Shisui, hiding around the corner of the alley, was filled with remorse.
He hadn't managed to say a single word, and why on earth had he bowed to him?
"Uchiha Shisui, you're a big idiot!"
He covered his face, screaming silently in frustration.
Then he heard the Clan Head's wife bid farewell to an acquaintance.
She turned to Naraku and began chattering cheerfully.
"Oh, that child who just ran away—he's the one who gave you that string of paper cranes."
"So it was him."
Naraku's voice sounded gentle and pure, like a clear spring flowing through the mountains.
Mikoto continued, "Yes, he's a shy child. His name is Uchiha Shisui."
"Shisui..." Naraku repeated the name with a hint of surprise.
"What a good name."
He seemed to be smiling as he spoke, but there was no trace of mockery; it was a warm, genuine smile.
Shisui felt a glow in his heart and walked all the way home in a daze, taking a long time to recover his senses.
"Next time, I must have a proper conversation with Naraku-senpai!"
His mother's birthday was approaching, and his father had written to say he would likely return to the village that afternoon for a reunion dinner.
Shisui was troubled about what gift to give her that would show his sincerity.
On his way to the Academy, he bumped into Obito-nii and mentioned his worries.
Obito, who always had an idea, quickly came up with a plan.
"Let's go hunting! I know where to find wild rabbits!"
"Auntie will definitely love a wild rabbit you caught yourself!"
Shisui was completely moved by the suggestion.
The next day, the two fearless children informed their families they would be training together and would be home late.
As soon as school was out, they packed their things and headed straight for the woods Obito had mentioned.
After some effort, they successfully caught a wild rabbit.
But by then, the sun had already set.
While chasing the rabbit, they accidentally trespassed into the territory of a wild boar.
Logically, such a creature shouldn't have been in this small patch of woods; it was likely a recent migrant.
By the time Obito noticed it, the massive beast was already charging toward Shisui, whose eyes were still fixed on the rabbit.
"Get out of the way, Shisui!"
To protect his younger clansman, Obito had no choice but to confront it head-on.
As his kunai pierced the boar's neck, Obito was gored and slammed into a large tree, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Shisui, caught off guard, was scraped by a tusk and tumbled down a dirt slope.
He rolled several times before stopping, dropping the rabbit and scrambling back up the slope to help.
The two fought again, and after much difficulty, they managed to kill the boar.
They collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
Cough!
Obito spat out more blood, feeling his broken ribs and agonizingly painful calf.
He sighed at his luck—not knowing if it was good or bad.
"I can't let Rin know, or I'll get another lecture... hehe."
"Are you okay, Obito-nii?"
Shisui could still walk and bypassed the boar's corpse to check on him.
"It's nothing serious, I just can't walk. You go back first, get to the hospital, and find someone to help me."
Seeing that Obito's breathing was stable despite the grimacing, Shisui nodded.
He ran toward Konoha Hospital at the fastest speed he could muster.
"I'm almost at the hospital. Hang in there, Shisui! Obito-nii is waiting for you!"
Shisui gritted his teeth, enduring the stinging pain in his ankle with every step.
Ahead, a figure emerged from a grassy slope.
Shisui hadn't even seen the person's face clearly when he heard a voice he would never mistake.
"Uchiha Shisui?"
"Uh... this..."
He stopped instinctively in front of the other person.
Those gentle eyes were full of worry, scanning him from head to toe.
"How did you get so covered in injuries?"
Shisui's mind was racing, and he stammered, unable to form a sentence.
"Uchiha Shisui, what are you doing! Pull yourself together, speak!"
He was nearly dying of frustration.
When no reply came, Naraku squatted down and grasped Shisui's swollen ankle.
A blue-green light flashed in his palm.
Within seconds, the pain subsided significantly, and Shisui's frantic mind calmed.
"Na... Naraku-senpai..."
He swallowed and blurted out the words he had practiced the whole way.
"Obito-nii is still in the woods and can't move. I'll lead you to rescue him!"
Only as he finished did Shisui realize how unceremonious and rude his request sounded.
But Naraku immediately nodded without any hesitation.
"Okay."
Before Shisui could react, Naraku had already hoisted him onto his back and rushed toward the woods.
Shisui lay on Naraku's back, feeling the cool night wind whistle past his ears.
One moment they were passing a streetlamp; the next, they were deep in the wilderness.
He finally lowered his head in relief.
Following Shisui's directions, Naraku reached the woods in minutes.
When he found Obito, the boy was still worrying about how to transport the boar back.
His face was contorted in pain from his broken bones, yet he was struggling to bleed the kill.
"Obito, you're...?"
Even though he knew Obito was carefree, Naraku found his eccentricity a little exasperating.
"Obito-nii!"
Shisui jumped off Naraku's back, seeing his mentor still fixated on the prey with a confused expression.
"Ah, Shisui, you're back!"
Obito turned suddenly, accidentally pulling a broken bone and groaning again.
It was better to save him quickly before he made it worse.
Naraku walked over, feeling for the breaks in Obito's ribcage.
He had studied bone setting extensively over the last two months and felt confident in his touch.
"Hm? Why is it you, Naraku?"
As he got closer, Obito finally recognized him.
"Didn't you just get discharged from the hospital?"
"We met on the way," Naraku replied with a smile.
Then, with lightning speed, snap went one rib back into place.
"Ow—"
Obito hadn't even finished his first yell when Naraku went snap, snap, snap.
The remaining three ribs were reset.
"Quack—"
Barely managing a duck-like squawk, Obito's eyes rolled back, and he almost frothed at the mouth.
He pointed a trembling finger at Naraku, accusing him disjointedly.
"You... you could at least... give a warning..."
Naraku used the same explanation Minato once had, speaking seriously.
"If you knew what I was going to do, you would unconsciously tense up... and it wouldn't be as effective."
He examined Obito's bloody calf, gently pinching it.
The boy tried frantically to stop him.
"Wait, wait! Give me three seconds to mentally prepare!"
"Hmm, no displacement, but it's definitely fractured. You'll need a cast."
Naraku stood up and formed hand signs.
Obito let out half a sigh of relief, thinking the treatment was over.
Then he heard a poof, and another Naraku appeared before him.
"A Shadow Clone?"
Obito was envious; he hadn't learned that jutsu yet.
But when the Shadow Clone bent down and picked him up in a bridal carry, the envy vanished instantly.
"No! Why aren't you carrying me on your back?!"
He squirmed in embarrassment, but the clone held him even tighter.
The Shadow Clone said sternly, "Stop moving. Your ribs are broken; this is the safest way."
The clone jumped onto a thick branch and quickly sped out of the woods.
Obito was incredibly grateful it was dark so no one could see his humiliating state.
"Speaking of which... he did this on purpose, didn't he?"
Obito gave the Shadow Clone a resentful look.
The clone noticed, looked down, and returned a perfectly serene smile.
Obito quickly covered his face with his hands.
Everyone had misjudged this guy!
Naraku was actually incredibly devious!
He was a perfect match for Kakashi!
Naraku's main body, carrying Shisui, followed closely behind.
He thought mischievously, "My foolish clansman Obito, you guessed right. I did it on purpose."