(The template introduction is too wordy. The author is pretty lazy and doesn't really want to work on it, so the story takes priority.)
At the Uchiha Compound, Shisui leaned against the wall and slowly made his way home.
"I nearly blew it against one Chunin and two Genin. I can't let my guard down like that again. If the enemy had reinforcements, then..." Shisui reflected on everything that had just happened.
When he got home, several dim squares on the light screen before him suddenly lit up.
"Storm Release? At least I've got a little more ability to protect myself now."
The next morning, Shisui and Kakashi entered the Ninja Academy as usual. Their graduation applications from the day before hadn't been processed that quickly, so they still had to attend class.
"Today's lesson is shuriken throwing. Everyone, gather on the field!" Teacher Onizuka shouted, pointing toward the field.
Each student received three shuriken from Teacher Onizuka.
"I'm going to take attendance. When I call your name, come up and throw," Onizuka said, pulling out a roster.
"First, Asuma Sarutobi."
"Heh, Kurenai, just watch this." Asuma Sarutobi rolled up his sleeves and spoke to Kurenai beside him. After stepping up to the throwing line, he shot Shisui a taunting look.
Shisui simply ignored him. What grown adult would get mad at a kid?
"Here I go!" Asuma Sarutobi shouted and hurled all three shuriken in an instant. With three dull thunks, they all struck the bullseye, though each landed a little off center.
"Impressive." Asuma Sarutobi's performance earned him a crowd of young male admirers, while the girls were much calmer. Their attention was split between two people: Kakashi and Shisui.
"Next..." Onizuka called out many names. Most of the students were civilians, and the worst among them was Might Guy, whose only shuriken had lodged in the edge of the target.
Among the more impressive students were Ebisu, Izumo Kamizuki, Genma Shiranui, Gekko Hayate, and others.
"Good luck! Obito!"
Rin Nohara's voice immediately drew a crowd. Obito straightened the goggles on his head, his smile brimming with confidence. He smacked his fist into his palm and shouted, "Rin, just watch! My shuriken are the best! After all, I'm going to be Hokage!"
"Idiot." Kakashi rolled his eyes.
"Kakashi, you jerk! You always interrupt me at the worst possible moment. I'm gonna get you!" Obito's eyes blazed, and he looked ready to fall out with Kakashi right there.
"Obito, hurry up and throw. Everyone's waiting for you."
Rin Nohara tilted her head toward Obito with a smile.
A blush quickly spread across Obito's face. He forgot all about Kakashi and obediently returned to the throwing line.
"Just watch me!" Obito said, then put all his strength into throwing the three shuriken.
Everyone watching held their breath, eager to find out whether this Uchiha was a genius like Shisui.
"Whoosh..." A timely breeze blew by. The shuriken, which had been spinning through the air, fell helplessly to the ground like kites with their strings cut.
"Huh?" Obito, who had been so confident, nearly dropped his jaw to the ground.
"No way! Teacher Onizuka, I'd like another try!" Obito's face turned red. He just wanted another attempt to save face.
"Sure." Onizuka didn't mind such a small request.
On his second throw, Obito kept his eyes fixed on the bullseye before throwing again.
The result was better than before: his shuriken landed a little closer to the target.
"Damn it, I was so close." Obito looked utterly dejected.
"Haha, you can't even hit the target. You're definitely the dead last!" the others around him jeered.
"Hmph, you're the dead lasts! I, the great Obito, am going to be Hokage one day. Just you wait!" Obito fired back, undaunted by the mockery.
"Obito, are you okay?" Rin came over to comfort him.
Obito scratched his head and replied, "Rin, I'm fine. I'll definitely get it right next time."
"That's right. I believe you can do it, Obito."
"Next, Shisui Uchiha."
As soon as Onizuka called out Shisui's name, half the girls on the field let out piercing shrieks, as if the loudest voice would win his favor.
Shisui stepped up to the throwing line, holding three shuriken between the fingers of one hand. With a flick of his wrist, the three shuriken flew toward the bullseye at high, middle, and low angles. Shisui's lips curled into a smile as he sent two more shuriken flying. In the blink of an eye, they struck the first three. Before anyone could react, he threw several more. Sparks burst from the impacts like blossoming petals, and the rapid thuds soon echoed across the field. The quiet grounds erupted in cheers.
Three shuriken formed a triangle in the target's red bullseye, while the others formed a circle around them.
"That guy really loves showing off." Kakashi looked at the bullseye. He knew Shisui's shuriken skills well. With his Sharingan, he could spot even the tiniest errors, which meant that among their peers, he rarely had any competition.
"Next, Kakashi Hatake."
After Onizuka made the announcement, the girls supporting Shisui began taunting the others. Kakashi's supporters weren't about to back down, either.
Kakashi walked lazily up to the throwing line and, as usual, casually threw his shuriken. A moment later, they had all embedded themselves in the same spot at the center of the target.
"Excellent! That's the end of today's lesson. Kakashi Hatake and Shisui Uchiha, stay behind. Everyone else, dismissed." Once the results were in, Onizuka announced that class was over.
In the Konoha Academy office, Onizuka took out two forms and addressed the two geniuses of Konoha standing before him. "Lord Hokage said that you're both geniuses of Konoha, with abilities that surpass those of ordinary Genin. But strength alone isn't enough to become a ninja. You also need the Will of Fire. These two assessment forms will determine whether you can graduate early, so..."
"I understand, Teacher Onizuka. I'll fill it out carefully." Before Onizuka could finish, Shisui stepped forward and took the form. He skimmed it, and it was almost exactly what he'd expected: questions about the village and the Will of Fire.
"Good. Kakashi Hatake, this one's yours."
Onizuka handed Kakashi the other form, then told them they could go home.
After they left the school gates, Kakashi waved the form in his hand and asked, "Shisui, do you have a Will of Fire of your own?"
"Kakashi, just listen to people talk about the Will of Fire. Don't treat it like a faith."
"Why not?"
"It's limited to the village, but my will isn't limited like that. I'm going to make it encompass the entire Shinobi World."
Kakashi stood stunned for a moment, then watched Shisui's retreating figure. Suddenly, Shisui seemed a little unfamiliar.