Chương 13: The Brat and an Unexpected Encounter, Part II

"A Hokage wouldn't steal food from villagers. That's called robbery, and it's a crime," Zhen said, turning to look at his companions with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Hayate, where do we send criminals in this village?"

"To the Konoha Military Police Force, obviously," Hayate played along.

"I heard the Uchiha who run it are incredibly cold-blooded. If you go in there, they tie you up and beat you first thing." Little Yūgao added her own twist.

"Yeah, yeah! They're terrifying! They eat four children a day—especially little girls. The one crouching over there looks the tastiest!"

"Eeeek!" The girl in the group shrieked, scrambled to her feet, and bolted into the woods, abandoning her friends. Iwaari, his face pale with terror, suppressed his pain and mustered enough strength to drag his two subordinates away.

"I am NOT going to the Police Force!" His voice trailed off into a pathetic, "loser's wail" as they vanished into the distance. Zhen didn't bother stopping them. They were just brats; a good thumping was enough for now. If they were still arrogant next time, he'd just thump them again. Back at the fire, the food was ready. Hayate picked up a grilled fish, blew off the steam, and took a bite. He nodded.

"It's good to go." Yūgao didn't need a second invitation. She grabbed a stick and started "demolishing" her meal; she was starving. Zhen took a fish but didn't eat yet. Instead, he turned toward a nearby tree.

"Have you seen enough? If you're hungry, come down and join us." His two friends looked up in surprise just as a small figure leaped nimbly from the branches. The boy looked about their age. He wore a blue high-collared short-sleeved shirt and had messy, naturally curly black hair. He was quite handsome, with large, bright eyes and a nose that was slightly larger than average but gave him a distinctive, memorable look. He looked a bit shy.

"Are you... truly sure I can join?"

"Of course! We're not 'bad kids'," Yūgao said, handing him a stick.

"My dad says helping others is a virtue. Besides, Zhen-kun's fish is amazing!" She tilted her head.

"What's your name?"

"Shisui. Uchiha Shisui."

"Ah? Haha... hahahaha!" Yūgao's hand froze in mid-air. The awkwardness was palpable; she had just been spreading rumors about his clan eating children, only to have the "main course" drop out of a tree in front of her.

"Thank you for the meal." Shisui took the fish and offered a soft, awkward explanation.

"Um... our clan might look serious, but we really don't eat children." Hayate and Yūgao: "..." Zhen had guessed the boy was an Uchiha based on his clothes, but he hadn't expected it to be the future legend, "Shisui of the Body Flicker." The boy lacked the trademark Uchiha arrogance; instead, he was unexpectedly modest and easygoing. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Children—or at least those who looked like children—bonded quickly.

After exchanging names and clearing up the "Police Force diet" misunderstanding, the tension evaporated.

"Uchiha Shisui, right?" Zhen asked.

"How old are you?"

"Just Shisui is fine. I'm four." Yūgao blinked.

"Wait, you're the same age as us? You look like Zhen-kun—always acting like a little adult."

"Don't group me with them," Hayate interjected.

"I'm a year older." Zhen was surprised. He was the same age as Shisui? That meant they'd likely enter the Academy in the same year. I hope we aren't in the same class, he thought. And if we are, please don't let us be on the same squad. Everyone knew that being an Uchiha's teammate was the fastest way to become "evolutionary fuel" for a Sharingan. Kakashi sacrificed an eye for Obito's double-tomoe; Teacher Minazuki, Tenma, and Shinko were sacrificed so Itachi could awaken his. And poor Sasuke...

he sacrificed his entire clan just to get a single-tomoe (that didn't even fully activate at first). The First Lesson After lunch, the group tidied up. Zhen clapped his hands.

"Alright, stomach's full. Let's get started." Shisui looked curious.

"Are you guys going to play a game? If it's alright, I'd love to join." He wasn't just looking to play; he instinctively wanted to branch out beyond his clan. He'd tried before, but other kids usually recoiled the moment they saw the Uchiha crest on his back. Zhen's group was the first that didn't seem afraid of him. Yūgao shook a dainty finger.

"Nope! Zhen-kun is going to teach us how to control chakra."

"Is that so? Then... maybe I should head home."

"Why?" Zhen asked.

"As a member of a Great Clan, have you already mastered this?"

"No, I haven't. But I feel like this kind of training involves family secrets. Sneaking a look would be impolite."

"What secrets?" Zhen shrugged.

"These are just my own personal insights. Don't worry about it. Join in." Shisui's eyes brightened. He dropped his guard and happily joined the circle. The Rhythm of the Surface The training began. Tree climbing and water walking sounded simple: attach chakra to the soles of your feet. On solid surfaces, you create suction; on fluids like water, you create surface tension to hold yourself up. The trick was the precision. You had to constantly sense the surface and adjust the chakra output in real-time.

Too much, and you'd damage the tree or splash the water; too little, and you'd fall. In a real fight, you wouldn't have time to think about it—it had to become a bodily instinct, like breathing. By sunset, Shisui had made the most progress. His talent was terrifying; within a few hours, he was already getting the hang of it. In a few more days, he'd likely match Zhen's proficiency.

Zhen's control came from the "optimization" provided by the white natural energy, but Shisui's was pure, unadulterated genius combined with the Uchiha's natural affinity for chakra. They were, after all, direct descendants of the Otsutsuki. Hayate was second, aided by his extra year of age. Poor Yūgao was the furthest behind, her face stuck in a permanent "pufferfish" pout of frustration. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they "harassed" a few more fish for a light snack before heading home.

"Can we... train together again?" Shisui asked, his voice filled with hope.

"Of course!" Yūgao chirped.

"We all know where everyone lives now. If you get bored at home, come find us!" Zhen and Hayate didn't say anything, but they both gave Shisui a thumbs-up. Shisui, usually so mature for his age, let out a genuinely bright smile and returned the gesture. Luckily, none of them were wearing green spandex, and their teeth didn't catch the light, or Konoha would have been in for a very "youthful" disaster. Walking home, Shisui felt a strange sense of relaxation.

It was a feeling he never got when dealing with his own clan. Even at his young age, a thought began to take root: *Is the clan... a bit too isolated? Maybe they should come out and talk to everyone else more often, instead of just guarding that old Police Force building all day.