Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
During those two weeks, nothing major happened in the village or at the Academy, aside from one small disturbance.
Uchiha Inari's parents, along with one of the clan elders, personally went to Hyuga Tōda's house to thank him.
The Uchiha elder wore a bright smile the entire time as he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Hyuga Tōda and his father. He even very "enthusiastically" invited Hyuga Tōda to spend more time interacting with the younger generation of the Uchiha clan.
He encouraged Hyuga Tōda to speak boldly, keep working hard, and strive for even greater achievements.
After that little "thank-you visit," the Hyūga household was filled with loud, high-pitched noise all through the night, and the echoes practically lingered until morning.
The next day, an older student from the Hyūga clan, looking utterly sleep-deprived, came to Kizaru's class to ask for three days of sick leave on behalf of his cousin.
An atmosphere of joy instantly spread through the classroom. The students who guessed the reason all wore bright, knowing smiles.
Among them, Uchiha Inari smiled the happiest.
At the same time, the news that Uchiha Inari had awakened the Sharingan at the age of six spread throughout the village. Alongside Kizaru's challenge to an Uchiha jōnin, it became one of the most talked-about topics around Konoha.
The Uchiha clan even declared that Inari, now that he had awakened the Sharingan, possessed talent and potential greater than Kizaru's, and that he would surpass him in the near future.
Hearing those words, Uchiha Inari could only blush in guilt.
He could only scream in his heart—
It's not me! I'm really not that amazing!
For several days after that, whenever Uchiha Inari saw Kizaru at the Academy, he would immediately keep his distance.
There was nothing he could do about it. Kizaru's performance in the last monthly exam had simply been too abnormal.
But in truth, Uchiha Inari was worrying far too much.
Kizaru didn't care about those rumors at all.
Over the past half month, he had spent his days in an extremely relaxed way. During the day, he went to the Academy and lazed around. In the afternoons after school, he trained with his four little followers. Then at night, he stayed at home and continued working on the Rasengan.
Under Kizaru's deliberate guidance, the relationship between Yoshihiko and Namikaze Minato improved rapidly, and the two gradually grew much closer.
Now, after school, Minato would often return to the Shimura residence with Kizaru and the others. They trained together, ate dinner together, and sometimes stayed there until late.
With Namikaze Minato spending so much time around Kizaru every day, naturally, he attracted Danzo's attention.
After secretly observing Minato's training a few times, even Danzo's sharp eye recognized the boy's exceptional talent.
And once Danzo noticed talent, a certain thought immediately sprang into his mind.
"Kizaru," Danzo said, "that Minato brat is quite promising. I want to bring him in and train him."
"Ahem!"
Kizaru, who had been sitting leisurely in a chair drinking tea, nearly choked when he heard that.
"What a terrifying thing to say," Kizaru muttered as he slowly set the teacup down.
Hearing Kizaru's complaint, Danzo frowned slightly and continued, "Your judgment is good. That child's talent is worthy of training."
Kizaru stared at Danzo as if he were looking at a fool, then fell speechless once again.
His uncle really was short-sighted in all the worst ways.
His own teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, knew how to win people over. He played the warm, generous elder, raised the banner of the Will of Fire high, and drew people to his side again and again.
But his uncle?
His way of taking people in was far too rough.
No proper care, no emotional investment, no patience.
Just brainwashing, control, and treating people like tools or dogs.
It was all far too hardcore.
No wonder he was unpopular.
Maybe that was exactly why Hiruzen felt so at ease with Danzo around.
With a capable old friend like that—someone ruthless enough to do the dirty work and broad-backed enough to shoulder the blame—Hiruzen could sit comfortably in the sunlight while Danzo handled the shadows.
"Uncle, please don't say something that scary so casually next time," Kizaru said, sounding genuinely troubled. "It really is frightening."
"Kizaru, don't be emotional," Danzo said seriously, clearly dissatisfied with that answer.
"Hey, hey, Uncle," Kizaru said instead, smiling lazily as his tone turned frivolous, "that set of ideas of yours only belongs underground. The moment you drag it out into the sunlight, it becomes a real eyesore."
The veins on Danzo's forehead nearly bulged.
Once again, Kizaru had managed to irritate him.
"And what bright idea do you have, then?" Danzo asked in a sarcastic tone.
"Learn from my teacher," Kizaru said with a smile. "First win someone's heart, then bring them in."
Danzo took a deep breath.
For some reason, the way Kizaru called Hiruzen teacher so naturally made him feel an uncomfortable sourness in his chest.
The two of them had only been in contact since the last assessment, so why did that word sound so familiar already?
"Then go listen to Hiruzen's way of doing things," Danzo snapped. "I don't care."
After saying that, Danzo stood up angrily and prepared to leave.
"Uncle, wait a moment."
As Danzo turned to go, Kizaru picked up the teacup in front of him and called out in his usual unhurried tone.
Danzo had already stepped out with one foot, but he stopped, turned around, and looked at Kizaru.
"If you really think highly of Minato," Kizaru said with a smile after taking a sip of tea, "then why not just adopt him?"
Danzo frowned.
Adopt him?
He carefully considered it for a moment and suddenly found that Kizaru's suggestion... actually wasn't bad.
He had already seen Minato's talent for himself. It was undeniably outstanding.
Putting aside monsters like his own nephew and Kizaru, Minato's talent was absolutely top-tier among children his age.
Danzo was just about to say something when he noticed the expression on Kizaru's face.
That handsome face wore a faintly wicked, thoroughly annoying little smile.
For some reason, Danzo's heart immediately became cautious.
"I have my own considerations," Danzo said stiffly, forcing a hard tone.
"Then I won't see you out," Kizaru said, waving a hand perfunctorily. "Take care, Uncle."
"No need!"
Before Kizaru could say another word, Danzo had already turned and strode out.
He left the room in irritation and made it as far as the courtyard before suddenly stopping.
Only then did he remember that the main reason he had come to see Kizaru today wasn't Minato at all.
He had come to pass along a message for that old geezer.
Even though he was reluctant, business was business.
So Danzo could only turn around and walk back.
Inside the room, Kizaru had lowered his head and was trimming his nails.
Hearing movement at the doorway, he didn't stop. He continued polishing his nails before casually raising his head.
"Uncle, meeting again so soon?" Kizaru said with a teasing smile.
Danzo's cheek twitched.
He really wanted to leave.
Suppressing his anger, he said stiffly, "Hiruzen asked me to tell you that tomorrow after school, you are to wait for him beneath the Hokage Rock."
"What does Sarutobi-sensei want with me?" Kizaru asked curiously.
"He prepared some ninjutsu materials for you," Danzo replied coldly. "He intends to hand them to you personally."
"What a wonderful teacher," Kizaru said, sounding falsely moved. "Don't you think so, Uncle?"
Danzo felt even sourer inside.
He wanted to say, Have I ever treated you poorly?
But Danzo was still Danzo. He cared too much about maintaining the dignity of an elder, so he could only ignore Kizaru's jab and continue:
"When you meet Hiruzen tomorrow, watch your words and behavior. Don't disgrace the Shimura name."
"What a pain..." Kizaru sighed as he lightly blew on his neatly polished nails.
A pain?
Danzo's expression stiffened again.
In the end, he only shot Kizaru one last glare, then turned around and left cleanly this time, unwilling to stay for even one more second.
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