"Oh? You knew I came here to meet someone?"
A hint of curiosity flashed across Shisui Uchiha's face as he asked.
"I guessed."
Kazama Shin answered calmly.
Shisui clearly wasn't here to train like Shin.
And if it wasn't for training, who would casually wander this deep into the forest?
As for guessing he was meeting someone…
Shin's gaze drifted slightly toward the deeper part of the woods.
His now-refined sensory ability had already told him—someone was approaching from about a kilometer away.
And that chakra… he recognized it instantly.
Itachi Uchiha.
…
Everything lined up.
It was now Year 55 of Konoha. Only one year remained before the Uchiha clan massacre.
At this point, Itachi's identity as a "spy for the Hokage" was already known to Shisui.
Although Shisui hadn't exposed Itachi, the clan elders had grown wary after Itachi joined the Anbu. They had secretly ordered Shisui to keep an eye on him.
That was also why Shisui had been suddenly recalled from his mission.
…
"So they've already told each other everything…"
Shin's thoughts raced.
Shisui choosing such a secluded place to meet Itachi so frequently meant only one thing—they were avoiding being seen.
After all, what they were dealing with concerned both the clan and the village.
It was just coincidence that their meeting spot happened to be near Shin's training grounds.
…
"A guess, huh…"
Shisui studied Shin for a moment. Seeing no change in his calm expression, he dropped the subject.
But clearly, something had been stirred in his mind. His expression turned slightly troubled.
"Tell me… if two things you love fall from the sky at the same time, and both will shatter if not caught… what would you do?"
He suddenly asked.
"…Huh?"
Shin was caught off guard.
Why was Shisui asking him that?
And this question…
Shin's lips twitched slightly. For some reason, it reminded him of that classic dilemma—who would you save first?
Seeing that Shin hadn't answered, Shisui turned to look at him.
At this moment, Shisui wasn't treating him like an ordinary seven-year-old.
He was treating him as someone worth talking to.
Not just because of Shin's strength—
But also because of his maturity and composure.
More importantly, Shisui knew Shin was a genius.
And geniuses often thought differently.
…
After a brief pause, Shin replied:
"If it were me… I'd catch both."
Shisui's eyes flickered. "And if your ability isn't enough?"
"Then I'd still try."
Shin answered without hesitation.
"If I care about both, I won't give up either."
Shisui fell silent.
But his eyes lit up slightly—like he had made up his mind.
"I'm done training. I'm leaving."
Shin glanced toward the forest again and spoke casually.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, he vanished from where he stood using the Body Flicker Technique.
…
After a brief silence—
"You can come out. He already noticed you."
Shisui spoke.
Tap. Tap.
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
It was Itachi Uchiha.
He looked toward the direction Shin had disappeared.
"…He's not simple. Just like you said—his strength is extraordinary."
There had been no visible hand seals, yet Shin had used the Body Flicker Technique to leave instantly.
Even Itachi had to admit—
His younger brother's classmate, Kazama Shin, was a terrifying genius.
…
"Shisui… I've made my decision."
Shisui didn't continue discussing Shin.
Instead, he looked straight into Itachi's eyes, his voice firm.
As he listened—
Itachi's expression grew increasingly serious.
His pupils shrank.
…
Meanwhile, Shin moved swiftly through the forest.
In no time, he reached its edge.
Whoosh—
Thud!
He landed lightly on the ground.
Standing still, he turned to look back at the vast, shadowy forest.
Somewhere within—
Two people were making a decision that would affect the entire village.
Shin already knew what Shisui's question had truly meant.
For Shisui—
Both the Uchiha clan and the village were things he loved.
But the growing conflict between them had trapped him in an unbearable dilemma.
"…Even if I hadn't said that, you would've made the same choice."
Shin let out a quiet sigh.
Shisui's kind nature meant he could never do what Itachi would later do.
He wanted to protect Konoha—
But he couldn't bring himself to harm his own clan.
Shaking his head, Shin turned and walked toward home.
In the distance, dark clouds gathered across the sky—
As if a storm was about to break.