In Konoha's fifteenth year, wars across the Shinobi World grew ever fiercer. Though Konoha still enjoyed relative peace, Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, knew that stability was only temporary.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Shinichi's talent had already begun to show. His Handless Jutsu, the Rasengan, his efficient learning method using Shadow Clones, and his unique Taijutsu system, the Six Styles, all revealed his extraordinary creativity at a young age.
More importantly, Tobirama Senju had secretly observed Shinichi's growth. He discovered that this Uchiha brat was not merely exceptionally gifted. Unlike the other Uchiha, he was not full of resentment, but was instead lazy yet rational, with an independent way of thinking.
This aroused Tobirama's curiosity while also making him realize that if Uchiha Shinichi continued to grow, he might one day become an important pillar of Konoha, though he could also turn into an uncontrollable hazard.
"Rather than let him become an unknown variable, I should keep him under my own control."
That was Tobirama Senju's decision.
One day, Shinichi was lying on a rock beside the Naka River, leisurely basking in the sun, when a familiar figure suddenly blocked the sunlight.
He lazily opened his eyes and found himself looking straight at Senju Toka's expressionless face.
"Uchiha Shinichi, Lord Hokage wants to see you," Senju Toka said coldly.
Shinichi immediately became a little more alert. I haven't done anything bad lately, have I? Why is that old fox Tobirama suddenly looking for me?
Beside him, Tsunade looked puzzled. "My great-uncle wants to see Shinichi? Is something wrong?"
Senju Toka did not answer. She merely gave Shinichi a cold look. "Don't make me repeat myself."
Shinichi sighed helplessly, brushed the dust off his clothes, and stood up. "All right, all right. I'll go."
And so, he reluctantly followed Senju Toka toward the Hokage Building.
Inside the Hokage's office, Shinichi sat leisurely in a chair, munching on an apple without a trace of nervousness.
Tobirama Senju sat behind the desk, watching him with an unfathomable gaze.
After a long while, Tobirama spoke. "Shinichi, do you want to become stronger?"
Shinichi paused, blinked, and answered indistinctly through his mouthful. "Hmm? Being strong is nice, but it's too much trouble... I prefer an easy life."
Tobirama gave a soft snort, his tone unchanged. "You have tremendous talent, but you lack real combat experience. You could make much better use of your potential."
Shinichi gave Tobirama a wary look. "Lord Hokage, are you trying to send me to the battlefield? I'm not even an adult yet."
Instead of answering, Tobirama asked, "What if I took you as my disciple?"
—The air instantly froze.
The apple in Shinichi's hand nearly fell to the floor. His eyes widened. "Y-you said what?!"
"I said I intend to teach you personally." Tobirama's voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority.
Shinichi's mind briefly stalled. He blinked, slowly processing this information.
He knew Tobirama Senju's reputation—
The Shinobi World's master of forbidden jutsu, the creator of the Flying Thunder God Technique, the man who had refined the Shadow Clone Technique, and the Hokage most wary of the Uchiha...
And now, this incredibly powerful ninja actually wanted to take him as his disciple?!
W-what kind of turn of events was this?!
After calming down, Shinichi narrowed his eyes at Tobirama. "Lord Hokage, you're not using this as an opportunity to keep an eye on me, are you?"
Tobirama made no attempt to evade the question. "You're clever, Uchiha Shinichi. I won't deny that. But precisely because you're clever, you should understand that if you want to truly establish yourself in Konoha and gain the village's recognition, you need to stand in a higher position."
Shinichi frowned and did not answer immediately.
Tobirama continued, "Your strength already far surpasses that of your peers, but your laziness will limit your growth. If you study under me, you will receive Konoha's finest instruction in ninjutsu and tactics. And..."
He fixed Shinichi with a penetrating gaze and said slowly, "If you truly want to protect Tsunade and help her in the future, then you must become stronger."
Shinichi's pupils contracted slightly.
He had never said anything about wanting to protect Tsunade, yet Tobirama had already seen through his subconscious intentions.
After a long silence, Shinichi finally sighed and shrugged.
"All right. Since Lord Hokage has asked, I can hardly refuse."
Tobirama Senju nodded slightly. "Good. You will officially begin studying under me tomorrow."
When the news spread, all of Konoha was shaken.
—Uchiha Shinichi had become Tobirama Senju's disciple?!
Inside the Uchiha Clan Compound, many elders reacted with anger upon hearing the news. "Tobirama Senju actually wants to teach one of our clansmen? What is he plotting?!"
Meanwhile, Tsunade nearly choked on her food when she heard. "What?! Shinichi's going to study under my great-uncle?!"
Orochimaru looked thoughtful and murmured, "Interesting... Big Brother Shinichi, you won't be able to slack off anymore, will you?"
Tsunade's face filled with gleeful delight at his misfortune. "Hahaha! Shinichi, you're doomed! My great-uncle is famously strict. Your lazy days are over!"
Shinichi: "..."
He felt as though he had fallen into an enormous trap.
Yet he also felt a faint sense of anticipation...
—After all, Tobirama Senju would be teaching him personally!
Looks like my journey through the Shinobi World is about to enter a new chapter, Shinichi thought.
After Shinichi became Tobirama Senju's disciple, his status immediately underwent a subtle change.
One day, beside the Naka River, Shinichi leaned lazily against a rock, casually leafing through a scroll, while Tsunade practiced the Rasengan with a frown.
Just as she gathered her chakra and struggled to control the Rasengan's rotation, Shinichi suddenly drawled, "Little Tsunade, call me Uncle."
—The Rasengan instantly collapsed!
Tsunade froze for a second, then looked up and glared at Shinichi, a vein bulging at her temple. "What did you say?!"
Shinichi yawned lazily, his tone utterly relaxed. "I'm your great-uncle's disciple. By seniority, shouldn't you be calling me Uncle?"
Tsunade's eyes widened, her face filled with shock and anger. "In your dreams!! Who would call you Uncle?!"
Shinichi slowly sat up straight, put on an "elder's" smile, and reached out to pat Tsunade's head. "Don't be shy. Go on, call me Uncle. I won't mind."
Tsunade ground her teeth in fury, her clenched fists cracking as the veins at her temples throbbed. "Uchiha Shinichi!!! You're asking to die!!"
With that, she hurled a vicious punch at Shinichi—
Boom!
The earth shook, and an enormous crater split open on the bank of the Naka River. Shinichi had already dodged out of the way and stood leisurely in the distance, watching the furious Tsunade with a teasing expression. "Tsk, tsk. Getting angry because you can't beat me? You really are just a little kid, little Tsunade."
"You!!" Tsunade's face flushed red, and she raised her fist to chase after him.
Nearby, Orochimaru watched this "daily farce" with an expressionless face. He calmly took a bite of grilled fish and added mildly, "Tsunade, perhaps you should get used to it. After all... whether you call him that or not, Big Brother Shinichi really does count as your uncle by seniority."
Hearing that, Tsunade instantly erupted, roaring furiously, "I won't!!"
Shinichi burst out laughing. His "Uncle" plan had failed again that day, but his enjoyment of teasing Tsunade had not diminished in the slightest.
—From then on, whenever he had the chance, Shinichi would deliberately bring it up in front of Tsunade. "Little Tsunade, call me Uncle."
And every time, he was rewarded with Tsunade's furious fists and Orochimaru's knowing smile as he watched from the sidelines.
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