Konoha Orphanage

"Hello, my name is Uchiha Shisui."

The boy with black hair and a gentle smile appeared in an instant. He looked to be around eleven or twelve, just a little over five feet tall. However, Denji knew better than to underestimate him.

Uchiha Shisui was considered the Uchiha clan's most prodigious talent. He was the wielder of Kotoamatsukami, a powerful genjutsu second only to the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Beyond that, he had mentored Uchiha Itachi in part, effectively setting the stage for Itachi's awakening.

Denji couldn't help but think that Danzo had lost his mind by asking Uchiha Shisui to be his teacher. While Shisui's abilities were undeniable, the political implications were staggering. Danzo—known for his staunch opposition to the Uchiha—had placed the clan's most famous prodigy in a position of trust with his own grandson.

Danzo, carrying on Tobirama's anti-Uchiha legacy, may not have been the first to oppose them, but hey, the original anti-Uchiha grandmaster, Senju Tobirama, had long since checked out.

Noticing the puzzled look on Denji's face, Danzo assumed it was doubt about Shisui's abilities. In a stern tone, he explained, "Denji, don't look down on Shisui just because he's only a few years older than you. He's a genius of the Uchiha clan and has completed eight S-rank missions and over twenty A-rank missions. His Body Flicker Technique and swordsmanship have earned him the name Shisui of the Body Flicker. There's much you can learn from him."

Hearing this, Denji kept his thoughts to himself. Meanwhile, Shisui scratched the back of his head, embarrassed by the praise. "You're too kind, Lord Danzo. I still have a lot to learn."

Learn? What are you learning so hard for? Planning to steal the Hokage hat, are you?

Danzo cast a sharp glance at Shisui but said nothing.

Denji sighed inwardly, resigning himself to the situation. "I look forward to your guidance, Senior Shisui."

"Please, just call me Shisui," the young Uchiha said with a warm smile. "I'll do my best to help you grow into a great ninja."

Shisui's enthusiasm wasn't feigned. When Danzo had approached him about becoming Denji's teacher, he had accepted eagerly. Shisui's perspective on the Uchiha clan's issues was broader than most. Unlike many of his peers, he saw the clan's tension with the village as a larger problem that needed resolution—not just for the Uchiha's sake, but for Konoha as a whole.

For Shisui, teaching Denji was more than just a favor to Danzo; it was a chance to build a bridge between the Uchiha clan and the village leadership. If he could positively influence Denji, perhaps he could soften Danzo's notoriously hardline stance. Even if he couldn't, at least he could demonstrate his loyalty and intention to seek harmony.

Ding!

[You have established a master-disciple bond with Uchiha Shisui. Reward: Enhanced Dynamic Vision.]

"Fuse," Denji commanded mentally.

As soon as the bond formed, a new clarity came over him. For a brief moment, the world seemed to slow down, every movement of air and light becoming vividly traceable. The sensation faded quickly, unnoticed by those around him, but Denji knew he had gained something valuable.

Danzo, meanwhile, didn't linger. After introducing the two, he left for other duties. His guards, however, stayed behind, carefully observing Shisui. Danzo's decision to involve Shisui wasn't without ulterior motives. While Shisui's talents made him an ideal instructor, Danzo also intended to use him as a means to pacify the Uchiha clan. By showing some measure of trust in Shisui, Danzo hoped to delay any open conflict and strengthen his own position. Simultaneously, the guards were there to ensure Shisui wouldn't try to manipulate or harm Denji.

Politics were rarely straightforward. Even this seemingly simple arrangement was layered with hidden agendas and cautious oversight.

…

"So, Denji, what would you like to start with?" Shisui asked, his voice as gentle as ever.

Danzo had mentioned that Shisui excelled in both fire and wind techniques. Shisui was known for his mastery of Fire Style, and he often combined his swordplay with fire-based jutsu for devastating effect.

"Shisui," Denji began, "I have something to do this morning. How about we start our training this afternoon?"

"Sure," Shisui replied, curious. "Where are we going this morning?"

…

About half an hour later, Shisui stood at the gates of Konoha's orphanage, his curiosity growing.

"This is the orphanage?" he asked.

"Yeah. Come with me," Denji said as he waved Shisui inside. Behind them, several ninjas followed, carrying large packages.

The orphanage sat on the edge of the village. It was modest in size, consisting of a small three-story building and a courtyard about half the size of a training field.

In the yard, a bespectacled woman in her mid-thirties played with a group of young children, her kind smile brightening the scene. When she noticed Denji and his entourage, she paused, her expression shifting to one of mild surprise before she stepped forward to greet them.

"May I help you?" she asked, her gaze settling on Denji.

"You must be Director Nono," Denji replied, smiling warmly. "I'm Shimura Denji, a classmate of Hiroki. I heard the orphanage has been struggling lately, so I brought a few supplies."

"Denji-kun!" A boy around Denji's age ran up, his face lighting up with gratitude.

Director Nono's eyes widened briefly, but she quickly composed herself. "Thank you so much, Denji-kun," she said, her smile genuine.

"It's nothing. My family has plenty of resources, so I thought I'd share," Denji said, his tone casual and his smile as bright as ever.

Shisui, who had been observing silently, felt his perception of Denji shift. The boy's gesture seemed so natural, so sincere. Shisui's eyes softened. "What a thoughtful child," he thought. "Is this the Will of Fire at work?"

...

The children at the orphanage enjoyed an unexpectedly hearty meal.

Denji's gifts were far from modest. He brought an abundance of various meats—an extraordinary treat for the orphans of Konoha Orphanage, who were lucky to eat meat once or twice a month in small portions. For them, this was a feast.

Still, Denji seemed unhappy. His face was clouded, his mood gloomy, and he spoke less and less.

"Is the food not to your liking?" Nono asked carefully, studying his expression. "I apologize. Our orphanage cook isn't particularly skilled."

Ordinarily, as the director of the orphanage, Nono wouldn't need to tread so lightly, no matter how generous Denji's gifts were. But her position wasn't as simple as it appeared.

Yakushi Nono—an elite Root spy with the codename "Walking Shrine Maiden"—had performed numerous perilous missions for the organization. While the orphanage was her main responsibility, it also served as a covert recruitment ground for potential ninja. Many of the orphans had promising talents, making them valuable to the Root's future operations.

Nono knew how ruthless Danzo could be. And since Denji was his only living relative, any misstep might result in severe consequences. She had no choice but to carefully monitor Denji's mood, fearing that if she offended him, her longed-for retirement might become a distant dream.

"It's nothing," Denji said quietly. He quickly finished his bowl of food, set it down, and stood. "Dean Nono, I have training this afternoon, so I won't stay much longer."

As he rose, Shisui also wrapped up his conversation with a white-haired child seated nearby. Denji approached them, looking at the boy.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Kabuto," the boy replied softly, gratitude shining in his eyes.

"Alright, Kabuto. I'll visit again soon," Denji said with a gentle smile before leaving the orphanage with Shisui and the accompanying Root ninjas.

For all the effort Denji put in, he wasn't completely satisfied with the results. Of the nearly two hundred orphans at the orphanage, only twenty bonds were formed, and most of them yielded minimal rewards. It was no surprise that Denji's spirits were low.

Many of the rewards were small increments of chakra or minor chakra traits. If not for the exceptional rewards gained from Nono and Kabuto, Denji might have left feeling completely disheartened.

[Host and Yakushi Nono have established a bond of vigilance. Reward: Chakra Control Talent (Excellent)]

[Host and Yakushi Kabuto have established a bond of gratitude. Reward: Chakra Control Talent (Genius)]

At first glance, improved chakra control might not seem significant, but Denji knew otherwise. While basic exercises like tree climbing and water walking were straightforward, the real challenge lay in fine-tuning chakra output during combat.

In gaming terms, chakra was like mana. More mana allowed for more frequent jutsu use, but it didn't determine the strength of those jutsu. The power of a technique depended on several factors: the chakra invested in a single jutsu, the user's mastery of nature transformation, and the inherent level of the jutsu itself. Superior chakra control enabled more precise jutsu execution, made learning higher-level techniques easier, and even enhanced a jutsu's effectiveness.

Naruto's Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, for instance, required both advanced chakra control and mastery of nature transformation. By integrating the rewards from Nono and Kabuto, Denji's control talent significantly improved, placing him among the very best in the ninja world—even if not at the pinnacle, it was close.

Denji returned to the Shimura compound to train with Shisui. Being their first day, Shisui's approach was straightforward: he asked Denji to use all his skills in a sparring match to assess his current level.

Denji held back nothing—except his more advanced chakra nature transformations—and Shisui was duly impressed. At Denji's age, Shisui had not been nearly as capable. His own rapid progress only began after unlocking the Sharingan. Watching Denji's fluid swordsmanship and formidable skills, Shisui began to understand why Danzo had entrusted this talented young heir to him.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, signaling the end of the day's training, Shisui stood at the entrance and addressed Denji with a warm smile. "Denji, tomorrow I'll bring along the Uchiha clan's swordsmanship scroll. Once your swordsmanship reaches a bottleneck, I'll start teaching you the Body Flicker Technique. Sound good?"

Denji nodded. "I'll follow your lead, Shisui-senpai."

It was clear that Shisui was willing to invest heavily in Denji. Sharing the Uchiha clan's swordsmanship secrets and planning to teach him the Body Flicker Technique—skills that had brought Shisui fame—proved his dedication.

After Shisui left, Uchiha Izumi eagerly awaited dinner. However, to her surprise, Denji insisted they go to the market. He purchased a staggering amount of green peppers and tasked Aburame Seiji and Yamanaka Ryo with hauling the bounty back to the orphanage.

Despite Nono's bewildered expression, Denji, behaving like a mischievous young master, ordered the orphanage's chef to forego the usual meal in favor of a "green pepper feast."

Green peppers were infamous in Konoha, especially among children. Their distinct aroma made them unpalatable to many, and Konoha's typical plain steaming or boiling methods did little to improve the taste. To most, it was a torturous meal.

Denji had emptied the vegetable market of green peppers, ensuring the orphans would have no choice but to eat them. Plate after plate of peppers filled the tables, while the dean cheerfully extolled their nutritional benefits. Meanwhile, the children grimaced and reluctantly ate, trying not to gag.

Seeing their suffering, Denji announced, "Don't worry. I'll bring more green peppers next week. Eat up without worry!"

That was the final straw for one small child, who burst into tears. The floodgates opened, and soon the orphanage was filled with wailing children. Caregivers scrambled to calm them, while Yamanaka Ryo and Aburame Seiji looked on, their mouths twitching with disbelief.

"Our young master… truly has a dark side," Seiji muttered under his breath.

He really was Danzo's grandson.

[Congratulations Host.]