Walking back to the Uchiha compound, Shisui kept glancing at me while trying to read my mood. "You look happy." I nodded. "Master Shuzo was lucid. That does not always happen when I visit. I got lucky." Shisui chuckled softly. "You are lucky to learn under such an accomplished seals grandmaster. He is one of the most valued people in the village. A strange truth about this world is that if you get to die old, that means you have truly made it."
I froze, recalling the tragic end that awaited him in the version of events I once read. The chill crept down my spine as I said, "Sensei, please do not joke about such things. That last ambush came too close to ending your life. You should be more serious about that."
Shisui sighed. "I am sorry, but that is normal in our world. Most of my missions were extremely dangerous. Although I agree that the last ambush was the closest I have come to meeting my maker."
I looked straight into his eyes. "Please sensei, do your best to survive. I do not wish to…" The words refused to come out. Daiken's image flashed through my mind, a wound that had never closed fully. Shisui noticed the shift in my mood and placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. "Do not worry. I am not that easy to kill. And although I hate to admit it, that last ambush has kept me alert. I am extremely careful now that I know someone out there wants my eyes and has the tools and strength to try."
His reassurance eased something inside my chest. But now that I was paying more attention, I realized how different he moved outside the compound. His body language carried tension. His hands hung loose but ready, and a faint residue of chakra always rested in his legs, prepared to flicker at any moment.
Once we crossed the barrier of the Uchiha compound, Shisui finally relaxed once more. He released the chakra buildup and let his shoulders settle. He was carefully limiting his exertion, both physically and in chakra usage. Whether it was due to lingering damage or strict orders from the medical-nin, I did not know. He had been checked often, the Mystical Palm Technique applied to different parts of his body, but those visits had become less frequent recently.
At his house, Shisui sat down on a small cushion while I lay on the cold floor. I took a deep breath and formed a hand sign. Two shadow clones appeared instantly, glaring at me as if born annoyed. They twisted their faces away dramatically before starting to organize and pack my things.
Shisui stared at the clones. "Why do they always look angry and annoyed?"
I shrugged.
He exhaled as his tone shifted. "Noa, we need to discuss a few things about the Chunin Exams." I immediately sat upright, focused.
"First, you are not allowed to use Stormdrive in the Chunin Exams unless your life is clearly in danger." I nodded, already expecting that restriction. Yet he continued. "And do not use what you used against Itachi."
I could not help but smirk at the curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"It is another application of Stormdrive," I answered.
"You can say that."
He rubbed his face. "It is an unbelievably useful ability. It even shields you from genjutsu. I am not going to ask you for the thousandth time to hand the technique over to the village, just do not use it."
Then he pointed at my hand. "Also, do not use the engraved seal." My eyes widened. "But sensei…" He shook his head firmly. "That seal means that you must be a combatant fuinjutsu user. A shinobi who can actively use seals in battle is extremely rare. Someone your age is nonexistent. Unless you want us to be assassinated, do not reveal it."
I groaned. "But sensei, I rely a lot on it. Is there no way to use it? I could say someone etched it on me?" Shisui gave me a flat look. "Your seals carry your chakra signature. The moment anyone examines it, they will know it is your creation. And fuinjutsu is a protected art. The moment someone realizes you are this skilled, a seals master or a grandmaster will be brought to observe you and your fights. They would try to steal the seal and all knowledge connected to it. Just stay clear of it and rely on regular storage seals. They are slower, but with your fuinjutsu expertise, I am sure you can design a fast-acting version."
I grumbled. "Those are expensive to create. They require special ink and special materials."
Shisui nodded. "We were assigned a budget by the village for our trip."
My eyes shone with unholy greed. I did everything in my power to hide it.
Shisui's gaze narrowed dangerously. He definitely sensed it. "I will give that budget to Sena. She will be controlling our expenses."
My heart died a silent and painful death. Knowing Sena, she would see through any attempt at embezzl… I mean responsible usage of village funds.
"We will meet with Sena and Kaen tomorrow morning at the village market to make sure everyone has everything they need. Anything missing will be purchased right then and there." I nodded, resigned to my fate. Shisui continued, "We will then move to the gate at nine in the morning before departing for the Chunin Exams. Is that clear?"
I nodded again, darkness growing inside me at the thought of Sena supervising my spending habits. With a puff of smoke, two scrolls appeared in my hands. I tied them neatly. "I will take these to the gate and have the guards send them to Genta and Shizuru, asking them to meet us there."
I was still annoyed that neither of them were allowed to visit me inside the Uchiha compound due to their families' concerns and because my training schedule left me with zero free time. At least we always exchanged messages, and fortunately they were still in the village today.
Shisui nodded and walked with me toward the gate.
Right now, only the clan head and his family, who alternated between the two compounds, stayed here. A few hardliners still refused to relocate to the new compound, choosing to remain in the old one to make their silent political point. That left only these few, plus me and Shisui, surrounded by intensified guard rotations and tense silence.
As we walked, I suddenly froze. Several chakra signatures were closing in fast. Not subtle. Not friendly. Hostile.
I flared my chakra instinctively. "Sensei."
Shisui reacted in the same instant. His chakra network surged as the three tomoe in his eyes spun awake, legs coated with chakra to prepare for a flicker, hands poised to form seals depending on the nature of the attack.
Shapes emerged from the darkness.
Their Sharingan glowed like embers in the night, anger and resentment smoldering just beneath the surface. One man stepped forward. The others shifted back instinctively, his authoritative tone alone marking him as their leader.
"Shisui," he said, his voice measured and hard. "I did not want to do this, but that coward never goes anywhere without you. Leave him here and walk away. You have my word that no physical harm will come to him. We only want to talk." The promise sounded like a lie even as he spoke it.
He took another step, sneer widening. "Let me teach this Hokage puppet what fear of the Uchiha truly feels like. Let me plant the idea in his head before he grows into something we cannot control. And you, Shisui, should learn from this. The Uchiha must remain united for what is coming."
Then the air thickened.
His Sharingan shifted. The tomoe bled together and twisted into a new shape. Mangekyo. His attention locked onto Shisui, while the others watched me with ordinary Sharingan, their stares sharp as knives.
My heart thudded against my ribs.
Shisui did not hesitate.
His Mangekyou Sharingan ignited, but even without looking at him directly, I could feel the strain tearing at him. His breath shortened. His hands trembled once. Yet the killing intent that poured off him was enough to make the earth itself feel heavier.
He stepped forward. "Are you threatening my student, and Fugaku-sama's guest? Last time, your punishment was not too severe because Fugaku-sama did not want to cause friction within the clan. So, think very carefully about your next words. One wrong answer, and I will not wait for his judgment. You will die before you take another step toward Noa."
The killing intent surged, making it painfully clear that his promise was not made of hollow words.
Three of the hardliners stumbled away, terror ripping the defiance right out of their eyes. They had expected Shisui weakened. What they felt instead was a predator who had sent more men to the afterlife than they had ever met in their lives.
The leader's lips curled, but a flicker of caution betrayed him. His voice slowed, sharpened into something colder. "You underestimate us, Shisui. There are more of us than there are of you. The truly strong Uchiha all share the same resolve, but you are blinded by your misguided loyalty." His gaze slid to me like a blade finding a throat. "We do not wish to harm you Shisui… so make sure that once that kid leaves our compound tomorrow, it is for good. We do not want that outsider here again." His Mangekyou spun once, a silent promise of violence. "We will not ask so nicely next time."
Then they vanished. One flicker, then another, swallowed by the night.