Naruto: I'm Really Not an Evil Uchiha!

"You graduated early?"

Kakashi Hatake led Shimizu to the living room, preparing to make tea for him.

Unfortunately, after searching for a while, Kakashi realized that the tea had run out days before his father's passing and had never been restocked.

"I'm fine, just sit anywhere."

Shimizu waved his hand, signaling Kakashi not to bother with such formalities.

"Yes, I graduated early. But your reputation lately hasn't been so great."

"Just some useless ninjas whining about their own incompetence."

Kakashi's white hair was visibly oily, clumped together, clearly showing signs of neglect. His eyes, dull and lifeless, resembled dead fish, with puffy eyelids shadowed by dark circles.

Shimizu glanced around the living room, noting the clutter and a faint unpleasant odor.

"How about sparring? Just a taijutsu match? I've been practicing recently."

Shimizu understood that Kakashi hadn't yet emerged from the shadow of his father's death. His offer was a deliberate invitation.

This was his real intention.

The simulator's predictions had shown that Kakashi would eventually challenge him to a duel upon hearing about his early graduation.

So, Shimizu proactively came to spar, aiming to learn the Hatake family's swordsmanship sooner.

"Alright."

Kakashi's tone revealed no emotion, but he did not reject Shimizu's proposal.

Sparring with a strong ninja was an opportunity to improve oneself.

"Missions... completion rates... this should help," Kakashi muttered softly, almost inaudibly.

The two headed to the spacious yard.

"Here."

Kakashi tossed a wooden short sword to Shimizu, holding an identical one in his right hand.

The moment Shimizu readied himself, Kakashi's wooden short sword sliced through the air with sharp momentum.

Shimizu's eyes sharpened as he raised his blade to parry.

If not for the peculiar reaction between his Byakugan and Sharingan, which seemed to enhance his normal vision, this attack might have forced him to activate his Sharingan to dodge.

The clash of their blades sparked, only to be extinguished by their rapid movements.

The wooden short swords were made from a special material that mimicked metal properties, capable of conducting chakra, making them ideal for practice.

"This... feels strange."

Kakashi's previously dull eyes gradually grew serious as he felt the pressure emanating from Shimizu.

Every time he struck, Shimizu evaded from an unexpected angle. Over time, defense turned into offense.

Kakashi glanced up and noticed Shimizu hadn't activated his Sharingan, the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit.

"I'll get serious now."

Kakashi's speed suddenly increased, and faint, nearly invisible currents of electricity flowed along his blade.

"Using Lightning Release to activate cells... the pathway is..."

Shimizu twisted his wooden sword to block Kakashi's strike.

Crash!

The wooden short sword shattered into pieces, fragments scattering in all directions.

Kakashi instinctively closed his eyes, and Shimizu seized this moment.

He swiftly activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan, analyzing the residual Lightning Release chakra pathways within Kakashi's body, committing them to memory.

All this happened in an instant. By the time Kakashi opened his eyes, Shimizu had already deactivated his Sharingan.

All Kakashi saw was Shimizu's faint smile.

"Kakashi, you won't ask me to pay for this, will you?"

"No."

Kakashi's response was brief.

During their sparring, he had revisited his swordsmanship techniques, something he hadn't done since his father's death. Without a partner to train with, his skills had grown rusty.

Instead, he had been focusing on practicing Lightning Release.

Kakashi now had a budding idea in mind. Perhaps it wouldn't be long before he could create a new technique.

"Shall we continue?"

Kakashi took the initiative to ask.

Immersed in the fight, he had found temporary relief from the weight of his father's death.

"Let's do it."

Shimizu nodded.

He hadn't learned enough yet—certainly not enough to fully grasp the Hatake family's swordsmanship.

At the Uchiha District.

Typically a place rarely visited by outsiders, a short-haired girl walked confidently through its streets today, heading toward her destination.

"Ah, it's Rin!"

The owner of the Uchiha Pancake Shop, Uchiha Tesho, smiled warmly and greeted Nohara Rin.

Rin often passed by his shop when heading to Shimizu's house in the Uchiha District.

Tesho was a kind Uchiha, approachable and friendly, especially toward outsiders.

"Hello, Grandpa Tesho. One pancake, please."

Rin greeted him cheerfully. Over the past two years, she frequently came to the Uchiha District for Shimizu's tutoring.

Sometimes, when she got hungry, she would buy something from the Uchiha Pancake Shop.

Shimizu's house only had ration pills. Although edible, Rin couldn't get used to them and preferred regular food.

"Here you go, fresh and hot."

Tesho handed the pancake to Rin, refusing to take her money.

At his age, he didn't need money and ran the shop merely to keep himself busy.

"Thank you, Grandpa Tesho."

Quickly, Rin placed the money on the table and ran off.

"What a kind girl. If Obito knew she was here again, he'd pester her endlessly," Tesho mused, watching Rin's departing figure with a smile.

He knew Obito and his grandmother well and silently admired the energy of today's youth.

Five minutes later, at Shimizu's house.

Rin had already finished her pancake. She'd been in such a rush today that she hadn't eaten lunch, prompting her to buy a snack to stave off hunger.

On the table in the center of the living room was a slab of pork. Rin stood to the west, while Shimizu stood to the east.

"Let's continue."

Shimizu glanced at Rin, signaling her to practice the techniques he had taught her earlier.

Over the past two years, Rin had mostly studied on her own, with Shimizu providing guidance to address her shortcomings.

Facing the slab of pork, Rin began practicing medical ninjutsu.

"Shimizu, why are you always so willing to help me?"

As she healed the pork's wounds, Rin asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

As she grew older, she had begun to understand more about the world.

She knew girls had to be cautious and protect themselves.

Shimizu's selfless help, given without any expectations, left her feeling uneasy.

Initially, she was simply grateful, but over time, Shimizu's kindness seemed almost excessive.

The most valuable things in life often appeared free, like oxygen—ubiquitous and essential.

Without it, one would suffocate within minutes, yet people only appreciated its value when faced with its absence.

"I told you, didn't I? Classmates should help each other."

Shimizu's dark eyes locked onto Rin's, a subtle smile forming at his lips.

After two years of building trust, the time had come to execute the next step.

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