Noa POV
Once I conceded, Itachi fell to the ground groaning in pain while holding his shoulder. I had landed a haymaker, and he had taken it to end the fight in his favor. If this had been an actual battle, he would have come out of it injured and I would have been dead, so in the end it was indeed his victory.
Shisui approached with his Sharingan still active, which irked me, but he had mostly stayed away from chakra and from using his eyes for almost a month now, following the doctor's instructions. Even so, I could tell he was in some pain, and I could see his eyes shaking slightly, as if struggling to maintain the Sharingan active.
He observed Itachi and said with a sigh, "It's dislocated. Stay still. I'll pop it back into place." Itachi nodded as Shisui held his shoulder and, with a sudden push, relocated it back into its socket as Itachi screamed in pain.
Shisui stood up, holding Itachi's good shoulder, and said, "Noa, I'll take him to a medical-nin to make sure that he heals well." I nodded as they walked to another part of the compound.
I went home to meditate and relax my mind. As I sat down, I found it difficult to calm myself and enter the proper mental state. Itachi was incredible. Every move led to another, every action drawing him closer as he adapted and adapted, getting closer and closer. He was like an unstoppable force. His talent was incredible. I knew he trained, but not as much as I did, and yet things came easily to him. His mind worked in a different way. It was like he was designed to be the ultimate killer. I sighed in despair, hoping history would not repeat itself. From what I could see, things were already changing. My presence was making a difference, and I hoped that whatever came next would be better than what I remembered.
Time passed as I sorted through my thoughts, and before I knew it, Shisui was already back. He looked tired, but somewhat amused. I asked with curiosity, "What happened?" Shisui sat down and said, "Itachi is fine. He healed up quickly, luckily nothing was broken. Though if you saw Itachi's face, you'd think he was happier that he got injured." Shisui laughed boisterously, and I raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Shisui saw that and grinned. "Although he acts all doom and gloom, he actually enjoys a good battle, like any true Uchiha," then Shisui continued laughing.
I rolled my eyes as I lay on the cold ground while Shisui continued. "His father was surprised that he got injured. You should have seen his face." My eyes widened in horror as I asked, "He's not angry at me, is he?" Shisui shook his head. "He's very happy that his son was smiling for once. That doesn't happen often. He was glad that someone had shown his son there is still someone out there who might be stronger." I scratched my head. "I lost." Shisui nodded. "You did, but you've shown him something he had been searching for longer than he cared to admit. A challenge from someone his age, and maybe more." I wanted to ask what that meant when Shisui asked, "Since we are leaving tomorrow, is there anything you want to do today in the village?" I replied without hesitation, "I want to visit Master Shuzo." Shisui nodded. "Okay. Go get ready, and I'll accompany you there."
I made sure to wear my cleanest clothes before stepping out, where Shisui was already waiting. He gave a small nod, and we left together. Once we entered the village, the walk to the Sarutobi clan compound was surprisingly pleasant. I hadn't left the Uchiha compound since moving there, and seeing the village again felt grounding, familiar in a way I hadn't realized I missed. We walked mostly in silence. I found myself hoping, quietly and stubbornly, that Master Shuzo would be lucid today.
After a long walk, we reached the Hokage's clan compound. It was heavily guarded, as expected, but once we were allowed inside, the atmosphere shifted. The place was lively. I could feel heat rolling through the air from training grounds scattered across the compound, fire chakra flaring and settling in steady rhythms. Eventually, we arrived at Master Shuzo's home. As we entered, I nearly collided with his sons and daughters, some of them already parents themselves, their children running through the halls in noisy bursts of laughter and chaos. It was comforting. Reassuring. He was surrounded by people who loved him. Since I visited often, they recognized me easily and welcomed me before guiding me toward his room.
Master Shuzo was asleep. His breathing was shallow, his eyelids twitching faintly as if caught between dreams. Shisui glanced at me and spoke quietly. "I'll leave you alone with your master. Take as much time as you need." I nodded. "Thank you, Sensei." He sensed my unease and ruffled my hair gently, smiling. "You're a good student." Then he left, closing the door softly behind him.
The room was clean and carried the faint, pleasant scent of the nearby garden. Cool air drifted through the space, steady and calming. I sat beside his bed and stayed quiet. I didn't feel the need to speak. Being there was enough. My eyes were closed, my breathing even, my heart steady, when I heard his voice.
"Noa… is that you?"
I opened my eyes. Master Shuzo was awake, his body frail against the sheets. He tried to push himself upright, but the strength wasn't there. I was already there, my hand supporting his head. "Master, you should rest." He scowled weakly. "Nonsense. I want to sit." I nodded and carefully adjusted the pillows, making sure he was comfortable before easing my hand away.
He studied me for a moment, then smiled. "I heard about what happened in the Land of Forest. They say you saved your sensei's life. Hiruzen was very proud of you." I smiled faintly. "It was your teaching, Master, that allowed me to survive that ambush." I bowed my head. "Thank you for guiding me." He laughed and waved a dismissive hand. "You saved a Konoha jonin. I'd say it was worth it."
"You know," I said quietly, "before that, Shisui-sensei and I were ambushed in the Land of Rivers." His eyes brightened and he laughed. "Brat. You're a magnet for trouble. Are you planning on getting ambushed in every land out there?" I scratched the back of my head, a habit more than a gesture, then remembered something. With a gentle pulse of chakra, a small fox-shaped toy appeared in my hand. Master Shuzo's gaze sharpened with curiosity.
I extended chakra threads into the points I had marked and injected chakra in the proper sequence. The fox stirred to life, wagging its tail as it padded across my legs. Master Shuzo's face softened, genuine delight breaking through his usual reserve. "Is that a puppet?"
I nodded. "We were likely ambushed by Sunagakure shinobi, though they posed as missing-nin. I found this on one of them." He gestured, and I handed it to him immediately. He examined it closely. "We captured several puppets during past wars with Sunagakure," he said thoughtfully. "They were always too complex. It took far too long to truly understand them."
With another pulse of chakra, the schematic appeared in my hands, and I passed it to him. "I disassembled it and mapped the seals and their functions. I understand some of them, but the array is too complicated." He read carefully, then nodded. "Your seal knowledge is advancing by leagues." A flicker of sadness crossed his face. "I don't know how much time has passed since we last met, but I'm glad I lived long enough to see you grow this strong."
"Thank you, Master," I said.
He looked between the toy and the schematics. "May I keep these? I don't have much to do these days, and my children are far too protective to let me wander." "Of course, Master," I replied immediately.
He reached out, his hand trembling slightly as it rested on my shoulder. "When do you leave for the Chunin Exams?"
"Tomorrow," I answered. "And the first thing I'll do when I return is visit you as a Chunin."
He smiled, quiet and content. "Be safe."
"I will, Master."
He closed his eyes for a moment after that, the lines in his face softening as fatigue finally caught up to him. When he opened them again, the sharpness I'd seen earlier was already fading. He looked tired now, truly tired.
I stood slowly. "I should go, Master. Please rest, and don't overwork yourself studying that."
He chuckled softly. "Now you sound like my sons. Go on, you brat. Make me proud."
I bowed, deeper than before, then took one last look at him resting against the pillows, the faint smile still there. Only then did I turn and leave the room, closing the door quietly behind me.