As the simulation began, the next moment, Uchiha Haru's eyes and surroundings changed.
He appeared in his own room, and it was pitch black outside.
It was quiet, without a single sound.
Only the whirring of the wind was particularly clear.
"Is this... the night of the Uchiha clan extermination?" Uchiha Haru murmured.
Looking at the room he had lived in for over ten years, everything was almost identical to real life.
His chakra and ninjutsu flowed as usual.
This didn't feel like a simulation. It was clearly a real experience—identical to actually living it. However, Haru had no time to marvel at this.
He had already arrived at the night of the clan's extermination.
Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Obito could appear to kill him at any moment.
Staying in his room would mean certain death. He had to find a way to survive.
Escape!
Escape from the Uchiha clan's settlement!
To avoid being targeted by Itachi and Obito.
This was something Haru had been planning for over a decade.
It was also the most viable path he had thought of.
After all, both Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito were Kage-level or beyond. They far surpassed an ordinary jōnin, even one with a fully developed Sharingan.
Facing them head-on meant death. His only shot at survival was to flee.
To that end, he had spent years scouting and mapping escape routes.
Eventually, he discovered a path so concealed it was unlikely to be found.
There was no time to lose. The massacre had begun. He had to move.
With determination, Haru jumped out of the window.
Like a cheetah, swift and agile.
As a Konoha jōnin with over ten years of ninjutsu training, this level of movement was second nature.
Under the pitch-black night sky,
Haru leapt through the shadows quickly and cautiously.
Though darkness blanketed everything, his three-tomoe Sharingan rendered it meaningless.
Especially now, in this simulation, Haru had selected the +100 Pupil Power ability.
It had enhanced his ocular prowess significantly.
He could see clearly in the dark, as though it were broad daylight.
Additionally, he felt a noticeable change within himself:
He had grown stronger.
Previously, his strength had been on par with an ordinary jōnin.
But now, he had risen to the level of an elite jōnin.
This was no small feat.
When one reaches higher echelons of power, each step forward becomes exponentially harder.
Every bit of progress demands immense time and experience.
Yet here he was, having made such a leap in mere moments. It was astounding.
And this was just from three blue-ranked abilities.
What about purple ones?
Or even gold?
If he could unlock even a few golden talents by the end of the simulation,
He might even stand a chance against Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Obito.
The thought filled Haru with anticipation for the higher-ranked abilities still to come.
The streets were deserted and eerily silent.
Even with lights on in nearby homes, no voices could be heard.
Haru felt the cold grip of murderous intent hanging in the air.
He knew the purge had already begun.
This realization made Haru anxious, and he quickened his pace.
This was the escape route he had spent more than ten years perfecting.
He had carefully avoided all major roads, choosing instead the most obscure, unused paths.
Only two people truly carried out the massacre: Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito.
Even for Kage-level shinobi, covering the entire settlement without missing a corner was impossible.
Moreover, most people were still unaware of the coming massacre and remained home as usual.
How could Itachi or Obito possibly know someone had foreseen this and prepared accordingly for over a decade?
With a meticulous plan, escaping under their noses wasn't out of the question.
As for Danzo's Root organization, they were lurking in the shadows, observing and ensuring Itachi didn't falter or allow anyone to escape.
However, this was still the Uchiha district.
No matter how well Root agents knew the area, they couldn't compare to Haru, who had lived here his entire life and studied escape routes relentlessly.
Having chosen this route, Haru was confident he wouldn't be detected.
Along the way, he remained vigilant and precise.
This composure was a product of years of training. No matter how dire the situation, Haru could remain perfectly calm.
Pressure never broke his focus—it only honed it further.
After about ten minutes, Haru successfully escaped the district.
He looked back at the unusually quiet Uchiha compound and exhaled deeply.
The journey had seemed uneventful, but danger lurked behind every step.
Now that he was beyond its borders, he should be... safe. Probably.
Right?
Haru suddenly turned his head. His eyes flared blood-red. Three tomoe spun with deadly precision.
Sharingan: activated!
Three kunai, filled with murderous intent, shot toward him.
Shrouded by the night, they made no sound, left no trace.
But under the gaze of his Sharingan, they were crystal clear.
Haru flipped into the air, evading with ease.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The kunai embedded themselves into the tree trunk where Haru had stood seconds earlier.
Unfazed, Haru swiftly formed hand seals. His fingers moved at lightning speed.
Even as he dodged, he had already pinpointed the location of the hidden attacker.
The moment he landed, he unleashed a jutsu.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive blaze erupted from Haru's mouth.
The fireball surged forward, scorching the air and tearing through the darkness.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique.
The foundational Fire Release ninjutsu of the Uchiha clan.
Though basic, it remained immensely powerful.
Now, in Haru's hands, it manifested extraordinary force.
The flames forced three figures out of hiding.
They appeared before Haru, their forms illuminated by the firelight.
They wore standard Konoha shinobi gear.
But their eerie masks betrayed their allegiance.
Root.