"The Hokage would never steal food from villagers. What you're doing is robbery—a crime." Shin glanced sideways at his little companion. "Hayate, where do criminals get sent?"
"To the Konoha Police Force," Gekkō Hayate replied seriously. "I heard it's packed with Uchiha, and they're not gentle at all. Once you're inside, they hang you up and beat you first."
Little Yūgao eagerly added, "Exactly! They're terrifying—four meals a day, especially little girls. The one squatting is the tastiest!"
"Aaaah!" The girl shrieked, sprang to her feet, and bolted without looking back, abandoning her companions entirely.
The stocky, dark-haired boy, pale with fear, clenched his teeth through the pain and dragged his two groaning sidekicks away. "I'm not going to the Police Force!"
As they fled, his wail echoed like that of a beaten dog.
Shin didn't stop them. They were just kids. A beating was enough—if they strutted around again, he'd simply beat them again.
Back at the fire, the food was ready.
Hayate picked up a grilled fish, blew on it, took a bite, and nodded. "Good. You can eat this."
Yūgao grabbed one immediately and dug in—she'd been starving.
Shin took a fish but didn't eat it. Instead, he turned toward a nearby tree and called out, "Done watching? Come down and eat with us."
The two kids followed his gaze, eyes wide, as a boy about their age dropped lightly from the branches.
He wore a blue stand-collar shirt and had naturally wavy black hair. His eyes were large and bright, almost plate-sized, and though his nose was a bit big for a child, it wasn't unattractive—just distinctive.
He hesitated, then asked shyly, "R-really… It's okay?"
"Of course!" Uzuki Yūgao chirped. "We're not bad kids. Dad says helping people is good manners. And Big Brother Shin's fish is really tasty!"
She handed him a grilled fish. "What's your name?"
"Shisui," the boy replied softly. "Uchiha Shisui."
"Huh? Ha… hahaha!"
Yūgao froze mid-motion. She had just finished slandering the entire Uchiha clan—only to immediately meet one of its children.
"Th-thanks for the food," Uchiha Shisui said as he accepted the fish, then added awkwardly, "We… we don't actually eat kids."
Hayate & Yūgao: "..."
From the clothes, Shin had guessed he was an Uchiha—but he hadn't expected him to be that Uchiha.
No trace of the clan's rumored arrogance. Just shy, polite, and easygoing.
Like all children—at least on the surface—they quickly warmed up. Names were exchanged, laughter followed, and the Police-Force-cannibal joke was quietly buried.
Shin asked, "Uchiha Shisui, right? How old are you?"
"Just call me Shisui. I'm four."
Uzuki Yūgao brightened. "Same age! But like Big Brother Shin, you act all grown-up."
Hayate waved dismissively. "Leave me out—I'm a year older."
Shin was surprised. Shisui was his peer—they'd enter the Academy the same year.
Hopefully not in the same class. And definitely not on the same genin squad after graduation.
Everyone knew that pairing up with Uchiha was prime fuel for Sharingan awakenings.
Kakashi sacrificed one eye at the start, and Uchiha Obito happily gained two tomoe—that's considered good.
Poor Yuki Minazuki-sensei, Tenma, and Shinko, who became the three team members of Itachi. Of the three, Yuki-sensei and Tenma became random offerings that helped Itachi awaken two tomoe.
Worst of all was Sasuke—lost his entire clan for a single tomoe… but not fully.
After lunch, they cleaned up.
Shin clapped his hands. "All right. Bellies full—let's begin."
Uchiha Shisui hesitated. "Um… what game? If I can, may I join?"
It wasn't just curiosity. Making friends outside the compound felt right. That was why he often snuck out.
He couldn't explain it—instinct told him to mingle with kids who weren't Uchiha.
Sadly, once others noticed the clan crest, they usually turned cold. Only Higashino Shin's group didn't care.
Yūgao wagged a tiny finger. "Nope. Big Brother Shin's going to teach us chakra control."
"I see… then I should head home."
Shin raised an eyebrow. "Big-clan kids already training at this stage?"
"No. But this kind of practice involves family secrets. Learning without permission would be rude."
"What secrets? These are just my own insights. It's fine—come along."
Shisui's worries vanished instantly, and he happily joined.
Ninja Clan children really did follow rules—they benefited most from them.
The four launched into lively chakra-control practice.
Tree-climbing and water-walking sounded simple: coat your soles with chakra—stick to solids, spread tension across liquids.
But in practice, it required constant sensing and adjustment. Too much chakra shattered contact. Too little, and you slipped.
In battle, there was no time to think—like chakra extraction, it had to become instinct.
Like breathing. No conscious command. The body simply did it.
Training like this devoured hours.
By afternoon, Shisui was leading—absurdly gifted, already proficient. A few more days and he'd rival Shin.
And that was despite Shin's white Natural Energy continuously refining his body and smoothing chakra control.
Shisui relied purely on talent and Uchiha blood's natural chakra affinity.
After all, they were direct descendants of the Ōtsutsuki—the very source of chakra in the ninja world.
Second place went to Gekkō Hayate, older by a year and steady.
Last place was Uzuki Yūgao, her cheeks puffed out all afternoon from sheer frustration.
At dusk, after "accidentally" eliminating a few more fish, they ended practice and headed home.
Before parting, Uchiha Shisui asked quietly, "Can we train like this again?"
Uzuki Yūgao beamed. "Of course! You know where we train—come find us anytime!"
Shin and Gekkō Hayate said nothing, simply giving him a thumbs-up.
Shisui—normally so composed—broke into a bright, genuine grin and returned the gesture.
Thankfully, none of them wore green jumpsuits with sparkling teeth.
On the way home, Shisui felt light, relaxed, and genuinely happy—something he rarely felt among his clansmen.
Even at that young age, he wondered: Were the Uchiha too closed off?
Shouldn't they live with the Village—rather than spending every day guarding that gloomy Police Force building?