Obito Uchiha stared blankly ahead, muttering to himself, "Ninja cats are seriously too cool… I'm definitely going to sign a contract with one someday."
As for Rin and Shinichi, they only felt a simple sense of envy. Summoned beasts were a luxury ordinary civilians could never hope for. Shinobi in this world didn't carry the kind of ambition that drove people elsewhere.
Uchiha Yoru glanced at Obito.
"Have you finished all your training?"
"Ah… n-not yet."
"Then continue. No lunch if you don't finish."
"Yes."
Shisui Uchiha had been watching quietly. Then he suddenly turned to Fugaku Uchiha and asked,
"Clan Head, may I train here as well?"
Uchiha Setsuna's expression immediately darkened.
He disliked the ideals of Kagami Uchiha, but within the clan, Kagami's views were widely respected. Many believed that had Kagami not died unexpectedly, he might have become the Third Hokage.
Because of that, Kagami's descendant—Shisui—was extremely important.
And his talent…
It only made him more so.
Even more valued than the infant Itachi.
Setsuna, Fugaku, and the other elders had all placed great attention on Shisui, each trying to influence him, to guide him toward their own stance.
Now, with Shisui expressing interest in approaching Uchiha Yoru—
Setsuna was, naturally, displeased.
Yoru was the only junior in the clan who dared point at Setsuna's nose and curse him. Even after being disciplined with the Sharingan, he had never once backed down.
If Shisui were influenced by him—
If he became Setsuna's political opponent—
A large portion of the clan might shift their stance.
And Setsuna's position would only become more awkward.
Uchiha Yoru immediately sensed Setsuna's tension and dissatisfaction.
Without hesitation, he abandoned his neutral stance.
Smiling, he looked at Shisui.
"Who are you? Can you extract chakra?"
Shisui answered seriously, without the slightest hesitation,
"My name is Uchiha Shisui. I have already learned how to extract chakra."
As he spoke, he gathered chakra and released it outward for everyone to see.
Obito, Rin, and Shinichi froze.
The amount—
Was already half of Obito's.
But more importantly—
It was stable.
Controlled.
Even surpassing Obito and Shinichi.
Almost on par with Rin.
What kind of absurd talent was that?
Fugaku's expression remained unchanged, but pride surged within him.
Setsuna frowned.
It wasn't that he disliked Shisui—
He was worried.
Worried that this prodigy, one who might one day awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan—
Would be influenced by Uchiha Yoru.
Mikoto and the guards, seeing Shisui's talent for the first time, were equally shocked.
Mikoto murmured,
"They all said Shisui was talented… but no one said it was to this extent."
Fugaku lowered his voice.
"We deliberately didn't say it. Talent alone isn't rare—but this level of talent… attracts danger."
"I understand. Foreign shinobi… even our own Konoha shinobi…"
Mikoto tightened her hold on the child in her arms.
"Itachi, you must become this strong as well in the future."
"You will. Of course you will," Fugaku said with quiet certainty. "He's my son. He won't be inferior to anyone."
"You're praising yourself again," Mikoto said with a smile.
Fugaku laughed.
Meanwhile—
Uchiha Yoru finished examining Shisui's progress.
Then he checked his physical condition—bones, muscles, overall development.
"The foundation is solid. No issues with your training methods."
He paused slightly.
"You can begin specialized training."
"If the Clan Head agrees, you may stay."
He glanced at Obito, who was still standing there dumbfounded.
"This older brother has already completed the prerequisite physical training."
"The two of you will train together. Tree climbing."
Obito blinked.
"…Huh?"
"Try not to crush his confidence too badly."
"…Huh??"
Fugaku agreed to Shisui's request.
But before leaving, he quietly spoke to Uchiha Yoru,
"Do you need me to handle the aftermath?"
Yoru smiled faintly and shook his head.
"No need. I can take care of it."
Fugaku's gaze deepened slightly.
Yoru's answer meant—
He understood.
And more importantly—
He acknowledged it.
Only the Sharingan could erase memories so completely that no one present would notice anything unusual.
Only then could Shisui's monstrous talent remain hidden—
Until he was strong enough to protect himself.
And to achieve that level—
At minimum, a two-tomoe Sharingan.
Fugaku turned and left, satisfaction evident in his heart.
I knew it. This boy is anything but simple.
Eighteen years old, already at two tomoe, yet calm and restrained…
No wonder even a Cat Sage favors him.
A rare talent.
Once Fugaku and the others had gone—
Yoru arranged for everyone to eat.
Then the afternoon training began.
Obito didn't need further instruction.
He immediately rushed toward the tree and began climbing.
On his first attempt—
He reached the top.
Though the trunk now bore several deep dents.
After seven days of frustration, Obito puffed up with pride.
"Well? See that? My talent is amazing! I did it in one try—"
Before he could finish—
A small figure appeared beside him.
Step by step.
Climbing effortlessly.
It was Shisui.
Obito froze.
"Y-you… how did you get up here?!"
Shisui smiled.
"I just watched your movements and tried it myself."
"…You—you—I—I—"
Yoru cut him off.
"Your strength and chakra reserves are sufficient."
"But your control is terrible."
"When you can run up the tree at full speed without leaving a single mark—then you'll pass."
He turned to Shisui.
"As for you… good talent. Plenty of problems."
"The biggest one—your reference target is wrong."
"Obito's movements contain unnecessary actions. And you copied all of them."
Shisui lowered his head immediately.
"Yes."
"Remember this," Yoru continued calmly. "Be patient. Observe more. Listen more. Analyze more."
"Then learn."
"Never blindly trust what others show you."
"Once you go down the wrong path… correcting it will cost several times the effort."
His words carried deeper meaning.
But Shisui didn't catch it.
He simply accepted it.
After correcting all of Shisui's movements and assigning him twenty repetitions—
Yoru finally had a moment to relax.
And in that moment—
He made his decision.
The target… is Uchiha Shisui.
He would cultivate him—
Into the next clan head.
Someone who could replace Uchiha Fugaku in the near future.
Someone who would accept his ideals—
And lead the Uchiha away from destruction.
Shisui was destined to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Strength was not an issue.
As Kagami's descendant, with natural compatibility with Itachi—
His connections were not an issue.
He loved Konoha.
And he loved the Uchiha.
He held no extreme views.
As a candidate for clan head—
Aside from his age—
Uchiha Shisui was perfect.
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