"Kakashi... Senpai?"
"Oh, Shisui, it's been a while."
At the entrance of the Uchiha Clan Compound.
Two tall boys greeted each other.
"It's been a long time... Is Senpai here for something specific?" Shisui asked.
Kakashi nodded. "Yes, I'm looking for someone. Don't tell me you also have no missions today?"
"Yep," Shisui nodded in response. "Just happened to have a break, so I came back to chat with a junior."
The two immediately walked side by side.
Kakashi had a bit of interaction with the Uchiha Clan.
His left eye's Sharingan was a gift from an old Uchiha friend.
This was one of the very few Sharingan that had ended up in the hands of non-Uchiha.
Shisui had a decent impression of Kakashi.
Though he had only caught a glimpse of him at that funeral, they both worked in Anbu, and the fame of "[Sharingan Kakashi]" was well-known, not just in the neighboring villages.
Calling him senpai was a reasonable show of respect.
"I heard you were injured pretty badly on a mission a few days ago. Have you recovered?" Shisui chatted casually on the way.
"Well, it's nothing too serious. I'm almost back to normal," Kakashi shrugged in reply.
"That's good to hear." Shisui sighed. "But who is it that Senpai is looking for... if you don't mind my curiosity?"
"I genuinely don't know the name."
Kakashi's expression turned slightly awkward.
"I just happened to see her once and felt she looked a lot like an old friend, so I thought I'd come and check it out."
He had rushed out too quickly and forgotten to ask Asuma what that girl's name was.
It was a bit embarrassing that he remembered this only after arriving at the Uchiha Clan Compound.
"Is that so..." Shisui subtly glanced at Kakashi.
"If you don't mind, can you provide an approximate age and some details?"
"I might be able to help."
Even though Kakashi didn't seem like he was lying and he shared good relations with the Uchiha as a fellow disciple of the Third Hokage.
Shisui couldn't help but feel curious...
After that incident, who among the Uchiha would interest Kakashi?
"Ah, well..."
Kakashi felt a bit conflicted.
It wasn't that he had something to hide.
It's just that... the explanation sounded rather strange.
How to describe it? A girl, around five or six years old, no name, only that she had a beautiful smile.
She resembled a deceased friend of his?
Sounds strange no matter how you put it...
But...
He had to say something.
If he kept going like this, he might spend a long time searching without finding her.
And...
Since Shisui had already asked, it would be a bit awkward not to say anything...
"I'm not entirely sure about the specifics, but what I do know is…"
"She's a girl, relatively young, probably about the first or second grade."
"And she might have participated in the graduation exam a couple of days ago, but I'm not sure if it's the same person."
Kakashi spilled out all the information he had.
After hearing what Kakashi said, Shisui's expression gradually became peculiar.
Kakashi noticed this and felt even more embarrassed.
"It sounds strange, huh... But please believe me, I mean no harm. It's just... a pure nostalgia for an old friend."
"I understand, senpai." Shisui hesitated for a moment and nodded seriously.
He probably realized who Kakashi was looking for.
"It just feels a bit coincidental... the junior I'm looking for might be the same person Senpai is after."
Kakashi immediately turned his head.
"If that's true, then I'm counting on you!"
"Shisui-san!"
On the other side.
The usual chopping began.
In the small woods, Qing Chuan kept smiling as he swung his blade.
The battle in the graduation exam had brought him some calm.
His half-baked Initial Release and barely learned Zanjutsu and Hakuda were still firmly in the novice category.
Moreover, his weakest point was still his combat experience.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say.
If Itachi took over these abilities, Asuma would probably kneel right from the start!
That was the gap.
"You're just a half-hearted loser!"
"If you didn't have a golden finger, you'd be worthless!"
"All that you have now, you bought with shame!"
"Can't afford to slack off!"
"Qing... Chuan!"
One chop after another echoed along with Qing Chuan's determination...
Get stronger.
He couldn't afford to delay any longer.
But suddenly, several unfamiliar auras unexpectedly entered his perception range, making his movements pause slightly.
They were coming.
And it seemed like they weren't from the same faction; clearly not all were from the same family.
One of the auras was recognizable... belonging to Shisui Uchiha, easy to identify.
Shisui had someone with him, but he didn't know who.
However... what caught his attention was another aura, one that was alone but carried a dangerous vibe.
"Looks like the higher-ups are finally here."
Furrowing his brow, he continued with his chopping motion.
What's it to him?
If the sky falls, Itachi will be there to hold it up...