Basics, Still Basics!

When Kagami Uchiha was mentioned, not many people in Konoha still remembered him. Like the Third Hokage, Kagami Uchiha had been a disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. He had been extremely powerful and one of the few who hoped the Uchiha Clan would completely integrate with Konoha.

Unfortunately, he had died young. The later-famous Uchiha Shisui was Kagami Uchiha's descendant. Based on the time of Kagami Uchiha's death and Shisui's appearance, Uchiha Shisui was considered Kagami Uchiha's grandson.

Although Hiko was not Kagami Uchiha's direct descendant, he came from a collateral branch. Hiko's nominal father and Kagami Uchiha had been brothers.

Of course, Hiko knew none of this. He had never paid attention to his identity.

In fact, it was right for Hiko not to care. Digging too deeply would only bring trouble. Kagami Uchiha might have been admirable to Konoha, but to the Uchiha Clan, he had been a bastard.

At least, that was what most of the Uchiha High Command believed.

As an Uchiha, he had wanted the Uchiha to sacrifice everything for Konoha. Wasn't that screwed up?

Many of the Uchiha Clan's higher-ups were still trying every possible way to fight for power, yet Kagami Uchiha had wanted them to lay everything down and sacrifice everything. Who would agree to that?

It was already generous that they had not called Kagami Uchiha a traitor.

If all those connections were dragged into the open, Hiko's life in the Uchiha Clan probably would not be easy.

The Anbu kneeling on the ground felt faintly curious. Why was Lord Hokage interested in this child from the Uchiha Family? The child did not seem to possess anything particularly outstanding.

As those closest to the Hokage, the Anbu knew very well whom the Third Hokage valued most and cared about most.

Yet Uchiha Hiko was not on that list.

And now, Uchiha Hiko was slowly entering the Third Hokage's sight.

"Lord Hokage, should we send someone to follow him?"

Konoha would more or less send people to secretly protect children with talent. It was also a form of indirect cultivation, though under normal circumstances, the person involved would not know.

"No."

The Third Hokage shook his head slightly. As he watched the sun gradually sink beyond the mountain outside the window, his gaze became distant, and he slowly said:

"This child is an Uchiha. If we do this, we will only provoke the Uchiha's displeasure. They may even suspect us of having some ulterior motive. Let him grow on his own."

If Hiko had merely been an ordinary person, a child from an ordinary family, then after displaying enough talent and diligence to enter the Third Hokage's view, the Third Hokage would have sent someone to follow him. Of course, only for part of the time; the Anbu could not watch him every moment.

But Hiko was a member of the Uchiha Clan. Although everything appeared harmonious on the surface, the conflict between the Uchiha and the village had always existed, especially in secret. Doing this would not bring Hiko any benefit and might even harm him.

Think about it: the relationship between the Uchiha and the village high command had always been strained, yet Anbu members were watching a child of the Uchiha Family. How could the Uchiha Clan not grow suspicious?

"Yes!!!"

Meanwhile, Hiko, who was still training at the Training Ground, had no idea that the Third Hokage had been watching him for half the day, repeatedly examining his records and even digging into his background.

Not many people who watched Hokage knew much about Kagami Uchiha, but they were very familiar with his descendant, Uchiha Shisui. He possessed a terrifying pair of Sharingan and an absurdly powerful Genjutsu—Kotoamatsukami!!

Unfortunately, Kotoamatsukami, known as the strongest Genjutsu, had never once been used in its complete form. Danzo had taken the right eye, while the left eye had been given to Uchiha Itachi.

If the Sharingan could not form a pair, what meaning did this so-called Kotoamatsukami even have?

Basics, still basics!!!

Hiko did not think too much about it and immersed himself in all kinds of basic training. Taijutsu, Shuriken, and Kunai practice—again and again. No matter how bitter or exhausting it was, he persisted resolutely. Even Orochimaru, whom the Third Hokage had always thought highly of, could not match such determination.

Compared with these basics, Orochimaru was more interested in Ninjutsu.

Orochimaru would not abandon basic training, but he would not put in as much effort as Hiko. He devoted more of his energy elsewhere, such as reading. All kinds of books and Ninjutsu Scrolls were what Orochimaru valued.

Unfortunately, Orochimaru at this time could not access too many books or Ninjutsu Scrolls. That would have to wait until he became the Third Hokage's disciple.

Thud! Thud! Thud!!!

The targets hidden among the trees were all filled with Kunai. Not a single one had missed.

Hiko jumped into the woods and retrieved the Kunai. He did not dare throw them away and ignore them, or he would starve to death...

Others wanted to experience sleeping until they woke naturally and counting money until their hands cramped. At this moment, Hiko only wanted to experience one thing: throwing Kunai until his hand cramped, without having to retrieve them afterward!!!

"What a pile of junk!!"