"As expected... it's Uchiha Mumei."
Uchiha Fugaku's heart was filled with trepidation as he left the Hokage Building.
He walked along the path, shrouded in the night, step by step, making his way back to the Uchiha Clan compound.
The Nine-Tails' attack hadn't been enough to drive the Uchiha from the village center; now they'd even unsealed Uchiha Mumei [Nameless Uchiha], who harbored deep hostility toward the Uchiha Clan.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi's explanation was that Kakashi had accidentally removed the Five Elements Seal in self-defense.
Even if Uchiha Mumei was under Kakashi's supervision.
Even if Uchiha Mumei had the Five Elements Seal reapplied to her.
No matter how harmless Uchiha Mumei seemed.
But... facing such a being, shouldn't they strike while she was weakened and finish her off?!
Indeed... it was a direct inheritance from Tobirama Senju!
Uchiha Fugaku's heart surged with anger, yet he dared not voice it.
No matter what, the clan must not start a conflict with the village.
Uchiha Fugaku walked through the dark night, the darkness enveloping him, his tightly clenched fists never loosening.
He could only pray now, pray that Uchiha Mumei was truly as harmless as Hiruzen Sarutobi claimed.
Pray that Kakashi, who was supervising Uchiha Mumei, could keep a close watch on her.
Night covered the land, eventually giving way to dawn.
Kakashi, an early riser, seized every moment to cultivate the path he had set for himself.
Even after completing his Wind Release chakra training, there were still Fire Release, Water Release, and others awaiting him.
So Kakashi's time was very tight.
Early in the morning, Kakashi arrived in the courtyard and plucked a dew-laden leaf from a green plant.
With a surge of chakra, more than half of the leaf was cut.
He continued... Minutes passed, and the green plant in front of Kakashi was stripped bare, his feet covered with fallen leaves, all cut in half.
As the first ray of morning light crossed the wall and fell into Kakashi's eyes, he looked at the last leaf in his hand, scratching his head, a little tired.
Should he make a clone to help him complete this Wind Release training?
"Kakashi?"
A girl in pajamas yawned, barefoot, standing on the veranda, looking at Kakashi, who had been up early pulling leaves.
"Are you hungry?"
"I'll go make breakfast."
Kakashi dropped the last leaf, feeling a bit helpless.
No matter how strong this body's talent was, completing Wind Release training in two days would be difficult.
"How about I do it?"
Seeing Kakashi's somewhat regretful expression, she tilted her head. It was the first time Kakashi saw a smile on her face.
Someone offered to cook, saving him time, so Kakashi naturally nodded in agreement.
"Then wait a moment~"
The girl walked back into the house with slightly lighter steps, which made Kakashi take another look.
He could ask her about Fire Release training later, but for the current Wind Release, she probably couldn't help much.
So, everything still depended on himself... With this thought, Kakashi's gaze shifted to another green plant.
Sharp, cut, sharp, cut!
Just as Kakashi steeled himself, ready to try again, Pakkun, who had been sleeping nearby, suddenly opened his eyes and stood up.
"An unfamiliar scent."
Pakkun sniffed the air, then looked at Kakashi.
Thump, thump, thump.
And just as Pakkun's words fell, the Hatake household's gate was knocked upon.
Kakashi glanced at Pakkun and walked straight to the gate.
As Kakashi opened the gate, a strange yet familiar figure appeared before him.
"Good morning, Kakashi-senpai."
The newcomer had short, slightly curly black hair, a simple face, dressed in black, with a small katana on his back.
Twelve-year-old Uchiha Shisui looked at the senior, praised as a genius in the village, with kindness and reserve.
"Shisui?"
"What brings you here so early?"
Kakashi frowned slightly, looking at the young man before him.
Uchiha Shisui, known as Shisui of the Body Flicker, was a genius Uchiha who had shone brightly in the recent skirmishes between Konoha and the Hidden Mist.
His eyelids were slightly lowered, concealing the expression within.
Moreover, the Uchiha Shisui before him could be said to be the strongest Uchiha in the Uchiha Clan at the moment.
In the original work's recollection by Ao, Uchiha Shisui at this stage already possessed Kotoamatsukami, rumored to be the strongest genjutsu.
"I apologize for visiting Kakashi-senpai so early, but I just returned to the village. On my way to submit a mission, I passed by your residence and thought I'd come to see you."
Uchiha Shisui spoke with a hint of embarrassment on his face.
This was a lie.
When he returned to the clan late last night, he was urgently called by Uchiha Fugaku, who had not slept all night, and instructed to check on the Hatake household's former strongest weapon of the Uchiha Clan.
"Is that so..."
Kakashi looked at the Uchiha Shisui before him.
To be honest, Uchiha Shisui was truly bad at lying; just under Kakashi's gaze, his eyes began to wander.
"Yes, that's right."
"This is a gift I brought for Kakashi-senpai."
"It's my first time visiting..."
Uchiha Shisui couldn't withstand Kakashi's gaze and quickly changed the subject, pulling out a basket of obviously freshly bought grapes from behind him.
"Come in."
Seeing that the senior allowed him inside, Uchiha Shisui secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But then he immediately became nervous again.
After all, Kakashi-senpai's house contained a super demon, described by the Clan Head as unparalleled and a scourge to the Uchiha.
His terrifying degree even surpassed that of the legendary Uchiha Madara!
This made Uchiha Shisui instinctively purse his lips.
However, as Uchiha Shisui, led by Kakashi, passed the kitchen and entered the living room, a fleeting glance made him momentarily stunned.
Who was that girl in pink pajamas, wearing bear slippers, busy cooking porridge in the kitchen, and seemingly around his age?
Kakashi-senpai had always been alone; rarely did anyone stay overnight at his house, let alone appear to be living there.
The answer was already very clear.
That was the super demon mentioned by the Clan Head!
It was simply... "Oh, that's her."
Seeing Shisui staring blankly at the girl in the kitchen, Kakashi took the initiative to speak.
Her existence had already been discovered by the Uchiha Clan yesterday; in this village where the Uchiha acted as city guards, it was impossible to hide it from the Uchiha Clan.
Kakashi also directly introduced her name to Uchiha Shisui.
"Is, is that so?"
Uchiha Shisui stammered.
Because she was only twelve years old when sealed, she was, accurately speaking, the same age as the current Shisui, and two years younger than Kakashi.
It was precisely because of this that Uchiha Shisui found it hard to believe that this was the demon described by the Clan Head.
"Stay for a meal later."
"It will also allow you to report back to Clan Head Fugaku."
Kakashi spoke unhurriedly.
"Oh, okay, huh?"
Shisui instinctively agreed but then immediately realized something was amiss.