Konoha — Early Morning
At the edge of the Hidden Leaf Village, a man in a green training jumpsuit was running with burning determination, alongside a young boy around seven or eight years old. Both were drenched in sweat.
"Grow up strong, Guy!"
"Yes, Father!"
Might Guy was full of energy and spirit, echoing his father's enthusiasm.
From a rooftop nearby, Lord Naraku watched the two. He recognized Might Dai and Might Guy. Based on memory, Guy should be around six years old, though he looked slightly older due to his strong build.
Naraku was proficient in ninjutsu, genjutsu, and fūinjutsu (sealing techniques), but his taijutsu and kenjutsu (swordsmanship) were only passable—not exceptional.
If their skills were rated, Might Guy's taijutsu would be a perfect 10. Naraku's, at best, would be a 6—just enough to pass.
The Uchiha Clan and the Konoha Military Police Force were running smoothly. Under the leadership of Uchiha Yakumi and Uchiha Fugaku, the guard remained stable and effective.
Naraku primarily oversaw the Special Police Squad, focusing on elite missions and high-level threats.
He deliberately avoided micromanaging the clan and its institutions. Under the framework he helped design, not everything had to go through him.
Otherwise, if Naraku had to handle every matter personally, he'd have no time left for training.
Although the current ninja world—now in its 41st year—was experiencing relative peace, Naraku knew it wouldn't last. The Great Nations were biding their time, and before long, Konoha would once again face war from all sides.
Before that, Naraku was determined to address his shortcomings—especially his taijutsu.
After observing for a while, Naraku leapt silently from the rooftop and approached Might Dai and his son.
The two were in the middle of an intense handstand push-up routine.
"998… 999… 1000!"
"Nice work, Father!"
"Next: 1,000 kicks!"
"Yes, Father!"
As they finished their push-ups, Naraku landed nearby.
"Excuse me!"
"Who are you?" Might Dai asked, his expression cautious but not hostile. Peace had returned to Konoha, and few took interest in someone like Dai, who was often ignored due to his exclusive use of taijutsu.
"Hello, I'm Naraku. I've been observing your training for a while. You both train hard, and your taijutsu techniques are very advanced. May I ask if I can join your training?"
Might Dai grinned warmly.
"Haha! It's just some basic physical conditioning."
Though his skills had always been dismissed by other shinobi, Dai was genuinely happy someone had taken notice.
"I'm Might Dai. If you're interested, you're welcome to join us."
As a Genin, Dai could only take D-rank missions, and even getting C-rank assignments was rare. Most other shinobi refused to team up with him once they learned he only specialized in taijutsu.
Naraku wasn't wearing a flak jacket, but even without it, he clearly ranked higher than a Chūnin. Dai worried Naraku might expect C-rank or higher missions, which he couldn't deliver.
"Mr. Might Dai, I want to improve my taijutsu. I'm willing to hire you—pay you—to teach me the techniques you use. I noticed earlier that your kicks follow a specific chakra flow path."
Naraku didn't want to become a taijutsu specialist. He wasn't aiming to be like Guy—just improve his weak spots.
"Hire me… for money?" Dai blinked in surprise.
"Yes. I run a weapons shop, so I can afford to pay you 100,000 ryō per month. I'll just train alongside you—no restrictions on your personal time. What do you say?"
D-rank missions typically paid 500 to 50,000 ryō, and it was rare to get even that much. For Dai, making 100,000 ryō with just taijutsu guidance was more than generous.
"Mr. Naraku, right? No problem! But—" Dai paused.
"But what?"
"But training with me is extremely tough. You're well-dressed and seem like someone who hasn't done harsh physical labor. My training is strict—you'll need to be fully committed."
Even though Dai needed the money, he felt obligated to warn Naraku in advance. If someone hired him, he had to be responsible and ensure results.
"I understand. We'll start tomorrow. I'll give you 50,000 ryō now as a deposit, and the rest at the end of the month."
Naraku handed Dai a thick wad of bills. Dai's face lit up. This was a lucky day.
"Great! Then let's meet at 5 a.m. sharp, at the village gate. We'll warm up for 15 minutes, then start. Don't be late—we won't wait."
"Understood. See you tomorrow." Naraku turned and walked off.
Might Dai pocketed the deposit, his spirits lifted by the unexpected employment.
Naraku made his way back to the Uchiha district, satisfied.
Hiring Dai was like hiring a personal taijutsu coach. Although Dai was a Genin who knew only taijutsu, he wasn't yet well-known and often faced ridicule.
If Naraku had tried to hire him to train other Uchiha clan members, they might have viewed him as foolish. A nameless Genin teaching elite Uchiha? It would have been seen as an insult.
Instead, Naraku would train privately. Once his own taijutsu improved, he could quietly pass on the techniques to others.
After all, Might Dai had inherited the "taijutsu cheat code."
During the Third Great Ninja War, Might Dai—still a Genin—used the Eight Inner Gates to defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, effectively dismantling the group. It took years for them to rebuild.
Thanks to those accomplishments, Might Guy rose quickly to the rank of Jōnin, and the stigma against taijutsu-only shinobi began to fade.
This was the perfect time for Naraku to form a bond with the future taijutsu legend. After all, it was better to support someone in need than flatter someone already in power.
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Uchiha Clan District – Tribal Affairs Office
Naraku sat in the clan leader's office, reviewing the Uchiha population and registry data.
For the Uchiha shinobi who had died in the Land of Rain, Naraku ensured their families received compensation from both the village and the clan. He even used funds negotiated from Hanzo of the Salamander as part of the reparations.
It was enough to calm the clan—for now. Being a ninja was a bloody profession. If peace was the goal, one had to give up the shinobi path.
After scanning documents for a while, Naraku finally found the names he was looking for.
Uchiha Obito – Less than five years old. Lives with his grandmother. Currently receives financial support from the clan. A gentle and kind-hearted child.
Uchiha Shisui – Less than two years old. His grandfather is Uchiha Kagami. His father is unknown or not notable within the clan.
Naraku murmured their names to himself.
"Obito… Shisui…"
For now, he had no plans to interfere in their lives. Both were potential Mangekyō Sharingan users—valuable assets in his long-term plans.
He would allow them to grow naturally, then intervene when the time was right.
If Naraku interfered too early, it could disrupt their development—or worse, prevent them from unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan altogether. Shisui's unique Mangekyō ability was particularly crucial to Naraku's ambitions.
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