Naruto: Becoming Stronger through Bonds

Chapter 10: Shisui

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"Hello, my name is Uchiha Shisui."

The black-haired boy with a gentle smile appeared in an instant. He looked about 11 or 12 years old and stood just over 1.5 meters tall.

But Ervin dared not underestimate him.

Shisui was currently the strongest genius of the Uchiha clan. Except Infinite Tsukuyomi, he was the wielder of the most powerful illusion: Kotoamatsukami.

He was also half of Itachi's mentor and the one responsible for awakening Itachi's Sharingan.

Now, Ervin could only feel that Danzo's brain had been filled with water—likely Hiruzen's Water Style—because he had actually allowed Shisui to become his teacher.

Shisui certainly had the ability, but the question was, why him?

Danzo, the second most prominent anti-Uchiha figure in the ninja world (after Senju Tobirama, who had long since passed away), was now entrusting his grandson's training to a Uchiha?

Noticing Ervin's puzzled expression, Danzo mistook it for doubt in Shisui's strength. He admonished in a deep voice, "Ervin, don't underestimate Uchiha Shisui just because he's a few years older than you."

"He is a genius of the Uchiha clan. He has completed eight S-level missions and more than twenty A-level missions. He is particularly skilled in the Body Flicker Technique and swordsmanship. Ninja from enemy nations call him Shisui of the Body Flicker. You must learn from him."

Hearing Danzo's praise, Ervin said nothing, but Shisui looked embarrassed. Scratching his head like an ordinary big brother, he said, "Danzo-sama, you're too kind. I still have a lot to learn."

Danzo glanced at him and said nothing.

- Still learning? What more do you need to learn, kid? You want to be Hokage?

Ervin sighed inwardly and accepted his fate. Nodding, he said, "Shisui-senpai, I'll be in your care from now on."

"Ervin, may I call you that?" Shisui asked with a smile. After receiving a nod of approval, he grinned warmly. "I'll teach you everything I know and help you become an excellent ninja."

"Also, don't call me 'Shisui-senpai' anymore. I'm not that much older than you. Just call me by my name."

Shisui said this sincerely.

The night before, when Danzo had called him to ask if he was willing to teach his grandson, Shisui had agreed almost immediately, brimming with excitement.

Like Itachi—who had learned from him—Shisui's perspective had long surpassed the narrow confines of the Uchiha clan. He now stood at a vantage point where he viewed matters from the perspective of the village and even the Hokage.

He was acutely aware of the tensions between the Uchiha clan and the village, especially in this delicate period.

But unlike the future Itachi, Shisui was still searching for ways to resolve the conflict.

To Shisui, Danzo's request seemed like a signal—proof that the village, at least to some degree, was willing to trust him as a member of the Uchiha clan.

Ervin's identity was significant, and he already had a good relationship with an Uchiha. If Shisui could influence Ervin, it might lead to indirectly influencing Danzo, creating a weak but critical fulcrum to tip the situation.

Even if it proved ineffective, it would at least make Danzo understand Shisui's intentions.

[Host and Uchiha Shisui have established a master-disciple bond and received the reward: 'Dynamic Vision.']

"Fusion," Ervin said without hesitation.

When he acknowledged Shisui as his teacher, the system's prompt sounded, taking him by surprise. But he still accepted the reward.

In an instant, the world around him seemed to slow. He could even perceive the trajectory of the wind.

This feeling only lasted for a moment before fading, and soon everything returned to normal, without attracting the attention of the two.

"You two go ahead with your lessons. I still have official business to attend to," Danzo said.

Danzo didn't linger. After briefly introducing Shisui and Ervin to one another, he left the Shimura clan's grounds.

However, the guards who accompanied him secretly stayed behind to closely monitor Shisui's actions.

Danzo had chosen Shisui as a teacher not only because Shisui met his requirements but also because of a deeper calculation.

By using Shisui, who was loyal to the village, he could temporarily placate the Uchiha clan and create the illusion that the village had no hostile intentions toward them, all while buying time to prepare and gather strength.

At the same time, Danzo took measures to ensure Ervin's safety. The two Jōnin guards stationed nearby acted as insurance against the possibility of Shisui attempting reverse brainwashing or outright attacking Ervin.

It could only be said that those who played politics had dirty hearts; even ordinary actions contained layers of hidden motives.

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"Ervin, where would you like to begin?" Shisui asked gently as they stood in the courtyard.

"Danzo Sama mentioned that you have the fire and wind attributes," Shisui continued. "It just so happens that the Uchiha excel in Fire Style, and there's swordsmanship that synergizes well with it."

"Shisui-senpai, I have other plans for this morning. How about we start training in the afternoon?" Ervin suggested.

"If you're interested, you can come with me now," he added.

"Where are you going?" Shisui asked curiously.

Half an hour later, Uchiha Shisui stood in front of a gate, gazing at the sign above.

"Konoha Orphanage?"

"Come in with me," Ervin said, waving him forward. Behind them, several ninjas carrying large packages followed into the orphanage.

The orphanage was located on the outskirts of the village and was modest in size. It consisted of a three-story building and a yard roughly the size of half a football field.

In the yard, a middle-aged woman with glasses, likely in her thirties, was playing games with a group of four- or five-year-olds. A gentle smile graced her face.

When she saw Ervin and the others enter, she froze momentarily before approaching them.

"Little boy… what brings you here?" The woman's sharp observation led her to quickly deduce that the youngest among them was the leader of the group, so she directed her question to Ervin.

"Are you Dean Nono?" Ervin asked with a bright smile. "My name is Shimura Ervin. I'm Hiroki's classmate. I heard that life at the orphanage is tough and that sometimes there isn't enough food to go around, so I brought some supplies."

"Shimura!" A boy around Ervin's age ran over. Upon hearing what he said, the boy's face lit up with gratitude, though Ervin didn't receive the second-stage bond reward.

"Shimura Ervin…" Nono's pupils briefly contracted, but her facial expression remained well-controlled. She smiled at him warmly, with just the right amount of surprise.

"Thank you so much, little Shimura."

"It's no big deal. My family doesn't have much else, but it's rich," Ervin replied cheerfully.

Nono's smile faltered slightly at his words, and an involuntary thought popped into her mind: The son sells his father's land without a shred of guilt.

Meanwhile, Shisui, who had remained silent until now, glanced at Ervin's small figure. His gaze softened, his perception of the boy shifting.

- What a kind-hearted child, thinking of others at such a young age.

- Is this... the Will of Fire?