Thinking about the mission assigned to him by the Third Hokage, Shisui suddenly had an idea.
There's no time like the present.
With a few hours left before the clan meeting tonight, there was plenty of time to assess whether Kaze had the strength to be a Jōnin.
Of course...
Shisui had always acted with integrity.
He could easily confess to the Konoha higher-ups about even the most secretive matters.
Let alone just assessing Kaze.
So, Shisui got straight to the point, "Hokage-sama hopes that I can assess your abilities for the Jōnin exam."
"If you pass this exam, you'll officially become a Jōnin of Konoha."
"Then you can serve the village."
As Shisui spoke, he and Kaze made eye contact. His tone was sincere, and his eyes showed clear anticipation.
In his view, this was a rare opportunity for Kaze.
But in Kaze's mind, it was a different story.
'At this point, a Jōnin exam for me...'
Kaze raised an eyebrow.
Right now, he already had a record of taking down a Yun ninja team and killing Aburame Torune in retaliation.
Anyone with eyes could tell whether or not he had Jōnin-level strength.
And besides, the tension between Konoha and the Cloud Village wasn't over yet.
Promoting him to Jōnin at this time would essentially be a public declaration to the other high-ups in Konoha.
It would signal that the Hokage wasn't planning to hand over the murderer behind the deaths.
At the same time, the Hokage could use Shisui to test Kaze's true strength.
Kaze thought to himself.
The Shisui in front of him had naturally become the Hokage's weapon.
'But, for me, this is still a good opportunity.'
Kaze stared deeply into the look of anticipation in Shisui's eyes.
As always, testing wasn't a one-sided affair.
Since Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to use Shisui to test Kaze's strength, Kaze figured he could use this opportunity as well.
He would see just how big the gap was between him and Shisui.
"Alright."
With that thought, a smile crept onto Kaze's lips, and a gleam of light shot from his eyes.
Boom!
Blue lightning erupted from Kaze's body, wrapping around him like a crackling cloak, arcs of electricity dancing wildly across his form as his power surged in preparation for battle.
"Let's do this here, Shisui."
He took a single step forward, crimson light flickering in his eyes as his Sharingan spun to life—a clear signal that he was ready for battle.
In an instant, Shisui's pupils contracted. His muscles tensed.
Just seconds ago, Kaze had seemed calm and unassuming.
But now, the shift was undeniable—his aura had transformed into something primal, predatory. Like a wild beast that had just bared its fangs.
A crushing pressure radiated outward, sweeping through the forest. Birds took flight in a panic, scattering into the sky.
"What terrifying pressure…"
Shisui sucked in a sharp breath, a chill running through him. He'd fought many elite shinobi during the Third Great Ninja War—but few had ever made him feel this overwhelmed.
"So this is Kaze's Lightning Release… it's on a different level."
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office at the heart of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat watching through his crystal ball, having begun surveillance the moment Shisui left the building.
He had originally been focused on Shisui's meeting with Fugaku—particularly the mention of a clan assembly. But now, his attention was fully captured by what was unfolding.
He hadn't expected Shisui to run into Kaze near the South River training grounds—let alone initiate an impromptu jōnin assessment.
Even more surprising was Kaze's response. He agreed without hesitation.
Then unleashed that.
"When did this Uchiha Kaze master such devastating Lightning Release?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed as he studied the image through the crystal ball. After the Nine-Tails' rampage, he and Danzō had agreed to keep the Uchiha clan under strict surveillance.
Shisui had been recruited as a double agent. Anbu had been deployed. Root operatives had been embedded.
With such powerful and refined Lightning Release, Kaze should have shown up on their radar long ago.
And yet—nothing. Not a single sign.
"This kid... he's been hiding a lot more than we thought."
But Hiruzen wasn't the only one watching.
Deep in the forest near the South River, several Root shinobi lay hidden, eyes locked on Kaze.
When he unleashed his lightning, their expressions darkened in shock.
No hand seals. No visible preparation.
Just a thought—and that overwhelming power had erupted to life.
If they'd been any closer, even breathing might've become difficult.
What they didn't know was—Kaze wasn't using a Lightning Release jutsu at all.
It was the power of the Thunder Fruit.
And now that he had entered this state, the fruit's electromagnetic properties were in full effect.
In a flash, Kaze sensed them—lurking just beyond the trees.
"Danzo's men?"
He wasn't sure, but the signs pointed that way. No Uchiha would skulk around like that. And if this was Hiruzen's test, there was no need for extra Anbu.
That only left Root.
Still, Kaze couldn't be bothered to call them out.
"Ready, Shisui?"
He turned his full attention forward, prepared to strike at any moment.
Shisui exhaled slowly.
"Your Lightning Release really is something else, Kaze," he said calmly, not making a move.
"I've fought many who specialize in it… but none like you."
He paused.
"But before we start for real—there's something I want to ask."
His hands hung relaxed at his sides, but his gaze sharpened.
Kaze gave a nod. "Ask away."
As long as it wasn't something completely ridiculous, he'd humor him.
Seeing the nod, Shisui finally voiced the question that had been nagging at him.
"I want to know—what's your ninja way?"
Every shinobi, at some point, formed a belief. A guiding principle. A kind of faith.
Their ninja way.
Shisui opened his hands slightly, eyes clear and resolute.
"A ninja is an unseen guardian who protects peace from the shadows. But forcing peace through violence, threatening people with weapons—that's not real peace."
"This is my ninja way."
His words weren't just a declaration—they were a rebuttal.
A counterpoint to Kaze's earlier line: 'Peace through struggle endures. Peace through compromise dies.'
To Shisui, peace built on violence was a contradiction. That's why he could never align with the Uchiha clan's hardline ideals.