Five years slipped by.
After leaving a marker in Shikkotsu Forest, Senya used Summon Flash to travel between the two places.
He returned to the village only every few days, spending most of his time training in the forest.
After five years of hard work, his Sage Body had reached a staggering ninety percent.
His chakra reserves and quality rose to a higher tier.
Even without entering Sage Mode, he could now rival super Kage class.
Sage Mode itself was fully mastered.
He could enter it anytime, anywhere, and draw in natural energy mid-battle to sustain it.
During this time he tested abilities while wrapped in Susanoo.
He still could not maintain the complete body for long while using other powers, but short bursts of combat were fine.
In Shikkotsu Forest, he opened his eyes and paused his Sage Body training.
Today was Uchiha Hitoshi's death anniversary.
He decided to visit the Memorial Stone.
They had shared years together. Paying respects was the right thing to do.
Sensing the village anchor, Senya flickered away with Summon Flash.
...
Before the stone, Senya placed a bundle of daisies.
As he turned to leave, a friendly voice sounded behind him.
"Hey there, are you Uncle Hitoshi's friend."
Senya looked back.
A ninja in a tracksuit and visor cap waved with a bright grin.
Senya recognized him at once.
Uchiha Obito.
At this time Obito was a fervent believer in the Will of Fire.
The war had taken his parents, yet he still dreamed hot-blooded dreams of becoming Hokage.
Obito stepped forward, laid his daisies down, and kept smiling.
"Uncle Hitoshi used to live next door. My grandma asked me to come pay respects."
He took Senya for Hitoshi's friend.
After the offering, Obito's words poured out.
Perhaps he had always trailed at the bottom and had few to talk to, so he was thrilled to find a listener.
Senya was surprised by the easy warmth, yet he did not walk away.
He chatted back in short replies.
From their talk he learned Obito had been promoted to chunin today.
The girl he liked, Rin, had been promoted too.
He had rushed here to tell his parents at the Memorial Stone.
Hitoshi was a stop along the way.
"Look, it is getting dark, and you probably have not eaten. Come to my place for dinner. My grandma makes the best rice balls."
Seeing that Senya agreed with him on many things, Obito treated him like a kindred spirit and insisted on hosting him.
Feeling that boundless enthusiasm, Senya considered it and accepted.
He had not used today's check-in.
Watching Obito lead the way, Senya's thoughts ran far.
If Obito had already become a chunin, Kakashi's cohort had largely advanced.
That meant the Third Great Ninja War was in its preparatory phase.
There might already be bloodshed on Fire Country's borders.
War would create a sudden need for captains.
These ninja, only two years out of the Academy, were pushed up to chunin in large numbers.
What awaited them was a brutal battlefield.
It had little to do with him.
Three years ago, Senya had casually "revealed" a one-tomoe Sharingan in the district and was promoted to chunin.
He became the official head of the Guard Tower.
No one wanted the post, so he still worked alone.
The clan would never send a supposedly unambitious clansman to the front and disgrace the Uchiha name.
...
Soon they turned down a narrow lane.
It was still the Uchiha quarter, though most here were civilians.
They bore the Uchiha name but lacked the aptitude to be ninja.
Obito called for his grandaunt at the door.
A kindly old woman opened up.
She blinked at Senya, then beamed and invited him in.
She had not expected Obito to bring a friend home.
Senya greeted her politely.
Glancing at the simple room, he spoke inwardly.
"System, begin today's check-in."
DING! Check-in successful. Reward obtained...
...