"Shall we go back together?" Shisui asked Obito, who was busy grading papers.
"Shisui, are you planning to go back early today?" Obito asked with some confusion.
Both of them belonged to the Uchiha Clan, and their homes were not far apart. However, they rarely went back together because Shisui often had to return later than them.
It's not that Obito was unwilling to practice more; he was just concerned that returning too late would worry his grandmother.
"Yeah, Yumi-sensei said to go back early today to rest and prepare for tomorrow's training," Shisui nodded in agreement.
The reason he returned late every day was that there was no one at home, and it didn't matter where he went.
"Well, Shisui, you really need to rest well. Tomorrow's training is bound to be exhausting," Obito reminded, his gaze towards Shisui carrying a hint of pity.
After all, if Mutsuki said so, the training Shisui would face tomorrow would definitely not be easy.
"I've guessed a bit. It should involve strengthening physical exercises," Shisui said.
Since Mutsuki mentioned that the new Body Flicker Jutsu would put greater pressure on the legs, physical conditioning is definitely necessary.
"Maybe I'll join your fights too. At that time, I'll give it my all," Shisui joked.
"I hope not," Obito prayed silently to the Six Paths Sage with his hands clasped together.
While doing problems, he had seen Shisui practicing the Body Flicker Jutsu, and the speed was too fast. In a battle, he wouldn't stand a chance.
If Shisui became the opponent, he feared the number of problems he would have to solve in a single fight would double.
"It shouldn't be the case. If it were, Yumi-sensei would have mentioned it in advance," Shisui couldn't help but laugh at Obito's devout praying expression.
In a somewhat harsh statement, neither Obito nor Might Guy can provide any pressure to him now. So, Mutsuki wouldn't arrange for them to train together.
Unless Mutsuki's intention is to put pressure on Obito and the others.
As the two walked, Obito suddenly stopped, and Shisui looked at Obito with some confusion from behind.
"Shisui, wait a moment. It looks like there's an old lady over there who needs help," Obito said, pointing to an elderly woman hunched over with a large bundle on her back.
Shisui looked in the direction Obito indicated, and indeed, there was an old person struggling to move along the street.
"Is Obito's observation really that keen?" Shisui was a bit surprised, as he hadn't noticed it just now.
After Obito found out what difficulties the old woman was facing, he immediately offered to help carry her luggage and accompany her to her destination.
"I'm fine, dear. Don't be fooled by my appearance; I'll be a ninja next year, and I'm quite strong," Obito patted his chest and grinned.
After saying this, Obito even performed a set of Taijutsu movements, which genuinely impressed the old lady. In the end, she handed her luggage to Obito.
As Obito walked ahead, the old lady followed, and Shisui, who was walking at the back, showed a pensive expression.
After helping the elderly woman, the two resumed their journey home. After a while, Obito stopped again, this time assisting an old lady with a cane to get home.
Shisui now understood why Obito was considered an anomaly. The first principle Uchiha children typically learn is not about respecting teachers and elders, but rather the supremacy of strength—where Ninjutsu power is paramount. The idea is that nothing matters more than enhancing one's strength; as long as you are strong enough, everything else is secondary.
Shisui was not very old, but his innate strength was evident, making even kids several years older than him look up to him. Obito, on the other hand, was different. He didn't show much enthusiasm for training that could enhance his strength, but he was genuinely interested in actions like helping the elderly.
Shisui thought that this might be the reason why Obito could notice and be willing to help the elderly.
"Shisui."
Upon entering the Uchiha territory, they began encountering familiar faces of similar ages. Uchiha Tekka greeted Shisui upon seeing him, but his curiosity was piqued when he noticed Obito standing beside Shisui.
"Tekka," Shisui also greeted.
"I'm heading home first," Obito said hurriedly, eager to see his grandmother. He bid farewell to Shisui and went back directly.
He didn't exchange greetings with Uchiha Tekka, as they were not familiar with each other.
"Alright," Shisui nodded.
"Why are you with him, Shisui?" Uchiha Tekka asked curiously.
Before this exam, Obito was always considered an odd Uchiha in his eyes—poor grades, no apparent ambition, and seemingly foolish. His behavior didn't match the typical Uchiha demeanor. Although after the exam, some labels had faded away, Uchiha Tekka still thought of Obito as a peculiar Uchiha. It wasn't just his personal opinion; others of the same age in the Uchiha clan shared this sentiment.
"What's the matter?" Shisui asked.
"Well, it's just surprising. After all, he's Uchiha Obito," Uchiha Tekka thought for a moment and said.
"After getting to know him, you'll find that Obito is a really good person," Shisui replied.
Shisui didn't explain much and quickly returned home after a brief chat.
"Could Obito's progress be due to Shisui teaching him some secret training techniques?" Uchiha Tekka wondered as he watched Shisui's departing figure.
Feeling a bit resentful after being defeated by Obito, Uchiha Tekka had been putting in continuous effort into training recently, aiming to regain his pride in the upcoming final exams.
...
In the morning, Shisui and Obito woke up early and headed to the training grounds in the southern forest.
As Shisui expected, Mutsuki had arranged a substantial amount of physical conditioning for him. Basic exercises like push-ups and squats were just the beginning. The training included swimming, running laps around Konoha, and the intensity was beyond what Shisui had imagined.
"Is it a bit excessive for someone my age to undergo this kind of training?" Shisui couldn't help but ask.
While some say that ninja bodies have unlimited potential, the truth is that excessive training can leave hidden injuries on the body.
Hearing Shisui's question, Obito curiously came over to take a look and was immediately stunned. Suddenly, he felt that his own training was quite relaxed in comparison.
"Normally, such a massive training volume would be impossible, but I have a special elixir that can alleviate fatigue after training and treat the body," Mutsuki explained.
Shisui was unaware that this was actually a generous reward from Mutsuki. Since the system provided a limited amount of the elixir, Mutsuki had decided to keep two for future research and allocated the rest sparingly.
Among Mutsuki's three disciples, only Might Guy followed the Taijutsu path, and initially, Mutsuki intended to reserve the elixirs for him. However, impressed by Shisui's performance, he decided to use two elixirs to enhance Shisui's training.
Shisui currently had the highest potential among Mutsuki's disciples, and Mutsuki hoped that Shisui would enter a period of rapid growth. This way, the Chakra provided during self-cultivation upon returning to the clan would be quite substantial.
"Elixir?" Shisui was surprised. It made sense if it was a special elixir with unique effects. Given Mutsuki's usual training plans, he wasn't someone who would unreasonably increase the training volume without cause.
"Yumi-sensei, how much does this elixir cost? My family has set aside quite a bit of money for me," Shisui asked.
Even though his grandparents and parents were no longer around, they had left their assets to him.
"You don't need to worry about that. Your sincere dedication to training is the best repayment for me," Mutsuki smiled.
Looking at Mutsuki's sincere expression, Shisui felt deeply moved. He could sense that these words came straight from Mutsuki's heart.
To be honest, the warmth that Mutsuki brought him surpassed even that of his uncle.
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