"And one more thing—if you're on a mission and it hasn't rained for days, yet you suddenly see a small puddle on the ground, that too could be an enemy using the Transformation Technique."
"In summary, the Transformation Technique is extremely practical. I'll teach it to you soon. Once you've mastered the Substitution Technique in a few days, Transformation will be next. That's all for today. Finish your lunch."
Two days had passed since the last assessment.
Recently, Konosuke had been spending every lunch break lecturing the students on real dangers they might face during missions.
He considered it far more useful than reciting the Will of Fire.
The Will of Fire wouldn't stop a kunai flying at your throat.
After finishing his talk, he leisurely opened a bag of chips.
He'd bought them from Choji. Surprisingly good—almost identical to what he remembered from his previous life.
Halfway through chewing, Konosuke suddenly set the bag down and walked outside.
The students were busy eating and didn't pay attention.
He stepped out of the building and stopped beneath a tree, lighting a cigarette out of habit.
"You might as well say what you came for. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here."
"Your perception really is sharp," Itachi said as he dropped from the tree branch above and landed lightly before him. "I came to inform you that the Uchiha will take action in ten days. Please protect Sasuke. I'm worried someone might lash out recklessly."
"Fine. Let me know before the operation begins. I'll schedule a Substitution Technique test that night. As long as Sasuke stays inside the academy grounds, no one will harm him."
After agreeing, Konosuke asked calmly,
"Have you confirmed how many people need to be dealt with? Don't let the numbers get too high. I don't want to see the Uchiha crippled. That outcome benefits no one in Konoha."
Itachi exhaled softly.
"Shisui was right. You're the only one who actually cares about whether the Uchiha survive. Everyone else only cares whether we obey."
Konosuke ignored the remark.
"A few days ago, I sensed you interacting with a very unfamiliar presence. Care to explain?"
Itachi's pupils contracted sharply.
He hadn't expected that to be noticed.
But after a moment, he relaxed. Konosuke hid far more than he revealed—being detected by him wasn't surprising.
Removing his mask and leaning against the tree, Itachi spoke quietly.
"I don't know him either. He invited me to join an organization."
"I've reported it to the Hokage. He wants me to infiltrate it. After this incident, I'll become a rogue shinobi. It will serve as cover for the Uchiha coup."
"Since you already know… I'll entrust Sasuke to you for the next few years. Teach him well. He's the hope of the Uchiha."
Konosuke rolled his eyes.
"Give me a break. Hope? If you could truly face the Uchiha head-on, you and Shisui would be the real hope."
"I'll say something you won't like. Sasuke's ceiling is incredibly high—higher than yours or Shisui's. But his personality will never let him lead the Uchiha forward."
"You should be the one to rebuild the clan. Between you and Shisui, that's the safer bet."
Itachi didn't argue.
He simply replaced his mask and disappeared.
Maybe he had nothing to counter with.
Or maybe he just knew it was pointless.
Watching him leave, Konosuke felt unsettled.
There was something bitter about watching your own people prepare to kill each other.
They were all from the same village.
How had it come to this?
He'd gotten too involved in Uchiha matters lately.
It was making him sentimental.
Back in the classroom, he sat in his chair and observed Sasuke—surrounded by admiring girls.
Perhaps…
It wouldn't hurt to train him properly.
Call it compensation from the village to Itachi.
With that thought, Konosuke stood and walked over.
"You. Come with me. I have something to teach you."
"But sensei, Sasuke still—" Sakura began, only to fall silent under Konosuke's gaze.
Sasuke rose obediently and followed.
They left the academy and walked to a nearby training ground.
Konosuke stopped before a wooden practice post, removed his coat, and tossed it aside.
"Watch carefully. I'll only demonstrate once. How much you learn depends on your own talent."
"Finger Pistol!"
His finger shot forward at blinding speed.
In Sasuke's view, the finger pierced straight into the wooden post.
Wind-attribute chakra erupted from the opposite side—
Blasting clean through it.
Konosuke withdrew his hand.
"This is a technique I developed myself. I call it Finger Pistol. Chakra is concentrated at the fingertip and fired at extreme velocity."
"It requires exceptional chakra control—and strong physical durability."
"Start practicing."
He had modeled it after one of the Navy's Six Powers techniques from another world.
He'd tried to recreate all six.
Only this one had succeeded.
Sasuke stared at the shattered post.
He studied Konosuke—the so-called Shame of the Sarutobi—with new scrutiny.
Could someone incompetent truly invent something like this?
Konosuke slipped his coat back on and walked toward the edge of the field.
"Study my stance carefully. The advantage of this technique is that any chakra nature can use it. Your Fire chakra won't pierce like Wind—but it will burn. I've tested it. Works well enough."
As he passed a nearby bush, he reached in and dragged Naruto out by the collar.
"You done spying, brat? Get back to practicing chakra control."
Naruto flailed wildly.
"Put me down! I want to learn that technique too! Teach me, Konosuke-sensei!"
"Not happening," Konosuke replied flatly. "Until you master the Substitution Technique, I'm not teaching you anything. That's the minimum requirement."