Basics, Still Basics!

When Kagami Uchiha was mentioned, not many people in Konoha still remembered him. Like the Third Hokage, Kagami Uchiha had been a disciple of Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage. He was exceptionally powerful and one of the few who had hoped for the Uchiha Clan to fully integrate with Konoha.

Unfortunately, he had died young. The later-famous Uchiha Shisui was Kagami Uchiha's descendant. Judging by the time of Kagami Uchiha's death and Shisui's appearance, Uchiha Shisui could be considered Kagami Uchiha's grandson.

Although Hikaru was not Kagami Uchiha's direct descendant, he came from a branch family. Hikaru's cheap old man and Kagami Uchiha had been brothers.

Of course, Hikaru knew none of this. He had never paid attention to his own background.

In truth, it was right for Hikaru not to care. Digging into it would only bring trouble. Kagami Uchiha might have been admirable to Konoha, but to the Uchiha Clan, he was a bastard.

At least, that was what most of the Uchiha higher-ups believed.

As an Uchiha, he had wanted the clan to sacrifice everything—all for Konoha. Wasn't that completely fucked up?

Many of the Uchiha Clan's higher-ups were still trying every possible way to seize power, yet Kagami Uchiha had wanted them to give up everything and sacrifice everything. Who would be willing?

It was already generous of them not to call Kagami Uchiha a traitor.

If all those connections were exposed, Hikaru's days in the Uchiha Clan probably would not be easy.

The Anbu member kneeling on the ground felt a little curious. Why was the Hokage Lord interested in this child from the Uchiha Clan? There seemed to be nothing particularly outstanding about him.

As those closest to the Hokage, the Anbu knew very well whom the Third Hokage valued most and cared about most.

Yet Uchiha Hikaru was not on that list.

And now, Uchiha Hikaru was slowly entering the Third Hokage's sight.

"Hokage Lord, should we send someone to keep an eye on him?"

For gifted children, Konoha would more or less send people to secretly protect them. It was also a form of indirect cultivation, though under normal circumstances, the children themselves would not know.

"No."

The Third Hokage shook his head slightly. Gazing at the sun gradually setting beyond the mountain outside the window, his eyes grew distant as he slowly said, "This child is an Uchiha. If we do this, it will only provoke the Uchiha's displeasure. They may even suspect that we have some ulterior motive. Let him grow on his own."

If Hikaru had merely been an ordinary child from an ordinary family, then after displaying sufficient talent and diligence to catch the Third Hokage's eye, the Third Hokage would have sent someone to follow him. Of course, only part of the time—Anbu members could not watch him every moment of every day.

But Hikaru was from the Uchiha Clan. Though things looked harmonious on the surface, the conflict between the Uchiha and the village had always existed, especially in secret. Doing this would not bring Hikaru any benefits. It might even harm him.

Just think about it. The relationship between the Uchiha and the village's higher-ups had always been strained, yet Anbu members were keeping watch on an Uchiha child. How could the Uchiha Clan not become suspicious?

"Yes!!!"

At that moment, Hikaru was still training at the Training Ground, completely unaware that the Third Hokage had watched him for quite some time, repeatedly examined his records, and had even started digging into his background.

Who was Kagami Uchiha? Many people who had watched Naruto did not know much about him, but they were very familiar with Kagami Uchiha's descendant, Uchiha Shisui. He possessed a terrifying pair of Sharingan and a heaven-defying genjutsu—Kotoamatsukami!!

Unfortunately, Kotoamatsukami, known as the strongest genjutsu, was never used in its complete form from beginning to end. Danzo stole the right eye, while the left eye was given to Itachi Uchiha.

If the Sharingan could not be paired, what meaning did this so-called Kotoamatsukami even have?

Basics, still basics!!!

Hikaru did not think too much about it. He immersed himself in all kinds of basic training—taijutsu, Shuriken, and Kunai practice—again and again. No matter how difficult or exhausting it was, he persevered without wavering. Even Orochimaru, whom the Third Hokage had always thought highly of, could not compare to such determination.

Compared to these basics, Orochimaru was more interested in ninjutsu.

Orochimaru would not neglect all kinds of basic training, but he would not put in as much effort as Hikaru. He devoted more of his energy to other things, such as reading. All kinds of miscellaneous books and various ninjutsu scrolls were what Orochimaru valued.

Unfortunately, Orochimaru at this time could not access too many books or ninjutsu scrolls. That would have to wait until he became the Third Hokage's disciple.

Thud! Thud! Thud!!!

The targets hidden among the trees were all filled with Kunai, not a single one missed.

Hikaru jumped into the woods and retrieved the Kunai. He did not dare toss them out and simply leave them there, or he would starve to death...

Others wanted to experience waking naturally after sleeping and counting money until their hands cramped. At this moment, Hikaru only wanted to experience one thing—throwing Kunai until his hands cramped, without having to retrieve them afterward!!!

"What a pile of garbage!!"