"Obito, can you tell me about your internship experiences?" Shisui asked Obito during a training break.
Shisui had previously discussed with Mokgetsu to do the internship and then graduate directly, so Shisui wanted to gain some experience from Obito.
Originally, Shisui wanted to ask Kakashi because he thought Kakashi would be more reliable in this regard, but it seemed Kakashi had something going on today and didn't come to the Southern Border Forest.
Since Minato's return, Obito and the others have been shuttling back and forth, training for a few days with Minato and then returning to train with Mokgetsu.
"Why are you asking about this, Shisui? Aren't you only in the second year?" Obito scratched his head and asked, puzzled.
"I'm planning to graduate early in my second year, so I'll be participating in this year's internship," Shisui explained.
"I see," Obito said with a look of sudden realization.
Obito didn't think there was anything wrong with Shisui graduating early. Kakashi had graduated before completing the first year, and since Shisui could easily outperform Kakashi at the same age, Obito saw no issue with Shisui graduating early.
"Well, you've come to the right person. I was one of the top performers in the graduation internship!" As he spoke, Obito couldn't help but puff out his chest and look proud.
The number and quality of the tasks their team completed were the best, and the reason he said 'one of' was because Might Guy was also in his team.
"Hmm, very impressive," Shisui clapped and praised.
Even though his clapping and smiling lacked enthusiasm, he knew that this would still make Obito happy.
Sure enough, a look of pride quickly appeared on Obito's face.
"Firstly, intern ninjas are also ninjas; you have to take on commissioned missions. Unexpected situations might arise during missions, so you need to be cautious," Obito began explaining.
Shisui nodded; it seemed that Obito wasn't as unreliable in this area as he had imagined.
"Don't panic when faced with unexpected challenges. As long as you work hard with your companions, you can always overcome difficulties," Obito encouraged, clenching his fist.
The time they encountered the Candidate for the Raikage was exactly when he, Might Guy, and Kakashi managed to defeat the Hidden Cloud Jonin without abandoning or giving up.
"Did many unexpected events happen during your internship, Obito?" Shisui asked out of curiosity.
Judging by Obito's expression, it didn't seem like he was speaking casually but rather from the heart.
"Nothing unexpected happened during D-Class Missions, but there were unexpected events during C-Class Missions, like encountering the Candidate for the Raikage, or facing over a thousand enemy ninjas," Obito thought for a moment and answered.
"Is the internship that dangerous?" Shisui almost thought he heard it wrong.
Encountering the Candidate for the Raikage and battling over a thousand ninjas should be S-level missions.
"Of course it's dangerous. If it weren't for Teacher Mokgetsu, we would've died during the missions," Obito replied matter-of-factly.
"But no other internship teams had any casualties," Shisui felt something was off.
Although he could tell Obito wasn't lying, the content seemed a bit illogical indeed.
"Probably because other teams could only take on D-Class Missions. Our team was specially authorized by the Hokage to take on C-Class Missions during the internship," Obito also found it a bit strange and then remembered that other teams couldn't take C-Class Missions at all.
Shisui nodded, thinking he should ask Kakashi about it another day.
"By the way, before heading out for a mission, never say that there won't be any surprises, or else there definitely will be," Obito reminded earnestly, having suddenly thought of something.
Obito believed that the reason for so many surprises was mostly Kakashi's fault because Kakashi always assured them before leaving that there wouldn't be any, but the more he assured them, the bigger the surprises turned out.
Shisui found this a bit strange, but seeing how serious Obito was, he remembered it.
After a day of training, Shisui returned home exhausted.
He first took a short rest and then prepared to make dinner for himself.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
When Shisui opened the door and saw who was there, a smile with a hint of surprise appeared on his face.
"Uncle Nobuhiro," Shisui greeted with a smile.
Standing at the door was indeed his long-unseen uncle.
Perhaps due to the war, Uchiha Nobuhiro seemed busier than before to Shisui, sometimes not being in the village for months.
"Shisui, long time no see. You seem to have grown taller again," Uchiha Nobuhiro responded with a hearty smile.
"Last time I left, you were only about this tall," Uchiha Nobuhiro gestured as he spoke.
"Uncle Nobuhiro, please come in. I'll pour you some tea," Shisui welcomed Uchiha Nobuhiro inside.
Uchiha Nobuhiro nodded and placed the fruits and sweets he brought on the table.
"Shisui, have you had dinner yet?" Uchiha Nobuhiro asked, taking the tea Shisui handed over, as the setting didn't seem like it was post-dinner.
"Not yet, I was just about to start cooking," Shisui answered truthfully.
"I haven't eaten either. Let me treat you to some of my cooking," Uchiha Nobuhiro laughed as he headed toward the kitchen.
Regardless of whether he had eaten or not, he had to say he hadn't. It's one thing when he's not around, but when present, he has to look after Shisui as much as possible.
Shisui didn't refuse Uchiha Nobuhiro's kindness, but he went along to help in the kitchen.
"How's life been lately? Any difficulties with your cultivation?" During dinner, Uchiha Nobuhiro asked with concern.
The meals his uncle cooked, followed by concerned questions, brought Shisui to instinctively recall the memories of being cared for by Uchiha Nobuhiro in his childhood.
"Very well, no difficulties," Shisui replied, shaking his head.
The family heritage left him worry-free about money, and in training, Mokgetsu dispelled his doubts, so he indeed encountered no difficulties.
Mokgetsu was too considerate in every aspect, even noticing his emotional state in life and celebrating his birthday together.
"Shisui, you seem so mature that I, as an uncle, feel somewhat useless. As expected of our Uchiha Clan's prodigy," Uchiha Nobuhiro laughed and praised him.
"However, there is indeed something I need to tell you, Uncle," Shisui said after thinking for a while.
"I plan to graduate early and become a ninja."
Shisui informed Uchiha Nobuhiro of his plan to graduate early.
"Graduating early..." Uchiha Nobuhiro pondered.
"If you're not learning anything at the Ninja Academy, then there's indeed no need to stay," Uchiha Nobuhiro affirmed Shisui's idea.
As Shisui's uncle, he knew of Shisui's talent.
Given Shisui's performance, unless something unexpected happens, Uchiha Nobuhiro believed Shisui could become the next Uchiha Kagami or even surpass him.
Becoming a ninja means danger, but it also means faster growth.
Due to his unique experiences, Shisui possesses maturity far beyond his peers, and Uchiha Nobuhiro believes this is the result of Shisui's careful thinking.
Receiving his uncle's affirmation, a smile appeared on Shisui's face.
Although Uchiha Nobuhiro's disagreement wouldn't affect his early graduation, Shisui still cares about Uchiha Nobuhiro's thoughts, as he's the second person he trusts the most.
After the meal, Uchiha Nobuhiro proposed a sparring session, perfectly fitting for digestion.
To reassure Uchiha Nobuhiro about him becoming a ninja, Shisui agreed.
Due to his busy schedule, Uchiha Nobuhiro had not guided Shisui's training for a long time and thus wasn't aware of his current strength.
To avoid damaging the house, Shisui specifically took Uchiha Nobuhiro to a nearby deserted clearing.
"Come at me with all your strength," Uchiha Nobuhiro said, standing opposite Shisui.
"Breath of Flame: Full Concentration!"
Shisui immediately focused his breathing to the utmost to enhance his body's strength and augment Chakra Nature Changes.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Continuous Balls!"
Shisui gathered a large amount of chakra in his throat and then spat out two huge fireballs successively toward Uchiha Nobuhiro.
Knowing that Uchiha Nobuhiro was a strong Uchiha Jonin, Shisui did not hold back and used all his power.
"Is this developed from the Great Fireball?"
Watching the two incoming large fireballs, Uchiha Nobuhiro was somewhat surprised.
For a Chunin Uchiha to use such a Great Fireball was already impressive, yet Shisui managed to spit out two in one go.
Uchiha Nobuhiro quickly flickered his figure to dodge, fully understanding the Great Fireball; he naturally couldn't let such fireballs hit him.
Swoosh!
The chakra burst from Shisui's legs as he dashed swiftly toward Uchiha Nobuhiro.
Bam!
Uchiha Nobuhiro caught Shisui's fist with his palm, but couldn't control his body and took a step back.
"Have I really not been back for four years, Shisui? You're already eleven?" Uchiha Nobuhiro couldn't help but speak out while recalling Shisui's speed just now and sensing the strength transmitted through the palm.
Shisui was so strong that it made him suspect he had traversed time, though he wasn't being entirely serious, after all, he was a Jonin, and quite a strong one.
"No, I'm still seven," Shisui replied, flickering aside to open some distance.
"Fire Dragon Flame Bomb!"
Shisui quickly formed seals, gathering most of his chakra inside and then transformed it rapidly into flames, spitting it out in one breath.
As another Breath of Flame cultivator and coupled with Shisui's ninjutsu talent surpassing Obito, Mokgetsu naturally taught Shisui this powerful Fire Release technique as well.
Gazing at the massive fields of high-temperature flames rushing towards him, Uchiha Nobuhiro's eyes widened, disbelief all over his face.
This... is this really seven years old?
Uchiha Nobuhiro was certain that as long as Shisui didn't encounter any mishaps, he would undoubtedly surpass Uchiha Kagami because at Shisui's age, Uchiha Kagami wasn't this strong.
In that very instant, Uchiha Nobuhiro felt that Shisui could reach Uchiha Madara's level.
However, just for an instant, as Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama are two mythical figures of the Ninja World, the gap between them and ordinary ninjas is too vast.
Using Fire Release to counter Shisui's Fire Dragon Flame Bomb, Uchiha Nobuhiro looked at Shisui with eyes full of delight.
With such strength, Shisui becoming a Genin or even a Chunin would ensure he is among the stronger ones, self-preservation wouldn't be an issue.