Thank You
The White Snake Sage injected a surge of natural energy into Chi Yu's body.
Snake-like scales had already begun creeping across his skin, a sign that he was close to losing himself.
Chi Yu gathered his chakra desperately, forcing it against the invasive natural energy raging within him.
To learn Sage Mode, a shinobi needed two things: first, a vast reserve of chakra—otherwise, natural energy would instantly overwhelm and petrify the user; second, the ability to absorb and balance natural energy properly.
The methods differed greatly between the sacred sites.
At Mount Myōboku, toads began by coating the trainee in special toad oil, which sensitized them to natural energy. Once the practitioner learned to sense and draw it in, they were taught to remain absolutely motionless to maintain balance. Only then could they merge natural energy with their own physical and spiritual energy to produce true Sage Chakra.
Ryūchi Cave's approach, however, was far more brutal. Rather than easing a student into balance, the White Snake Sage forced vast amounts of natural energy directly into the body, compelling it to adapt or be destroyed.
That was what Chi Yu was enduring now.
The violent chakra within him clashed fiercely with the rampaging natural energy. Only when physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy achieved perfect balance could Sage Chakra be formed—but for now, balance was impossible. His task was simple and merciless: suppress the wild torrent first, then learn to mold it.
Time blurred. Chi Yu lost all sense of the outside world, locked in a battle against the foreign power surging through his body.
---
Fifteen days passed in an instant.
Meanwhile, in Konoha, Hatake Kakashi had not been living easily.
Since Chi Yu's departure, Root operatives still followed his orders without question, but the ordinary shinobi that Chi Yu had recruited into the Konoha Defense Force were another matter. Gradually, they stopped obeying Kakashi's authority—not due to his leadership, but because of Uchiha Shisui.
Unable to control Root operatives directly, Shisui instead bypassed Kakashi, consolidating the ordinary ninja under his own command. He integrated Chi Yu's recruits with his own, subtly undermining the chain of command.
Though Kakashi held the title of Acting Captain, his orders were losing weight.
Worse still, whenever Root apprehended Uchiha clan members—sometimes repeat or even habitual offenders—Shisui personally intervened, ensuring their release after paying only the minimum bail of 100,000 ryō.
---
Now, in the Defense Force office, Shisui stood before Kakashi.
"We need clearer boundaries," Shisui insisted. "Minor disputes shouldn't warrant detention; a warning is enough. And we should designate proper detention sites for those truly guilty of crimes. The system needs refinement."
Kakashi regarded him quietly, his visible eye narrowing. When Shisui finished, Kakashi finally spoke.
"Deputy Captain," Kakashi said evenly, "do you think that just because my teacher isn't here, you can manipulate me as you please?"
Shisui froze, momentarily at a loss. "Of course not. I only wanted your opinion."
Kakashi's gaze sharpened. "Your opinion? You reorganized the ranks without consulting me. You released offenders who deserved heavier penalties after accepting only the minimum bail. And you call that asking for my opinion?
I recall my teacher saying that even as Acting Captain, I hold full authority as Captain. You've overstepped."
Shisui straightened. "I only wanted what's best for the Defense Force."
Kakashi let out a dry chuckle. "Best? Hardly. You think my teacher's absence is your chance. But don't forget—he will return. If I were you, I'd leave things as they are. I don't need tricks or schemes, because when he returns, everything you've built will collapse. You can't contest him. No matter what you change, it'll vanish the moment he steps back into this office.
You and my teacher's conflict runs deep. But between you and me, there's no such hatred. That's why I'm telling you this directly: maintain the status quo."
Shisui's expression faltered. Kakashi's words rang with truth. He had known it from the start: no matter what he did, Chi Yu would undo it. Still, Shisui couldn't help but want to accomplish something in Chi Yu's absence.
Even a small change—one regulation, one shift that Chi Yu didn't reverse—would be a victory.
But now Kakashi had made it clear: he would report everything to Chi Yu upon his return.
Kakashi could have ignored him, letting his efforts rot until they were undone. Instead, he had offered a warning. It almost sounded like advice.
Perhaps Kakashi truly bore no ill will toward the Uchiha, unlike Chi Yu. After all, Kakashi had once been close to Uchiha Obito, who had died in the war.
"…Thank you for the reminder, Kakashi," Shisui said at last, bowing his head slightly before leaving.
Kakashi blinked in surprise as he watched him go. He had expected an argument, maybe even hostility—not gratitude.
All he had wanted was for Shisui to stop wasting energy, to prevent needless clashes that would only worsen when Chi Yu returned.
"Naive," Kakashi muttered under his breath. "He actually thinks I was trying to help him… Well, if it keeps him in line, it works."
He glanced at the clock. "Tch. I still need to buy saury and eggplant. Kushina-san's making salt-grilled saury and miso eggplant tonight."
---
After his shift, Kakashi stopped by the market, then made his way to Chi Yu's house.
But when he arrived, he found Uzumaki Kushina hunched over the sink, retching.
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters