Shisui could only sigh.
Staring at Jin's lazy posture, he did not know what to say. With a temperament like that, Jin might have been better off as a civilian.
He could extract chakra, so being a civilian was impossible. Thinking it over, Shisui had to admit Jin's point was not wrong.
He was no prodigy. A last minute crash course would not help much. Better to conserve strength.
"All right."
"Rest today, and be careful on the field."
"Here, learn a jutsu."
He gave up on training him now, but he still could not rest easy. He taught Jin the Summoning Technique, then summoned a crow and smiled.
"This is a raven I have raised."
"Sign a contract with him. He is no worse than the ninja cats."
"When this war ends, I will try to persuade Clan Head Fugaku to grant you a cat contract."
"If you face a life and death moment, do not hesitate. Have the raven call me."
"I will come."
Jin's mouth twitched.
He knew Shisui's kindness was genuine. That made it harder to refuse.
He did not need it. As long as no Kage level enemy or a jinchuriki appeared, he was confident in his safety.
Still, if he refused, Shisui would not drop it.
He sighed and learned the technique, then signed with the ninja raven.
Shisui's lips curved at last.
They chatted a while longer, then he took his leave. Unlike Jin, Shisui had a full plate. Even on leave, Fugaku needed him to balance the radicals, the Hokage called on him at times, and sometimes he took Itachi to play.
Too much to do. Too little time.
Jin was free. One man, one belly, no worries.
Bonds were the problem.
He had once been alone. Running or lying low had been easy. Then came Teuchi and Ayame. Now Shisui.
He rubbed his temples on the front steps and watched Shisui's figure fade, then looked at the raven.
"It is fine."
"Saving Shisui will not be too hard."
"The Nine Tails incident is far off. The clan's night is even farther."
"No rush. One step at a time."
He was not heartless. The culture of five thousand years had taught him to repay kindness. Teuchi and Ayame, and now Shisui.
He could ignore strangers' lives. If others did not trouble him, he would not trouble them. The Hokage wanting the Uchiha gone did not move him.
But Shisui was different.
A cold light flickered in his eyes.
The next morning.
Konoha Academy, Fifth Year classroom.
The room buzzed. Most were flushed with excitement, itching to hit the front at once.
Only the clan heirs looked drained, as if sleep had not come.
"…"
Jin yawned.
He lounged in his seat, half slouched, staring out the window. He had no interest in the noise.
He had few friends. He moved alone, quiet and handsome.
Being Uchiha, no one sought him out. The clan's reputation in Konoha was mud.
No one picked on him either.
The elites and bright civilians were in Class A. Class B held ordinary shinobi. Clan kids kept their distance. Civilians disliked the Uchiha but did not dare provoke them. The Uchiha were still Konoha's foremost clan.
That was how he had drifted through five years at school.
His looks drew a few girls, but he did not bite.
They were already shinobi. After today they would march to war. Ordinary shinobi had less than a one percent chance to live. He would not start a romance today and see a grave in a week.
He was young. He could lie low a few years and look again.
Time slid by.
Half an hour later, Sarutobi Taiga entered.
He knew this room held cannon fodder. There was no point in speeches or bonding.
"Back to your seats."
"I will announce squad assignments. Listen closely."
"I will say it once."
"Squad One: Furusawa Mai, Ishizuka Yuta, Miyata Shiho."
"Squad Two: Abe Kairei, Sugawara Mana, Kawahara Sara."
"Squad Three: …"
"…"