Bang, bang, bang!
Knocks ca from outside the room, leaving Uchiha Kai a little confused.
He had lived in Hidden Leaf Village for years but never really made any friends.
The only ones he was close with were Aya and old man Teuchi.
But they were just civilians—there was no way they could co to the Uchiha compound, right?
With that question in mind, Kai stood up. After savoring the softness of the sofa for a mont, he walked into the courtyard and opened the door.
And then—
The instant he saw who was standing outside, his face filled with shock and disbelief.
It was… Uchiha Shisui?!
What on earth was going on?
Granted, his cheap parents had been diehard supporters of Uchiha Kagami. Before his death, Kai had indeed seen Kagami bring Shisui along to visit his family. So of course, he recognized Shisui!
Even though Shisui hadn't yet earned the na "Shisui of the Body Flicker," he was already a rising star and the pride of the clan.
But ever since Kai's parents were brutally killed, he had cut off all contact with Shisui. In all these years, the two hadn't seen each other once.
"Kai-kun, surprised?" Shisui smiled gently. "I'm sorry. I've just had too many missions."
"Especially these past years—even during festivals, I couldn't take a break."
"So I never had ti to visit you. I'm really sorry!"
Shisui sounded truly sincere.
Because of their parents' connection, the two had often played together as children. But Shisui was a genius. He graduated early in third grade and beca a ninja, then was constantly busy with missions, striving for peace for both clan and village.
If he said he was busy and had no ti, Kai believed it. Shisui wasn't the type to lie.
The problem was—Kai really didn't want to get entangled with "main characters" of the story. So all these years, he had deliberately avoided him. But since Shisui had co in person, it wasn't like he could just slam the door in his face.
So, forget it.
He sighed inwardly, then forced a laugh.
"Why apologize?"
"I know you're busy. Being a ninja, that's normal."
"Don't just stand there—co in, let's talk inside."
Kai stepped aside and invited Shisui in.
Once inside, Shisui's brows furrowed slightly at the sight of the overly simple, sowhat shabby house. But he said nothing.
After they sat down in the living room, Kai brewed a pot of tea.
"Here, have so tea, Shisui," Kai offered.
Shisui lifted his cup, then after a pause asked quietly, "How have you been these past years? I noticed you eating at Ichiraku Ran this morning."
…
Busted.
So that feeling of being watched earlier—it must've been Shisui. He hadn't expected that Shisui had been tailing him since morning.
After a mont of thought, he chose not to hide anything.
"Eating, obviously."
"Eight years ago, when my parents died on a mission, I was still too young. Ichiraku Ran was cheap enough for to afford."
"So since then, I've been eating there."
"But you know—my parents didn't leave much, and I wasn't so genius who could graduate early and make money from missions. I had to wait until finishing the academy at least."
"All these years, just my parents' inheritance wasn't enough to cover food."
"So I made a deal with old man Teuchi: until I grew up, I'd eat three als a day there, and since I was a long-term custor, maybe he could cut a break."
"Teuchi was kindhearted. Even in the mornings before the shop opened, he'd let eat with him and Aya, and wouldn't charge ."
"For lunch and dinner, he'd only take cost price, and even then he often charged less than that."
"I really owe him a lot. I think of him as a father."
Shisui froze.
He never imagined that Kai had been living so miserably all these years.
But… wait.
His own father had died around the sa ti as Kai's parents. Yet Shisui had always had soone to care for him. Why was Kai left like this?
In his simple heart, he really couldn't figure it out.
"Why?" Shisui couldn't hold back. "Didn't the clan do anything?"
"I rember there's a clan orphanage. Any Uchiha who lost their parents could go there."
"Not to ntion, your parents died in service. You should have been more than qualified for the orphanage! So why not?"
But to that, Kai remained silent.
A long ti passed before he finally spoke in a low tone.
"The reason's simple."
"My parents were diehard loyalists of your grandfather, Uchiha Kagami."
"When your grandfather died, his followers naturally got purged."
"Forget about —go check yourself. The children of Kagami's old subordinates… many of them had it even worse than I did."
Shisui sucked in a sharp breath.
His face went pale. Even the hand holding the teacup began to tremble.
Seeing this, Kai sighed softly.
He recalled how, in the original story, only Shisui and Itachi had stood together. Kagami's old followers and their children—none of them had supported Shisui.
Back then, Kai hadn't understood why.
But after transmigrating here, it all made sense.
After Kagami's death, his subordinates were purged. Over the years, most of them had been wiped out. Their children rarely lived to adulthood. Even if so barely survived, in their hearts they likely hated Kagami and Shisui's line to the core.
Support him? Yeah, right.
Only Kai himself—having lived two lives, with a steadier mindset—could see things differently.
He knew Kagami and Shisui were good people. His parents hadn't been wrong in choosing loyalty; it was just a sha Kagami had died too young.
As for Shisui? He was just a kid back then. What did he know?
That was why Kai had never blad Shisui. He stayed away only because he knew the plot and didn't want to get tangled with the story characters.
In other words, he just didn't want the trouble.
anwhile, Shisui's face grew darker and darker.
"No… no, it can't be like this!"
"How could they do that?"
"Those… bastards!"
Creak.
Even gentle Shisui, upon learning the truth, couldn't help but radiate killing intent. He was furious.
After all, Kai's suffering had been caused by his grandfather Kagami's faction!
And by Kai's account, he was actually one of the lucky ones.
At least, under Teuchi and his daughter's care, he had managed to live safely to adulthood. From here on, as a ninja, he wouldn't have to worry about food and clothing.
But what about the others?
Imagining those miserable fates, Shisui's rage boiled over. His Sharingan flared open, and faintly—
His three tomoe were on the verge of evolving into a Mangekyou Sharingan.
At that, Kai was utterly screwed.
He didn't know exactly when Shisui had awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan in the original tiline, but if it happened here in his own house, he'd be completely finished.
The Uchiha clan, even the entire Third Hokage's faction—
All of Hidden Leaf Village's upper echelons would instantly focus their attention on him.
How was he supposed to keep "lying low" then?
Shit, no way!
Kai's scalp went numb. He hurried to stop him.
"Shisui, calm down!"
"It's not a big deal. I don't bla you."
"And look—I'm an adult now, aren't I? Please, don't lose it!"
"for God's sake, I'm begging you here!"
"…"
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