Kyōichi, Konoha’s Life Mentor

"So fast!" Shisui couldn't help but exclaim.

He thought Sensei might be skilled, but he never imagined that Kyōichi's Body Flicker Technique was so fast it barely needed hand signs, with virtually no warning when activated.

He could barely sense any chakra fluctuation just now.

This meant...

If Kyōichi was hiding in ambush and suddenly rushed out to kill him, he might not have time to defend at all.

"Amazing!"

The other students also exclaimed in admiration.

They couldn't fully understand it.

But.

It was fast!

So fast they couldn't see clearly - it was practically teleportation.

"Shisui, demonstrate for everyone."

"Yes!"

Shisui didn't hesitate.

He formed hand signs, channeled chakra, and flashed behind Kyōichi.

However.

His speed was clearly much slower.

Though the difference seemed small, one could immediately tell the gap in skill.

"Did everyone see the difference?"

"Yes!"

Shiranui Genma nodded excitedly.

He understood now.

Though it was the same Body Flicker Technique, the differences in chakra control and hand signs, while seeming minute, created a huge gap in actual combat that could determine victory or defeat, even life or death.

"Today we're learning about the details of the Body Flicker Technique."

Kyōichi began explaining the various details.

The civilian children's eyes lit up, including those from small clans like Shiranui Genma, because although what Kyōichi taught wasn't secret techniques, it was invaluable knowledge for those who had limited access to higher-level training.

Asuma listened below, his mind filled with questions.

Why would Sensei...

How did clans maintain their status?

It was through these techniques and secrets, yet Kyōichi was freely teaching his insights and understanding to students in the ninja academy, practically giving away what clans considered their foundation.

This didn't make sense.

At this time, Asuma wasn't yet the jonin who had returned from serving the Daimyo and understood the true meaning of "King."

He was confused, full of doubts and curiosity.

To Asuma, normal people would use these techniques to strengthen their own clan, not share them with others like this...

As the lesson ended.

Asuma hadn't absorbed much of the lesson.

"The war is ending soon, and the shinobi are returning to the village. Everyone might be reassigned to different classes based on grade level, so we won't have many more chances to study together."

Kyōichi said wistfully, "Actually, these techniques were beyond the curriculum. I didn't have to teach them."

"!!!"

Hearing this, Asuma immediately perked up his ears.

That's right!

He had been curious about this!

Not just him, many children were curious, including Shisui.

"But wars have been frequent in recent years. This year's war with the Sunagakure is ending, but no one knows what next year will bring. My parents died early on the battlefield, and I was lucky to survive due to certain circumstances."

"Many of you will graduate this year, and I hope you all survive."

"Dismissed."

Kyōichi waved his hand, indicating everyone could leave.

However.

None of the children left, as they vaguely understood the situation.

Sensei might be leaving.

As Kyōichi said, this class was mixed together due to the shortage of ninja teachers during wartime, but now that the war was ending, they wouldn't remain mixed like before.

And...

"Someone as skilled as Sensei couldn't really just be a teacher, he's probably already been appointed as a jonin."

Yuhi Kurenai said softly from behind.

Her father was an instructor for chunin and genin, so she knew well what normal chunin-level strength was like.

The village wouldn't waste a jonin's talents.

Especially during wartime.

Asuma was completely shocked.

He thought of his father's words.

The Will of Fire!

What was the Will of Fire?

Perhaps Kyōichi-sensei's actions embodied the Will of Fire!

"Stop guessing, you little brats. Now scatter, don't forget your after-class training. I'll check your progress next time."

Kyōichi had just thought to say these words.

Firstly, to share some "heartfelt words."

Secondly...

He wanted to test if the system's rewards were related to the students' psychological feedback - if so, it would give him more experience in farming rewards later.

Moreover.

Wasn't moral education still education?

If you don't speak about doing good deeds, how would the Third and others know?

Kyōichi admired his own cleverness.

In fact.

His guess wasn't wrong - quite a few people were watching him now, including the Third Hokage himself.

Witnessing this scene, the Third was very shocked.

Then deeply moved.

Indeed.

Kanda Kyōichi truly understood the Will of Fire!

"Worthy of being Sensei's descendant."

The Third sighed with emotion.

Using his Telescope Technique to observe, he naturally also saw Uchiha Fugaku at the school gate. Thinking of the Uchiha clan, he couldn't help but smile.

Kanda Kyōichi was truly capable!

Making him a temporary sensei resulted in even Shisui being educated to become a good child like Obito.

Too bad he wasn't from his own lineage.

If he could become Tsunade's disciple, he might have a chance at the Hokage position in the future.

The Third fell into deep thought.

...

"Shisui."

At the Academy gate.

Shisui had followed Kyōichi out, asking detailed questions about some techniques of the Body Flicker along the way, which Kyōichi answered without reservation.

Seeing Fugaku at the gate, Shisui paused, then turned and bowed.

"Sensei, will you become a jonin soon?"

"Most likely, barring any unexpected circumstances."

Kyōichi pondered briefly before nodding slightly.

The jonin exam was only necessary because he lacked sufficient merit, so he needed to take the exam for promotion. This kind of internal village promotion was mostly a formality—

Even if it wasn't just a formality, he was confident.

"I see, thank you, Sensei... Well, I'll be going now."

Shisui's face broke into a smile.

Then, he took a deep breath, organized his thoughts, and turned toward Fugaku.

Fugaku narrowed his eyes, exchanged a distant greeting with Kyōichi, then left with Shisui.

After returning to the clan compound.

Fugaku finally spoke: "Shisui, is that man the recently assigned sensei?"

"Yes, he's Kanda Kyōichi, an excellent sensei."

Shisui respectfully answered.

"I heard you've been following Obito lately, helping villagers carry water and firewood?"

"Yes, because I noticed those civilians seemed to dislike me, but they had almost no barriers with Obito. I was curious, so I observed and tried it myself, and sure enough, those civilians no longer resisted me."

Shisui's face lit up with a smile.

He looked up at Fugaku and said: "Clan Head, I think our clan could try to interact more with them, otherwise they'll always misunderstand us Uchiha."

"..."

Fugaku was shocked into silence after hearing this, and patted Shisui's head without words.

Shisui was only five years old.

But it was precisely these childish words that surprised him most.

Because at just five years old, Shisui was already thinking from the clan's perspective, not just as an individual.

This was rare!

He looked at Shisui for several seconds, finally sighing deeply: "Easier said than done... but it's good that you have such thoughts. You're different from Obito after all."

Obito acted purely on instinct.

Shisui acted with purpose and observation - they were clearly different, which reassured Fugaku somewhat.

"Clan Head, after graduation, would you allow me to follow another jonin?"

Shisui asked again.

"You want to join Kanda Kyōichi's team?"

Fugaku fell into a dilemma.

If it were before, he would definitely disagree, but Shisui's words made him better understand the child's intelligence, and moreover...

Shisui didn't know, but he understood.

Right now, the Uchiha were like fish in a pond, he wanted to try something but couldn't find direction.

Now Shisui seemed to present an opportunity!

Building a connection with Kanda Kyōichi, then using it as a stepping stone to enter the Hokage's ANBU.

Thinking of this, Fugaku nodded slightly and said: "I understand. If Kanda Kyōichi can be promoted to jonin and is willing to lead a team, I will suggest it to the Third."

"Thank you, Clan Head!"