Shinichi walked through the streets of Konoha, watching children laugh and civilians chat as if the world had never tasted war.
His expression remained calm, but his thoughts churned.
'Even during war time, Konoha is so peaceful. As if the atrocities occurring in the frontlines are distant rumors. A kabuki performance they watch from afar. Is this what nobles and civilians are enjoying all their life, when we train and go off to war?'
Shinichi was confused. This was clearly a war between nations and yet on one streets families grieved for the fallen, while on another families profited off of the war with no interest in the progress of the war. Civilians and shinobis lived in same village and nation, yet their lives were completely different.
'In my past life, even peasants were dragged into war and Nobles retained their high prestige and authority by leading armies in war. Here? They do nothing and suffer nothing but maybe some inflation? And yet some how, the Daimyos and nobles are on top of Shinobis? Ridiculous. This world is even more twisted. To think that even without the gods, humans could fall so low... or is this the limit of humans?'
He exhaled softly.
'Chakra… is this world's greatest blessing and its greatest curse. Used only for war, when it could be so much more. But what can I do? I'm still learning its limits myself. Healing is just one of few productive abilities and I am sure that there are more ways to use chakra in productive method.''
His thoughts faded as he reached the Academy gates.
"Niichan!"
Kaito spotted him instantly and sprinted over. Shinichi pushed aside his brooding and smiled warmly.
"Let's go home Kaito."
"En!"
They turned to leave until a small figure planted herself in their path with her arms spread wide.
Shinichi blinked.
"? Tsunade-him—"
Tsunade's glare sharpened.
"Tsunade. Do you need something?"
"Hng! She's probably embarrassed she didn't graduate before me." Kaito muttered smugly.
"You!!!"
Tsunade raised her fist and glared at Kaito in outrage.
Shinichi watched their antic with a faint smile. These two bickered constantly and never seem to get along with each other. But he could see the bond beneath it, similar to Kaya and Keiko
Then Tsunade inhaled deeply and calmed down as she faced toward SHinichi.
"I- I… Thank you…."
"? Speak louder, washboard!" Kaito snorted.
"YYYYYOOOUUU!!!"
BANG!!!
Kaito clutched his head with watering eyes.
"Ouch! NIISAN!!"
"Kaito," Shinichi sighed, "don't speak to girls like that. How will you ever get a girlfriend with such manners?"
"Hng! I don't need a girlfriend! And, shouldn't you be more concerned about that? Mom always talk about how she wants a granddaughter, you know."
Shinichi's brows twitched in annoyance and his face turned a shade darker. He held a fist up while the other hand held it back.
"...."
Tsunade watched two brothers' interaction with disbelief and her brows twitching.
'These two… acting as if I'm not here!!! No! Focus! I am not here to argue with them.'
She quickly shook her head and bowed towards Shinichi.
"THANK YOU! I heard you saved my dad in Uzu."
Shinichi gently lifted her back up.
"Tsunade, there's no need for you to thank me. Saving comrades in need is natural. Kenichi-san would've done the same."
Her eyes reddened. She then hugged Shinichi tightly and muttered.
"Thank you… thank you… thank you… They said he wouldn't have survived without you…"
It was like as if the dam broke through. Tsunade cried in his chest.
Kaito opened his mouth to yell at Tsunade, but he took a pause as a mischievous grin replaced his face.
'Hehehe. Shinichi-nii lecturing me about girlfriends, but look at him now… Hehehe. But, wait…. If this girl becomes niichan's girlfriend…. NO! Impossible! I must stop this!'
He lunged forward.
But Shinichi grabbed both of them and shunshined away before the crowd's attention grew.
"Ahh!" "Kyaa!"
They landed in front of Senju compound as Shinichi gently placed the two on the ground.
Senju compound was very close to the academy and Hokage building. It did not take long to shunshin from academy to Senju compound.
Shinichi crouched to Tsunade's eye level.
"Tsunade, life as shinobi is filled with war, death, and danger. Injury and death are inevitable at certain point. You must learn to prepare yourself to face them if you want to become a powerful Kunoichi like your parents and grandparents in the future."
She wiped her eyes and nodded firmly.
"En!"
"Good. Take care than Tsunade."
Shinichi took Kaito's hand and walked away.
"Good bye!" Tsunade waved back with reddened eyes as she watched them depart.
***
Later that evening, Shinichi watched Kaito practicing in the training field. Since returning from Uzushio, he had taken over Kaito's training personally.
He had avoided training Kaito too seriously before to prevent his brother from being conscripted or volunteering out of youthful recklessness. But now, with the war ending and Kaito's graduation set for the end of the year, Shinichi felt safe to guide him properly.
They began with elemental affinity testing. Kaito had fire and thunder attribute.
Then they proceeded to test his chakar control.
As expected, with advanced training methods taught by academy after the reform, Kaito's chakra control was excellent. He had no problem circulating, maintaining, and adjusting his chakra according to the environment. Kaito could easily walk on water, run up trees, and cling to ceilings, while performing shurikenjutsu, basic ninjutsu, and bukijutsu (weapon techniques) without losing balance. Moreover, His Sharingan had awakened naturally this year.
Based on these abilities alone, Kaito could contend against some chunins in the village with ease.
"Hahaha! Kaito, you've worked hard!"
Shinichi affectionally ruffled his hair.
"Hehehe." Kaito puffed out his chest proudly and raised his chin toward the sky with pride.
"Mom taught me how to use sharingan and few other tricks while niichan and dad went out. I really trained hard you know!"
"I can tell," Shinichi smiled. "No wonder why you improved so much in such a short time."
Kaito grinned. "HEH! Of course! It's a promise between Kyodai! (brothers)"
Shinichi's expression softened as he patted Kaito's shoulder.
"Alright! I think you are just about ready to start the next step. As you know, your elemental affinities are fire and lightning. The best method to train lightning nature is by colliding chakra streams against each other, creating sparks and energy. And that energy and spark can be used to create lightning nature chakra. For Fire nature, compress your chakra tightly and rub it together, much like how you warm your hands together in cold winter. Generate heat and transform this energy into fire nature chakra."
"Oh! I will try them right away."
"Okay. But before you start. Did you learn shadow clone technique?"
"No."
"… I see. Then let's learn that first. You have enough charka capacity and creating a single clone should be fine."
With Shinichi's guidance, Kaito took an hour to learn shadow clone technique and began practicing his fire and lightning nature transformation. By sunset, he could naturally produce fire and lightning chakra without hand seals.
***
The next morning, Uchiha's 1st and 2nd Divisions assembled at Konoha's West Gate. Fukashi stood at the front, with Arashi, Naka, Naori, Eisuke and Shinichi behind him.
The send‑off was modest, consisting mostly Uchiha families, a few curious villagers and a handful of other clan representatives.
Sosuke stepped forward.
"Fukashi. I entrust our clansmen to you."
"Do not worry, clan head. We'll end the Suna front and return before you know it."
Fukashi turned to the assembled Uchiha.
"Listen well! Show Suna why Uchiha is the strongest clan in the world! Instill fear in their hearts! Make them remember that as long as Uchiha stands in Konoha, no one will dare covet our lands!"
He raised his arm.
"Uchiha — set out!"
""""HAH!!!!!"""
Clansmen replied with a short Warcry before the formation turned in perfect unision and marched through the West Gate.
Few villagers and ninja clans murmured as they watched the Uchiha march in synchronization.
"As expected of Uchiha clan."
"What a fearsome sight..."
"What an Uchiha way to set off."
"No wonder they were unmatched in the Warring States era..."
It was June 20th.
Four days after their return, the Uchiha marched to war once more.