Early morning.
In the forests of Konoha.
With a backpack slung over one shoulder and a lunchbox in hand, Shin arrived at his usual training spot. Thanks to his frequent visits, a small clearing had formed here, and the surrounding trees were covered in marks and scars some even had their bark stripped, revealing bare, splintered trunks beneath.
Shin set his pack and lunchbox on the ground, but just as he did, a sharp, high-pitched slicing sound tore through the air.
His eyes sharpened, and he instantly sprang backward into a roll.
Thwack!
A kunai flew through the air and stabbed deep into the ground right where he'd been standing pinning his lunchbox in the process.
Shin came to a stop and stared at the scene. His expression twitched slightly.
"Well, you're as hardworking as ever."
A familiar voice drifted down from above.
Shin turned to see Uchiha Shisui standing casually on a tree branch nearby, dressed in his usual attire and smiling cheerfully.
With a flicker, Shisui vanished from the branch and reappeared right in front of Shin.
"Morning, top student," he said with a grin.
Shin stared at him expressionlessly.
"Hmm? What's with that look?" Shisui asked, tilting his head. "You look like you saw a ghost."
Stare.
"Were you scared? C'mon, it wasn't that bad." Shisui looked him over, puzzled.
"My lunch," Shin said flatly.
"Huh?" Shisui blinked, confused.
"I mean..." Shin exhaled, turned to the side, and pointed at the lunchbox that was now thoroughly pierced by a kunai. "That was my lunch."
"..."
Shisui's smile froze on his face, then shifted into an awkward chuckle.
"Ah... haha... yeah, that was... um... an accident."
"How are you going to make it up to me?" Shin asked, still stone-faced.
"Uh... well... you name it." Shisui looked away, scratching his cheek awkwardly.
Without replying, Shin turned back to his pack, unzipped it, and revealed a collection of gear shuriken, wire, kunai, and other tools.
"Buy me lunch," he said.
"Yeah, alright," Shisui sighed, walking up behind him. "So, what's got you out here this early?"
Shin pulled on a pair of specialized gloves, then grabbed a shuriken and a spool of wire before standing up.
"I've got something to do this afternoon," Shisui said, watching him work. "So I came earlier than usual."
"If you're busy, you don't have to come," Shin replied, wrapping the wire around the shuriken.
"You really think that?" Shisui blinked in surprise.
"What else would I think?" Shin paused and glanced at him sideways.
"Man... you're really not the warm type, huh," Shisui sighed.
Shin rolled his eyes.
"Take Sasuke for example. When his brother cancels on him, he always looks so mad but helpless too. It's kind of cute," Shisui said, spreading his hands.
"You're not my brother," Shin said, giving him a sidelong look.
"Uh..." Shisui blinked, then burst into laughter. "Good thing I'm not your little brother."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shin's eyebrow twitched as he squinted at him.
"Nothing, nothing," Shisui said, still grinning. He leaned in closer, his mischievous eyes curling like crescent moons.
Smack!
Shin slapped a hand straight into Shisui's face, stopping him in his tracks.
"You're too close," Shin said dryly.
Shisui stepped back and rubbed his cheek.
"Geez, you hit hard for a kid."
Shin rolled his eyes again.
Unfazed, Shisui smiled and reached over to take the shuriken and wire from Shin's hands.
Shin looked at him in confusion.
"You wrapped it wrong," Shisui chuckled. He began uncoiling the wire with deft fingers and rewrapped it around the shuriken. "If you do it like this, it won't spin properly."
With practiced ease, he handed the fixed shuriken back to Shin.
"There. That's how it should be."
"..."
Shin silently took it.
"Most people use wire on kunai, and even then, it's just for support. But using wire on shuriken as a main offensive technique? That's something only the Uchiha do," Shisui said proudly.
"You better thank me."
"..."
"Thanks."
"Ahaha-" Shisui snorted, unable to hold in his laughter.
Shin shot him a glare.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop," Shisui said, stifling his amusement.
He cleared his throat. "There's another technique Windmill Shuriken but it's got too much of an Uchiha signature. Might get you in trouble, so I won't teach you that one."
"Besides, even though it's powerful, it has limitations. Needs to be paired with certain jutsu. You're not missing much."
"That's fine," Shin said, unconcerned.
"Alright, give it a try," Shisui said, stepping aside to give him space.
Shin took position, gripping the shuriken in one hand and the wire in the other.
Whoosh...
With a deep breath, he swung his arm. The shuriken flew forward with a sharp whistle, becoming a blur as it cut through the air.
The wire hissed as it unspooled, glinting in the light as it traced the shuriken's path.
Snap!
Whirr...
The wire suddenly tightened around a tree branch mid-air, causing the shuriken to halt abruptly. It spun once, then wrapped messily around the branch.
"..."
"Pfft-" Shisui couldn't help but burst into laughter again.
"What are you laughing at?" Shin turned and glared.
"Nothing, nothing," Shisui waved his hand, forcing back a grin.
He stepped up beside Shin and took the wire from his hand. With a sudden jerk
Crack!
The thick branch snapped cleanly, crashing to the ground. The shuriken followed, and Shisui caught it effortlessly.
"You didn't do anything wrong. You're just not strong enough yet," he said with a smile.
"Watch carefully."
Shisui turned and threw the shuriken in one smooth motion. It arced widely through the air, the wire trailing behind in perfect rhythm.
Whirr whirr whirr!
Streaks of light flickered as the wire spun, and moments later
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Several thick branches came crashing down, all with clean, precise cuts.
"..."
"See?" Shisui explained. "You're learning fast, but your arm strength and wrist control aren't there yet. That's all."
"You'll need to train your body more too."
"Got it," Shin replied.
"Also, remember the wire will alter the shuriken's curve. You'll need to practice making it spin properly even with the wire attached."
"Otherwise, there's no point. It becomes a liability."
"Understood."
"Alright then. Keep training. Use the wire or don't, up to you," Shisui said as he hopped back up onto a tree branch to sit and watch.
"..."
Shin stood still for a moment, then walked over, set the wired shuriken down, and pulled a few regular ones from his pack instead.
Behind him, Shisui smiled silently.
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