Prelude to the Clan Gathering, the Serpent's Gaze!

"Something up?"

Danzo cast a sidelong glance at Aburame Ryoma. Seeing the latter remain silent, his expression immediately turned cold.

"If I weren't truly out of options, you would never have climbed to this position."

"I actually had my eye on Orochimaru, but it's a pity that viper has no interest in wading through the muddy waters of Root."

By the time Uchiha Shingen learned of the clan meeting, he had already clocked out for the day.

Setsuna Uchiha had only just been released from prison, and the Uchiha clan had immediately called for a meeting; there was no need to guess who was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

More importantly, given the man's past style, the impact of this meeting would not be small, and it was highly likely to wash away the favorable situation currently at hand.

Shisui naturally realized this.

Itachi was still too young, barely able to speak clearly; even if he were precocious, there was a limit, and he couldn't keep up with Shisui's train of thought for the time being.

The only person who could share a common topic with him on such matters was Uchiha Shingen.

Shisui followed behind him, his face full of worry.

Seeing this, Uchiha Shingen couldn't help but speak up to comfort him:

"Worried about the clan meeting?"

"Yeah."

Shisui hung his head.

Geniuses in the ninja world are generally precocious, and this was even more true for Shisui, who was born into the Uchiha but deeply influenced by the Will of Fire of Konoha.

Although he was still young, he had already begun to ponder matters concerning the village and his clan.

For Shisui, and even for Uchiha Shingen, this topic was far beyond their pay grade.

Even bearing the title of genius could not trade for actual power or status; currently, there was very little that either Uchiha Shingen or Shisui could do.

Uchiha Shingen placed a hand on Shisui's shoulder and comforted him:

"Instead of fretting over things you cannot change, why not come train with me? Once your body is exhausted, you naturally won't have the energy to think about such nonsense."

"Focus on what I can do, rather than what I cannot change, huh..."

Shisui was stunned for a moment. When he looked up again, his eyes reflected the glow of the setting sun.

The worry on his face was swept away. Recalling the scenes he had seen over the past few days of Uchiha Shingen discussing creative writing with Jiraiya, he couldn't help but ask:

"Is Captain Shingen so knowledgeable because you've been writing books with Lord Jiraiya?"

"Want to learn?"

Seeing Shisui's earnest expression, Uchiha Shingen couldn't help but feel a bit playful:

"How far did you get in that copy of Make-Out Hell from last time?"

"..."

The corners of Shisui's mouth twitched violently. That small face, usually so amiable to everyone, rolled its eyes in a rare display of annoyance, though he immediately smiled helplessly.

His captain was great in every way, but that mouth really needed to be sewn shut.

"I'm going to train."

After greeting Uchiha Shingen, Shisui walked off toward the other end of the fork in the road on his own.

He was genuinely afraid that if he couldn't hold back, he would lash out at Uchiha Shingen again—and more importantly, he couldn't beat him!

Even though Shisui had grown quite a bit during this period, he could clearly feel that the dangerous aura emanating from Uchiha Shingen was climbing higher with every passing day.

By now, it had reached an incomprehensible level.

This could only mean that Uchiha Shingen was growing stronger at a speed beyond his understanding.

But on second thought, Shisui could understand.

After all, the man had obtained the jutsu he wanted from the clan head to patch his weaknesses, and then immediately gained guidance from Jiraiya; it was only natural for his strength to advance by leaps and bounds.

He had to work harder too; at the very least, he couldn't become a burden to Captain Shingen!

Shisui clenched his fists, his footsteps feeling much heavier.

Uchiha Shingen watched Shisui leave until he disappeared at the end of his line of sight, only then turning to walk toward his own residence.

He didn't have many people in Konoha he could call friends.

The members of Team Minato counted as half, Tezaku counted as one, and Shisui also counted as one—the most special one among them.

Young in age, but far more mature in thought; such a person would live a very tiring life.

It would be a lie for Uchiha Shingen to say he wasn't worried about the clan meeting, as it concerned his grand plan of slacking off, but just as he had told Shisui:

The affairs of the village and the Uchiha were not things he could intervene in at the moment.

As long as it didn't interfere with his slacking off at the Police Force, and as long as it didn't escalate to open warfare, a little tension was fine.

Holding this thought, Uchiha Shingen returned to his residence.

Over the next two days, the situation in Konoha grew increasingly tense.

The Konoha high command intensified their surveillance of the Uchiha clan, and Anbu-clad ninjas could be seen patrolling every corner of the village at all hours.

It felt as if the village were on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

This tension reached its peak two nights later.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Several Anbu ninjas, wearing grey flak jackets and animal masks, darted through the dense forest outside Konoha.

Their path led directly toward the Naka Shrine outside the village.

Since the founding of Konoha, this place had become the private sanctuary of the Uchiha clan, harboring secrets that remained unknown to this day.

"Captain!"

"We've spotted Uchiha clansmen ahead!"

The Anbu ninja wearing a crow mask stepped forward, approaching the long-haired ninja leading the group.

Unlike the other ninjas, this man wore no mask.

He had smooth, long hair and a gloomy expression, his eyes resembling a venomous snake lurking in the shadows.

It was Orochimaru, who had received orders from the Third Hokage to lead the Anbu in monitoring the Uchiha clan meeting to prevent any unforeseen incidents.

"Ignore them."

Orochimaru said indifferently:

"After all these years, the Uchiha have long been aware of this. If we are too covert, we might only end up irritating their sensitive nerves."

"Hm?!"

As he spoke, Orochimaru's footsteps came to a sudden halt.

He turned his head to the side, his gaze locking precisely onto a pair of somewhat lazy eyes several kilometers away, and more importantly, the crimson Three-Tomoe swirling within them!

The person's gaze lingered on Orochimaru for only a split second before quietly shifting away.

Yet, this did not escape Orochimaru's perception, and he immediately became intrigued:

"Did he spot me?!"

"Interesting!"

The Anbu ninja beside him followed Orochimaru's line of sight, his Byakugan eyes snapping open beneath his mask. His enhanced vision instantly clarified everything within several kilometers, revealing the figure who had just been watching them.

"It's Uchiha Shingen!"

"Jiraiya's student?!"

Orochimaru flicked his tongue across his lips, a strange glint flickering in his cold, serpentine eyes:

"They say that at only thirteen, he already possesses the combat strength of a Jonin. I had assumed the rumors were exaggerated, but seeing him now, that is clearly not the case."

"At the very least, this level of sensory ability is far beyond that of an ordinary ninja."

"An Uchiha genius? Such an enviable talent."

"When I was thirteen, even with my own hidden strengths, I suppose I was only at this level."