The moment I got home, I headed straight to the bathroom and stuck out my tongue at the mirror.
There it was.
A pitch-black sigil burned against the flesh — the curse mark Danzo carved into every Root operative.
The Tongue Eradication Curse.
One wrong word, one attempt at revealing Root secrets, and the curse freezes your entire body on command. A perfect leash. A perfect gag. A perfect execution switch.
I rubbed a thumb along my jaw.
I don't plan to spill Root secrets, but the real problem is… Danzo can probably trigger this thing whenever he wants. That's a death sentence waiting behind my lips.
Trying to recall the original timeline, I frowned.
Is there any clean way to lift this curse…?
After several moments, the answer hit me like a hammer.
"…No. Not unless Danzo dies."
Which would be great, except Danzo wasn't some paper-thin ADC that dies instantly in a team fight.He was an overleveled raid boss with multiple lives, a bunker for a base, and paranoia thicker than chakra armor.
Even if someone stabbed him, he probably had… backup rez tokens.
I exhaled through my nose.
Killing him now is suicide.
Which left two options.
"Orochimaru… or researching a counter myself."I scoffed. "So basically one option. And that option is locked behind a future DLC."
Checking the time, I sensed Shisui approaching.
A flick of my wrist activated my new sensory Skill.
[System Notice: Sensory Field Expanded][Target Detected — Uchiha Shisui]
I stepped outside.
Danzo trusted the former body enough that he hadn't assigned watchers today. Good. More freedom.
As Shisui approached the yard, I moved fast — hands forming seals, chakra flooding my lungs.
A roaring inferno erupted from my mouth.
An eight-meter-high fireball detonated across the training ground, incinerating wooden dummies and turning the earth black.
Shisui stepped through the gate just in time to witness it.
He froze, stunned.
Even among Uchiha elites, Great Fireball at that size and speed was absurd. Not because it was complex — but because almost no one could compress and convert that much chakra in an instant.
His eyes trembled.
"Teacher Hanyū—! I'm sorry to disturb your training!"
"It's fine," I said calmly, letting the smoke fade from my throat. "I was just finishing."
I gestured him inside.
We sat down. I poured water. His small hands trembled as he took the cup.
"In truth, Shisui, your clan's current situation begins with one person — your former clan head. Uchiha Madara."
He stiffened.
"Yes… the clan records say he left Konoha," he whispered.
"If it were only that simple."
I told him plainly:Had Hashirama not been overwhelmingly strong, Madara would've annihilated Konoha on his way out.
Shisui's lips parted, but no words came.
"And that wasn't the end," I continued. "Madara's rebellion only amplified the second Hokage's distrust."
Tobirama's strict policies.The Uchiha hawks planning a coup.The Anbu crackdown.The imprisonment.The aftermath.
All the reasons why villagers learned to fear the fan symbol more than they respected it.
Shisui's shoulders drooped.
"I didn't know… so many things happened."
"There were Uchiha who fought to change it," I said. "And Uchiha Kagami… was the brightest among them."
Shisui's head snapped toward me.
"Teacher Hanyū… what kind of person do you think my grandfather was?"
"Someone who carried the Will of Fire," I said slowly. "A bridge between Uchiha and the village. A man who tried to end conflict instead of inflaming it."
No dramatic praise. No exaggeration.But Shisui's breath caught as if I'd given the highest compliment imaginable.
There was pride in his expression — but also longing.
"I want to be… an Uchiha like my grandfather."
"…Grandfather?" I tilted my head.
He blinked, startled.Then nodded.
"Yes. Uchiha Kagami was my grandfather."
"I see."I set my cup down. "Then listen well, Shisui. Because I owe your family."
He looked up sharply.
"Your grandfather saved my parents' lives. If not for him, I wouldn't be here at all."
Shisui stared at me, shocked speechless.
He recovered only enough to bow.
"When you have time… please visit my grandfather's grave. I'm sure he would be happy."
"How could I not repay such a debt?" I met his gaze. "Shisui… would you be willing to become my disciple?"
He hesitated.Not rejecting — just overwhelmed.
But he wasn't blind.He knew my strength wasn't ordinary.He knew I was teaching him sincerely.
And he wasn't the type to pretend he didn't want guidance.
Finally—he nodded.
"Teacher… Mu Yue."
[System Notice: Apprentice Registration Request — Uchiha Shisui]
I hit YES instantly.
[Relationship Established][Current Trust Level: 2]Unlocks: "Apprentice Returns to Master" & "Teaching Returns"
Reading the description nearly made me choke.
Apprentice Returns to Master:Every time Shisui grows stronger, I grow twice as fast.
Teaching Returns:Daily gift to disciple = random reward for me. Reward quality scales with trust.
A two-for-one growth multiplier.This kid wasn't a student.He was a legendary-tier EXP engine.
I pulled out a small booklet — the fire-nature transformation manual I wrote earlier.
"Take this. It's a training guide for fire attribute manipulation. I'll check your progress regularly."
Shisui accepted it with both hands.
"Thank you, Teacher Mu Yue. I'll practice seriously."
[System Notice: You gifted Fire Nature Transformation Manual to Uchiha Shisui][Because the disciple is highly grateful, Reward Quality: CRITICAL][Reward Granted — Ninjutsu: Fire Style — Great Dragon Fire Technique (Proficient)]
A rush of memories slammed into my mind — countless practice runs, the stance, the breath timing, the seal simplification.
One seal.
Three fire dragons.
At once.
I stared at Shisui.
Not as a child.
As a living, breathing gold mine that produced rewards daily.
I cleared my throat.
"It's getting late. Shall I walk you home?"
Shisui shook his head.
"No need, Teacher. I'm used to going home alone."
My expression softened despite myself.
Right… his parents were gone.He was also alone.
A disciple with no parents…And a master with none either.
There was something painfully fitting about that.
"My uncle checks on me," Shisui added quickly, worried I might feel burdened. "So it's alright."
I nodded.
He left soon after, flipping through the booklet as he walked, his eyes burning with curiosity and admiration.
He was already trying to understand the fire technique he saw earlier.
The kid's talent wasn't just potential — it was hunger.
From the doorway, I watched him disappear into the twilight.
Tomorrow's classes would bring more Rewards.More chances.More growth.
And in the afternoon…
Obito and Might Guy.
I exhaled slowly, anticipation coiling in my chest.
What kind of potential ratings will those two monsters have?