A Link in the Chain

[Yes]

Suddenly, a massive surge of chakra erupted from within his body, converging toward Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan. The intense, throbbing pain radiating from his eyes caused Shisui severe discomfort.

[Indra Bloodline development: 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%...]

As the development rate climbed, the ocular power of the Sharingan rose in tandem. Three pitch-black tomoe spun frantically within his scarlet irises, gradually showing signs of merging.

Having experienced the awakening once before, Shisui knew this was the inevitable path for a Three-Tomoe Sharingan to evolve into a Mangekyō Sharingan.

It was a pity that now was not the time for Shisui to awaken it. When the Indra Bloodline development finally stalled at 50%, the growth of his ocular power also ceased.

However, Shisui could sense that a terrifying power was gestating within these eyes.

Just as Shisui thought this boost in strength had reached its limit, a stream of pure chakra began to overflow from his Sharingan, feeding back into every part of his body. Since this chakra shared the same origin as his physical form, it nourished his meridians while simultaneously increasing his total chakra reserves.

[Name: Shisui Uchiha]

[Age: 7]

[Bloodline: Indra Bloodline (Development 50%) -- Three-Tomoe Sharingan]

[Chakra Level: A+ (Elite Jonin level)]

[Chakra Nature: Fire (5%), Wind (0%), Earth (10%), Lightning (0%)]

[Skills: Body Flicker Technique, Substitution Technique, Phantom Body Flicker Technique, Great Fireball Technique, Great Dragon Fire Technique, Genjutsu, Demonic Illusion Stakes Technique...]

[Items: Konoha Chunin Gear]

Although he hadn't unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan, this harvest brought an all-around improvement to Shisui's strength. Not only had his chakra reserves touched the threshold of Kage-level, but his ocular power had also reached the peak of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan; unlocking the Mangekyō was now only a matter of time.

"Shisui, why do I feel like... you've become different?"

Having saved Rin Nohara and preparing to express his gratitude, Obito felt a powerful pressure emanating from Shisui.

The Uchiha clan was a lineage that revered bloodlines; the degree of development of one's own bloodline determined an Uchiha's strength.

This resulted in a situation where an Uchiha would feel a sense of oppression from the depths of their bloodline when facing a clansman with a significantly higher development rate.

That was exactly the case for Obito right now.

In his eyes, Shisui Uchiha's gaze seemed to possess a magical quality, one that could make a person fall into it involuntarily.

"Hm?"

Just as Shisui prepared to speak, a powerful chakra approached at an incredible speed.

"Sorry, I'm late. Obito, Rin, are you two alright?"

When that flash of gold appeared, Shisui lowered his guard.

"Minato-sensei, you've arrived."

"Minato-sensei, the Iwagakure ninja here have already been wiped out by us, it's just that Kakashi..."

The person who arrived was none other than the Yellow Flash of Konoha, the future Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

"What happened to Kakashi?"

At this moment, Minato Namikaze noticed that his once most aloof student was currently off to the side, silently licking his wounds.

"Minato-sensei, I'm fine, I've just lost an eye."

"It's fortunate that Shisui Uchiha appeared in time to block the Iwagakure ninja's attack for us and eliminate them."

Rin Nohara also snapped back to reality. Seeing the person she had always liked lose an eye, she ran toward Kakashi in distress and pulled him into her arms.

Obito: "???"

Standing to the side, Obito watched the two embracing with a desolate expression; at this moment, he was nothing more than a side character in the drama between Rin Nohara and Kakashi.

Seeing this scene, Shisui Uchiha genuinely wanted to laugh.

"Shisui-kun, thank you for your help, otherwise I, as a teacher, would have blamed myself for a lifetime."

Facing Minato Namikaze, Shisui felt nothing but respect.

It wasn't just because the man didn't discriminate against the Uchiha clan, but rather actively worked to ease the relationship between the village and the Uchiha.

In the end, he even sacrificed himself for Konoha to seal the rampaging Nine-Tails, truly embodying the responsibilities of a Hokage through his actions.

"Minato-senpai, you are too kind. Kakashi and the others are my comrades; it is only right that we help each other."

Shisui responded politely. He would need Minato Namikaze to vouch for him later to get through the current predicament.

"Like Obito, you are an Uchiha who holds love in your heart and treats the village as your home. You are both the future of the Uchiha."

Shisui: "..."

If you knew that in the future, both you and your wife Kushina would die because of Obito, and that the Uchiha clan would be wiped out because of him, I doubt you'd feel that way, Shisui thought to himself.

"Minato-senpai, did you just come from Mimura Hamaki-sama's side?"

According to the original plot, Minato Namikaze had been supporting Mimura Hamaki, which was why his students were surrounded by Iwagakure ninja.

"Yes, the Iwagakure commander Higashishinin led a team to attack Mimura Hamaki's frontline defense forces. I came here immediately after taking care of Higashishinin over there."

"It's like this, my two teammates..."

"Therefore, I hope Senior Minato can help me find my two teammates, Akira Shimura and Kamii Sarutobi."

Minato Namikaze frowned slightly upon hearing the names of Shisui's two teammates.

Though he was upright, he was not foolish; otherwise, he would never have been able to secure the position of Hokage in the future.

"Very well, let us depart now. Once we find them, we shall return to the village."

Although he sensed that something was amiss, Minato agreed to Shisui's request out of gratitude for Shisui saving his three students.

[Host has received support from Minato Namikaze, slightly altering the original plot. Reward obtained: A-rank Ninjutsu · Rasengan]

Although it is not the development of the Indra Bloodline that I wanted most, it does enhance my single-target attack capability.

Five days later, inside the Hokage Building at the center of Konoha.

"What? Akira Shimura and Kamii Sarutobi were both killed by Iwagakure ninja, yet you are still alive? You truly are of the evil Uchiha clan."

In the conference room, Shimura Danzō gritted his teeth and pointed at Shisui Uchiha.

"Shisui separated from his teammates at the time specifically to provide support to Obito and the others; I can vouch for that."

Minato Namikaze looked at Shimura Danzō with visible displeasure. While he did not wish to provoke Danzō, he would not stand by and watch Shisui be slandered in public.

At Shisui's request, the credit for killing the four Iwagakure ninja—including Mahiru and Taiseki—was attributed entirely to Minato Namikaze, the reasoning being to avoid inciting suspicion within the village.

Minato, having "usurped" the credit, felt all the more guilty for it.

As the current face of the Hokage's faction, Minato was someone even Danzō had to show a measure of respect.