Monitoring the Jinchuriki

Uchiha Shisui emerged from the Hokage Building as dusk approached, the streets of Konoha gradually growing lively.

"Rin! Slow down!"

Obito squeezed through the crowd, clutching a pile of gifts.

"Slow down, Obito! These are gifts for Kakashi."

Rin Nohara looked at the reckless Obito, puffing out her cheeks in mock anger.

"With the passing of Sakumo and the disappearance of Uchiha Shisui, Kakashi has been hit hard. We must be careful when we visit; we cannot bring up anything that might sadden him."

"Yes! Don't worry, Rin. I'll make sure to comfort that guy Kakashi properly!"

As Obito spoke, his gaze drifted toward the rooftops, where a familiar silhouette flashed past.

The brief moment of distraction was cut short by Rin's voice.

"Obito! What are you spacing out for again? Hurry and take these!"

"It's... it's nothing! I just thought I saw someone I knew."

Obito said, taking the gifts Rin had picked out for Kakashi.

"Rin, if we buy this much stuff, will that guy Kakashi even accept it?"

Once they were off the main street, Obito panted, cradling the mountain of gifts, and curled his lip.

"That's not important. As long as it helps Kakashi move forward, that's enough."

Rin Nohara smiled at Obito, tilting her head as she spoke.

Obito's face turned visibly red, and he cursed Kakashi inwardly: You bastard, Kakashi! If you dare to refuse our gifts, I'll tear you limb from limb!

At the Uchiha Compound, Uchiha Shisui pushed open the wooden door that hadn't been touched in nearly a year, dust motes dancing in the setting sun as they settled on the floor.

"I'm home..."

Uchiha Shisui murmured, dragging his weary body into the bedroom and collapsing onto the bed, not caring about the layer of grime.

"After a year in Kirigakure, my progress is barely at twenty percent. I wonder how much longer until I reach the Mangekyo."

Uchiha Shisui muttered to himself before drifting off to sleep.

A month passed in the blink of an eye, and Uchiha Shisui spent his time wandering the compound as usual.

The clan had learned of what happened to Uchiha Shisui; returning after a year as a powerhouse with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he had earned the recognition of all his kin.

With the passing of the old patriarch, Fugaku Uchiha had inherited the titles of clan head and captain of the Konoha Military Police Force.

In the Fugaku Uchiha household, Fugaku Uchiha sat with a teacup, looking at the man hailed as the clan's greatest genius with a strange smile.

"If you have something to say, Clan Head, just say it plainly."

Uchiha Shisui said to Fugaku Uchiha while playing with the newborn Itachi Uchiha.

Hearing the sensitive topic, Mikoto Uchiha tactfully placed the pastries on the table and retreated into the kitchen.

Uchiha Shisui felt a pang of regret as he watched Mikoto Uchiha leave.

"Ahem, Shisui, I heard you are serving in the Hokage's Anbu?"

Seeing Uchiha Shisui occupied only with the baby or watching his wife, Fugaku Uchiha cleared his throat and spoke.

Uchiha Shisui glanced at Fugaku Uchiha, thinking to himself: I'm still just a youth; what kind of devious intentions could I have? People who look at others through colored glasses are truly filthy.

Seeing Uchiha Shisui remain silent, Fugaku Uchiha speculated inwardly: The Anbu is the Hokage's personal unit. I only realized this after becoming the captain of the Military Police Force. I didn't expect Shisui to be one of them, but the discipline there is strict; he must have his reservations.

"Clan Head, I am indeed serving in the Anbu, but you should abandon any thoughts of me acting as some sort of double agent," Uchiha Shisui said, spreading his hands.

Fugaku Uchiha felt a bit awkward, not expecting his thoughts to be guessed so easily. He had indeed wanted Uchiha Shisui to pass on the Hokage's important decisions and classified intelligence to the clan, hoping to make the Uchiha clan less passive and better integrated into the village in the future.

"I think you should focus on the clan itself, Clan Head. After all, one must settle internal affairs before dealing with external threats. The clan elders are not exactly sitting still."

Seeing that the time was right, Shisui rose to take his leave of Fugaku Uchiha; today was the day he was to resume his duties.

Fugaku Uchiha watched Uchiha Shisui depart, slowly lifting his teacup with a thoughtful expression.

At the Hokage Building, Uchiha Shisui, dressed in his Anbu gear, walked into the office and said respectfully, "Hokage-sama, 06 has arrived to resume duty."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile, "Shisui, the intelligence you brought back from Kirigakure is very important. This is the Scroll of Seals, which contains many forbidden techniques. You may choose one as a reward."

Uchiha Shisui glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, wondering what the old man was up to. Finding nothing amiss, he rose slowly and declined, "Hokage-sama, this is what a subordinate should do for the village."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was surprised; he hadn't expected anyone to refuse the Scroll of Seals. Furthermore, the previous surveillance had revealed no issues. It seemed Uchiha Shisui remained a firm believer in the Will of Fire.

"Since you have declined the Scroll of Seals, I will record your contribution. If you need other ninjutsu in the future, you may exchange for them."

Thinking this, Hiruzen Sarutobi believed that the youth before him might very well be the next Kagami Uchiha.

"Hokage-sama, I would like to exchange for the Uzumaki clan's Yin Seal and the Strength of a Hundred Technique."

Although Uchiha Shisui didn't know what the old man was planning, it was clear he wanted him to learn some ninjutsu.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't ask further upon hearing Uchiha Shisui's request. He handed over the S-rank Yin Seal and the B-rank Strength of a Hundred Technique, instructing, "S-rank ninjutsu are not to be spread, and they must be returned after you have learned them."

Uchiha Shisui tucked the ninjutsu scroll into his ninja tool pouch before opening the mission scroll.

"Monitor the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?" Uchiha Shisui was somewhat surprised. To have a member of the Uchiha clan guard the Nine-Tails? They clearly didn't treat him as an outsider!

Uchiha Shisui stowed the mission scroll away and headed toward the residence of Namikaze Minato and Kushina.

The night sky was like ink, slowly spreading to gently envelop the entire Konoha.

Namikaze Minato's cozy little house looked quiet and beautiful under the soft caress of the moonlight.

A lush, leafy tree stood silently outside the residence, its thick branches stretching outward and its dense foliage layered like a giant green umbrella.

Uchiha Shisui was hidden within the canopy, his body leaning against the trunk, his figure obscured by the dappled shadows of the leaves.

In his hands, he gripped the ninjutsu scrolls containing the Strength of a Hundred Technique and the Yin Seal. By the moonlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves, his eyes scanned the scrolls with focus, his brows furrowing from time to time as if he were pondering the complex principles within.

A gentle breeze brushed past, causing the leaves to rustle; occasionally, a few were swept up by the wind, drifting lazily onto his shoulders.

After a long while, he finally set the scrolls down and tilted his head slightly to look at the window glowing with warm light, muttering to himself, "Tsk, what an unpleasant mission—spying on other people's happiness every single day."