Alternative Shuraba

Uchiha Shingen looked at the scroll within arm's reach and remembered the merciless beating he'd taken online the night before. His anger flared at once.

He'd known all along that the old geezer had ulterior motives.

But he'd thought there might be a little kindness mixed in with the amusement. Now that he'd seen the truth, though, it was pure malice!

"Old geezer, make your own way home in that wheelchair."

Uchiha Shingen snatched up the Hazy Moon Secret Sword scroll and got to his feet, leaving Uchiha Setsuna behind to rage helplessly.

He didn't know how Uchiha Setsuna had made it back to Konoha that day.

But he did know that when the old geezer got home that evening, his hands were wrapped in bandages, and his eyes looked ready to devour Shingen alive.

"Rebellious disciple!"

"How did I ever end up taking on a piece of trash like you?"

Listening to Uchiha Setsuna rage helplessly, Uchiha Shingen felt wonderfully refreshed.

Still.

A fondness for mischief aside.

Once Uchiha Shingen had calmed down, he carefully read through the Hazy Moon Secret Sword scroll and realized that Uchiha Setsuna had been right.

Training in the Hazy Moon Secret Sword progressed faster when you used your body to feel it out.

Among the countless sword arts and forms of Nintaijutsu in the Shinobi World, the Hazy Moon Secret Sword was a true oddity.

It wove countless subtle genjutsu into fast-paced close combat, disrupting the opponent's senses.

Training in real combat would make it easier to tell when to strike, while also noticeably improving resistance to interference and genjutsu.

Once he understood this, Uchiha Shingen started setting aside an extra Shadow Clone each day to train in the Hazy Moon Secret Sword with Uchiha Setsuna in the Forest of Death.

But that put a sudden strain on his body, and even Uchiha stamina could barely handle it.

He'd used to have enough energy during the day to discuss the Imperial Uncle with Jiraiya every day. Now, he spent almost the whole time asleep with his face on the tea table.

"This kid..."

"Has he really been training this hard lately?!"

South District 4.

At the tea table beside the bookstore, Jiraiya set down his pen and looked at Uchiha Shingen, his expression one of surprise.

By now, Jiraiya had gotten a good feel for Uchiha Shingen's personality.

He left training to his Shadow Clones, work to Shisui, and manual labor to people like Tezaku. As for himself, he slacked off whenever he was on the job.

A textbook case of a laid-back, burned-out office worker.

So why was he suddenly this exhausted...

"Has the kid been visiting the Entertainment District at night?!"

"Not quite."

Uchiha Setsuna took a leisurely sip of tea, then pretended to rub his shoulder as he said,

"The kid agreed to inherit my legacy. He's training in swordsmanship under my guidance now."

"You wouldn't know it from the way he acts, but Shingen's a stubborn kid. He practically trains all night, every night."

"As his elder, I'm both pleased and heartbroken to see it."

"Ah..."

Jiraiya quickly picked up on the key words, and his expression stiffened.

"Inherit my legacy, train in swordsmanship, elder, pleased..."

Oh, great!

The old geezer was clearly trying to steal his student!

Seeing the smugness Uchiha Setsuna could barely hide, Jiraiya's alarm bells started ringing.

Uchiha Shingen wasn't merely his student anymore. He was also central to the Third Hokage's efforts to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha.

If Uchiha Setsuna influenced him into resenting Konoha—or worse, following in Setsuna's footsteps—the consequences would be unthinkable.

More importantly, what did he mean, "heir to my legacy"?!

Shingen was his student, damn it!

Jiraiya's temple throbbed. His right hand clenched around his teacup until it shattered, splashing tea over the manuscript in front of him. He didn't even notice.

When you thought about it, Shingen was a Uchiha to begin with. Uchiha Setsuna could probably guide him more easily than an outsider like Jiraiya.

"Shingen is a Uchiha, after all. As his elder, I understand him better."

Uchiha Setsuna put particular emphasis on the word "elder."

"I can guide his training more effectively, and I know what he wants. I'm not an outsider."

"Wouldn't you agree?"

"Jiraiya!"

Jiraiya replied with a strained smile.

"Not necessarily. Times change, and ninjutsu keeps evolving. Experience from decades ago may not be useful today."

"I'd say someone who understands the modern world is better qualified to guide him—not an old fossil who hasn't breathed fresh air in decades."

"What do you think?"

The label "old fossil" stung Uchiha Setsuna deeply, but he refused to back down. He gave a couple of quiet laughs, then said no more.

Their gazes crossed, sparks seeming to flicker between them.

"Hm?"

Uchiha Shingen raised his sleepy eyes. One look at the strange smiles on their faces woke him right up.

"What are you two old geezers..."

"Nothing. We were just chatting and exchanging opinions. We didn't reach an agreement, but we did learn a little more about each other."

Jiraiya broke the awkward silence. Uchiha Setsuna gave a slight nod in agreement.

The strange atmosphere made Uchiha Shingen feel uneasy. He immediately got up, went over to Shisui, who was patrolling the streets, and asked what was going on.

When he learned there was nothing serious, he moved to another spot and went back to sleep.

Aside from how hard the training was, Uchiha Shingen was starting to love his job.

As the saying went, there was no point talking to someone who wouldn't see eye to eye with you. After sitting at the tea stall for a few more minutes, Jiraiya hurried to the Hokage Building and kicked open the door, which had only recently been repaired.

Bang—!

The doorframe slammed into the wall, making the Third Hokage's teeth ache.

He didn't even need to think about it.

Another one of his rebellious students had come around!

"I'm adding the repair bill for last time to your tab."

"Three people did it. Why am I the only one being charged? You're biased, old man. You never liked me back then; you only ever had faith in Orochimaru..."

"Stop, stop!"

The Third Hokage's head began to throb, and his brows furrowed into a deep crease.

"Is that really something you should say?"

"Come on, what trouble have you caused this time? What do I have to clean up after you?"

"So that's what you think of me?!"

Jiraiya sat down with his arms crossed and planted his legs on the Third Hokage's desk.

Seeing the helpless look on the Third Hokage's face, Jiraiya couldn't help smiling. Only in front of his teacher could he act like this.

The Third Hokage was used to it by now. He lowered his head and continued working through the papers in his hands.

"Or did you come about something else?"

"Yeah. I just heard Uchiha Setsuna say that Shingen-kun has decided to inherit his legacy."

Snap—!

The Third Hokage's pen bent sharply in his hand. He looked up, all traces of amusement gone from his eyes.

"Really?!"

"Looks like it."

Jiraiya lowered his legs and sat upright. His smile disappeared, and his expression grew grave.

"Old man, you should understand how important Shingen-kun is now. He's far more than just my student or a squad leader in the Konoha Military Police Force."