Ring, ring, ring.
The alarm clock blared. A hand smacked it silent.
Zenji opened his eyes, sat up from the bed, and stretched.
He put on his clothes and went to the living room.
Gojo Satoru was already sitting there eating. Upon seeing Zenji, he immediately started complaining.
"Why do you get to graduate early? I still have to stay another year."
"It's not bad. According to the original agreement, you were supposed to stay for two more years."
Zenji chuckled lightly, sitting down and starting to eat.
Hearing this, Gojo Satoru shrugged. Being like this right now was actually quite comfortable.
That old man was indeed very knowledgeable. He could speak logically and clearly about many Ninjutsu—and even chakra theories.
"By the way, has your captain been decided yet? My new semester is about to start."
"No. The clans are fighting fiercely over it." Zenji snorted softly.
"But there should be a conclusion today."
Because he'd graduated early and didn't have a Jonin instructor arranged in advance, it had been delayed until now.
Zenji arrived at the Hokage's office and knocked gently on the door.
"Come in."
Pushing it open, Zenji saw a familiar figure.
Shisui Uchiha.
"Zenji, your squad has been arranged. This is your captain, Shisui Uchiha. I think you shouldn't be unfamiliar with him."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's amiable voice rang out.
"We know each other. Shisui is an old client of the training class and one of the earliest geniuses to complete the six techniques."
Zenji naturally knew him. He glanced at the other two people. One looked somewhat familiar. The other he had no impression of.
"That's good."
Hiruzen cast a glance at the three people standing nearby.
He knew clearly that Danzo Shimura was playing tricks again.
Otherwise, Fugaku Uchiha wouldn't have suddenly added a condition—wanting a member of the Uchiha clan to become Zenji's Jonin instructor.
The other party must have also learned the intelligence about the Sharingan.
The Nara clan also joined in the fun.
Minato's unexpected death had caused changes to many arranged matters. And some things had become troublesome as well.
For example, the position of Hokage Assistant.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. After weighing the options for a long time, he could only tacitly allow Danzo to suppress Shikaku Nara.
Compared to promoting Shikaku to Hokage Assistant, Danzo—who had already been subdued and with whom he'd collaborated for a long time—was a better choice.
"You can slowly get familiar with things. Although you three are a temporarily cobbled-together team, this is not an ordinary situation."
As Hiruzen spoke, he took out a letter and a mission scroll from the drawer.
Shisui's face immediately became serious. He stepped forward and stood in front of the desk.
"The wars among the nations have subsided, but the Land of Lightning has never shown any intention of signing a peace treaty."
Reaching this point, Hiruzen's frown deepened.
"However, there is also a small faction of nobles within the Land of Lightning who do not wish for war to continue. This time, it's a faction supported by one of those nobles wanting to make contact with us."
"Your mission is simple: arrive at the designated location, exchange letters with the other party, and deliver it to the Daimyo's residence."
"Although this is a faction supported by a noble, we cannot be certain whether it's a trick by the Hidden Cloud Village. You must be careful."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
The four immediately accepted the order.
Shisui took the letter and mission scroll, leading the group out.
Arriving by a nearby woods, Shisui looked at his three teammates.
"Next, we will be carrying out the mission together. As captain, I will introduce myself first."
"Shisui Uchiha. Fourteen years old. Jonin. I excel in Fire Release and Genjutsu, and I like eating grilled fish."
After finishing, he looked at Zenji.
"My name is Zenji. Eight years old. Genin. I excel in Fire Release and Shadow Shikigami—which can be understood as summoned beasts. I like eating meat."
Zenji shrugged his shoulders and spoke softly.
A youth nearby—wearing a bandana on his head and a steel needle in his mouth, looking about the same age as Shisui—also introduced himself.
"My name is Genma Shiranui. Thirteen years old. Chunin. I excel in Fire Release and hidden weapons."
Genma didn't mention what he liked.
The gazes of the three turned to the last person. A youth with a cold expression. His entire body exuded a gloomy aura—one could tell at a glance he was no ordinary ninja.
"Soto Noguchi. Chunin."
The introduction was even briefer. His tone almost devoid of fluctuation.
Shisui could tell at a glance where this person came from. There was nowhere else but the ANBU.
"We have all gotten to know each other initially. Prepare yourselves. We will gather at the main gate in half an hour."
Upon receiving the order, Soto Noguchi left immediately. Genma cast a glance at Zenji before turning and walking into an alley.
Only Zenji and Shisui remained standing there.
They exchanged a glance.
"Don't you need to prepare anything?"
Zenji tapped the shadow on the ground with his foot and said easily, "I prepared long ago."
Shisui fell somewhat silent.
Although less than half a year had passed, many things had changed.
The most crucial among them was the Nine-Tails incident—which caused the relationship between the village and the clan to deteriorate even further.
"Then let's head to the main gate."
He turned and walked.
The journey was very quiet. The two relatively silent.
"Don't you have anything you want to ask me?" Zenji suddenly said, crossing his arms.
These words made Shisui's body pause slightly. He couldn't help but recall what the Clan Head had told him.
Shisui, Advisor Zenshu's younger brother—this person Zenji—very likely possesses the Sharingan.
The Sharingan? A situation similar to Kakashi's?
No. Although the situation is unclear, it is highly likely not a situation like Kakashi's.
I need you to investigate clearly. And it would be best to rope Zenji in—having him directly change his surname to Uchiha...
Shisui turned his head to look at Zenji. This friend he had gotten along with so well half a year ago.
Seeing his nonchalant demeanor, the gloom in his heart suddenly dissipated.
"You haven't changed from half a year ago."
Shisui's originally solemn face relaxed.
"Then I'll ask directly. Do you have the Sharingan?"
"You mean this."
Zenji turned to look at Shisui. His pupils immediately turned red. Three tomoe surfaced.
Seeing those three tomoe, Shisui couldn't help but feel shocked internally.
He didn't expect it to not only be a Sharingan—but a three-tomoe one.
"This isn't transplanted. Could it be...?" Shisui said in astonishment.
"You're overthinking it. I have no relation to the Uchiha clan. This is merely simulating the brain and eyes of an Uchiha clan member with a three-tomoe Sharingan."
As soon as Zenji's words fell, Shisui's pupils shrank. He looked at Zenji in disbelief.
The other party's expression immediately made Zenji understand what he was thinking. He couldn't help but laugh.
"It's not as easy as you think. It requires deep and thorough research into its essence. The difficulty is extremely high, and it has no growth potential."
This was a lie.
"Even so, it's an extraordinary secret technique. Is it really okay for you to say it out loud like this?"
Shisui's voice carried some concern.
Nonsense. If it wasn't to get close to Sasuke, to leave a mark on Shisui Uchiha, and to observe the entire process of the Mangekyo awakening...
Why would he spend so much effort trying to get close?
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