CHAPTER 125
"Shisui, you're here."
Uchiha Feiquan's expression visibly softened, and even his voice became noticeably gentler.
It was a stark contrast to the cold attitude he had shown toward Guy and the others moments earlier.
Standing behind Guy, Ebisu couldn't help curling his lips in dissatisfaction.
Guy's gaze, however, remained fixed on the young man who had just entered the tent, and his pupils contracted slightly.
Uchiha Shisui.
"Father, I just finished training. I heard some new arrivals had reported in, so I came to have a look."
Uchiha Shisui smiled as he spoke, his voice carrying the clear, refreshing tone unique to someone his age.
Feiquan nodded.
"Take them and show them to their tent."
"Yes."
Shisui acknowledged the order before turning toward Guy's group.
A warm smile rested naturally on his face.
"Hello. My name is Uchiha Shisui. Please follow me."
His attitude was exceptionally friendly.
It was completely different from Uchiha Feiquan's earlier cold and warning-filled demeanor.
To him, Guy and the others did not seem like outsiders.
Instead, he treated them as ordinary comrades from Konoha.
That immediately eased the tension in Ebisu and Genma's hearts.
The two subconsciously relaxed.
Guy quietly nodded before following Shisui outside.
Deep down, he knew better than anyone that the young man walking ahead of them was no ordinary member of the Uchiha Clan.
He was the inheritor of Uchiha Kagami's will.
Who was Uchiha Kagami?
He had once served as one of the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama's personal escort shinobi.
He had also been teammates with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane.
As an Uchiha, to earn Tobirama's trust despite the Second Hokage's deep vigilance toward the Uchiha Clan was proof enough of his loyalty to Konoha and his ability to place the village above narrow clan interests.
Shisui had inherited that same will.
Because of that, his attitude toward fellow Konoha shinobi was fundamentally different from that of most members of the Uchiha Clan.
The three followed him out of the command tent.
The atmosphere outside instantly felt much lighter.
Walking ahead, Shisui glanced back with an apologetic smile.
"My father has always been like that toward people outside the Uchiha Clan... well, he's just very straightforward."
There was a trace of apology in his tone.
"Please don't take it personally. He doesn't mean anything else by it."
"He's simply... accustomed to behaving that way."
"Everyone here is used to it."
Guy nodded, indicating that he understood.
Ebisu and Genma also responded with soft acknowledgments.
They had already realized that this sort of blunt coldness was preferable to false warmth.
Seeing their reactions, Shisui's smile became even brighter.
As he led them through the camp, he casually introduced its situation.
"Outpost No. 8 is mainly responsible for reconnaissance and guard duty along the eastern sector."
"Sometimes we also carry out small-scale harassment missions or counter-harassment operations."
"The outpost's full strength is thirty shinobi."
"Now that the three of you have arrived, we're finally at full capacity."
"Since everyone here belongs to the Uchiha Clan, daily life may feel a little quiet compared to other camps."
His explanation was straightforward.
He neither exaggerated nor concealed anything.
He simply stated the facts.
Soon, Shisui brought them to a tent on the western side of the camp.
Although it wasn't new, it appeared clean and well maintained.
"This will be your tent."
He pointed toward it before gesturing toward the edge of the camp.
"As for those..."
Several smaller, older-looking tents stood scattered near the outer perimeter.
"Those are where the harsher living conditions are."
"So... Father doesn't seem to have any intention of deliberately making things difficult for you."
Guy and the others took a closer look.
Just as Shisui had said, this location wasn't especially privileged since it wasn't near the center of the camp.
But neither had they been pushed to the outermost edge.
It was a fair and balanced arrangement.
Ebisu and Genma exchanged glances.
The lingering dissatisfaction they had felt toward Feiquan lessened somewhat.
The man might be cold and blunt.
But at least he hadn't deliberately mistreated them.
"When there's a mission, either I'll come notify you, or Father will issue the orders himself."
Shisui continued explaining.
"When there aren't any missions, you're free to move around inside the camp."
"However, it's best not to leave the camp without permission."
"That's a safety regulation."
Hearing that, Guy couldn't help asking,
"Can we leave the camp at all?"
"For example... could we visit nearby outposts or other camps?"
The moment Guy finished speaking, Ebisu and Genma exchanged mischievous looks.
Both immediately understood why he had asked.
Wasn't it because Kurenai was serving under Inoichi Yamanaka at another outpost?
Guy clearly wanted to find an opportunity to meet her.
Shisui looked at him curiously before gently shaking his head.
"If there's no mission, then normally you aren't allowed to leave."
"It isn't directed specifically at you."
"The same rule applies to everyone."
"Frontline discipline is very strict in order to prevent accidents and enemy infiltration."
"Oh..."
Guy, Ebisu, and Genma all showed obvious disappointment.
"Is something the matter?"
Shisui noticed the change in their expressions and asked gently.
Ebisu glanced at Guy.
Seeing that Guy didn't object, he vaguely explained,
"It's nothing important."
"We just have a few classmates serving under Captain Inoichi Yamanaka."
"If the distance wasn't too far, we thought maybe we'd get a chance to visit them."
"I see."
Shisui nodded with understanding.
He was considerate enough not to ask who they meant or pry further.
Instead, he simply explained,
"The locations of the frontline outposts change according to the battlefield situation."
"Sometimes they're close together."
"Sometimes they're very far apart."
"If there's ever a coordinated operation or our patrol routes overlap, you'll probably have a chance to meet."
"But for now..."
"You should focus on getting familiar with this place first."
His answer was thoughtful and measured.
He neither gave them false hope nor completely denied the possibility.
At the same time, he gently guided the conversation back to the present.
"Alright."
"You should settle in first."
He gestured toward the tent.
"Everything you'll need for daily life is already inside."
"If you don't understand something, you can ask the others nearby."
"Or you can come directly to me."
"I'm usually training near the eastern training ground."
After saying that, Shisui nodded politely toward the three of them.
With another gentle smile, he turned to leave.
Just as he was about to walk away, Guy suddenly called after him.
Then he asked the question that had been weighing most heavily on his mind.
"Shisui."
"How old are you this year?"
Shisui paused in surprise.
He clearly hadn't expected such a question.
Chuckling softly, he replied,
"I'm probably only a little older than you."
"I celebrated my eleventh birthday not long ago."
After answering, he smiled once more before turning and walking away.
"Already... eleven years old..."
Guy's expression gradually became solemn.
Uchiha Shisui awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan at the age of eleven.
That meant the event destined to awaken those eyes...
"...would happen within this year."
Guy murmured quietly to himself.
"A year?"
"What about a year?"
Ebisu leaned over curiously.
Guy simply shook his head.
"It's nothing."
Ebisu didn't dwell on it.
Adjusting his sunglasses, he looked toward the direction Shisui had left and quietly commented,
"That guy..."
"...seems pretty decent."
Genma continued chewing on the senbon between his teeth without speaking.
Yet the vigilance and tension in his eyes had noticeably diminished compared to when they first entered the camp.
Guy said nothing more.
He lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.
The interior was furnished with the standard three military beds.
The bedding was folded neatly.
Several simple storage boxes were arranged against one side.
The conditions were plain.
But they were more than adequate.
The three quietly walked inside and began organizing their belongings.
No matter what awaited them in the future...
At least for now...
Their lives within this Uchiha outpost...
Had officially begun.