Chapter 1: The Unchanging One (The False First Chapter)

Konoha, Year 27

“Another peaceful day today.”

On the streets of Konoha, a young man with naturally curly black hair strolled leisurely beneath the eaves of a shop, walking with the carefree, indifferent swagger of a spirited youth who owed no one any allegiance.

Handsome in appearance, his charm was entirely undone by a pair of lifeless, glazed-over eyes that gave him an infuriatingly irritating air.

Despite his seemingly unreliable and idle demeanor, the townsfolk showed no aversion. An elderly man basking in the sun greeted him with a cheerful smile:

“Silver, heading out on a mission today?”

“No, just wandering. Taking a day off for myself,” the man with the curls, known as Silver, replied casually as he paused.

Then, as if recalling something, he fumbled inside his high-collared robe for a moment before pulling out a stick-like object and tossing it to the old man, while slipping one into his own pocket.

The old man looked at the lollipop with a wry expression.

“At our age, we really shouldn’t be eating such things.”

“Oh? I remember you used to love these,” Silver said, narrowing his deadpan eyes slightly, a flicker of unusual emotion crossing them.

“That was a long time ago,” the old man replied, tucking the candy away with a warm smile.

“I’ll save it for my grandson; tomorrow’s his full-month celebration. You’re invited to the feast.”

“Another drinking party? How’s a low-ranking ninja like me supposed to afford that? Looks like I’ll have to catch some cats again,” Silver said, scratching his nest-like curly hair in frustration.

“Heh, be sure to come,” the old man chuckled.

“By the way, have you named your grandson yet? If not, I can help—something auspicious, like ‘Dog Egg.’ What do you think?”

The old man looked at Silver, who seemed a bit unhinged, with a mix of disbelief and amusement.

“It’s already decided—his name’s Minato.”

Silver, who had been rambling about baby names, suddenly froze upon hearing it. A series of fleeting images flashed through his mind.

“What’s wrong? Doesn’t sound good?”

Recalling that the elderly man had once sported dazzling golden hair in his youth, Silver relaxed.

“Nothing, just some old memories attacking me.”

He lifted his head and gazed toward the distant mountain, where two vastly different rock paintings stood, sighing softly.

“I think your grandson has a unique constitution. He might be the reincarnation of the Six Paths Sage, destined for greatness—perhaps even the future Hokage.”

The old man looked puzzled.

“But you haven’t even seen him yet!”

...

“Watching the stars by night,” Silver replied.

The old man blinked, glanced up at the blazing midsummer sun, and said, “Those stars sure are blinding.”

When he looked back, the man had vanished.

“Tsk, how many times has he just left without a word?” the old man shook his head and turned back to tend his shop.

Meanwhile, Silver wandered aimlessly, his dead eyes seemingly uninterested in everything.

“Lord Silver, the clan meeting is about to begin—why are you still wandering around here?”

A young man with black hair knelt behind Silver, speaking respectfully.

“The clan leader isn’t home. What’s the point of a meeting? Listening to those so-called elders babble? I’d rather be strolling around,” Uchiha Silver said dismissively, scoffing at the importance of the gathering.

The messenger’s expression faltered as if he anticipated this, eyes filled with a mix of fear and confusion. Carefully choosing his words, he said timidly, “Please don’t make things difficult for me. I’m only here to notify you. Whether you attend is up to you. But the Great Elder insists you must remember—you are still an Uchiha.”

With that, he disappeared in a flash.

“How utterly boring. You’d think that scoundrel with white hair being gone would stop their scheming. This murky pond called Konoha isn’t something you hotheads can wade into and expect to come out dry. If you’re so eager to fight over the Hokage title that even dogs wouldn’t touch, why not just relax and join me in taking it easy?”

Watching the messenger leave, Silver rolled his dead eyes.

Inside the Hokage’s office beneath the Hokage Rock, smoke curled through the air as a figure buried himself in a towering stack of paperwork. Suddenly, the door opened.

“Namikaze, I’ve received reliable intel: the Uchiha clan is holding a secret meeting again today. I’ve got the details. It’s time to act!” an imposing man in his thirties, marked by an X-shaped scar on his chin, slammed a document onto the desk before the man working there.

The man interrupted looked at his close friend with exasperation and casually tossed the file into the nearby trash bin.

“You!!!”

Danzo Shimura’s tiger-like eyes widened in disbelief, almost choking on his words.

“Danzo, don’t focus all your energy on the Uchiha clan. The village has finally entered a peaceful era; there’s much to rebuild. Now is not the time for internal strife,” Sarutobi Hiruzen, the newly appointed Third Hokage, soothed his friend, puffing on his cigarette.

“They’re a naturally evil clan, utterly untrustworthy,” Danzo spat venomously, though inside he was secretly thrilled.

Heh heh, finally caught you with your pants down!

“Shh...” Hearing the phrase “naturally evil,” Hiruzen glanced around warily, signaling Danzo to stop.

Danzo’s expression shifted uncomfortably, realizing his slip, but he stubbornly retorted, “You’re the Hokage now—why still afraid...?”

“Afraid of what?”

Just then, a lazy voice cut in.

“Afraid of that curly-haired, dead-eyed guy... ahhhhh!”

Danzo was cut off mid-sentence, horrified to realize someone had silently appeared behind him.

“Afraid of what?” Silver’s voice teased.

“D-d-d... the h-h-handsome... guy,” Danzo stammered, face flushed as if recalling some terrifying thought.

“Well, if it isn’t little Danzo! Long time no see,” Silver said, grinning as he casually patted Danzo on the shoulder.

“What have you been up to? Still tinkering with that root of yours? Hiring more people? I’m a bit short on funds lately,” Silver teased, clearly enjoying Danzo’s flustered reaction.

“Just kidding!”

“Hey, little monkey, I’m off to take on some D-rank missions. That youngster from the Namikaze family just became a grandfather and invited me to his full-month feast. Gotta earn some money,” Silver said, turning back to Hiruzen, who was still bent over his desk.

Hiruzen looked resigned but unsurprised. He smoothly drew several mission slips from a drawer and handed them to Silver.

“All prepared for you. Though, are you sure you don’t want to take on something more challenging? Your skills shouldn’t be...”

“What skills? I’m just a Genin—the number one Genin, personally bestowed by Hashirama’s mother. Don’t you all know what I’m capable of?” Silver said cheerfully, flipping through the tasks.

“Looks good. I’m off then. You two best friends have fun,” he said, waving as he left.

Watching Silver go, Danzo finally exhaled, his face darkening.

“Why is he still like this?”

Hiruzen sighed, a hint of genuine fear flickering in his eyes, his expression solemn.

“He still looks like he’s thirty. All these years, since we can remember, he’s always been this way, hasn’t he?”

“Yeah, never changed.”

“Could that technique really be that miraculous?”

Both men fell into thoughtful silence. After all, only a handful knew that technique, and even they had no way to verify its truth.