"The Hokage would never snatch food from the villagers. What you're doing is robbery—a crime." Higashino Shin glanced back and asked his little partner, "Hayate, where do criminals get sent?"
"To the Konoha Police Force. I heard it's full of Uchiha, and they're not known for being soft. The moment you're in, they string you up and beat you first."
Little Yūgao piled on: "Exactly! They're terrifying—four kids a day, especially little girls. The one squatting is the tastiest."
"Ahh!" The girl shrieked, jumped up, and bolted, abandoning her pals.
The stocky dark boy, equally terrified, gritted through the pain and dragged his two sidekicks away. "I'm not going to the Police Force!"
As they fled, he let out the howl of a beaten dog.
Higashino Shin didn't stop them—just brats. A beating was enough; if they strutted around next time, he'd beat them again.
Back at the fire, the food was ready. Gekkō Hayate lifted a grilled fish, blew on it, took a bite, and nodded. "Good to eat."
Uzuki Yūgao grabbed one and tore in—she was starving.
Higashino Shin took a fish but didn't eat; instead he called toward a nearby tree, "Done watching? Come down and eat with us."
The two kids curiously followed his gaze and saw a boy their age drop neatly from the branches.
He wore a blue stand-collar tee, had naturally wavy black hair, and looked pretty—big sparkling eyes the size of dinner plates. His nose was a bit large for a kid, but not ugly, just distinctive.
He shyly checked, "Really… really okay?"
"Sure! We're not bad kids. Dad says helping others is good manners. And big brother Shin's fish tastes great." Uzuki Yūgao handed him a grilled fish. "What's your name?"
"Shisui—Uchiha Shisui."
"Huh? Ha… hahaha!" The little girl froze mid-hand-off; she'd just slandered his whole clan and now met its poster boy.
"Thanks for the meal." Uchiha Shisui took the fish and softly added, "We… we don't actually eat kids."
Hayate & Yūgao: "…"
From the clothes Higashino Shin had guessed Uchiha, but not that this was the future "Shunshin no Shisui." None of the clan's legendary arrogance—just shy and easy-going.
All little kids (at least on the surface), they hit it off, traded names, and after a few laughs the Police-Force-cannibal joke was history.
Higashino Shin asked, "Uchiha Shisui, right? How old are you?"
"Just call me Shisui—I'm four."
Uzuki Yūgao: "Same age! But like big-bro-Shin you love acting grown-up."
Gekkō Hayate: "Leave me out; I'm a year older."
Higashino Shin was surprised—turned out he and Uchiha Shisui were peers; they'd enter the Academy the same year.
Hopefully not in the same class—and if so, definitely not on the same genin squad after graduation.
Everyone knew that was prime fodder for Sharingan awakening.
Kakashi opened the game by sacrificing an eye; Kizashi got twin tomoe—lucky them.
Poor Teacher Haku, Tianma and Xinzi—random tribute trio—let Uchiha Itachi score twin tomoe.
Worst off was classmate Sasuke: sacrificed his whole clan, unlocked single-tomoe—sort of, but not really.
---
After lunch they cleaned up.
Higashino Shin clapped. "All right, bellies full—let's start."
Uchiha Shisui: "Um, what game? If I can, please let me join."
Not for fun—he thought making friends outside the compound felt right. That's why he sneaked out often.
He couldn't explain why; instinct told him to blend with kids who weren't Uchiha.
Sadly, once they spotted the clan crest they turned cold. Only Higashino Shin's group didn't mind.
Uzuki Yūgao wagged a tiny finger. "Nope—big-bro-Shin's gonna teach us Chakra control."
"I see… then I'd better head home."
Higashino Shin: "Big-clan kids, already training at this stage?"
"No, not yet. But this sort of practice involves Family secrets—learning without permission would be rude."
What secret? Just my own insights. No problem—come along."
At that, Shisui's worries vanished and he happily joined.
Truly, great-clan children follow rules—they benefit most from them.
The four launched into lively Chakra-control drills.
Tree-climbing and water-surfacing sound simple: coat your soles with Chakra—stick to solids, spread tension on liquids.
But you must sense the surface and adjust output in real time: too much breaks it, too little and you slip.
In battle there's no time to ponder, so like Chakra extraction it must become instinct.
Like breathing—no conscious control of lungs, the body just does it.
A training that eats plenty of hours.
By afternoon Shisui led—gifted beyond belief, already proficient. A few more days and he'd match Higashino Shin.
Bear in mind Higashino Shin had White Natural Energy optimizing his body, letting control grow effortless.
Shisui relied purely on talent plus Uchiha blood's natural Chakra affinity.
After all, they're direct Ōtsutsuki descendants—Chakra was brought to the Ninja World by the Ōtsutsuki in the first place.
Second came Gekkō Hayate, a year older with an edge.
Last place: Uzuki Yūgao, cheeks puffed all afternoon from constant frustration.
At dusk, after wrecking a few more fish, they ended practice and headed home.
Before parting Uchiha Shisui asked hopefully, "Can we train like this again?"
Uzuki Yūgao beamed, "Sure! We know where each other lives. If you're bored, come find us anytime."
Higashino Shin and Gekkō Hayate said nothing, just gave him a big thumbs-up.
Uchiha Shisui, usually so mature, flashed a rare bright grin and returned the thumbs-up.
Good thing none wore green jumpsuits with flashing teeth—Konoha was spared three watermelons.
On the way home Uchiha Shisui felt light, happy, relaxed—something he never experienced among his clansmen.
Even at that young age he wondered: were his clansmen too closed-off? They should mingle with the Village, not just guard that dingy Police Force all day.
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