"Uchiha Shisui!"
"Uchiha Shisui!"
After a brief moment of stunned silence, the entire camp erupted into cheers. His name echoed through the night air.
No shinobi failed to admire strength—especially when that strength stood on their own side. Power was the foundation of survival.
At last, the roaring applause subsided.
Uchiha Hui had already slipped away unnoticed.
Bathed in firelight, Shisui's expression softened as he raised his cup once more.
"Alcohol is forbidden in the military. Tonight, we drink water in its place. Don't overindulge~"
A knowing wave of laughter spread.
"Cheers!"
The banquet resumed in high spirits. Conversations blossomed across the tiers and below.
"Teacher's unbelievable—he snuck up there himself! Look at him grinning, his mouth's practically at his ears!"
Sima Yi sipped his tea quietly while listening to a group of younger shinobi chatter nearby.
"So cool… I wish I could sit near Lord Shisui. He's so handsome!"
"Hah! I'm handsome too, alright? Though… maybe not as much as Lord Shisui."
"Just his Fire Release is already that strong. And he's Uchiha! If he used the Sharingan, wouldn't he be even more terrifying?"
"Obviously!"
"So who's stronger—the Hokage or Lord Shisui?"
"Of course the Hokage! The Third is the strongest Hokage!"
"I think Lord Shisui might be stronger!"
The vitality of youth amused Sima Yi.
But his gaze lingered elsewhere—on a lone Uchiha seated stiffly at the edge of the gathering.
Uchiha Kanefire.
About thirteen or fourteen years old, he sat upright, posture rigid, expression stern—almost brooding. He seemed oddly out of place among the lively crowd.
When Shisui's name came up, his eyes shifted several times, as if wanting to speak—yet he held his silence.
This clan truly has countless problems.
Sima Yi sighed inwardly. This boy had been specifically recommended to him as someone "good at conversation."
Good at conversation?
Just then, Sima Yi spoke casually.
"This young man is Uchiha too, isn't he? Are all Uchiha this impressive?"
Because Sima Yi dressed plainly and avoided wearing the clan crest, most hadn't paid him attention until he spoke.
Following his gesture, everyone turned toward Kanefire.
Caught under sudden scrutiny, the boy stiffened even further.
He gave a short nod.
"Yes. After all… we are Uchiha."
The surrounding youths blinked.
Then exchanged awkward glances.
"…Ah, haha, true enough. Uchiha, after all…"
Sima Yi nearly choked on his tea.
He distinctly remembered Hui describing this boy as "very sociable."
This?
Fortunately, he had prepared for this possibility.
Before the silence could thicken, Sima Yi spoke again, tone light.
"It must be reassuring to have an Uchiha teammate. If I were assigned to a squad with you, young man, you wouldn't look down on a lowly genin like me, would you?"
Kanefire's stern mask faltered.
His mind raced.
That familiar phrasing—
His eyes flickered in recognition.
He straightened.
"Of course not! Whether we're in the same squad or not, we are all part of Konoha. You are my comrade. I, Uchiha Kanefire, will protect you!"
He declared it loudly.
The effect was immediate.
"Whoa—unexpectedly reliable!"
"As expected of Uchiha!"
"Senior Kanefire! Can I spar with you sometime? I've always wanted to fight an Uchiha at least once!"
"Hey! Don't trouble him!"
Yet to everyone's surprise, Kanefire accepted readily.
"No problem. Anytime you want."
"Really?! That's awesome!"
The tension dissolved.
Seeing that the Uchiha youth was far more approachable than rumors suggested, curiosity replaced hesitation.
"Senior Kanefire, how old are you?"
"Me? I just turned fourteen last month."
"Fourteen and already a chūnin? That's incredible!"
Kanefire shifted uncomfortably.
"It's… not that impressive."
In truth, he had become chūnin at twelve.
But there had once been a twelve-year-old jōnin before him.
Compared to that figure, his achievements felt dim.
"Senior Kanefire, do you have a girlfriend?"
"W-What? N-No!"
His face flushed bright red.
That scenario hadn't been part of the rehearsal!
"Stop asking stupid questions! Senior, tell us about how the Uchiha fight!"
Ah.
There it is.
Kanefire's eyes lit up.
"Sure! Let's start with the time Lord Shisui led us to rescue the rear camp—"
And once he began, he did not stop.
He described techniques in vivid detail—names, power, tactics—gesturing animatedly. He recounted Shisui's ambush of the Mist shinobi, even inserting a dramatic retelling of how he himself saved a squad leader who had been attacked while… relieving himself.
The crowd alternated between outrage, awe, and laughter.
"You little brat…"
From the upper tier, a certain figure glared daggers at Kanefire's back. Tomoe spun furiously within his Sharingan.
He looked ready to leap down and gag the boy.
Sima Yi, meanwhile, silently withdrew his earlier skepticism.
Yes.
This one could talk.
Time passed in laughter.
Then suddenly—
The platform above fell quiet.
An inexplicable hush spread downward.
All eyes lifted.
"It's starting!"
An announcer stepped onto the central stage.
Four Uchiha shinobi appeared at the corners—Hui among them, looking distinctly unenthusiastic.
"Senior Kanefire, are you competing in the chūnin bracket?"
"N-No. I just became chūnin recently. I still need… further training."
The excuse came stiffly.
In truth, he had wanted to participate.
But he had been strictly forbidden.
Thankfully, attention had already shifted.
"It's the genin match! They're starting!"
Two genin stepped forward and formed the Seal of Opposition.
The signal was given.
They clashed.
No dazzling ninjutsu—just kunai and raw taijutsu.
Several exchanges passed.
One made a misstep.
The other seized the opening—but nearly thrust too hard. At the last instant, Hui intervened, restraining the strike.
To Hui, it was hardly impressive.
To the crowd below—
It was electrifying.
Cheers exploded.
The two competitors formed the Seal of Reconciliation.
The victor raised both hands high, looking toward familiar faces.
They were all cheering for him.