Summer of Year 27
Three months had passed since Senju Tobirama's inauguration as Second Hokage.
On the surface, Konoha remained calm.
But beneath it, change was stirring.
More and more shinobi were seen moving in and out of Hokage office, carrying stacks of documents. Their eyes were heavy with fatigue, dark circles etched from sleepless nights wrestling with reform.
Tobirama sat at his desk, reviewing proposals for the Academy overhaul, his mind drifting back to a recent meeting.
***
Senju Tobirama had summoned Uchiha Shinichi to a secluded room within the Ninja Academy.
"I plan to integrate the training methods you created into the new curriculum," Tobirama said. His tone was more informative than asking for an opinion or permission. "Do you agree? The village will compensate you with a monthly stipend of 100,000 Ryo for the next ten years."
Shinichi blinked. He hadn't expected such generosity.
"There's nothing to worry about," Tobirama added. "I'm setting a precedent. If exceptional individuals contribute to the village, the village will reward them accordingly."
"A meritocracy," Shinichi mused. "I didn't expect anything in return when I created them… but I won't reject a gift."
"It's not a gift," Tobirama corrected. "It's a reward you earned."
"A reward then."
An awkward silence ensued.
Then Shinichi spoke again.
"Nidaime-sama, I'd like to change my reward."
Tobirama raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"What do you want?"
"I want access to the Senju clan's medical ninjutsu scrolls. Just scrolls are enough."
Tobirama considered.
Medical ninjutsu was still in its infancy. Valuable, yes – but not dangerous. It wasn't Hiraishin or Edo Tensei. And moreover, spread and development of medical ninjutsu was part of his future road map.
He nodded.
"I can work with that."
'Perhaps offering jutsu access as reward is better than monetary compensation.. but the elders would never agree unless all Hokages were Senju. That's not what we want.'
After another moment of silence, Tobirama spoke.
"….. Uchiha Shinichi, what are your thoughts on village? What do you think about Senju and Uchiha? And the battle between my brother and Uchiha Madara? You were there and you felt something have you not?"
"..." Shinichi silently contemplated and weighed whether answering Tobirama's question here or not can bring benefit to him or not.
It was clear him that Senju Tobirama's paranoia against his clan was not something that can be so easily resolved through simple conversation.
Shinichi answered.
"I used to think the village was just a training ground for the Land of Fire's military. But I've realized it's more than that. It's a governing body. A home. A bastion for my brother to grow safely and for my clan to live in peace."
He paused.
"I will eliminate anything that threatens that peace."
"As for Senju and Uchiha… we were enemies once. But now, we're allies. Family. The younger generation doesn't carry the same grudges. We've hear stories – but we didn't live them."
Shinichi looked Tobirama in the eye.
"The battle between Shodiame-sama and Madara-sama was a premediated conflict, exploiting their opposing ideologies. I don't resent Hashiram-sama for killing Madara-sama. I resent this cursed world. This cycle. This game we're trapped in."
"... I see….."
Tobirama eased his expression for a bit as he dismissed Shincihi.
"Thank you for your honest opinion Shinichi. You may leave now. Your reward will be delivered to you soon."
"… Thank you Hokage-sama."
Shinichi exited.
***
Tobirama sat on his office chair in silence.
'Uchiha Shinichi is both a promising youth… and a hidden danger.'
Senju Tobirama did not hold any resentment for Uchiha, or at least that was his thought.
But his paranoia towards Uchiha was deeply etched into his mind and soul. Subconsciously, he could not stop being cautious against promising Uchiha youths.
'Only if he was born from another clan…..'
He could sense the depth of Shinichi's love for his brother, family, and his clan. And he knew – if Shinichi ever lost them…
'The darkness he would carry… might eclipse even Madara's.'
Tobirama shook the thought away and returned to this documents. He had a lot of work to do as Second Hokage.
***
The next day, the Hokage Office issued a sweeping reform of the Ninja Academy.
Classes would now be split by grade, with smaller class sizes – 20 to 30 students per instructor, rather than two or three instructors per grade.
1st year (Age 6): Physical development through Shinichi's four training games.
2nd year (Age 7): continued taijutsu training and introduction to chakra theory via leaf concentration.
3rd year (Age 8): chakra control training using Shinichi's four-layered surface walking method.
4th year (Age 9): Outdoor training encompassing tree climbing, water walking, and team-based wild animal hunts.
5th year (Age 10): Mastery of the three basic jutsu; body replacement, transformation, and clone technique.
Students would be tested mid-year and at year's end. Fifth-year students would officially graduate as Konoha Shinobi.
***
The announcement was met with widespread approval.
Villagers were thrilled, believing their children now had a real chance to become shinobi.
Vetern ninjas, weary of constant missions, applied eagerly for instructor roles
Within a month, the Academy was rebuilt – overnight, using Hashirama's Mokuton.
Though Tobirama had planned to relocate it, Hashirama insisted it remain close to the Hokage building, prioritizing the children's safety.
The new Academy had five floors, each tailored to specific grade, with training fields branching from the central playground.
***
Fall of Year 27
The Academy reopened.
Classes were split.
Each held 20 to 30 students, led by one main instructor and supported by assistants.
In a third-year classroom, Uchiha Shinichi sat silently, listening to a lecture on chakra theory.
His ears were open.
But his hands were busy.
Using chakra, he twirled pencils in the air, making them clash like invisible swords.
Besides him, Hatake Sakumo watched in awe.
'What incredible chakra control…'
He began to mimic Shinichi, practicing with his own pencils.
This was common now.
Sakumo had long followed Shinichi's lead training beside him and learning from him.
After school, they rarely interacted.
But sometimes, Shinichi allowed Sakumo to join his training.
Eventually, they trained together.
Or rather, Shinichi taught him.
Shurikenjutsu. Kenjutsu. Taijutsu. Chakra control.
Shinichi saw Sakumo's potential.
'With his talent, reaching Kage-level is only a matter of time. it would be good to have a comrade like him in the future.'
And so, quietly, a bond was forged.
***
Uchiha compound,
Fukashi household.
"Niisan! Teach me shurikenjutsu!"
Kaito stood proudly, clutching wooden shurikens and chopsitcks, striking a dramatic throwing pose.
Shinichi smiled and patted his little brother's head.
"Did you brain well today, as we promised?"
"Of course! It was a promise between Kyodai!" Kaito beamed. "Mom! I trained well today, right?"
Minami, catching her son's expectant gaze, tilted her head playfully and touched her cheek.
"Ararara~ Did Kaito train today? I can't seem to recal~"
"MOM!!"
Minami grinned.
"Maybe I'll remember if Kai-chan and Shin-chan give me a hug?"
Kaito immediately hugged her legs, eyes wide and watery. Minami activated her Sharingan with a delighted hum.
Shinichi, recognizing the moment, joined in hugging Minami and activating his own Sharingan as he looked down at his little brother.
'Another cute memory of Kai-chan/Ototo – GET!'
Kaito blinked, confused. He was so used to his family staring at him with Sharingan that it barely registered anymore.
Then Minami asked curiously, "Promise between Kyodai?"
"It's a promise between brothers that must be fulfilled at all cost!" Kaito declared.
"Heh~ Then how about a promise between Boshi 母子 (mother and son)?"
"Mmm... But! Kyodai no Yakusoku (promise between brothers) is special!" Kaito insisted.
Shinichi gave a humble victorious pose while Minami collapsed to her knees in mock defeat.
"But.. But if it is with mom. Then I can also fulfill it! As long as it doesn't break my promise with Niisan!"
Kaito hurriedly hugged Minami again, eyes glistening.
"I'm sowwy, Mom. I didn't mean to hurt your feeling."
Minami hugged him back, her heart melting. She hadn't been offended – just luring him into another hug.
Shinichi watched them with quiet satisfaction.
Then he stood.
"Come on, Kaito. Let's go to the courtyard. I'll teach you some tricks."
"REALLY?! You're the best Niichan!"
Kaito's mile returned in full force as he followed Shinichi outside.
---
For the next hour, Shinichi corrected Kaito's posture, the force of his throws, and the angles needed to hit the mark. He demonstrated techniques, offered feedback, and patiently guided his little brother.
They trained until Kaito was exhausted.
Then Shinichi carried him back inside, just in time for dinner.
Minami now visited Uchiha Gourmet three times a week; twice to open the top floor and once to check on progress.
She had trained over 50 chefs, each working in shifts to keep the restaurant open daily.
Her time was now spent mostly at home, watching over Kaito's growth and training.
Fukashi was often away on missions. Shinichi was at the Academy. But Minami remained the heart of the household.
***
Whenever Shinichi had free time, he studied the medical ninjutsu scroll Tobirama had awarded him.
He read carefully.
Tested each technique.
He began with the basics – reviving a fish, as scroll instructed.
'Organs, cells… they're sensitive. Too much healing chakra and they deteriorate, burst, or melt. Balance and control is the essence of medical ninjutsu.'
He recalled the leaf concentration exercise from the Academy.
'To think that what I learned back then would be so helful… Medical ninjutsu isn't that difficult?'
If a Senju medical ninja had heard that, they would've fainted.
What Shinchi called "leaf concentration" was far beyond the Academy's version.
He had once filled each cell of a leaf with chakra – without rupturing it.
He had overlapped chakra along the edges until the border between chakra and matter vanished.
That wasn't concentration.
That was mastery.
If every ninja could control chakra like Shinichi, medical ninjutsu wouldn't be a specialization – it would be standara.
But Shinichi didn't boast.
He simply continued.
Quietly and Relentlessly.