Chapter 32: Emergence
Most ordinary shinobi can't bear the side effects of the Uchiha's Sharingan.
Not just any shinobi—even someone like Hatake Kakashi, a renowned elite, would find it hard to say whether the Sharingan is truly a blessing or a burden.
In fact, even among the Uchiha themselves, using the Sharingan recklessly after awakening it can lead to consequences far too heavy to bear.
For all these reasons, when Hajime first laid eyes on a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, his immediate reaction wasn't greed, but rather surprise—and a healthy dose of caution.
Had this been before he became the so-called "White Zetsu Man," perhaps he wouldn't have been so calm. But now that he's found a relatively stable way to grow stronger, there's no need for him to risk walking a far more dangerous path.
Theoretically, since Hajime can take on the form of White Zetsu, it's possible he could bear the risks that come with the Sharingan. After all, White Zetsu organisms have shown strong compatibility with both Sharingan and Hashirama cells.
But come on—considering his current position, can he really afford to provoke the Uchiha clan without consequences?
Even if the Sharingan was just lying around for the taking, how could he guarantee the Uchiha wouldn't come hunting it down later? No matter how stealthy he tried to be, word would eventually get out.
Faking an Uchiha identity? Sure, maybe they wouldn't expend the effort to investigate thoroughly.
But stealing a Mangekyō Sharingan? That's a whole different story.
Let's not forget—the Uchiha aren't exactly known for their emotional stability.
Hajime would rather not push his luck.
Besides, his optic nerves aren't as rugged as an Uchiha's. He can't just pop out someone's eyeball and plug it into his own skull. It's not like he has the surgical skills or compatibility to do that.
So, whether from a rational standpoint or an emotional one, Hajime isn't about to go into the organ-trafficking business.
And frankly, he's not really afraid of the Sharingan anymore. He's… indifferent to it now.
Which raises the real question: what should he do with this Uchiha ninja?
If he just left her here, there's a good chance she wouldn't survive. She was in pretty bad shape.
After a moment's thought, Hajime spoke:
"Treat her injuries. Handle it the same way we did during the 'Tobirama Incident.'"
Last time was an "intrusion," this time it was a "fall from the sky." Either way—it's all the same.
Whatever the case, a living Uchiha is far more useful than a dead one.
Hajime figured: if they got useful intel from Senju Tobirama, then it's only fair they do the same with the Uchiha. Can't be playing favorites now, right?
Sure, the Senju and Uchiha have generations of animosity between them—but what does that have to do with a ragtag group of rogue shinobi?
Hajime decided to do the noble thing. In his mind, he was like a battlefield Red Cross worker now.
His only concern was the girl's mental stability. Like he said—Uchiha emotions swing hard and fast. If she woke up and started wrecking everything, then what?
Especially those with Mangekyō Sharingan—you could pretty much label them as clinically paranoid. Best case, she just goes off on one of those infamous maniacal Uchiha laughter episodes—those alone were enough to freak people out.
Prejudiced or not, let's be real: if a normal person walked into a psychiatric ward, they'd tread carefully around the patients.
The two women in the camp approached and, with all the delicacy of hauling a dead pig, moved the unconscious girl aside and began treating her wounds.
Hajime scratched his head, a bit helpless, and told everyone:
"Take a short break. We move out in two hours."
He was starting to realize that ever since a certain turning point, his luck and experiences had completely changed. Looking back now, it didn't feel like a good thing.
Seriously, messing around with Ōtsutsuki-related powers? Always a bad idea. That stuff brings a mountain of trouble.
He used to be just a struggling, bottom-tier shinobi. But ever since meeting White Zetsu, it's been Sarutobi this, Senju that, Uchiha this—clearly, the level of people he was dealing with had shifted dramatically.
A no-name nobody, barely a side character, suddenly rubbing elbows with main storyline figures? That's how you get dragged into disaster.
Two hours passed quickly. After dressing the Uchiha's wounds, someone put together a makeshift stretcher to carry her with them.
If they were just doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, they could've left her behind—she would probably survive now. But let's be honest: in their current condition, any help given comes with the hope of payback. Altruism without reward? They're not quite that noble yet.
Their departure from the forest had already been delayed several times. Given the weather and the season, they really had no choice but to move on.
Winter was coming. Resources in the mountains would run thin, and the risk of hypothermia was far too high. So despite the ominous "Uchiha falling from the sky" event, Hajime chose to stick with the original plan.
Turned out he was right. Just one day after leaving camp, the first snowflakes started to fall.
Unlike when they first entered the forest, now the group was better rested, and their pace was swift.
They still traveled mostly by foot—no speeding through treetops like on an urgent mission—but by the second evening, they had reached the edge of the forest.
This forest had served them well, offering safety and shelter. The time they spent here even created a sense of false comfort, to the point where leaving made some of them feel… uneasy, even reluctant.
But there was no choice. They couldn't live in the forest forever.
And that sense of safety? Just an illusion. Sooner or later, war would find even this place.
Reaching the forest's edge, Hajime chose to make camp one last time.
Once they reentered the "normal world," even getting a full night's sleep would become a luxury.
They set up camp beside a stream, lit a fire, and cooked a meal. To anyone passing by, they would've looked like a traveling merchant group, not a band of shinobi.
After arranging the night watch, Hajime sat down at the center of camp.
These past two days, he'd been keeping constant watch over the Uchiha girl. She was still unconscious, burning up with a fever, and all they could do was keep her cool. Fortunately, she was tough enough to endure.
Hajime figured it was about time for her to wake up.
Sure enough, once the campfire was lit and dinner was over, beneath the gloomy night sky and gently falling snow, the Uchiha ninja finally opened her eyes.
Hajime , who had been keeping watch nearby, noticed immediately.
She didn't say anything at first—just lay quietly on the stretcher, staring at the dark sky and drifting snowflakes.
Only after a long silence did she speak:
"What time is it now?"
Hajime misunderstood her question and answered reflexively:
"You've been unconscious for about two days."
"No," she said calmly. "I meant: what day is it? If possible, what year, month, and day?"
Hajime blinked. The question caught him completely off guard.
See? Uchiha. Mentally unstable.
He opened his mouth to respond… and then froze.
After a brief silence, he finally admitted:
"To be honest… I don't know the exact date."
They'd spent so long surviving in the wild, he'd completely lost track of time.
But right after saying that, something clicked.
The way she asked the question—there was something off about it.
Something… ominous.