One week later.
Atop a remote hill near Konoha's border,
a girl stood with blade raised vertically,
her expression icy.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
Instantly,
the katana disintegrated into cherry blossom petals
swirling lethally through the air.
Pink petals danced with deadly grace -
their beauty concealing razor edges.
The very atmosphere split where they passed.
Initial Release achieved.
"This energy drain is absolute bullshit!"
The crude curse shattered the poetic carnage.
Qingchuan slumped, drained.
Two seconds of Initial Release
had emptied his spiritual energy reserves.
Gasping, he summoned the damned system interface:
[Host: Haruko Uchiha. Current World: Naruto Universe.]
[Main Quest: Survive the Massacre Night. (Ongoing)]
[Sub-Quest: Achieve Initial Release (Shikai) & Unlock 3-Tomoe Sharingan. (21.6% Complete)]
[Permanent Buff: 50% Training Efficiency While Crossdressing]
[New Buff: 100% Recovery Speed While Smiling]
Even the system now acknowledged his female persona.
That morning, after slashing air 300+ times,
the Shikai sub-quest finally completed.
The crossdressing buff gained 20% boost,
plus this smile-dependent recovery nonsense.
Typical system ambiguity.
Another active buff requiring constant grinning
to double recovery speed.
Combined with existing training buffs,
progress should accelerate...
Yet Qingchuan couldn't muster even a smirk.
Two seconds of Shikai left him paralyzed.
Hopes dashed, frustration mounted.
Though the system granted another reward -
His Sharingan awakened.
Indeed.
The Sharingan mirrors the soul,
as Shikai reflects Zanpakutō's spirit.
Perfect synergy.
During Initial Release,
his single tomoe emerged.
Henceforth, Sharingan-enhanced Senbonzakura
would dominate his combat style.
Forcing a smile with final strength,
Qingchuan activated double recovery.
Exhaustion ebbed,
though full restoration required time.
No leisure today though -
First day at the academy awaited.
Right on schedule,
approaching footsteps signaled...
..........
On the path to ninja academy,
boy and girl walked side-by-side
with careful distance maintained.
The boy fidgeted nervously,
daring not glance at his companion.
The girl's radiant smile
seemed capable of healing all wounds.
Passersby marveled,
though the prominent Uchiha fan symbol
kept crowds at bay.
Murmurs floated:
"That Uchiha girl's a stunner!"
Qingchuan maintained smile-enhanced recovery
while internally cursing.
Crossdressing exhausted his shame quota.
Now came overdraft.
Yet necessity demanded it -
cultivating permanent smile
like those anime heroines,
transforming passive buffs
into combat-sustainable advantages.
Even tears must fall with grace!
Reaching academy gates,
Qingchuan noticed Itachi's odd behavior.
"Is something wrong, Itachi-kun?"
The boy startled violently.
"Ah?! N-no! Nothing, Haru...ko."
Meeting her smile,
he instantly averted gaze.
She looks so happy today...
That smile could melt glaciers.
Qingchuan's shame mingled
with fresh guilt.
He suddenly missed Orochimaru -
no moral qualms manipulating that snake.
This situation twisted his conscience.
Fortunately,
their Hokage-approved sensei arrived.
"You must be little Haruko?"
The green-vested instructor smiled.
"Yes, sensei."
Qingchuan sighed internally,
grateful for the diversion.
As they proceeded to class,
a white-haired figure watched from shadows -
face half-masked,
left eye scarred shut.
His visible eye widened in shock.