"The next part is extremely, extremely important. I'm leaving all of it to you."
"Don't worry, meow. I definitely won't let the fire get too small and cool the broth, and I absolutely won't let it get too big and ruin the pot."
"Make sure of it. If the broth cools, the flavors will never fully merge again. The umami won't reach its peak. And if the pot boils too violently, the ingredients will tumble around and disrupt the layering. The taste will turn strange too."
"Don't worry, meow. Miwa Masayo is not stupid."
"Stupid cat, do you think I'm worried because you don't understand? I'm worried the smell will knock you senseless, suck your soul into the pot, and make you forget to watch the fire."
"T-that won't happen, meow… last time doesn't count, meow… and the time before that doesn't count either… and the one before…"
"This time I won't, meow. I'm already a Cat Sage now!"
"Alright. I believe you."
…
At the riverside training ground, after the usual basic physical drills, Uchiha Yoru assigned everyone their training plans—
Then focused all his attention on Uchiha Shisui.
"Shisui, let your chakra pause slightly here, then shift it just a little to the left."
"Big Brother Yoru, is there a problem here?"
"From the perspective of conventional shinobi training, there's no problem at all. But from my point of view, this is a place that can still be improved."
"Yes, Big Brother Yoru."
"Much better. What do you feel?"
"I have to keep paying attention to it, but… I don't feel anything special."
Uchiha Obito immediately brightened.
Apparently thinking he had finally caught Uchiha Yoru making a mistake, he burst out laughing.
"You specifically changed it and there's still no special feeling. That means it's definitely wrong!"
Uchiha Yoru said nothing.
Instead, Shinichi dragged Obito away.
"Obito, when something's unfamiliar, of course it won't feel special right away. Once it becomes natural, won't it make you faster and stronger?"
"Ah? So that's how it is?" Obito was startled, then craned his neck and demanded, "Yoru, if it's something this good, why are you only teaching it to little brother Shisui and not to us?"
"Your attitude as an older brother is a bit strange, isn't it?"
Yoru glanced at him.
"You don't have time to learn it, Obito. Your entire squad—and every shinobi in Konoha over the age of ten—doesn't have time."
"What are you talking about?"
"This kind of correction is different from instinctive habits. It takes enough time to slowly build new habits. At minimum, it needs two years before you can use it without dividing your attention."
"The war is coming."
"There's no time."
Everyone fell silent.
Then they trained even harder.
By the time evening came and training ended, Uchiha Shisui stopped Uchiha Yoru just as he was pretending to leave.
That made Yoru very satisfied.
Today's technique had not been wasted.
"Shisui, do you need something?"
"Big Brother Yoru, there are a few things I want to ask you."
"…A lot of questions?"
"It's about those chakra techniques you taught me today."
"Quite a few, huh…"
At this point, Yoru's thoughts were completely occupied by the large clay pot at home—
And by a certain tabby cat who was very easy to daze once the aroma became too tempting.
"Then come with me. We can talk while we walk. Just so happens I made something good at home. I'll treat you to a proper meal."
Shisui froze for a moment.
Then he remembered the Clan Head's instructions—
Get along well with Uchiha Yoru.
And Elder Setsuna's request—
Try to meet the Cat Sage Miwa Masayo whenever possible.
So he nodded.
"Big Brother Yoru, you must be very, very strong now, right?"
"Little Brother Shisui, who told you something like that? If I were really that strong, I'd be like Hatake Kakashi and already be a jonin."
"But you know so much. In just two days, I can already feel myself getting stronger."
"That's because your talent is good. Just look at your big brother Obito. I talk until my mouth goes dry, and he still can't walk on water."
"Big Brother Obito… well, ah, he's an exception."
"By the way, how did you discover these chakra circulation techniques? There doesn't seem to be any such knowledge in the clan."
"There is. How could there not be? It's not like I could imagine it out of thin air."
"In the clan archive, there are all kinds of records left behind by generations of Uchiha. Quite a few powerful shinobi recorded the limitations they encountered in chakra circulation."
"So that's how it is? The clan has a place like that, and I didn't even know?"
"That's because many of the finest materials there were lost. As for the exact reason… ask the Clan Head when you're older."
"The knowledge I found was buried within countless records. It's very difficult to uncover. Without organizing everything, it's almost impossible to find those treasures."
"If you were able to find it, Big Brother Yoru, you must've spent a lot of time."
"Of course. I've been reading in the archive since I was four. How many years has it been now?"
"..."
"Shisui, the chakra circulation techniques I taught you are very important. You must keep practicing them."
"Don't worry, Big Brother Yoru."
"I do worry. Your biggest problem is that your ears are too soft—you believe whatever anyone tells you. Believe it or not, Elder Setsuna will absolutely say that everything I taught is worthless and firmly oppose your training…"
Uchiha Yoru reached over and pinched Shisui's ear.
"I can already tell what'll happen. When the time comes, you'll definitely hesitate. Heh."
"I won't."
"Good. Then let's make a bet. If you hesitate in the future, you'll have to grant me one request. But if you don't hesitate at all—if you firmly believe in me—then I'll teach you a very cool and very powerful ninjutsu."
"Alright, it's a deal! I'm definitely going to win!"
After training, Uchiha Yoru invited Shisui back to his house.
The reason—
Food.
Uchiha Shisui happily agreed.
As they approached the clan district, Shisui was astonished to discover that everyone greeted Uchiha Yoru—
And that Yoru could call every single one of them by name.
He could even accurately guess where a mischievous little boy was hiding, then lead the boy's mother straight to him.
As a result, the child received a complete childhood experience.
And Uchiha Yoru received a burst of hearty laughter—
Along with the boy's indignant, childish complaints.
Uchiha Shisui watched everything without blinking.
The envy in his eyes was almost tangible.
Why was Shisui valued by everyone?
Because his grandfather was Uchiha Kagami.
Also because he was a genius.
But most importantly—
Because he was an orphan.
Useful.
And easy to control.
The way the upper ranks of the Uchiha handled him was, in essence, not so different from the trick the Third Hokage had used on Naruto Uzumaki—
Just not as disgusting.
They were proud Uchiha.
They could not bring themselves to seize a child's property, push him to the edge, and then try to win his loyalty back with a little kindness.
That was too low.
Fugaku, Setsuna, Shihou, Kensaku, Hideyuki, and the others all tried to fill him with their own ideals, hoping Shisui would accept their views and become the future star of their faction.
But the truth was—
A bunch of old men, plus Fugaku, who was even more conservative than they were—
Had no idea how outdated their thinking was.
Or how condescending their attitudes were.
Or how much children would resent being lectured like that.
The Third Hokage's methods may have been despicable—
But he was willing to lower himself.
He used warmth.
Used ideals.
Used emotional manipulation.
Especially that clear-cut black-and-white view of right and wrong—
A devastating dimensional strike against children.
No wonder geniuses like Shisui and Itachi ended up becoming his people.
The Uchiha leadership had failed to keep up with the times.
Being discarded by the times was inevitable.
But—
Uchiha Yoru did not believe the Uchiha needed to be discarded through something as tragic as extermination.
There was no irreconcilable life-or-death hatred between the Uchiha and Konoha.
The warm and lively atmosphere disappeared the moment they neared his house.
The entire street was tense.
Someone even shouted directly at Uchiha Yoru—
"Yoru! This is definitely your fault!!"
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