"Everyone, look!" Asuma held up the scroll he'd brought with a smug grin, practically shoving it into the air. "I brought the Sarutobi clan's key notes on Fire Style!"
"Whoa!" The group erupted on cue, generous with their hype.
The Sarutobi clan's Fire Style really was famous across the shinobi world.
"If anyone wants sword techniques or taijutsu," Kakashi said, shooting a glance at Guy, "look at this."
He took out his own book, calm as ever. "My father picked some things he thought would fit us."
"Ohhh!" Guy howled like he'd been lit on fire. "White Fang-sama's guidance, huh? That gets my blood pumping!"
Then he promptly did a one-handed handstand and thrust his thumb up. "As expected of my lifelong rival, Kakashi! Come on, duel me!"
Kakashi's face went flat with disbelief, and he instinctively edged away.
Like hell I'm dueling you…
They'd only been in the Academy a short while, and this guy had latched onto him out of nowhere, insisting they were destined enemies for life.
But… it was kind of like Obito.
Kakashi could tell Guy's loudness wasn't hostile. Under all that noise was genuine goodwill aimed straight at him.
And for someone who, deep down, wanted friends more than he wanted to admit, Kakashi ended up silently accepting it. Complaining with his mouth, agreeing with his actions.
"Hey, hey! Didn't we agree you had to get past me first?" Obito yelled, waving his arms like he could physically block fate.
Guy squinted at him, brows knitting. "You are… you're called… sorry, but…"
Obito's face twitched.
He'd told Guy his name two or three times already, and the guy still couldn't remember.
"I'll tell you again. I'm Obito Uchiha!"
Shisui's lips curled as he watched them bicker. His mood was ridiculously good.
He liked this. Easy. Close. Everyone on the same side.
Compared to the Uchiha district lately, this place felt like heaven.
Recently, part of the Uchiha Clan had joined the Patrol Unit, and their view of the village had improved.
But plenty of others thought it was poison wrapped in sugar, Konoha trying to split the Uchiha apart.
Neither side could convince the other, and the atmosphere turned strange. Tense in a way that was almost worse than before.
Shisui had thought his talent might be enough to change something.
But after hearing Kakashi talk about what the world outside the Academy looked like…
He decided to slow down. Let things settle. Besides, he didn't want to graduate yet.
The way his friends shared with each other without holding anything back… it was addictive.
"I brought something on genjutsu!" Kurenai Yuhi raised her hand.
"And… I know a little medical ninjutsu," Rin said, a bit shy but still eager.
One after another, books came out, like bento on a picnic blanket. Everyone showing off what they'd brought, hoping to trade and taste each other's specialties.
"I brought Water Style," Shisui said, pulling out a thin booklet with a yellowed first page.
The group went weirdly quiet for a heartbeat.
An Uchiha… bringing Water Style?
Was that even a thing?
Shisui scratched his head, embarrassed. "I heard Asuma was bringing Fire Style, and… well, in my family, it's either Fire Style or stuff that pairs with the Sharingan. Those aren't exactly convenient for everyone to practice…"
"Shisui, I want to learn that!" Obito's face went pink. "But I don't have anything to trade you. I swear I'll pay you back later!"
"Of course," Shisui said easily. "No problem, Obito."
"We're brothers in the Azure Dragon Gang. We're supposed to help each other. Don't talk about owing me or not."
Honestly, when he first heard the name "Azure Dragon Gang," Shisui had felt secondhand embarrassment.
But the more they said it, the more it started to feel… good. Like a weird little thrill.
Maybe that was the Uchiha's inner chunibyo at work.
"But this isn't normal Water Style," Shisui said, clearing his throat to sound serious. "This is Water Dragon Jutsu, personally refined by the Second Hokage."
The moment Tobirama Senju's name came up, the other kids' eyes lit up like they'd been handed treasure.
The Second Hokage's reputation in Konoha, as long as you weren't part of the Uchiha Clan, was pretty solid…
Asuma and Kakashi exchanged a look.
The two sons of Konoha's upper ranks felt even more confused now.
Tobirama-sama passed secret techniques to an Uchiha? Was Shisui trying that hard to blend in?
Shisui caught their looks, sighed inwardly, and explained, "Um… I'm descended from Kagami Uchiha. My ancestor was friends with the Third Hokage. He was also part of the Second Hokage's guard unit."
Asuma's eyes widened in understanding. Kakashi got it too.
"Anyway, I'm not amazing at Water Style, and most Uchiha aren't interested in it…"
"But if it helps everyone, then I think Tobirama-sama and my ancestor would both be happy."
Shisui pressed his palms together, completely sincere.
Someone started clapping.
Then another.
Soon the whole group joined in, the applause swelling until it felt warm in his chest.
Shisui's face flushed, not from shyness, but from the rush of it.
Asuma jumped in like he was giving a speech. "Everyone! Look at us. We're this united. This strong!"
"With these manuals, the Azure Dragon Gang will train as one body, one heart, and we'll make the adults understand our determination!"
His eyes burned with it, because he couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
Minato Namikaze was Jiraiya's student.
And the image of that shameless toad of a man catching him in the act was still crystal clear in Asuma's head.
Teacher's debts get paid by the student. That was only fair, right?
The kids buzzed with excitement, trading based on what each of them needed, talking over each other, already planning who would practice what.
"Everyone!" Guy shouted, practically vibrating. "I brought gifts too!"
"Do you want to wear the Youth Set my father and I use? If you wear it, your training will feel even stronger!"
Nobody even saw where he got the bundle, but suddenly he had one, and when he opened it…
Green bodysuits. One after another.
"No," Asuma said, covering his face. "Not that, Guy."
Then his mind flicked somewhere else, and he froze for half a second.
Later… should he make a bet with Minato Namikaze?
If they won, he'd make Minato wear it.
Heh.
"Right, and my father told me to tell everyone something," Asuma said, forcing himself back on track.
"If you run into something you can't figure out, write it down. Don't force it until you get hurt. And if you realize something, try to explain it to the others too. He said that's called learning through teaching."
"When everyone's built up enough questions, my father said he can take some time to answer them for us."
Asuma planted his hands on his hips like he was already running a unit.
"Wait, what? The Hokage?"
"The Hokage is going to teach us?" The kids exploded, faces bright with pure anticipation.
Their drive to "prepare for Minato Namikaze" only shot higher.
And while the kids pushed each other forward…
Orochimaru's forbidden technique was finally complete.
Its name was the Immortality Jutsu.
A method that forced the soul into another person's body, achieving "eternal life."
Orochimaru hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, letting the tension drain out.
He'd already decided. He was going to tell his teacher.
Objectively, the Hokage had already noticed his abnormal hunger for soul-related texts.
And subjectively… Orochimaru didn't want to hide it.
He wanted Hiruzen Sarutobi, the man who was both teacher and father to him, to acknowledge this technique that overturned everything.
More than that…
He wanted recognition of his path.
Better a clash than suspicion. Better pain than doubt.
"This is bold, Orochimaru," he murmured to himself. "If this fails… everything good I have right now disappears."
A moment later, he smiled again.
"But if it succeeds, I'll never lack anything again."
He decided to gamble on it.
That night.
He went to find Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Sensei," Orochimaru said softly, "will you take a walk with me?"