If Naruto didn't cause trouble, he was actually pretty likable.
When Konosuke arrived at the river outside the village, he saw an ANBU operative pressing down on Naruto's stomach.
Naruto was spraying water like a whale.
Konosuke walked over and nudged him with his foot.
"Had enough water?"
Naruto, who had been lying there with his eyes squeezed shut, immediately opened them when he heard Konosuke's voice. Tears brimmed in his eyes.
He sat up and grabbed Konosuke's leg.
"Konosuke-sensei! I want to go back to school! I don't want to drink water anymore! I really can't swallow another drop!"
Konosuke had known Naruto for over a year. This was the first time he'd seen him cry.
It was… oddly amusing.
The ANBU operative raised both hands defensively.
"Not my fault. I told him to practice in shallow water. He insisted on training in the deep part."
"I've had to save him four or five times today. I've swallowed plenty of water myself. If you ask me, just let him go back to school. The Substitution Technique isn't urgent. Graduation's still far off."
Konosuke grabbed Naruto by the collar and hauled him up.
"Enough howling. Training's over for today. I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen."
At the mention of ramen, Naruto's exhaustion vanished instantly.
He bounced back to life and followed Konosuke toward the village like nothing had happened.
At Ichiraku, Konosuke ordered tonkotsu ramen. Naruto ordered miso ramen.
While they waited, Konosuke asked casually,
"Naruto, do you have a dream?"
Naruto practically leapt onto the stool.
"Of course! I'm going to become Hokage and earn everyone's recognition!"
Konosuke quickly pulled him back down.
"Relax. No need to shout."
"If you want to be Hokage, do you really understand what that means? It's not just about recognition. It's about responsibility. When the village faces danger, the Hokage might be the first to die. Are you ready for that?"
Naruto lowered his head, thinking seriously for once.
After a moment, he looked up with a wide grin.
"Of course! If I'm Hokage, I'll protect everyone!"
Konosuke ruffled his hair, satisfied.
Motivational nonsense worked every time.
"Good. Then keep training. Tomorrow we continue water-walking. Aim to master the Substitution Technique within a month."
"Every Hokage has mastered the Three Basic Techniques. Our future Hokage can't fall behind."
Naruto puffed up proudly.
"Then I'll eat three bowls—no, four!"
After eating, Naruto ran off full of energy to practice tree-climbing.
Konosuke stared at the pile of empty bowls and then at his wallet.
This bowl of inspiration had been painfully expensive.
After a moment of thought, he came up with a brilliant solution.
Have Ichiraku send the bill to the Hokage's office.
After all, Naruto was technically the Hokage's responsibility.
Satisfied with his own ingenuity, Konosuke left the shop.
Whether Hiruzen was pleased or not wasn't his concern.
When he got home, he found Shisui sitting on the sofa, staring blankly at nothing. Every so often, he sighed.
"Our handsome Uchiha prince looks troubled. Got too many love letters today? Struggling to decide which female teacher to date?"
Shisui stood and walked over, his expression grave.
"Konosuke, I need to talk to you. It's important. I need your advice."
The tone was different from usual.
Konosuke dropped the teasing.
"Sit. If this is about the Uchiha again, save it. I've told you everything I can."
"It's not about the clan. It's about me."
Shisui's Sharingan spun rapidly. The three tomoe blurred—
And transformed.
The pattern shifted into a pinwheel-like design.
Konosuke blinked.
"That's it?"
He had expected something dramatic.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
Itachi had already awakened his. He had assumed Shisui had too. He just hadn't asked.
Konosuke casually sat down and lit a cigarette, not even bothering to look directly into Shisui's eyes.
Shisui, meanwhile, was stunned.
This was Mangekyō Sharingan.
Why did Konosuke look completely indifferent?
Then it occurred to him—Konosuke wasn't Uchiha. He wouldn't understand the significance.
Just as Shisui was about to explain, Konosuke spoke first.
"Mangekyō Sharingan. The Uchiha clan's unique ocular technique. Extremely powerful."
"Since the Sharingan reflects one's heart, I'd guess your ability is genjutsu-based. Most likely something that alters a person's thoughts."
"Your obsession is improving the relationship between the Uchiha and the village. So it makes sense your ability would let you change minds. Am I right?"
Shisui froze.
His mouth fell open.
Konosuke inwardly reveled in the expression. It was rare to see Shisui this shaken.
As a transmigrator, he already knew Shisui's Mangekyō ability.
Kotoamatsukami—the so-called ultimate genjutsu.
Nearly ten minutes passed before Shisui regained composure.
"I'm glad we're friends," he said quietly. "If we were enemies, I feel like you could destroy someone without even fighting."
"You're right. My Mangekyō ability is called Kotoamatsukami. It allows me to alter a person's thoughts."
"I want to use it to change the elders' minds. To make them abandon the coup. Do you think that would work?"
Konosuke let out a low chuckle.
"Kotoamatsukami. huh?"
"The faction pushing for a coup is nearly half the clan, isn't it? Can you change all of them?"
"Or do you think changing one elder solves the conflict between the Uchiha and the village?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"Wake up, Shisui."
"The root of the Uchiha's conflict with the village was never the Uchiha themselves."