"Shisui, if you can be promoted to Chunin in this exam, you must give it your all."
"Clan Head, I think it would be better if I weren't promoted. My teacher once said that a tree that grows too tall is easily blown down. I think that makes sense. Besides, the Uchiha don't need this sort of thing to decorate their reputation right now."
"Is that what you think? Then we'll do as you say."
The conversation Shisui had had with Fugaku the previous night kept replaying in his mind.
Things within the clan were truly complicated.
Shisui hadn't understood it before.
But.
He had secretly memorized the things Kyoichi had taught Yahiko last time. After returning to Konoha, he had trained while observing everything around him, gradually coming to understand much of what Kyoichi had said.
Allies. Enemies.
That was right!
Those came first.
Many people within the clan weren't companions who shared the same path at all. Instead, they were enemies who held everyone back. They weren't particularly capable, yet each had more schemes than the last. Take the simple Chunin Exams, for example—they had even managed to turn it into a stage for showing off their strength.
However.
Was that useful?
Shisui was only five years old, but he understood that it was completely useless.
Just like the gap between the Land of Rain and the great nations, producing one or two geniuses was nowhere near enough to reverse their fundamental decline.
Those old fogies within the clan treated Konoha as their imagined enemy...
Trouble would come sooner or later.
"Shisui, I heard this exam is unusual. You have to be careful."
"..."
Shisui looked up at Obito, his mouth slightly open, his expression somewhat dazed as though he wanted to speak but couldn't.
Nearby.
Kurenai Yuhi