After hearing Shisui's words, Kagaya fell silent for a long time, unsure of what to say. Finally, he managed a somewhat cliché response.
"Senior Shisui, you're a great ninja."
Shisui shook his head, changing the subject. "Far from it. You're giving me too much credit, kid. Let's talk about something else. Did you know that I've been keeping an eye on you since shortly after you were born?"
Kagaya looked at Shisui in surprise. "Huh? Senior Shisui, are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious."
"Why would you pay attention to me?"
Shisui replied with a mysterious tone. "That's because, not long after you were born, Takayuki-sama came to me. Guess what he wanted?"
Kagaya frowned, puzzled. "Father? I don't know."
Shisui tapped Kagaya's forehead. "U-chi-ha Ka-ga-ya!"
He enunciated each syllable of Kagaya's name deliberately.
"Got it now?"
Kagaya still didn't understand and shook his head. "No."
Shisui tapped Kagaya's forehead a bit harder. "You! Didn't you look into Konoha's history? Did you only focus on the recent conflicts between the Uchiha and the village?"
Kagaya scratched his head, admitting sheepishly, "Yeah."
For Kagaya, the Uchiha massacre was a matter of life and death, so he had thoroughly researched the recent tensions between the Uchiha and Konoha. Other history? What did that have to do with his survival? Nothing? Then why bother?
Shisui withdrew his hand and explained. "During the Second Hokage's era, there was an Uchiha named Kagami, who transcended clan loyalty and devoted himself to the village. He served as a guard alongside the Third Hokage and Danzo-sama under the Second Hokage. He was a truly great ninja, and he was my ancestor. Takayuki-sama, like the clan leader, wanted to name his child after a great figure, so he thought of my ancestor. Naming someone after a great figure isn't something you can just do without permission, so Takayuki-sama sought my approval as Kagami's descendant. I didn't refuse. However, since you're also an Uchiha, sharing the same surname, using the exact same name would cause confusion. To avoid that, they added "Ya" your name. Now you know why I've been watching you since you were born. You carry my ancestor's name! Haha"
Kagaya was stunned. He hadn't expected such a story behind his name.
"I'm afraid I'll tarnish your ancestor's great name, Senior Shisui."
Shisui patted Kagaya's shoulder. "That's why you need to work harder! Become strong as soon as possible!"
Kagaya's gaze was resolute. "I definitely will, Senior."
Shisui smiled and handed Kagaya a grilled fish. "Here, eat."
The two happily ate their fish.
What Kagaya didn't know was that behind Shisui's warm smile lay immense expectations.
"I believe you'll live up to my ancestor's name, Kagaya. After Itachi, you're the next hope I see for the Uchiha."
---
Konoha, Year 55, January.
As the end-of-term exams approached, training at the Ninja Academy became more frequent.
On the school's training field, it was time for a sparring session between Kagaya and Sasuke.
The two faced each other, forming the Seal of Confrontation. Iruka stood between them, raising his hand high. Once both were ready, he swung his hand down.
"Begin!"
As Iruka's words rang out, Sasuke charged forward with a shout. "Here I come, Kagaya! This time, I won't lose to you!"
Kagaya remained unfazed, watching Sasuke rush toward him with a faint smile. "Since we're sparring, I won't hold back. I'm going to win!"
Kagaya had started at the academy in September, but by November, he began forfeiting most sparring matches. He didn't lose because he couldn't win—it was just that he found it pointless. Sparring with his peers no longer offered even the slightest chance for improvement.
So, Kagaya saw no reason to bother with these matches. Surrendering was quicker.
His nonchalant attitude was obvious to everyone, earning him a reputation among his peers as an "arrogant Uchiha."
Kagaya didn't care. In the entire class, the only one he wouldn't surrender against was Sasuke, because Sasuke was at least somewhat interesting.
Kagaya waited until Sasuke was close before making his move. Though he acted later, his speed was overwhelming. Before Sasuke could throw a punch, Kagaya stepped forward, kicked Sasuke's leg out from under him, grabbed his arm, and pinned him to the ground.
The match was over.
While Sasuke was somewhat interesting, he was only somewhat interesting. From September to January, Kagaya's after-school sparring partner had been Shisui—the legendary "Shisui of the Body Flicker," renowned across the ninja world.
Every time, Kagaya was beaten black and blue, with a record of 301 losses and zero wins.
Even so, Kagaya's current abilities far surpassed those of his peers.
In other words, just as Shisui thoroughly dominated Kagaya, Kagaya was confident he could dominate his classmates.
Iruka, unsurprised, announced the result formally. "Match over! Kagaya wins."
Under Iruka's supervision, a reluctant Sasuke formed the Seal of Reconciliation with Kagaya.
Kagaya looked at Sasuke's sulky, defiant expression and chuckled. "Still not convinced, huh?"
Sasuke sighed. "Kagaya, you're too strong. Can't you just let me win for once?"
Kagaya replied seriously, "No, Sasuke. Either I refuse to fight you by surrendering, or I have to win. Someone set a rule for me: when facing peers, if I fight, I must win."
Sasuke said helplessly, "That's Senior Shisui, isn't it?"
Kagaya smiled without responding, tacitly confirming it.
After Kagaya and Sasuke completed the Seal of Reconciliation, Iruka announced, "Next match: Uchiha Kagaya versus Uzumaki Naruto!"
Kagaya immediately raised his hand. "I surr—"
Iruka, anticipating this, cut him off. "No surrendering today!"
Kagaya scratched his head, muttering helplessly, "Guess it happens sometimes."
Moments later, the blond boy stepped forward, forming the Seal of Confrontation, his gaze resolute. "Don't underestimate me! I'll make you fight me willingly!"
By now, among his peers, Kagaya's forfeits were seen as an insult. They knew he only surrendered because he thought they were too weak to bother with. Conversely, everyone in the class hoped to earn the "privilege" of Kagaya willingly fighting them.
Though they saw Kagaya as an "arrogant Uchiha" and didn't want to get too close, no one could deny that this Uchiha was outrageously strong—strong to the point of despair. His peers only dared to aspire to "Kagaya fighting willingly." The idea of "defeating Kagaya" was something no one even dreamed of anymore.
Kagaya looked at the familiar stubbornness in the blond boy's eyes, sparking a bit of interest.
To others, Naruto's defiance was just a sign of unwillingness to give up. But Kagaya knew better. That stubbornness had carried this boy through countless obstacles, ultimately making him one of the two strongest people in the world.
"I hope you can make that happen," Kagaya said.
With Iruka's call of "Begin," Naruto charged forward, raising his fist and swinging.
Naruto was defeated.
Kagaya pinned him to the ground.
"Maybe one day in the future, I'll have to treat you as a formidable opponent, but not now, Naruto. Keep working hard."
Sasuke, watching from the sidelines with the other students, looked at Kagaya in confusion.
Everyone in the class had noticed something odd: for some reason, this "arrogant Uchiha" seemed to have a high opinion of Uzumaki Naruto, the class's dead-last, often encouraging him.
At first, Sasuke found it strange, wondering if Naruto was a hidden powerhouse. He sparred with Naruto and won easily.
After countless victories, Sasuke was certain: Naruto was a genuine dead-last, with no hidden potential whatsoever.
He couldn't understand why his ridiculously strong friend inexplicably believed in this dead-last.