Shisui (Seeking Collection and Recommendations)

In a corner of the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

A few buildings that looked less prosperous stood here—these were the homes of Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Kagami.

Uchiha Obito's household only had his grandmother. With subsidies from the village and the clan, they could get by, but it was far from being called "wealthy."

"Grandpa Tobirama!"

Obito shoved the door open and walked straight in without ceremony.

Compared to the modest exterior, the courtyard inside felt even more desolate and bleak.

"Is that you, Obito?"

An old man with a stooped back, white hair and beard, leaning on a vine cane, shuffled out slowly.

A kind, gentle smile hung on his face, but a trace of sorrow in his brow couldn't be hidden.

"It's me, Grandpa Tobirama. I brought a friend today." Obito stepped forward to support the old man.

Though he usually seemed carefree and thoughtless, deep down he was a kind-hearted person. In Uchiha Madara's words, he was "filled with too much love," and it was precisely because of this that Obito had been targeted.

The Uchiha were a cursed bloodline. Most members were naturally sensitive and more attuned to "love."

But this "love" became the Uchiha's obstacle.

It was all because of the Sharingan—these eyes, called the mirrors of the heart. When their owner was stimulated, such as when the "love" in their heart was destroyed, the stronger the "love," the greater the power it generated, and the easier it was to fall into darkness.

This was why the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had so strongly opposed and even suppressed the Uchiha.

They were a clan that swung wildly between two extremes.

And at this moment, Obito, without exaggeration, was the one in the entire Uchiha Clan with the most "love."

"Oh? A friend?"

Tobirama looked up, his eyes seeming covered in a layer of mist, fixed on Qifeng.

Qifeng stepped forward, took out the rusted kunai, placed it in his palm, and presented it before the old man.

Seeing this kunai, the old man's smile froze. The hand gripping the cane trembled slightly, and his steps faltered, unsteady.

"Grandpa Tobirama!" Obito exclaimed, using all his strength to hold the old man up, preventing him from falling.

A flicker of reluctance crossed Qifeng's face, but he quickly masked it.

At first, he had considered whether to tell the old man the truth so directly, given how frail he looked—he might not be able to bear the blow.

But Uchiha Kagami was already dead. At most, within three days, the old man would receive the family's Death Notice. Rather than dragging it out for three days, it was better to let him know early, so when he saw the body, he wouldn't be unable to accept it.

In the end, Grandpa Tobirama couldn't withstand the shock and fainted.

Obito supported the old man, tending to him and worrying, to the point where Qifeng felt like he might be superfluous.

After nearly an hour of bustling about, the old man finally stirred awake in bed.

But he looked even older than before, his aged face more haggard.

Clutching the rusted kunai tightly, a hoarse, low voice sounded. "When did it happen?"

"Two or three days ago."

Faced with this situation, Qifeng had little experience. He just felt a stone lodged in his chest, uncomfortable.

"He..."

"He did well. He was a hero of Konoha."

Hearing this, the old man's tense expression relaxed a little. He murmured, as if comforting himself, "Good, good."

"Grandpa Tobirama? Hey, Big Brother Obito's here too?"

Suddenly, a boy in black Uchiha clothing entered from the door. When he saw Tobirama's state, he paused.

The old man twitched the corner of his mouth. With Obito's help, he sat up straight and forced a smile. "Is that you, Shisui?"

"Grandpa Tobirama, what's wrong?" Shisui hurried to the bedside.

"Grandpa's fine." Tobirama patted his head affectionately.

Obito briefly explained a few things, and Shisui understood the reason, biting his lip.

The room fell into silence.

Qifeng stood to the side, watching this boy who looked young but seemed quite decisive. He wasn't very familiar with him either.

Uchiha Shisui—Body Flicker Shisui, the future wielder of the ultimate genjutsu "Kotoamatsukami," descendant of Kagami Uchiha, inheritor of the "Will of Fire."

Seeing Shisui, some of Qifeng's doubts were resolved.

Why had Uchiha Kagami, a member of the Uchiha Clan, gone to Kirigakure to carry out such a dangerous mission?

Though Kagami hadn't awakened his Sharingan, so there was no worry about the eyes being stolen, most Uchiha clan members always put the clan above the village.

Only a very few, like Uchiha Shisui—descendants of Kagami Uchiha or those closely connected to him—were influenced by Kagami to put the village above the clan.

Now it seemed that Kagami Uchiha and this old man, Uchiha Tobikage, must have had a deep bond.

"Let the old man rest well." Qifeng said, leading Obito and Shisui out.

Before leaving the room, he discreetly left behind a sealed oil-paper envelope.

Inside was the money he'd earned from missions and work during this time—not much, but it was his way of showing care.

His position was awkward; he was merely a messenger carrying out Uchiha Kagami's final wishes.

There wasn't much he could do.

Now that the final wishes had been delivered, offering this money was just to ease his own conscience.

The three of them walked in silence until they reached a small river.

The rushing water crashed against the rocks in the riverbed, splashing droplets in all directions.

"Senior Qifeng, thank you for your help."

Shisui spoke first. Obito hadn't noticed Qifeng's action before he left, but Shisui had.

Shisui had lost his family early on; to him, the old man was like a real grandfather.

Though reality was cruel, Qifeng—someone with no connection to him—had offered help, and Shisui was grateful.

Qifeng just waved a hand. "This is only the beginning. Things like this will only become more frequent from now on."

"Yeah."

Shisui was mature beyond his years.

Beside him, Obito looked completely lost, having no idea what they were talking about—the contrast between them was stark.

"Have you started training?"

Shisui shook his head, then nodded.

Qifeng patted his shoulder. "Train hard. We might not be able to change anything, but we still have to do our utmost to protect our beliefs and our loved ones."

Shisui stopped walking and looked at him in surprise.

"I'm off."

Qifeng waved, his form flickering as he vanished.

If Shisui didn't die, he might really be able to change the complicated relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha.

As long as he could grow up smoothly.

Having witnessed yet another future powerhouse, Qifeng felt at ease.

Konoha could produce one remarkable strongman after another like this, which let him relax even more about being a slacker.

"Hope I didn't stir things up too much."

He just wanted to quietly work as a Corpse Collector while picking up some skills to survive in this chaotic world. He had no intention of changing anything or becoming any kind of hero.

He didn't want to die—especially after seeing so many ninjas with horrifically gruesome deaths, he wanted it even less.

For Konoha as it was now, if he revealed even a fraction of his ability, he'd likely be valued, given importance, and as his strength grew, he might even shine in the war and become a hero of Konoha.

But think about those heroes.

Hatake Sakumo—didn't die at the enemy's hands, but from his own people's scheming.

Orochimaru—also pushed step by step toward defection by his own people's schemes. Though it ultimately freed him, without Danzō, Orochimaru probably wouldn't have reached that point—at least not before Hiruzen Sarutobi died.

Namikaze Minato—died in the Nine-Tails' Rampage. Back then, Obito entered Konoha without any resistance, knew the delivery time of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Uzumaki Kushina—known only to a few—and not a single Root member showed up. That said plenty.

Uchiha Shisui—had an eye stolen and was even driven to death.

And so on, and so on.

Every single one was an extraordinary figure, yet they all met tragic ends.

All because Konoha had one man: Shimura Danzō!

So Qifeng saw it clearly—as long as Danzō was around, if he revealed his abilities, his ending probably wouldn't be much better.

Unless he killed Danzō first.

But unfortunately, Danzō had Hiruzen Sarutobi protecting him.

And there was no denying that in the coming war, Danzō's role would be significant.

Staying put as a Corpse Collector was the safe bet.

After Qifeng left, Obito finally snapped out of it. "What were you two talking about? I didn't understand a single word."

Shisui gave him a complicated look. "Obito, that Senior Qifeng is no ordinary man."