Alternative Shuraba

Uchiha Shingen looked at the scroll within arm's reach, and recalling the beating he had endured all night, his anger flared up instantly.

Although he had long anticipated that the old man's motives were not pure.

He had assumed there was at least a shred of good intentions mixed in with the mischief, but looking at it now, good grief, it was pure malice!

"Old man, go push your own wheelchair back."

Uchiha Shingen snatched up the Hazy Moon Secret Sword scroll and stood up to leave, completely ignoring Uchiha Setsuna's impotent rage behind him.

He did not know how Uchiha Setsuna managed to return to Konoha that day.

But he did know that when the old man arrived home that night, his hands were wrapped in bandages, and his eyes looked as if he wanted to swallow him whole.

"Ungrateful Disciple!"

"How did I ever set my eyes on such a Dog Thing as you!"

Listening to Uchiha Setsuna's impotent rage, Uchiha Shingen only felt a sense of satisfaction.

However.

Mischief aside.

Once Uchiha Shingen calmed down and carefully reviewed the Hazy Moon Secret Sword scroll, he discovered that it was indeed as Uchiha Setsuna had claimed.

Practicing the Hazy Moon Secret Sword by feeling it with one's own body yielded much faster progress.

Among the countless sword arts and Nintaijutsu in the ninja world, the Hazy Moon Secret Sword was an absolute anomaly.

In fast-paced close-quarters combat, it weaves in countless hidden genjutsu to interfere with the opponent's perception.

Practicing in actual combat not only clarifies the precise timing for strikes but also significantly improves one's anti-interference capabilities and genjutsu resistance.

Realizing this, Uchiha Shingen began leaving behind an extra Shadow Clone every day to practice the Hazy Moon Secret Sword with Uchiha Setsuna in the Forest of Death.

However, this caused the physical strain to skyrocket, to the point where even the physical constitution of an Uchiha could barely handle it.

He used to have the energy to discuss Imperial Uncle with Jiraiya all day, but now he spent the entire time slumped over the tea table sleeping.

"This kid..."

"Is he practicing this hard now?!"

South District 4.

At the tea table next to the bookstore, Jiraiya put down his pen and looked at Uchiha Shingen, his expression filled with surprise.

Over this period, Jiraiya had figured out Uchiha Shingen's personality.

He left training to his Shadow Clone, work to Shisui, and Tezaku and the other workhorses, while he himself slacked off on the job the entire time.

He was a total corporate slave who had given up on life.

To be this exhausted all of a sudden...

"Did this kid go to the Entertainment District last night?!"

"That's not it."

Uchiha Setsuna took a calm sip of tea, feigned a gesture of rubbing his own shoulder, and said:

"The kid agreed to inherit my Legacy, so he is currently following me to practice sword arts."

"You wouldn't know, but while Shingen looks unreliable, he is actually very strong-willed; he's been practicing almost all night every night."

"As his elder, I feel both gratified and heartbroken watching him."

"Sigh~"

Jiraiya keenly caught the keywords, and his expression instantly stiffened:

"Inherit Legacy, practice sword arts, elder, gratified..."

Good grief!

This old man is clearly here to steal my student!

Watching the unconcealable smugness on Uchiha Setsuna's face, alarm bells rang in Jiraiya's heart.

The current Uchiha Shingen was not just his disciple; he was also central to the Third Hokage's grand plan to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha.

If he were influenced by Uchiha Setsuna and developed hostility toward Konoha, or even followed in Uchiha Setsuna's footsteps, the consequences would be unimaginable.

More importantly, what do you mean by your Legacy successor?!

This is my disciple, you bastard!

Jiraiya's temples throbbed, and his right hand uncontrollably crushed the teacup, though he didn't even notice the spilled tea soaking the manuscript in front of him.

Truth be told, Shingen was an Uchiha by blood, so Uchiha Setsuna's guidance might actually be easier than his own as an outsider.

"Shingen is an Uchiha after all, and as his elder, I understand him better."

Uchiha Setsuna deliberately emphasized the word "elder":

"Guiding his training is more intuitive, and I know better what he wants, unlike an outsider."

"Don't you agree?!"

"Jiraiya!"

Jiraiya said with a fake smile:

"That's not necessarily true. Times change, and ninjutsu evolves. Experience from decades ago might not be useful today."

"If you ask me, someone who understands the modern era better is more qualified to guide him, not some Old Fossil who hasn't breathed fresh air in decades."

"What do you say?!"

The term "Old Fossil" stung Setsuna Uchiha deeply, but he wouldn't back down. He chuckled a couple of times and said no more.

Their gazes met in the air, sparks seemingly flying.

"Huh?"

Uchiha Shingen looked up, his eyes still heavy with sleep. Seeing the strange smiles on their faces, he instantly woke up:

"What are you two old geezers up to..."

"It's nothing. I was just chatting with him, exchanging some views. Although we didn't reach a consensus, we did deepen our understanding of each other."

Jiraiya spoke up to break the tension. Setsuna Uchiha nodded slightly, acknowledging his words.

The strange atmosphere made Uchiha Shingen uneasy. He immediately got up and walked to the side, asking his junior brother Shisui, who was patrolling the streets, about the situation.

Seeing that there was nothing major, he moved to another spot and continued his nap.

Aside from the demanding training, Uchiha Shingen truly had grown to love his current job.

As the saying goes, if you don't see eye to eye, there's no need for many words. After sitting at the tea stall for a few more minutes, Jiraiya hurried to the Hokage Building and kicked open the door that had recently been repaired.

BANG--!

The sound of the doorframe hitting the wall made the Third Hokage's teeth chatter.

No need to guess.

It had to be one of his Ungrateful Disciples again!

"I'm charging you for the door repair last time."

"Three people did it, why are you only charging me? Old Man, you're biased. You never liked me, you only favored Orochimaru back then..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

The Third Hokage's head throbbed. His eyebrows furrowed into a deep crease:

"Is that any way to speak?"

"Tell me, what trouble have you caused now that I have to clean up after you!"

"Is that how you see me?!"

Jiraiya sat down with his arms crossed, crossing his legs over the Third Hokage's desk.

Seeing the helpless look on the Third Hokage's face, Jiraiya couldn't help but smile. Only in front of his teacher could he show such an attitude.

The Third Hokage was already accustomed to this. He lowered his head to deal with the documents in his hands and asked:

"Is there something else?"

"Ah, Setsuna Uchiha just told me that Shingen-kun has decided to inherit his Legacy."

CRACK--!

The Steel Pen in the Third Hokage's hand deformed violently. He looked up, his eyes devoid of any trace of playfulness:

"Really?!"

"I'm afraid so."

Jiraiya put his legs down and sat up straight, his smile gone, his expression extremely grave:

"Old Man, you should know that Shingen-kun's current standing is far more than just my disciple or a squad captain in the Konoha Military Police Force."