"What is Shisui doing?"

  "He's... helping civilians carry water and firewood."

  "Huh?"

  The Third Hokage's eyes flickered with fusion.

  For a moment, he thought he had misheard, perhaps mistaking Shisui's name for Obito's.

  But after a pause, he reassured himself that he wasn’t that old, nor were his subordinates inpetent enough to mix up names.

  He remained silent for a long while before setting down his pipe.

  "Shisui? Carrying water and firewood?"

  "Yes..."

  Even the ANBU were puzzled.

  Carrying water and chopping firewood were tasks typically assigo genin.

  But...

  This was wartime. There were no genin to handle such tasks, so they piled up, usually done by Obito, whom everyone just ignored.

  But Shisui? A genius treasured by the Uchiha ? Instead of training, he was running errands for vilgers? Why?

  "Hmm... I see."

  The Third Hokage waved dismissively, signaling the ANBU to leave. Then, without hesitatiorieved his crystal ball and activated the Telescope Teique.

  Moments ter, the crystal ball dispyed a se of Obito and Shisui helping vilgers carry water.

  The Third Hokage’s face turned bnk with fusion.

  He couldn't uand why Shisui would involve himself in something so trivial.

  Was it Obito's influence? Or... Uchiha Fugaku's?

  The Third Hokage furrowed his brow.

  If Obito had led Shisui into this, it was uandable. But if this was orchestrated by Uchiha Fugaku, it could mean trouble.

  Lighting a cigarette, he deliberated carefully.

  Another possibility came to mind: Kanda Kyoichi.

  Reports had reached him that Shisui and Kyoichi had been spending more time together since Kyoichi became a teacher. There was eveion of the two sharing a meal at Ichiraku Ramen.

  Could it be his doing?

  Not impossible.

  The Hokage retrieved an ANBU report from trior, detailing observations about Kyoichi:

  "Possesses remarkable physical resiliend recovery ability. Utilizes Shadow es to accelerate training. Practices swordsmanship in his courtyard, possibly using notes on Sed Hokage Tobirama’s Konoha-style sword teiques."

  From their observations, it was evident:

  While Kyoichi's physical dition wasn't as monstrous as the First Hokage's, it was parable to Tobirama's.

  Without a doubt, he carried Senju bloodliraits.

  As for the swordsmanship notes—

  Kanda's family was closely tied to the Sed Hokage, after all.

  The Third Hokage sighed deeply.

  He had never imagihat, even after the Senju 's apparein, someone would awaken their powerful stitution anew.

  Of course, such a revetion was both exg and worrisome.

  If Shisui's behavior ge was indeed due to Kyoichi's influe would be a wele surprise, demonstrating that this desdant of the Senju still carried the Will of Fire.

  After much thought, the Hokage added a o the list of jonin didates: Kanda Kyoichi.

  ---

  For the wo days, Kyoichi had no csses.

  Ohird day, wheuro school, he overheard two teachers chatting in the office.

  "Sigh, I don’t know what’s gotten into Shisui retly. He’s started ing to css te."

  "Must’ve picked it up from Obito."

  "Probably. Every time Shisui’s te, Obitht there with him."

  Shisui’s tardiness?

  Kyoichi was surprised, then his expression turned odd.

  Even tardiness? Did Shisui really pick that up from Obito?

  Unbelievable.

  He had told Shisui to observe, not to imitate Obito's behavior entirely.

  "Kyoichi, your css is first period today. If those two are te again, don’t go easy ohe first time you’re le, they’ll keep pushing it."

  "Got it. Thanks for the advice, Ishimura-senpai."

  Kyoiodded.

  As css time approached, he picked up his materials and headed to the . Before he reached the door, two figures darted past in a blur.

  Though they moved fast, every teacher in the office, all of whom were at least in, saw them clearly: Shisui and Obito.

  "Uh..." The office fell into an awkward silence.

  Those two had beeo other csses all week, but for Kyoichi's css, not only were they on time, but they arrived early.

  The teachers who had thought Shisui was "going astray" suddenly realized that he simply didn’t care for their lessons.

  Ishimura Takashi stared at Kyoichi as he left, then slumped onto his desk, visibly dejected.

  "Kyoichi's just a temporary teacher. How is he more popur than me?"

  "Don’t take it so hard, Ishimura-sehey’re just a couple of kids..."

  "No, you don’t uand. I’ve been teag for over a decade, and I’ve seen tless students graduate under my guidanow, a substitute is outperf me. It’s crushing!"

  The other teachers fell silent.

  Ouch.

  Outside, Kyoichi, who overheard everything, couldn’t help but smirk.

  What I say? I teach practical stuff. They don’t.

  Wheered the , the students were already seated, sitting upright and attentive.

  "I saw Obito and Shisui using the Body Flicker Teique to rush to css today. Very impressive. So here’s the pn: we’ll start with a quick test of the e, Transformation, and Substitution teiques. If everything looks good, I’ll teach you the Body Flicker Teique."

  The erupted with excitement.

  But not everyone.

  A signifit number of students hadn’t yet mastered the basics.

  Kyoichi sed the room and smiled. "Don’t get too excited. Sihis is a mixed-age css, I’m looking at the overall progress, not just individual performance. Got it?"

  "Yes, sir!"

  Rin, Kurenai, and other senior students immediately uood.

  If too many students gged behind, the entire css would have to wait to leareiques.

  Realizing this, some of the more advaudents started thinking about how to help their peers catch up.

  By the time they broke into practice groups, most of the taleudents had paired up with those struggling, including Obito.

  Meanwhile, Kyoichi's attention was drawn to oudent: Hayate Gekkō.

  Hayate was quick to grasp the cepts, but—

  "Cough, cough... When using the Transformation Teique with the e Teique, pay attention to chakra allocation and hand seal speed. Cough... Try mastering tree climbing first. I'll teach you."

  That cough... Man, it’s intense.

  Gcell