The Weight of Uchiha Wealth
The sheer wealth of the Uchiha clan was staggering.
Not even counting the massive fortune accumulated over the years, just the items Shisui casually handed over would make countless civilians seethe with envy.
Even second-rate families like the Ino–Shika–Cho, Sarutobi, and Shimura clans couldn't outfit their members with this kind of equipment unless it was reserved for their absolute elites.
As for third-rate families like the Aburame and Inuzuka, there was no point in even mentioning them.
And Hatake? That was laughable.
Sakumo Hatake had become famous on his swordsmanship alone. Yet the Uchiha could casually toss out kenjutsu not inferior to his, along with a blade forged from chakra metal and meteorite iron.
This was what true foundation meant.
In Konoha, only the Hyūga could even remotely stand shoulder to shoulder with the Uchiha.
Jin sighed helplessly.
Uchiha… you really do have a death wish.
Such wealth. Such strength. Such potential.
And yet, without the resolve to protect it all, their downfall was inevitable.
When a whale dies, all creatures feast.
Once the Uchiha fell, Konoha would become rich overnight.
---
Shisui's Concern
As Jin brooded, Shisui smiled lightly and broke the silence.
"Want to go to the training grounds? I still have some free time today. I can give you a bit of guidance."
He hesitated, then added quietly, "Tomorrow… well, things will change."
The worry on his face was plain.
Jin wasn't a prodigy. No Jonin would be assigned to him as a mentor; at best, he'd get a Chunin who spent more time on the battlefield than teaching. In reality, such teams barely had time for training at all. Most were thrown straight into combat.
That was what scared Shisui.
So while he had the chance, he wanted to help his childhood friend.
After all, though Shisui was only a Chunin in rank, his real strength was already beyond most Jonin.
And while Shisui was kind to everyone, he wasn't blind to the difference between close and distant ties.
For Jin — his childhood companion, whose parents had died in part because of his grandfather's actions — Shisui treated him like a younger brother.
Otherwise, how could someone like Jin receive so much compensation from the clan?
The truth was simple: clan head Fugaku gave Shisui face.
As for the sword, the swordsmanship, and the clan secrets — those were from Shisui's own personal treasury.
But Jin only shook his head.
"Forget it. Better not."
"Tomorrow we'll be assigned to teams and shipped off to the front. Right now, I just want to rest and save my strength. If I exhaust myself today, how can I be sharp tomorrow?"
He gave a small smile.
"I know you mean well, Shisui. But I know my limits. One day of practice won't change anything. Resting is worth more to me right now."
"…."
Shisui fell silent, helpless.
Looking at Jin's lazy face, he almost wanted to scold him into being a civilian.
But chakra users couldn't choose that life.
And after thinking it through, maybe Jin was right. He wasn't a genius — no matter how much Shisui coached him, the effect wouldn't be drastic. Better to conserve energy before the battlefield swallowed him whole.
"Alright," Shisui finally said. "Rest well. But be careful out there."
Then he paused, thought for a moment, and formed hand seals.
"At least let me teach you one thing."
With a puff of smoke, a crow appeared on his arm.
"This is a ninja crow I trained. Sign a contract with it — its usefulness is on par with the Neko Clan. After the war, I'll try to convince Chief Fugaku to let you sign with the Neko Clan directly.
For now, if you ever face a true life-or-death crisis… summon the crow. It will notify me immediately. I'll come for you."
Jin's mouth twitched.
There was no mistaking Shisui's sincerity. He genuinely wanted the best for him.
And that made Jin uncomfortable.
Because… it wasn't necessary.
He was confident enough to survive on his own, as long as he didn't face a Kage-level enemy or a Jinchūriki.
But he knew that if he refused, Shisui would never drop it.
So, with a resigned sigh, he learned the Summoning Technique and signed the contract.
Shisui's face softened with relief as he smiled.
After chatting a while longer, he finally took his leave.
He wasn't like Jin, who could be content with idleness. Shisui's days were packed: managing radicals on Fugaku's behalf, answering Sarutobi Hiruzen's summons, training with young Itachi.
Too many burdens for someone his age.
Jin watched him go, stretching lazily.
It's better to live as an idle man like me. One person full, the whole family fed. Bonds, duties, responsibilities… they only tie you down.
And yet, sometimes those bonds were the hardest to ignore.