Chapter 149: Shisui –

Morning, Konoha Military Police Force Headquarters "Captain, I heard a new clan with a Kekkei Genkai has arrived outside the village. The ANBU have been in close contact with them, offering them excellent treatment." Uchiha Yashiro’s voice was laced with concern. Uchiha Fugaku remained silent. He wasn’t unaware—but the demands of the clan made it difficult for him to decide. With a soft sigh, Fugaku spoke. "Yashiro, I understand your concerns. But what exactly can we do in our current position?" "That doesn’t mean we should do nothing!" Yashiro lowered his voice. Fugaku shook his head slightly. The Uchiha were strong, but Konoha was stronger. And now, the real problem was the village’s distrust of them. Fugaku had power, but no outlet to wield it. He knew one thing for certain— Leaving Konoha would mean certain death. "I’ve looked into the new clan. They’re not a major threat—their Kekkei Genkai has serious flaws. There’s no need to worry, but avoid approaching their territory to prevent unnecessary conflict." Fugaku spoke quietly. "Go assign the patrol duties." "...Understood." Yashiro exhaled in resignation. He then called over the other officers and began delegating tasks. --- Meanwhile, along the river. As a non-patrol member, Shisui wasn’t required to participate in routine assignments. Instead, he sprinted upstream along the riverbank. Splash! Splash! His feet kicked up water as he dashed forward. Soon, he reached a secluded lake near an abandoned training ground. Standing at the water’s edge, Shisui formed hand seals and took a deep breath— Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique! A massive orb of flames erupted from his mouth, scorching the surface of the lake. This was his usual training route—a place where outsiders rarely ventured. But today— "Not bad speed, and your fireball technique is decent. You’re Uchiha Shisui, right?" A voice spoke up behind him. Who—?! Shisui’s entire body tensed. In an instant, he leaped forward, landing on the water’s surface before whirling around. Kyohiko stepped out from the treeline. Shisui blinked in surprise. The stranger didn’t look much older than him—maybe in his early teens. Yet, Shisui hadn’t sensed his presence at all. Had Kyohiko not spoken, he wouldn’t have known someone was there. The forehead protector marked him as a Konoha shinobi, but... That didn’t rule out the possibility of a spy. Shisui remained cautious, stepping back slowly. "Who are you?" "No need to be nervous. My name is Ryoho Kyohiko—you might have heard of me." "Ryoho Kyohiko?" Shisui’s eyes widened slightly. Of course I’ve heard of him! Among Konoha’s younger generation, some might not know the full extent of Sarutobi Hiruzen or Shimura’s Danzo accomplishments—but everyone knew Kyohiko’s achievements. Frankly, he was a role model for the youth, akin to Tsunade’s status among kunoichi. Is this really him? Shisui’s initial suspicion faded quickly— No one in Konoha would dare impersonate him. "It’s an honor to meet you, sir!" Shisui couldn’t suppress the excitement in his voice. Kyohiko smiled faintly. "No need for formalities. Actually, we’ve met before." "We have?" Shisui was baffled. He wracked his brain, sifting through his memories—until his expression shifted to shock. If Kyohiko wasn’t lying, then the most likely encounter was... "During the academy entrance exams—you were the proctor seated beside the main examiner?" "Sharp memory and deduction skills. Impressive." Kyohiko’s gaze held genuine praise. To recall a fleeting encounter from just a small hint—this level of perception far surpassed most his age. No wonder he mastered the Body Flicker Technique, kenjutsu, and genjutsu to such heights at such a young age. Remarkable. Kyohiko’s resolve to recruit him grew firmer. Shisui, however, shook his head humbly. "I’ve just met very few outsiders, so it was easier to remember." "At your age, few possess such analytical precision. Of course, raw talent means little without effort to refine it." Kyohiko’s tone was light. Shisui nodded emphatically— In front of Kyohiko, no one in Konoha could boast about their genius. His own gifts were nothing to be proud of. Still... "Sir, did you come here by chance, or...?" "I was surveying the area and thought I’d check this training ground’s condition." Kyohiko didn’t hide his intentions. "I’m considering renovating and reopening it as a public training park for nearby residents." "Really?!" Shisui’s youthful face lit up with excitement. "That would be amazing!" "I just worry your clan might object." Kyohiko remarked. Shisui frowned. "Why would they? This benefits everyone!" "Then I’d like to ask a favor of you." Kyohiko crouched down to his eye level. Shisui straightened. "Please, go ahead." "That new clan—the fastest route to Konoha from their location cuts through the forest, past this training ground, and along the river to the Military Police HQ before entering the village." Kyohiko’s voice was calm. "I’d like you to listen to how your clan views them." Shisui hesitated. The clan’s internal discussions... He knew some opinions weren’t meant to be shared—doing so could bring disaster upon the Uchiha. Especially when the one asking was someone as influential as Kyohiko. Shisui didn’t dare answer immediately. Kyohiko smiled reassuringly. "Don’t worry. I’m only asking you to listen. Whether you share what you hear is entirely up to you." "...Alright." Shisui finally agreed. He looked up at Kyohiko, then asked, "If I need to contact you, where should I go?" "Leave a kunai planted by the lakeside. I’ll know." Kyohiko handed him a small talisman. "I’ll reach out to you when the time comes." "With this?" "Yes." Kyohiko nodded. Shisui carefully stored it away. When he looked up again— Kyohiko was gone. The lakeside was empty. If not for the faint footprints on the grass, Shisui might have thought the entire encounter was an illusion. Body Flicker Technique? No... Something more advanced? Space-Time Ninjutsu? Awe and admiration swelled in Shisui’s chest. Without another thought, he turned and sprinted toward home. Training could wait. The clan’s sentiments... If Kyohiko had demanded he report back, Shisui would have been wary. But the way he framed it— As a choice, not an order— That made all the difference. "Is this... my opportunity?" The thought flashed through Shisui’s mind as he sprinted back to the Military Police headquarters. --- Konoha Military Police HQ "Shisui? Didn’t go training today?" "I’ve almost mastered the Great Fireball. Thought I’d practice my sword skills instead." Shisui replied casually. Uchiha Inabi couldn’t help but lecture him: "At your age, you shouldn’t spread yourself too thin. Mastering one technique thoroughly is the true path to strength!" "Right, I understand." Shisui nodded repeatedly. "Good. I’ve got patrol duty—keep at it." Inabi waved as he left. Shisui exhaled in relief, then began practicing his sword forms while subtly eavesdropping on nearby clan members— This was the best method he could think of! --- Over the past month, Shisui had heard many voices within the clan—and his confusion had only grown. For a boy his age, deliberately paying attention to these matters had left him increasingly bewildered. To him, many clansmen radiated an inexplicable arrogance and contradiction. Things that seemed obvious to him were somehow lost on them. Brimming with unanswered questions, he finally decided to plant the prearranged kunai by the lake. As his fingers brushed against the hidden talisman, he sighed inwardly. "I hope the senpai responds." He continued his usual training route, but his focus was shattered—his mind too preoccupied. This state had persisted for an entire month. --- Military Police HQ – Present Day "Shisui, still practicing swordsmanship today?" "Of course. A single day of neglect sets you back three." Shisui replied earnestly. Inabi’s expression turned complicated as he patted the boy’s shoulder. "Had I been half as diligent at your age..." "My efforts are nothing special. You train hard too, Inabi-nii." Shisui smiled modestly. Inabi chuckled and waved him off. "Enough flattery. I’ve got civilian disputes to handle today—no time for sparring." "No problem. I’ll manage alone." As Inabi walked away, Shisui’s hand instinctively dipped into his pocket—and froze. A slip of paper had materialized. A single character was written on it: "Come." His eyes darted around before he sheathed his sword and slipped away from headquarters. --- Lakeside The familiar figure stood by the water’s edge, the entire lake swirling rhythmically before him like a controlled vortex. Shisui’s eyes widened. Water Release training? Manipulating an entire lake— That’s insane! Previously, he’d only had a vague notion of Kyohiko’s strength. Now, the gap became painfully clear— I could never do this. Neither could most of my clan. "Senpai." Shisui bowed deeply. "Long time no see." Kyohiko smiled. (He’d been swamped with acupuncture research—this was just a Wood Clone dispatched after Yamato reported the planted kunai.) Shisui flushed. "I didn’t want to trouble you... I tried figuring it out myself, but..." "Go on." "After listening to their conversations... our clansmen..." He hesitated, torn between loyalty and frustration. Finally, he chose his words carefully: "They crave recognition yet refuse to engage with others. It’s... contradictory." Kyohiko burst out laughing. A child could see what eluded so many Uchiha. When his laughter subsided, he asked: "Where do you think this stems from?" "I don’t know." Shisui’s shoulders slumped. Had he known, he wouldn’t have agonized for weeks. Kyohiko’s gaze held approval. This boy’s patience—seeking answers only after exhausting his own reasoning—was rare indeed. He sat on the grass, gesturing for Shisui to join. Then, pointing toward the distant Iburi settlement—now common knowledge after a month—he said: "Your clan views them with hostility, yes?" "..." Shisui stared at his feet. Kyohiko chuckled. "No need for shame. Many villagers initially reacted the same—especially clan-born shinobi." More clans meant more competition for resources. "But why? What reason is there to hate them?" Shisui’s frustration spilled out. This very contradiction had haunted him. Kyohiko drew a circle in the dirt. "Imagine this is your favorite cake. Each new child means sharing a piece. Would you welcome them?" "...Probably not." Shisui admitted after a pause. "Human nature. In the village, clans are the children. Resources are the cake." Kyohiko’s finger tapped the dirt circle. "Which child do you think the Uchiha are?" Shisui’s mind raced. A month of pondering had left him with swirling fragments—now suddenly aligning. Two types of children: cake owners and cake sharers. Then it hit him— The clan’s oft-repeated history: "The Uchiha built Konoha with the Senju!" This narrative justified their police authority. "I think I understand." "Oh?" "Our clansmen see themselves as cake owners. Not sharers." The epiphany left Shisui breathless. They believed they deserved to rule Konoha—never satisfied with their current slice. "One contributing factor." Kyohiko nodded. This boy’s analytical speed was remarkable. But Shisui frowned. One factor? Meaning there were others... "Thought of more?" "...No." Shisui admitted defeat. "No matter. You’re young—plenty of time to ponder." Kyohiko stood, brushing grass from his clothes. As he turned to leave— "Senpai!" Shisui blurted. "Can I... still contact you the same way?" "Whenever I’m free." Then—vanished. Alone by the lake, Shisui clenched his fists. He’d uncovered one truth—yet now felt more lost than ever. What were the other reasons? And how could they be fixed?