Sarutobi Hiruzen flipped through the report on the table. Then, he frowned slightly, his expression becoming more serious.
Knock! Knock!
There was a knock on the office door. Might Guy stepped into Sarutobi Hiruzen's office.
"Lord Hokage, did you call for me?" Might Guy asked.
"Ah, Guy, yes. I was looking for you regarding something," the Third Hokage said with a kind smile. "You may not know yet, but that child, Kazuki, has become the top student in this year's graduating class."
"Huh? Really? That's amazing! That's truly wonderful news!" Might Guy laughed heartily.
"He used your technique, the Konoha Whirlwind, in the actual combat assessment. What's the story behind that?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
"Reporting, Lord Hokage! That child, Kazuki, has exceptional talent in taijutsu and trains diligently. I had always considered taking him on as a disciple, so I taught him some of my taijutsu techniques."
"I see," the Third Hokage nodded.
He wasn't overly concerned about that matter. What he truly cared about was something else.
"How much do you know about the kunai that Kazuki developed, which enables the user to execute the Three Basic Jutsu?" The Third Hokage's expression turned serious.
"Hmm... I do know a little about it," Might Guy nodded. "Kazuki has a rare talent for forging and can craft all sorts of ninja tools. In a way, it's his unique method of training."
"Then, in your opinion, is there a possibility of mass-producing the ninja tools he creates?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes glimmered with interest.
The moment he saw the report, he had immediately considered the implications. If the ninja tools designed by this boy, Kazuki, could be mass-produced and equipped by Konoha's forces, it would significantly enhance the village's overall combat effectiveness.
But Might Guy's next words dampened Sarutobi Hiruzen's enthusiasm.
Shaking his head, Guy replied, "I'm afraid not, Lord Hokage."
"When I first discovered Kazuki's talent, I had the same thought and asked him about it in detail. It takes him a full week to craft a single Three-Body Kunai. If he forges a more complex weapon, such as a long sword with additional capabilities, it could take an entire month."
Of course, Kazuki had deliberately misled Might Guy about the true time it took him to forge such weapons. He had long anticipated that others might covet his ninja tools, so he withheld the full truth. Until he grew stronger and gained more autonomy, he had to conceal his full abilities to avoid becoming a mere tool for others' ambitions.
"The forging time is quite long..."
As expected, upon hearing Guy's explanation, Sarutobi Hiruzen's enthusiasm waned.
Still, unwilling to completely abandon the idea, he suggested another possibility: "Kazuki is still young. As he matures, perhaps his forging speed will increase..."
"Lord Hokage!" Might Guy interrupted, shaking his head again. "If it were only a matter of time, it wouldn't be an insurmountable issue. But Kazuki's ninja tools have another unique trait."
"What kind of trait?"
"Aside from the kunai, the other weapons he forges can only be used by him. If someone else tries to wield them, they become nothing more than scrap metal. I've confirmed this personally," Might Guy said seriously.
He recalled the time he had tried to wield the Kusanagi-like sword that Kazuki had crafted. When he held it, the sword emitted no special glow or effects. In fact, it performed worse than an ordinary long sword—it couldn't even channel chakra, let alone release any ninjutsu.
"Is that so..." Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a long sigh.
There was clear disappointment in his eyes. Others might lie to him, but Might Guy's sincerity was beyond question. Sarutobi Hiruzen trusted him completely.
"Understood. Keep an eye on that boy, Kazuki. After he graduates, I will assign him to your squad," the Hokage said calmly as he regained his composure. "If there's nothing else, you may go."
"Lord Hokage, there is one more thing," Might Guy spoke up suddenly.
"What is it?"
"I know you previously issued a mandate preventing early graduation, but you've seen Kazuki's strength. He has far surpassed the level of a genin. Keeping him at the academy any longer would be a waste of his talent."
Might Guy lifted his head, his eyes filled with conviction.
"So, I request your permission, Lord Hokage. I wish to take Kazuki out of the village for training. I promise that we will return before he officially completes his academy curriculum."
"Training? It seems you have taken quite the liking to this child..." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "I can approve this request, but not just yet."
"Not yet?" Might Guy asked, slightly surprised.
"I still need you here in Konoha for the time being. The village is not very safe right now."
The conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village was becoming increasingly severe, and tensions could erupt into open confrontation at any moment.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed deeply and spoke in a grave tone.
"I hope you can understand my decision. It would be best if this matter could be resolved peacefully, but I must prepare for the worst. That is why I have ordered all the elite jōnin to remain in the village in case of emergency."
Might Guy nodded slightly. No wonder he and Kakashi, despite being elite jōnin, had not been assigned any missions requiring them to leave the village. It turned out that the Hokage wanted them to stay and preserve their combat strength. He pondered the situation, realizing just how dire the conflict with the Uchiha clan had become.
Although Guy had a straightforward personality, he was not ignorant of the political tensions in Konoha. He was aware of the underlying power struggles but usually immersed himself in rigorous physical training, choosing to stay out of such matters.
"Understood, Hokage-sama," Guy said firmly. "I will await your orders in Konoha."
"This should be the place," Kazuki murmured as he examined the map in his hands.
Despite living in Konoha all his life, this was his first time venturing deep into the forest behind the Hokage Rock. He had heard that this area was home to various bird species, making it the ideal place to collect feathers. At home, he only had black and white feathers left for forging his sky-feather garments, so he had come specifically to gather more materials.
The forest was dense, with towering trees that formed a thick canopy overhead. Sunlight trickled through the leaves in speckled patterns, creating a serene atmosphere.
"Huh?" Kazuki suddenly stopped, his eyes widening in surprise.
In the distance, hundreds of wooden birdhouses hung from the trees, large enough to accommodate thousands of birds. Such an elaborate setup had to be man-made.
"Are these birds being raised by someone?" he wondered aloud.
At that moment, Kazuki spotted a figure in a Konoha forehead protector, wearing a cloak adorned with the Uchiha clan's iconic fan symbol—Uchiha Shisui.
To his surprise, it was Shisui who had been tending to the birds.
Shisui carried a large bucket filled with food, scattering it for the birds. They seemed to trust him completely, perching on his shoulders and head while affectionately rubbing against him. Shisui, in turn, watched them with a gentle smile, appearing at ease.
Suddenly, Shisui tensed. Sensing an approaching presence, his expression became wary. He turned his sharp gaze toward the intruder.
In front of him stood a boy, no older than seven.
For a moment, Shisui was taken aback. The chakra he had sensed earlier was already at the level of a chūnin. He hadn't expected such strength from a child so young.
"Kids these days are growing stronger," he mused.
Even Itachi often praised his younger brother's potential, but there was still a vast gap in power between them. Yet, even Itachi, the prodigy of the Uchiha, had not reached this level at the age of seven.
"Who are you?" Shisui asked cautiously.
Kazuki, understanding that he needed Shisui's cooperation to collect feathers, responded politely,
"You must be Uchiha Shisui, known as the 'Shunshin no Shisui' (Shisui of the Body Flicker) in the village, correct?"
He continued, "My name is Kazuki. My family runs a ninja tools shop in Konoha. I require some feathers for crafting, and I was hoping you could assist me."
"Of course, I am willing to compensate you fairly, whether with money or anything else within my ability."
Kazuki was direct, avoiding unnecessary small talk.
Shisui's expression shifted several times, as if debating whether to say something. In the end, he asked an unexpected question:
"You don't mind that I'm from the Uchiha clan?"
It was an odd question, but Kazuki quickly grasped the meaning behind it. The relationship between the Uchiha and the village had become strained, nearly to the point of outright hostility. Many villagers harbored resentment and fear toward the Uchiha, avoiding them whenever possible.