Chapter 63: There's Something Amiss
"Rin, don't laugh, this time it's for real!"
Hanekawa had just stepped into the classroom when he heard Uchiha Obito's voice.
"What's for real?"
Hatake Kakashi walked over and asked casually.
Thanks to Hanekawa's explanation on the way, his feelings about the tragedy of Hatake Sakumo had been largely resolved.
"Hanekawa, Kakashi, and Kurenai, good morning."
A small smile appeared on Rin Nohara's face.
Uchiha Obito was instinctively stunned for a moment.
Why did she call Hanekawa's name first?
He quickly shook his head, thinking, I must be overthinking it. She was just saying hello, that's all. It's nothing.
"Obito was just saying that there's a new Uchiha student enrolling this year, and his skills are even stronger than Kakashi's," Rin said, a slight curve to the corners of her lips.
"He really is stronger than Kakashi!" Obito emphasized.
"Is that so?" Kakashi didn't believe him at all. "That's what you said about Uchiha Tekka last year."
"Uchiha Tekka? He can't last a minute against this guy," Obito said, a proud look on his face. "Even our clan head called him a genius who only appears once every ten years in the Uchiha clan! He's almost as good as me!"
"..."
Kakashi thought to himself, If you hadn't added that last part, I might have believed you. But since you did, it's hard to take seriously.
"What's his name?" Rin asked curiously.
"Uchiha Shisui!" Obito huffed, his tone full of confidence. "You'll all hear his name soon enough!"
Uchiha Shisui, huh?
Hanekawa's heart stirred.
This time, Obito was more or less on the right track.
Uchiha Shisui, who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and the dōjutsu Kotoamatsukami even before Uchiha Itachi.
During the Third Great Ninja War, he earned the title "Shisui the Teleporter," a name known throughout the ninja world.
Even a powerful Kirigakure jonin like Ao chose to retreat with his subordinates rather than face him in battle.
The most unbelievable part was his young age.
Based on this timeline, he would be less than ten years old when he participated in the Third Great Ninja War.
Just like Hatake Sakumo, he died by suicide.
However, his despair stemmed from his inability to bring peace between the Uchiha clan and the village of Konoha.
In a brazen move, he entrusted his Kotoamatsukami to the higher-ups in Konoha, but was ambushed by Shimura Danzō, who stole his eye.
There was no helping it; Kotoamatsukami was too powerful and was praised as the strongest genjutsu.
It could invade a person's brain and change their will without the target ever knowing.
Simply put, it could control people.
It was no wonder Shimura Danzō couldn't trust such a weapon.
"Let me tell you… huh, Shisui?"
Obito froze in an instant, feeling a little awkward.
Did he hear what I just said?
"Brother Obito?"
Uchiha Shisui, who had been looking around in the doorway, had his eyes light up.
He had finally found someone he knew.
"Brother Obito," Shisui said, quickly walking over. "Do you know who Hanekawa is?"
"..."
Obito's mouth fell open, and he felt a pang of annoyance.
Why is it always Hanekawa? Can't you people stop with this?
"He's Hanekawa right there," Kurenai Yuhi said, pointing to him. "What do you need him for, junior?"
"Thank you, senior," Shisui said politely.
Kurenai was immediately happy.
It was the first time someone had called her "senior."
"Senior Hanekawa," Uchiha Shisui said, handing him a challenge letter. "This is a challenge letter from Brother Tekka."
"Why are you the one delivering it?" Hanekawa asked as he opened and read the letter.
"I wanted to meet Senior Hanekawa myself," Shisui answered truthfully.
Hanekawa blinked.
Am I really that famous now?
"What's so great about meeting him?" Obito couldn't help but mutter.
What he hated most was Hanekawa showing him up in front of Rin.
"I'll be there on time," Hanekawa said, putting the challenge letter away.
"Thank you, Senior Hanekawa."
Shisui was secretly relieved. "I won't bother you any longer. See you tomorrow."
After saying goodbye, he turned and left.
"Is he really an Uchiha?" Kurenai asked, puzzled.
The Uchiha clan's reputation in Konoha was well-known, and it was always about them being arrogant, proud, and difficult to get along with.
But Uchiha Shisui was so polite that he didn't seem like an Uchiha at all.
"He really doesn't," Hanekawa said casually.
"Why would Uchiha Tekka go to all this trouble? Writing a special challenge letter and everything," Kurenai asked, looking at Hanekawa.
"He's probably afraid I'd just send Kakashi in my place again," Hanekawa said thoughtfully.
"He can't even beat Kakashi, so why would he challenge you and ask for a beating?" Kurenai shook her head.
The two chatted for a while, and soon it was time for the school ceremony.
Led by their teacher Eiichiro, Class 3A left the classroom in an orderly line.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, walked to the podium and began his speech.
Just then, a slight commotion broke out in the Class 3A formation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen saw Tsunade, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
But he was not affected and continued to speak about the Will of Fire in a steady voice.
Hanekawa, with the envious stares of his classmates on him, followed Tsunade out of the training grounds.
"Are you that happy?" Tsunade asked, glancing at Hanekawa.
"I'm happy to see you, sensei," Hanekawa replied with a smile.
"Smooth-talker," Tsunade said, a small smirk on her lips.
"Sensei, where are we going?" Hanekawa paused, then added, "We can't go to a casino."
"You're telling me what to do now?" Tsunade's expression changed instantly. She raised her hand and flicked him on the head.
"It's the first day of school," Hanekawa said, grabbing her hand.
"What's so special about the first day of school?" Tsunade asked casually, letting him hold her hand as they walked.
"Nothing," Hanekawa couldn't find a good reason, so he just said, "We just can't go, that's all."
"You're impossible." Tsunade's eyes darted around as an idea formed in her head. "Then we'll go to Kushina's place."
"..."
Hanekawa wanted to say something, but stopped.
He knew exactly what Tsunade wanted to do at Uzumaki Kushina's house. She was just looking for a new place to gamble.
"Sensei, I have a question." Hanekawa suddenly remembered the rumors about Hatake Sakumo.
"What is it?" Tsunade asked, pulling him out of the school gates and turning left.
"It's like this," Hanekawa said, telling her about Kakashi coming to him that morning. "Sensei, what do you think?"
"Something is amiss here," Tsunade said, instinctively frowning.
Her first thought was that Shimura Danzō was behind it.
Hatake Sakumo's reputation was too high, and many people believed he could become the Fourth Hokage.
Shimura Danzō would certainly not be happy about that.
Or rather, he wouldn't be happy with anyone becoming Hokage but himself.
"I'll find time to ask the old man about it," Tsunade said after a moment of thought.
"Okay."
Hanekawa nodded.
He didn't have the power to do anything himself.
Tsunade looking into it was the best possible outcome.
At the very least, it wouldn't get any worse than it was in the original story.
....
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