Shimizu was originally lamenting his miserable fate, being played by a kunoichi and uncertain when he could escape the sea of suffering.
But now, he unexpectedly saw an enticing reward—a Warring States Sealing Record!
This scroll documented the location of a powerful Uchiha woman's sealed remains.
Her name was Uchiha Hikari!
Hikari's Mangekyō Sharingan technique, Eight Thousand Spears, was hailed as the strongest Mangekyō ability to date.
As long as her mark was imprinted, it allowed her to ignore distance, establishing a link to control the target's mind and chakra at will.
If Shimizu could acquire such power, he'd essentially become unstoppable.
"I choose the Warring States Sealing Record," Shimizu declared eagerly.
[The Warring States Sealing Record has been issued (enables simulation of past lives)...]
A scroll appeared in Shimizu's hand. Its cold, leathery texture resembled cured hide.
Simultaneously, new information flooded into his mind.
It explained that once his strength reached a certain level, he could simulate past events by using historically significant items. With the Warring States Sealing Record, he could travel back to the Warring States Era for a simulation.
"So, that's what it means to simulate a past life," Shimizu muttered as he unfurled the scroll.
The simulator truly lived up to its name as a Perfect Life Simulator. Currently, it simulated future events, but when Shimizu became strong enough, it could also simulate the past!
The Shinobi World's history held countless treasures. Even in Boruto, the Ōtsutsuki Clan's backstory was expanded, patching many historical gaps.
Artifacts like the remains of Ōtsutsuki Shibai or the chakra fruit consumed by Kaguya offered unimaginable power.
Not to mention the half-dead Ōtsutsuki Isshiki. If luck were on his side, Shimizu might even eliminate such threats in their infancy.
"Ōtsutsuki Kaguya..."
Shimizu pondered.
Kaguya was a proud woman, regal and elegant, radiating an aura of unmatched majesty. Known as the progenitor of chakra and the Rabbit Goddess, she was revered by later generations.
But what intrigued Shimizu even more was what he noticed back when he followed the manga—Kaguya's graceful figure hidden beneath her voluminous robes.
Her curves, seemingly made of flowing water, could rival those of Tsunade.
If he could simulate that era and attempt to interact with Kaguya, could he possibly change her fate?
Unfortunately, the simulator didn't specify the exact strength required for such personal simulations. For now, Shimizu could only focus on improving his abilities.
The next day.
The sky was clear, with the sun high above.
It was a day off for the Ninja Academy, so there were no classes.
From the Hyūga Clan, Natsu Hyūga emerged, her head lowered as she carried a box of gifts.
"Ah, Natsu, where are you headed?"
Tokuma Hyūga noticed Natsu had gone out early in the morning to buy something, as if she was delivering a gift to someone.
A faint sense of anticipation rose within him.
They had known each other for so long—could it be that Natsu had finally realized his feelings for her?
"I'm just going out," Natsu replied softly, shaking her head.
Bringing Tokuma along would only make things worse.
She was already punished last night, having to kneel for the entire night.
Her knees throbbed with pain now, and every step was torment. It would take a few days to recover.
But since Ginka Hyūga had assigned her this task, Natsu dared not slack off, enduring the pain to prepare the gift.
"This isn't for me, is it, Natsu?" Tokuma reached out, but Natsu instinctively dodged. The pain in her knees caused her to lose her balance, and the box of pastries spilled onto the ground, collecting dust.
"What are you doing, Tokuma Hyūga!"
A lifetime of grievances erupted at that moment.
Natsu couldn't understand why she had to suffer just because she was born into the Branch Family.
Why, despite being so cautious and humble, her life was still so full of hardship.
What was the reason for all this?
"You've caused enough trouble already! These were meant for Uchiha Shimizu!"
Looking at the scattered pastries, Natsu realized she'd have to buy them again.
If her elder sister found out, she'd likely reprimand her for being careless.
Fearing the consequences, Natsu didn't want to argue further with Tokuma. She picked up the box and the pastries, intending to find a trash bin before repurchasing them.
"I didn't mean to, Natsu..." Tokuma said, guilt-ridden.
He hadn't expected her to fall, and his attempt to get closer had only caused harm.
But Natsu ignored his calls, walking away without looking back.
Watching her leave, Tokuma couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence he wanted to say: "I thought it was for me..."
His gaze shifted to the remnants of the pastries, and an indescribable heaviness filled his heart.
He looked up toward the Uchiha compound, a scene of Natsu's humility toward Uchiha Shimizu flashing in his mind.
In that moment, Tokuma felt that the pain of the Branch Family's cursed seal paled in comparison to the heartache he now bore.
At the Uchiha compound.
"Shimizu, have you gotten stronger?"
Tekka uchiha bent over, panting heavily.
"You've just gotten lazier," Shimizu replied calmly.
Standing opposite him was none other than Uchiha Shimizu.
As the simulator had predicted, Tekka uchiha came to spar with him today.
The Uchiha Clan often sparred internally. Training alone could never match the effectiveness of real combat.
Sparring wasn't without stakes either. Combat was the best path to improvement.
"Hand over the money," Shimizu said, extending his hand.
He had set a bet with Tekka before their match: the loser would pay 50,000 ryō.
For non-ninjas like them, this was a steep amount—roughly equivalent to the pay from a single D-rank mission.
Some D-rank missions paid as little as 5,000 ryō, often for menial tasks like watching over a shop.
"No wonder you insisted on betting 50,000. Shimizu, you're ruthless," Tekka muttered, reluctantly pulling out a thick wad of cash. His previously bulging wallet now looked pitifully empty.
This sum had taken years of savings. If his parents found out, he'd surely get scolded.
Shimizu took the money and stuffed it into his pocket.
"Relax. If I had lost, I would've paid up too."
For a ninja, basic supplies like kunai, shuriken, and ration pills were constant expenses.
While Shimizu's stipend was enough for his upbringing, it wouldn't cover the ongoing costs of a ninja's career.
The Uchiha provided only minimal supplies, like a limited number of kunai and shuriken. Beyond that, they had to rely on themselves.
Explosive tags, for instance, were a major expense.
These tags weren't just traps; they packed the power of a regular jutsu without consuming chakra.
With enough money, one could amass a small arsenal of them.
Take Konan, for example—she used six billion explosive tags just to kill one person.
If not for Obito's phasing ability, even a physically strong opponent like the Raikage might not have survived.
Now, with the 50,000 ryō he won from Tekka, Shimizu could stock up on a fair number of explosive tags.
These were essentially free for him, so using them wouldn't sting at all.
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