun rapidly and finally condensed into a strange and complex pattern—the Mangekyou Sharingan.

The pattern on his left eye was a spinning scythe with sharp teeth on its edge, and deep within his pupil was reflected his longing and yearning for the gates of Konoha. That was the core of his disguise.

The pattern on his right eye was a constantly collapsing black spiral, filled with destruction, nothingness, and absolute coldness. That was his true core.

A heaven, a hell.

Everything is within sight.

Two extreme contradictions are perfectly blended in these eyes.