Uchiha Shisui froze.
"…The clan is causing trouble?"
He hadn't expected the Third to raise the issue so bluntly. Panic flickered behind his eyes before he bowed deeply.
"Hokage-sama, some clan members have been frustrated since the Fourth's death. They've been treated poorly by parts of the village, so resentment has grown. But please rest assured—I'm doing everything I can to calm them."
He chose his words carefully, almost desperately.He had been raised as a prodigy of the Uchiha, groomed by the clan… yet he was also the village's weapon. He had to speak in a way that protected both sides.
But the Third Hokage's expression—gentle on the surface, chilled beneath—told him that this explanation wasn't enough.
Hiruzen sighed with theatrical weariness.
"Shisui… you misunderstand. The village doesn't wish to distance the Uchiha. Their killing intent has grown too intense. For the sake of Konoha's peace, I must ease them away from frontline responsibility."
Shisui bowed again, voice earnest.
"I understand your intentions, Hokage-sama. I'll speak with them. I'll help guide them back to the Will of Fire."
Hiruzen's eyes softened, pleased.Exactly the reaction he wanted.
"Good. And in return, I'll bring capable Uchiha into higher village positions. If we help shape their young talent, it will steady both sides. Little by little, we can change the clan's temperament… and the village's opinion of them."
The words were warm.Almost fatherly.
If Kuroha had been there, he would have laughed until the roof collapsed.This wasn't kindness—this was political bait. A sweet seed wrapped around a hook.
To Shisui, though, it felt like hope.
"Thank you," he breathed, eyes bright. "If we work together, the clan can stand with Konoha again."
Satisfied, Hiruzen tapped a file on his desk.
"Here. Another promising Uchiha—Uchiha Itachi. Excellent chakra, calm temperament. Teach him the Will of Fire. Make sure the clan doesn't sway him."
Shisui recognized the face immediately.
Itachi.The clan head's eldest son.A child prodigy with the potential to stand beside him someday.
If Shisui and Itachi both served the village… maybe, just maybe, the clan wouldn't collapse.
"Understood. I'll watch over him."
Hiruzen dismissed him with a small wave.
Shisui stepped out, mind already racing.He'd check on Itachi at once.Clear his doubts.Guide him.Save the clan.
He vanished toward the training grounds in a flicker of motion.
Uchiha Training Grounds
Uchiha Kuroha… wasn't paying attention.
Uchiha Jōan had brought in several Uchiha to work for the merchant guild, so Kuroha had spent his free time refining the Internal Conditioning Flow instead of listening to lecture repetition.
On the training field, Uchiha Jīn was attempting to gather the toddlers again.
"You're still not grasping the basics of the Clone Technique. Especially you, Kuroha. I know you've learned chakra extraction—your hand seals need more work."
He gathered all the three- to six-year-olds, correcting their posture, their seals, their breath timing.
"The seals guide chakra flow across specific routes. Feel the current, don't force it. Watch carefully; I'll explain again."
But Kuroha barely registered the words.
His thoughts kept circling the same problem:
My eyes won't stop devouring my core chakra. Until I solve that, I can't perform even the simplest ninjutsu.
The Internal Conditioning Flow was helping, but only barely.He had managed to stabilize thin traces of chakra in individual cells—enough to feel, not enough to use.
If he could one day direct the chakra stored in his cells, he might cast jutsu without formal sealing. Maybe even compress seals to a single gesture. Maybe none at all.
But his body wasn't ready.
Either I keep strengthening these cells… or I find a scientific workaround. A lab, samples, engineered tissue.A certain snake-like sannin came to mind.
Not now.Later.
His attention snapped back as Jīn finished his explanation.
"I'll check your progress. Everyone—try the Clone Technique again."
Dozens of small hands lifted into clumsy seals.And again Jīn's gaze lingered on Kuroha longer than anyone else.