Calling in the Adults

"I'm safe now."

"Cheng." Yashiro's voice brought him back to reality. "You said you were being followed. Do you have any evidence?"

"No." Uchiha Makoto shook his head. "But I could feel it. Clan head, you know how sensitive we Uchiha are to being watched."

Yashiro nodded. That much was true.

The clan with the Sharingan was more sensitive to gazes and chakra than ordinary people.

"We'll handle this," Yashiro said. "Go home for now."

"Yes." Uchiha Makoto acknowledged the order, but didn't leave.

He walked over to Shisui and held out his hand.

"Hello, I'm Uchiha Makoto."

Shisui froze for a moment, then held out his hand too.

"Hello, I'm Shisui Uchiha."

His hand was small, but his grip was steady.

"What are you doing here?" Uchiha Makoto asked, despite already knowing the answer.

"The elders said... I'm pretty talented," Shisui said quietly. "They're discussing how to train me."

"Oh." Uchiha Makoto nodded. "That's good."

He looked at Shisui with mixed feelings.

This child would one day be known as "Body Flicker Shisui," a hero in the aftermath of the Third Shinobi World War.

He would also end up taking his own life because he trusted the Will of Fire too much.

What a waste, Uchiha Makoto thought. Such a promising kid, brainwashed.

But that's all right.

Now that I'm here, I can't let you go down the same path.

The Will of Fire?

That stuff just needs washing out.

"Cheng." Yashiro called to him again. "Was there anything else?"

"No." Uchiha Makoto shook his head. "Clan head, elders, I'll be going now."

He turned to leave.

"Wait." An elder stopped him. "Cheng, you're talented too. If you run into any difficulties, you can come straight to us."

"Thank you, elder." Uchiha Makoto bowed, but inwardly, he sneered.

Come to me?

With Shisui around, would you still come to me?

But he didn't say it aloud. Some things were better left unspoken.

In the meeting room, the elders were still arguing.

"We have to demand an explanation from the Hokage!"

"Exactly! Why should an Uchiha prodigy be put under surveillance?"

"This means they don't trust us Uchiha!"

Yashiro listened without speaking.

He knew going to the Hokage would accomplish nothing.

The Hokage would say it was to protect a prodigy.

He would say it was for Konoha's safety.

He would say the Uchiha were overthinking things.

But Yashiro still had to go, because he was the clan head, and because the Uchiha needed to make their stance clear.

"Enough." Yashiro stood up. "I'll go to the Hokage Tower."

The elders fell silent.

"Yashiro, I'll go with you," one elder said.

"Me too."

"And me."

Yashiro nodded.

The group marched out of the meeting room in force.

Only two people remained in the meeting room.

Uchiha Makoto and Shisui Uchiha.

"Um..." Shisui spoke first. "Big Brother Cheng, were you... really being followed?"

"Yeah." Uchiha Makoto nodded. "But things should be a little better now."

"Why?"

"Because you're here." Uchiha Makoto smiled. "You're more talented than I am. They're bound to pay more attention to you."

Shisui froze for a moment, then lowered his head.

"I'm sorry..."

"What are you apologizing for?" Uchiha Makoto patted his shoulder. "This is a good thing. The brighter you shine, the safer I am."

Shisui raised his head and looked at him.

"Big Brother Cheng, aren't you... angry?"

"Angry?" Uchiha Makoto shook his head. "I'm too happy to be angry."

He really was happy.

With Shisui up front as a "target," he could develop in peace.

He could milk the benefits in peace.

He could grow stronger in peace.

"But..." Uchiha Makoto considered it. "I still need to take precautions."

"Against what?"

"Against them sending someone stronger to watch me," Uchiha Makoto said. "The people watching me now are pretty average. Even I can sense them. But if they send someone really skilled, I won't be able to."

"Then what do you do?"

"Simple." Uchiha Makoto grinned. "I just have to get stronger too."

"Stronger?"

"Yeah." Uchiha Makoto nodded. "Strong enough to sense whoever they send."

Shisui nodded, only half understanding.

"By the way," Uchiha Makoto suddenly said, "have you eaten?"

"Not yet..."

"Come on, I'll treat you to ramen."

"Ramen?"

"Ichiraku Ramen. The best in Konoha." Uchiha Makoto pulled him toward the door. "I'm telling you, their roast pork is incredible."

Shisui was a little bewildered as he was tugged along.

But he didn't resist.

"Big Brother Cheng," Shisui suddenly said, "why... are you treating me to ramen?"

"Because I like you," Uchiha Makoto said without looking back.

"You like me?"

"Yeah." Uchiha Makoto smiled. "You're a much cuter kid than those old geezers."

Shisui smiled too.

"Big Brother Cheng, you're cute too."

"Cute, my ass." Uchiha Makoto rolled his eyes. "I'm handsome."

"Yes, yes, handsome."

The two chatted and laughed as they headed toward Ichiraku Ramen.

Behind them, the lights in the meeting hall were still on, but no one was left inside.

The elders had gone to see the Hokage.

Uchiha Makoto and Shisui had gone to eat ramen.

Konoha's dusk was quiet, as quiet as the calm before a storm.

But Uchiha Makoto didn't care. Right now, he just wanted a bowl of ramen, then to go back and milk more benefits.

To grow stronger.

Strong enough that no one dared watch him.

Strong enough that no one dared lay a hand on him.

Strong enough...

To do whatever he wanted.

"Shisui," he suddenly said.

"Hm?"

"Let's train together from now on."

"Sure."

Shisui agreed to Cheng's invitation with great anguish, but looked troubled as he spoke.

"I might be a little strong, so be careful."

"Yeah, I'll be careful."

Uchiha Makoto glanced at him. This kid really was polite.

Unfortunately, he was too polite.

In the Shinobi World, being too polite could get you killed.

That has to change, Uchiha Makoto thought. I have to wash that whole Will of Fire out of him.

And replace it with my will.

My ninja way.