“Yes, Auntie. I’m Masaki, Shisui’s friend,” he replied politely, bowing slightly.

“Come in, come in! You’re up so early; I bet you haven’t had breakfast yet, right?” she asked, smiling at his politeness.

Not wanting to decline her hospitality, Masaki joined them inside. He ended up eating another rice ball, although this one was plain compared to his breakfast at home. Still, he accepted it with a grateful smile, not wanting to turn down Shisui’s mother’s kindness. As they ate, Masaki noticed that Shisui’s father wasn’t around. Shisui explained that his dad worked with the Konoha Police Force and had gone out on patrol early in the morning.

After breakfast, Masaki turned to Shisui with a smile. “Auntie, we’re going out to play for a while,” he said, bowing respectfully before they left.

“All right, have fun! Be safe out there!” Shisui’s mother called out after them, pleased to see her son making friends.

Once outside, Masaki gave Shisui a curious look. “So, you’re already practicing sword skills?”

Shisui’s cheeks flushed slightly, and he nodded with a bit of pride. “Yeah! My dad says it’s important to start early and get the basics down.”

“That’s impressive!” Masaki complimented sincerely, admiring Shisui’s dedication. Most kids their age didn’t have the discipline to get up so early for training, let alone stick with something as demanding as sword practice. Masaki couldn’t help but feel a bit of respect for Shisui. ‘It’s no wonder he’d grow into such a skilled shinobi in the future,’ he thought.

Still, Masaki reminded himself that he had his own unique talent: a special ability that let him refine chakra with ease. If he put in the effort, he believed he could surpass anyone—even Shisui at his strongest.

As they walked away from Shisui’s house, Shisui glanced at him. “So, where are we heading today, Masaki?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure. Let’s just explore and see what we come across. Oh, and I’ll treat you to meatballs at lunch!” Masaki replied with a grin.

Masaki replied casually, glancing around at the bustling streets of Konoha. By now, it was around eight or nine in the morning, and the village was fully awake with vendors calling out to customers and shinobis passing by on their morning errands. Masaki and Shisui wandered aimlessly through the streets, each with a toy paddle strapped to their backs, blending into the crowd yet catching a few lingering glances.

“Hey, look, aren’t they Uchiha kids?”

“Of course, look at the crest on their backs!”

Masaki caught snippets of hushed conversations as people noticed them. The Uchiha clan was known as the wealthiest family in Konoha, and their members were known for their pride and strength. Their reputation as the leaders of the Konoha Police Force brought a mix of admiration and fear from the civilians. The whispers didn’t escape Masaki’s ears, and he turned, spotting two women in a nearby breakfast shop who quickly averted their gaze as he looked their way.

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‘They’re treating me like an animal in a zoo,’ Masaki thought with an amused sigh.

“Hey, Masaki, what are you looking at?” Shisui asked, noticing his distraction.

“Oh, nothing.” Not wanting to dwell on it, Masaki picked up his pace, and Shisui hurried after him.

Shisui was naturally curious, pointing things out with the wonder of a kid exploring his village. As he gestured to something in the distance, Masaki’s smile froze. There, sitting at a nearby table, was a figure in a shinobi vest with long, flowing hair, purple eye shadow extending down to his nose, and jade earrings that glinted in the sunlight.

It was none other than Orochimaru.

The moment Orochimaru’s gaze swept over them, Masaki felt a shiver run down his spine, a feeling like he was in the presence of a snake ready to strike. He grabbed Shisui’s shoulder and steered him in the opposite direction. ‘Is this kid trying to get us into trouble?’ Masaki thought, stifling a grimace.

Orochimaru, meanwhile, looked away, dismissing them as two curious children. Unaware of Masaki’s internal panic, Shisui continued chatting.

“That uncle was scary! Just one look, and I couldn’t move!” Shisui whispered, patting his chest as if to steady himself.

“You don’t know him?” Masaki asked, relieved they were out of Orochimaru’s sight. “That was Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin.”

“Whoa, the legendary Orochimaru? I heard my dad say he might be the next Hokage! He’s incredible!”

"Yes… Hokage candidate," Masaki muttered, feeling the weight of their encounter. Orochimaru was indeed one of the village’s most powerful shinobi, and his presence only reminded Masaki of how far he still had to go. In a world as unpredictable as this, he realized, power was essential. He couldn’t afford to relax or fall behind.

Gathering his resolve, Masaki took a deep breath. ‘I’ll reach a level where people like him won’t even be a concern.’

By noon, Masaki treated Shisui to a barbecue at a cozy, affordable spot he frequented. It was a quiet place, with generous portions and a calm atmosphere—a perfect setting for lunch. After fulfilling his promise, the two headed back to their respective homes. Shisui’s family lived in the northern area of the Uchiha clan district, while Masaki’s house was in the south, on the opposite end.

As they were saying goodbye, Masaki, still curious about Shisui’s sword skills, hesitated a moment before asking, “Hey, could you check with your dad if I could join you for sword training sometime?”

Shisui, delighted to have a training partner, readily agreed. “I’ll ask! I’m sure he’ll say yes!”

Still, Masaki cautioned, “Just make sure to ask. Sword techniques might be a family secret.” Since his own parents hadn’t left any scrolls on swordsmanship, Masaki hoped Shisui’s father might allow him to join in. ‘It’s a chance I can’t pass up,’ he thought, waving as Shisui headed home.

Carrying a small bag of freshly packed barbecue, Masaki headed back to his house, knowing Ayame probably hadn’t started cooking yet. As he stepped into the courtyard, he spotted her right where he expected—relaxing in her favorite chair in the garden.

“You’re back, Masaki-kun!” she greeted him with a smile.

“Yes, Ayame-baa-san! I brought you some barbecue from that place we used to go to. I made sure they didn’t add any chili this time,” he said, handing her the food.

“Thank you, Masaki-kun. I got some fresh salmon today to make sushi for you later,” she replied warmly, accepting the barbecue.

“Enjoy it while it’s hot, Ayame-baa-san,” he encouraged.

“Why don’t you have some more, too? I can’t finish all this by myself,” she chuckled, her face crinkling with warmth.

“No, you enjoy it, Baa-san. I’m already full.” He watched with satisfaction as she happily dug into the barbecue. Once she finished and tidied up a bit, Masaki excused himself.

“Baa-san, I’m heading upstairs to practice,” he said.

“All right, dear. Go on,” she replied, settling back into her chair. The late August sun made the afternoon drowsy, especially for someone her age, and soon she was dozing peacefully.