After Kagaya's explanation, Itachi and Shisui exchanged glances. Itachi struggled to suppress a laugh, while Shisui burst into unrestrained laughter.
"Hahaha, what? Kagaya, you thought that was my code? Hahaha!"
Kagaya realized something was off. Over the past six months, he had been training closely with Shisui, who was in the Anbu. Inevitably, Kagaya had been exposed to many Anbu-related matters, and over time, he developed a habit of looking beyond the surface meaning of words, searching for deeper implications.
Now that he thought about it, could it be that Ino really just wanted to see him?
As a transmigrator, Kagaya might have been slow to catch on due to his time with Shisui, but now he understood what was going on.
He pursed his lips, muttering disdainfully, "At such a young age, learning that of all things."
As a steadfast straight-laced guy, Kagaya was quite qualified.
Shisui teased him with a grin. "Little Kagaya, interested?"
Kagaya's face flushed slightly. He didn't want to dwell on this topic.
After a good round of teasing, Shisui finally let Kagaya off and shifted to another matter. "By the way, Kagaya, since you came looking for me by mistake, I'll take the chance to tell you something. I was going to mention this after school today, but since you're here now, I'll tell you early. Do you know about the genius in the upper grades at the Ninja Academy?"
The Ninja Academy spanned six years, naturally divided into lower and upper grades.
As for a genius in the upper grades, among the current students, the most famous one was probably…
Kagaya replied uncertainly, "Hyuga Neji?"
Shisui nodded in confirmation. "Yes, that's him. I got word from the Anbu that Hyuga Neji is going to challenge you tomorrow."
"Huh? Why?"
Shisui countered, "Can't you figure it out? The tension between the Uchiha and the village is growing worse by the day, and at a time like this…"
He paused, looking at Kagaya, signaling him to continue.
Kagaya didn't disappoint Shisui's expectations. Over the past six months, training under Shisui had sharpened his understanding of the bigger picture and political dynamics, even if he was becoming denser about matters like "romance."
"At a time like this, when the Uchiha have produced a genius like me, comparable to Senior Itachi in his day, the village leadership must be worried. They're probably concerned I might become another Itachi, a major asset for the Uchiha in the near future. So, they're sending the Hyuga Clan's genius to test my strength."
Itachi looked at Kagaya in surprise. "You saw through it instantly? As expected of someone Shisui has his eye on."
Shisui, already accustomed to Kagaya's insight matching Itachi's, continued, "You're right. But what I really want to ask is, in this situation, what do you plan to do? Will you win, or not? No—before that, can you win? Are you confident you can win?"
Kagaya gave a faint smile. "Geniuses are usually confident, and confidence is a hallmark of the Uchiha. I've got both, so naturally, I'm confident I can win that fight. But…"
Shisui smiled, posing the question like a test. "Exactly. That's the issue. You're confident you can win, but to win or not to win—that's the choice. What will you choose?"
This was a test from Shisui to Kagaya.
If Kagaya won tomorrow's fight, he'd likely draw significant attention from Konoha's leadership. Over time, if they realized he was staunchly loyal to the Uchiha and a genius to boot, some shadowy figures might move to eliminate him, snuffing out a potential threat before he could grow.
If he deliberately lost, Konoha's leadership would see him as just another insignificant Uchiha, and their scrutiny would likely decrease. This would allow him to hide his true potential and stay safe.
By that logic, losing seemed like the better choice.
However…
"I'm going to win that fight tomorrow!" Kagaya declared firmly.
The night of the Uchiha massacre was already on a countdown, every second ticking closer. In such a situation, it was like rowing against the current—if you didn't move forward, you'd be swept back.
At a time like this, safety wasn't the priority. He had to charge toward his goal at all costs!
Winning would undoubtedly put Kagaya in a precarious position, possibly even in mortal danger. But on the flip side, winning would prove he was an undeniable genius, greatly increasing his chances of graduating early.
Becoming a genin—a full-fledged ninja—was the fastest way to grow stronger.
As for whether someone might target him for his loyalty to the Uchiha, Kagaya considered it. That old man with one eye covered might indeed do such a thing. But Kagaya's current situation was already dire: Itachi and Obito ahead, Danzo behind.
If he chose to play it safe and avoid Danzo's attention, his strength would grow far slower than if he became a ninja. He might evade Danzo, but he wouldn't escape the night of the massacre orchestrated by Obito and Itachi.
After weighing his options, Kagaya decided Danzo was the lesser threat compared to Obito and Itachi. For now, he just needed to seize every opportunity to grow stronger. If he couldn't even dodge Danzo's assassins, how could he hope to avoid Obito and Itachi's blades during the massacre?
Itachi frowned, looking at Kagaya. "You're in a hurry?"
Kagaya's urgency to grow stronger suggested he wasn't optimistic about the Uchiha and Konoha situation. Itachi, however, was determined to resolve the conflict peacefully, and Kagaya's lack of faith felt like a rejection of his pursuit.
Kagaya replied calmly, "Senior Itachi, do we see things the same way?"
Itachi paused, then realized. Of course—Itachi believed the Uchiha and Konoha could reach a peaceful resolution, while Kagaya didn't. In the end, it was just a difference of perspective. Without knowing the future, who was wrong? Neither.
Itachi smiled. "You're right. In the Uchiha Clan, aside from Shisui, you're the only one I've seen with such remarkable breadth of vision."
Itachi wasn't petty. He wouldn't grow cold over a difference of opinion. On the contrary, he admired Kagaya's ability to see the bigger picture and make rational judgments, rather than blindly following the crowd. Though Itachi didn't believe Kagaya's judgment was correct, his "breadth of vision" was worthy of praise. As Itachi said, within the entire Uchiha Clan, only Shisui and Kagaya shared this quality besides himself.
Shisui, however, wasn't concerned with this debate. He already knew Kagaya was pessimistic about the Uchiha and Konoha situation, while Itachi was optimistic. He had no interest in arguing who was right or wrong.
"Kagaya, since you've decided to win, here's my take. My original advice was also for you to win. Whatever you plan to do in the future, you'll need strength to back it up. Focus on improving yourself. As for anything unwanted…"
Shisui tapped Kagaya's head. "Don't think you have to face it alone. Leave it to me. As long as Shisui of the Body Flicker is alive, no harm will come to his little brother."