Seeing Shiki standing there so calmly and imposing, Might Duy finally felt a trace of relief.
"Dad!"
When he saw his Dad arrive in time to save him, Might Guy was visibly shaken. In Guy's eyes, if Shiki hadn't appeared just now, all of them would probably already be dead.
"Dad! I—"
With tears welling up, Guy rushed toward Might Duy, clearly about to say how afraid he had been—
—but before he could finish, Might Duy punched him square in the face.
The sound was solid and loud.
Not only Ebisu and Genma, who were standing nearby, but even Shiki couldn't help but twitch his eyelids at the sight.
"You idiot!" Might Duy shouted angrily. "You are a ninja of Konoha, Guy! Even if you die on the battlefield, fear is not something you're allowed to show!"
If anyone else said it, it would sound harsh but this was Might Duy's way of encouragement.
"Yes!" Guy shouted immediately, tears streaming down his face. "Dad!"
"As punishment," Might Duy continued sternly, "you'll run one hundred laps around the camp today! Do you understand?!"
"Yes! Dad! For Konoha! For youth!"
"It's all youth!"
"Dad!"
"Guy!"
"Dad!"
"Guy!"
The two of them began shouting back and forth as if no one else was around.
Shiki stood to the side, completely speechless—and yet, strangely amused.
Before arriving into this world, he had seen scenes like this countless times as an anime fan.
But seeing it in person was something else entirely.
At the very least, Shiki couldn't remember the last time he had felt this conflicted—wanting to laugh and sigh at the same time.
After the emotional outburst finally settled, Shiki followed them toward the Konoha camp near the border of the Land of Water.
Inside the camp, Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and the others who had already arrived were waiting for him.
"It seems your Uchiha clan has grown considerably," Hyuga Hiashi said calmly.
The Hyuga and Uchiha clans didn't share open hostility, but as fellow dōjutsu clans, rivalry was unavoidable.
Neither side was willing to admit that their kekkei genkai was inferior to the other's.
Hiashi had noticed it clearly—many of the Uchiha present carried an intense, strong presence.
This was the aura forged only through blood and battle.
Uchiha Fugaku glanced at Hyuga Hiashi indifferently. There was no hostility in his eyes—only quiet confidence.
"The battlefield is the best place to temper the Uchiha," Fugaku replied.
"At the very least, it's far more effective than what your Hyuga experience."
Hiashi didn't respond immediately.
He knew the truth.
An Uchiha clan tempered by war and one that had never truly experienced it—were worlds apart.
In times of peace, Hiashi was confident the Hyuga could stand toe-to-toe with the Uchiha.
But during war, he didn't have that confidence.
"Lord Shiki has arrived!"
Someone shouted.
At once, Fugaku, Hiashi, and the surrounding ninja all turned toward the entrance of the camp.
Shiki walked in, with Might Duy following behind him.
"So… so many people…" Guy muttered nervously.
Since childhood, this was the first time he had ever been watched by so many eyes at once, and he instinctively tensed up.
"Don't be afraid, Guy!" Might Duy said loudly. "You are the finest ninja! Show your best form!"
Shiki, standing nearby, rolled his eyes slightly.
If you're trying to encourage him,
maybe don't start shaking yourself first.
Guy, however, didn't notice at all.
"Yes! Dad!"
Shiki couldn't help but feel a little relieved.
If Might Duy had truly died together with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, it would have been a huge loss for Konoha.
"Lord Shiki!"
Led by Fugaku and Hiashi, a group of Konoha ninja stepped forward.
"Mm."
Shiki nodded briefly, scanning them without saying much.
The battlefield near the Mist hadn't involved many Konoha forces at first. From beginning to end, it had little to do with Hiruzen Sarutobi—most of the pressure had been borne by the Uchiha clan alone.
"Not bad," Shiki said calmly.
"The Uchiha ninja here are indeed far more impressive than expected."
There was no hostility in his tone—only straightforward acknowledgment.
"You flatter us," Fugaku said, though the tension in his expression eased slightly.
Several Uchiha ninja visibly relaxed upon hearing Shiki's evaluation.
The Uchiha were proud but not foolish.
Shiki was a man who had crippled the Third Raikage and Third Tsuchikage.
No one with a functioning brain would act arrogant in front of him.
Seeing this, Fugaku finally felt at ease.
He had been worried Shiki might be difficult to deal with but now it seemed he had overthought it.
"Let's move," Shiki said. "We'll talk inside the conference room."
"Understood."
—
Inside the conference room, a young Uchiha ninja was already waiting.
"Lord Shiki."
"You are…?" Shiki asked, frowning slightly.
The face seemed familiar.
Uchiha Fugaku stepped forward. "Lord Shiki, this is one of our clan's elite—Uchiha Shisui."
"…I see."
No wonder he looked familiar.
So it's this one, Shiki thought inwardly, though naturally he didn't say it out loud.
"I've heard of you," Shiki said evenly.
"Your Body Flicker Technique is outstanding. You're talented."
"Thank you for your praise, Lord Shiki," Shisui replied with a polite smile.
For some reason, Shisui felt as though Shiki looked down on him slightly but he quickly dismissed the thought.
That can't be right. We've never even met.
What Shisui didn't know was that his guess was actually spot on.
Shiki did dislike him but not because of lack of strength or talent.
It was his foolishness.
After all, who in their right mind would openly tell their own government that they could permanently alter someone's will without them ever noticing?
That alone was enough to put even your closest allies on guard.
No one wants to wake up one day as someone they were never meant to be.
Not to mention the other mistakes he made soon after…
those alone were enough to leave even Shiki speechless.
--
After entering the conference room, Shiki noticed that Hiruzen Sarutobi—who had previously been stationed here—had already returned to Konoha.
Documents lay neatly arranged on the table, detailing the matters Hiruzen had handled.
Shiki didn't even bother glancing at them.
With a casual wave, he swept the documents off the table, letting them scatter onto the floor, then sat down heavily in the main seat.
"This place is much more spacious," he said.
Hyuga Hiashi, who had been following Shiki for half a year now, showed no reaction.
But Uchiha Fugaku's eyelids twitched slightly.
He had always heard rumors that Shiki and Hiruzen didn't get along.
Now it was obvious—those rumors were true.
"Hiashi," Shiki said calmly.
"The patrol and surveillance around the camp will be handled by the Hyuga clan."
"Yes," Hiashi replied immediately.
This was Shiki's first order since arriving.
Originally, patrol duties had been handled by the Uchiha but Fugaku had no objections.
In a land perpetually shrouded in mist, the Byakugan was far more suitable for reconnaissance than the Sharingan.
While the Sharingan had perception abilities, it couldn't compare to the Byakugan in wide-area surveillance.
"Fugaku," Shiki continued, "begin assembling your forces."
"In a few days, we'll launch a full-scale battle against Kirigakure."
"…Understood!"
Fugaku hadn't expected it.
Shiki had only just arrived and he was already preparing for war.
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