I, Konoha's Sage of Life

"Meow!"

A cat's cries echoed intermittently.

Kurenai Yuhi, with her sharp sensory abilities, could easily locate the cat's position. But in the dense forest, the thick trees and tangled underbrush slowed her down. Often, just as she was about to catch up, the cat would dart into a thicket and vanish again.

"Your speed is fine, but your efficiency is terrible," Kyoichi remarked, shaking his head.

No matter—this was a practice session. Let Kurenai run a few rounds first and realize her shortcomings on her own. Only then would his guidance have the greatest impact.

Perched on a tree branch, Kyoichi wasn't idle either. He was deep in thought about sword techniques.

Yesterday, he had used the Leaf-Style Willow in combat for the first time and was now even more convinced that it could be fused with the Iaido Slash. Prolonged illusions weren't necessary at all—just a fleeting moment of distraction was enough to end the fight.

Creating original techniques wasn't something achieved overnight. The system hadn't handed him a ready-made solution, so Kyoichi had only vague ideas for now. To make further progress, he needed to accumulate more knowledge.

"Sensei, can I... take a short break?"

Kurenai panted heavily, utterly exhausted. Dust and leaves clung to her hair and clothes, a stark contrast to her usual graceful composure.

Yet the cat still eluded her grasp. In fact, it seemed to have grown faster; the gap between them only widened.

"You can rest for a moment. In the meantime, let me ask you this: do you know what your problem is?"

"Um..."

Kurenai hesitated.

Lack of stamina? Too slow?

"Speed isn't the issue—you can catch up if you use Body Flicker Technique. The problem is your lack of agility and inability to control your speed."

Kyoichi paused before adding, "Also, what about your genjutsu? You're not specializing in taijutsu, so why aren't you trying to immobilize the cat once you catch up?"

"Huh? I can use genjutsu?"

Kurenai froze in realization.

She thought she'd understood, but clearly, she hadn't.

Genjutsu...

Of course!

She wasn't relying on her strengths. Why hadn't she considered using genjutsu once she got close?

The realization dawned on her, and a bright light flickered in her eyes.

"Sensei, I get it now! I'll catch that cat right away!"

---

At the Hokage's Office

"Chasing a cat as training?"

The Third Hokage held a near-burnt pipe, his expression one of disbelief.

Most of these cats belonged to nobles. They weren't particularly fast or challenging, and missions involving them were usually treated as basic team exercises for beginners.

But Kyoichi had put a unique spin on it, using the task to train Kurenai's speed and adaptability.

Initially surprised, the Third quickly found the idea rather ingenious.

"And what about the other two? Chopping wood and carrying water?"

The Third first observed his son, Asuma.

Asuma was hauling two large buckets of water, balancing them on a shoulder pole. The route stretched from a distant river to a water tank nearby. If any water spilled, he had to go back and start over.

A taijutsu exercise, perhaps?

Switching to another scene, the Third used his telescope jutsu to check on Shisui.

Shisui was chopping firewood—but with a twist. He was using various kenjutsu techniques, seemingly experimenting with ways to split the logs using minimal effort.

"This kid has far too many tricks up his sleeve."

The Third Hokage sighed and took a puff from his pipe—only to realize it had already burned out. His heart sank. He hadn't even taken a single drag.

After mourning the wasted tobacco, his thoughts returned to Kyoichi's methods.

Though effective, they couldn't be widely implemented. Every team had unique dynamics, and a one-size-fits-all approach wouldn't work.

Still, the Third felt inspired. Maybe the concept could be adapted for elite squads.

With that in mind, he shifted his focus back to Shisui.

"Could Uchiha Shisui become the next Kagami Uchiha?"

The Third pondered.

"One can only hope. If not..."

He let out a long sigh and dismissed the jutsu.

---

Late Afternoon

Exhausted but victorious, Kurenai finally caught the cat and delivered it back to its owner, earning her share of the day's mission rewards.

Back in Konoha, Kyoichi and his team ran into the newly-graduated Seventh Squad at a barbecue restaurant.

"Asuma! Shisui!"

Obito waved enthusiastically, as if he were the one footing the bill.

Standing nearby, Minato Namikaze greeted Kyoichi warmly and gestured toward the empty seats at their table.

"Kyoichi-san, care to join us?"

"Sure, but we'll order a bit more food."

Kyoichi didn't hesitate. His team had only had ration bars for lunch; they were probably starving by now.

Kakashi, however, turned his head aside, his expression cold.

But his eyes...

They couldn't stop glancing at Kyoichi's sword.

Minato noticed and couldn't help but smile. Kakashi was usually so composed, far more mature than his peers. Yet in front of Kyoichi, he showed a rare curiosity.

Minato himself couldn't help sneaking a look at the sword.

"Kyoichi-san, could it be... is that the Second Hokage's sword?"

"A temporary loan from the Hokage. What can I say? I'm broke," Kyoichi replied with a dramatic sigh.

"If I had the wealth of the Sarutobi clan, I'd have forged my own chakra blade by now. But alas, here I am, borrowing weapons to make ends meet."

At first, the younger ninja didn't recognize the weapon, but after a moment of thought, their eyes widened in realization.

"The Sword of the Thunder God?"

"That's the one."

Kyoichi drew the blade.

It was long and thin, its edge razor-sharp yet fragile. Without chakra to reinforce it, the blade would shatter after just a few strikes. Like the famed White Light Sabre, it was a chakra weapon that required skillful handling.

Shisui, with his interest in kenjutsu, recognized its potential immediately. His mind returned to their recent training session.

Sensei hadn't even been trying.

"If just one person like Kyoichi-sensei is this powerful, how can the clan still think so highly of itself? Those fools sitting in the police force, growing arrogant by the day—they're utterly blind!"

Shisui's thoughts churned.

He had begun to understand the clan's ambitions: power and prestige. They believed the Uchiha, as one of the founding clans, deserved greater recognition and rewards.

But times had changed.

Could anyone in the Uchiha clan match Kyoichi? Or Minato Namikaze?

The more Shisui observed, the more convinced he became of his choices.

The clan couldn't rely on outdated thinking. Its future would depend on individuals like him—and perhaps even Obito.

**************************************

Read advanced chapters ahead of everyone else on my P@treon.

p@treon/GodDragcell