Shimizu was finally discharged from the hospital—but he didn't tell anyone.
For the next few days, he quietly focused on readjusting to his body. After lying in bed for months without any significant movement, even the simplest actions felt stiff and unfamiliar, as though his body no longer quite belonged to him.
His sensory range had expanded to 420 meters—an improvement from before, albeit a small one.
Still, Shimizu understood something clearly: his raw physical growth had already passed its rapid development phase.
From here on out, if he wanted a substantial increase in chakra reserves, it would have to come from long-term accumulation—day after day, year after year.
So instead, he shifted his focus to refining his ninjutsu and swordsmanship, searching for breakthroughs that could be achieved in a shorter time.
Earlier that day, Shisui had gone to the hospital to look for him. After learning that Shimizu had been discharged, he had come straight to his house and waited outside.
Of course, Shimizu had spent the entire day at Training Ground 43, working on physical recovery, only returning home at night.
So the kid had simply… waited there the whole time.
Couldn't he have just left a note?
Still, Shimizu didn't hold any prejudice against the Uchiha clan anymore. In fact, he had a good impression of Shisui—his character was solid, his attitude sincere.
If anything, Shimizu appreciated that kind of persistence.
Heh… just don't end up betraying everything someday.
Otherwise…
"What do you want to drink?" Shimizu asked casually.
"Water is fine." Shisui sat a bit stiffly on the stool, glancing around the room.
The house was almost empty, with dust gathering thickly in some corners.
"I'll pour it myself…" Shisui quickly stood up, poured himself a glass, and then spoke with renewed seriousness. "Shimizu-sensei, I've hit a bottleneck."
"Go on," Shimizu replied, calmly wiping down his sword.
"The method you taught me… I can't seem to grasp it."
"How long have you been practicing?"
"Ever since the day you taught me—without a single break until now. But I still can't find the right feeling. I'm starting to think… maybe this path just isn't suited for me."
"That's possible. Everyone's path is different."
"That's why I want to try something else," Shisui continued. "And I came up with an idea—what if I combine genjutsu with the Body Flicker Technique?"
"Oh?" That caught Shimizu's attention immediately.
Was this what Orochimaru had meant—that teachers could learn from their students as well?
"If I activate my Sharingan while using the Body Flicker, I could cast a genjutsu at the same time—interfering with the enemy's perception, making them believe that my speed is faster than it actually is."
"Have you succeeded?"
"Not yet. I only came up with the idea a few days ago—I'm still experimenting."
"It's a novel approach. Definitely worth trying."
"But I asked Fugaku-sama about it… and he said it's impossible."
That made sense.
If one could simultaneously cast two different techniques and merge them into one unified effect, that would essentially be a kekkei genkai.
And the Sharingan itself was already a kekkei genkai.
Could it be… that Shisui might develop a Mangekyō ability tailored to enhancing the Body Flicker?
Shimizu considered the possibility carefully.
It wasn't impossible.
If Shisui awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, perhaps he could gain an ability perfectly aligned with instantaneous movement.
With that thought, Shimizu smiled faintly and encouraged him. "The path is something you carve out yourself. If you believe you're right, then walk it with conviction."
"Even if others oppose it… or completely deny it?"
"You mean Fugaku?"
"…No," Shisui answered reflexively—then seemed to realize something and quickly corrected himself, "Yes."
Shimizu gave Shisui a long, searching look before speaking, his tone calm but carrying a quiet sharpness.
"Fugaku's perspective is too narrow… you should try breaking free from his influence."
Shisui's head snapped up at those words, his eyes locking onto Shimizu's.
"Do you think I've damaged Clan Head Fugaku's image in your mind?" Shimizu asked lightly.
Shisui shook his head. "Fugaku-sama is someone worthy of respect. I admire him deeply… and he's taught me a great deal."
Shimizu smiled indifferently. "Then it seems his influence on you runs quite deep."
By then, he had finished wiping down his sword. With a smooth motion, he slid it back into its sheath and set it aside.
"As I said before, the war isn't over—it will continue. So stop overthinking these complicated matters and focus on your training and missions instead."
He paused briefly, then added, "If you want to achieve something—make a name for yourself—these next few years are probably your only chance."
Shisui frowned slightly, disbelief flickering across his face. "Sensei… do you really think the war will last for several more years?"
Shimizu hung the sword up before answering, his voice steady. "At the very least, it'll drag on until everyone is completely exhausted. Even Sunagakure hasn't truly given up, has it?"
"But… Konoha already won," Shisui insisted.
"Won?" Shimizu let out a faint scoff. "At best, it's a victory in appearance. It hasn't truly crippled anyone."
Shisui's expression darkened, something heavy settling in his chest. "Does it really have to come to that? Do countless people have to die before it stops…? Is that the only way?"
Shimizu's gaze drifted slightly, as if looking beyond the present.
"Humans are greedy," he said quietly. "Some crave power, others chase merit. Some pursue overwhelming strength, while others hunger for endless wealth."
He raised his left hand casually, mimicking the motion of casting a jutsu, then pointed toward the window.
"Where there is desire, there is conflict. That's as natural as anything in this world."
Outside, the night was pitch-black—nothing could be seen.
Shisui fell silent. The weight of the conversation pressed heavily on him.
Shimizu-sensei's words and Fugaku's teachings felt like they came from entirely different worlds.
Who should I believe?
Shimizu glanced back at him and said calmly, "There's no need to force an answer right now. Just do as I said—focus on training and missions. Give it time, and you'll find your own answer."
Shisui straightened at once. "Yes! Then, Sensei, I'll take my leave!"
"Alright."
With a soft click, the door closed behind him.
And at the exact moment it shut, Shimizu's figure vanished without a trace.
The house was left completely empty.
...
Under the cold light of the full moon, two masked shinobi raced swiftly across the rooftops.
"Don't you think you're being overly cautious?" one of them muttered, his ANBU mask tilted slightly as he spoke with doubt.
"No," the other replied firmly—a female ANBU. "I'm certain… 'Shunshin no Shimizu' has already noticed us."
"But we've been keeping a surveillance distance of over four hundred meters!"
"There's no mistake," she said in a low, tense voice. "At his level, sensing danger becomes instinct. We were careless."
"Damn it… he's catching up. We can't shake him!"
The woman clenched her teeth. "…We split up. You go east, I'll go west."
"Got it—"
"Watch out!!"
Before the warning could fully leave her lips, a streak of blue light tore through the night, crossing thirty meters in an instant.
The male ANBU was struck mid-air and crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, his condition unknown.
"You dare kill within Konoha?" the woman snapped, her voice laced with shock and anger.
"I dared to cross the Nara Desert and raid Sunagakure," Shimizu replied calmly, already standing in the path she would have taken to reach her fallen comrade.
His tone was almost casual, as if he were discussing something trivial.
"Or how about this—shall we let the entire village know what happened tonight?" he added with a faint smile. "Let's see whose side the Hokage chooses."
"You—!"
"I've tolerated you for quite a while," Shimizu cut her off, his gaze turning colder. "Back in the hospital, I had no choice—I needed to recover."
The woman's breath hitched. "You… knew all along?!"
Shimizu's lips curled slightly.
"With the way you people operate? I could guess it even without proof."