Whether out of a desire to avoid trouble or from a purely security-driven instinct, Uchiha Shinji never liked being the center of attention.
Because attention inevitably attracted targeting.
That was also one of the main reasons he often ran off to the Medical Corps — to disappear from public view whenever possible.
Likewise—
He had no real wish to be taken as a jōnin's disciple either.
When Jiraiya took Naruto under his wing, Tsunade selected Yakumo, and Kakashi started training Sasuke, Shinji had secretly made up his mind:
If any jōnin ever tried to take him as a disciple — no matter who it was — he would resolutely refuse.
However, as the frenzy of jōnin choosing students passed and he — the Academy's top prodigy — remained unchosen, things became... interesting.
Human nature was simple.
If he had refused others, he wouldn't have minded at all.
He might even have felt apologetic toward the jōnin who wanted him.
But if no one chose him, then he couldn't help but feel somewhat displeased.
It was that familiar feeling:
"I can refuse you, but you can't refuse me."
On paper, Shinji's performance was flawless.
His consistent victories over Yakumo had even placed him firmly at the top of the Academy's Four Great Talents.
Under these circumstances, the village's failure to assign him a mentor naturally invited deeper suspicion.
This, too, was why rumors had suddenly exploded throughout the Academy.
"Is this Danzo's doing, or has the entire village leadership turned against me?"
On the road home, Shinji frowned deeply.
In the grand scheme, he didn't really care about a jōnin mentor.
But if the Hidden Leaf's leadership truly harbored malice toward him — he would need to make preparations far earlier than expected.
In the days that followed, Shinji kept a low profile.
The two hot topics — the survival of the Hidden Sand volunteer and the aftermath of the jōnin disciple selections — continued to dominate conversation within both the village and the Academy.
Though students occasionally brought up Karin, Haku skillfully covered for her every time.
After all, it wasn't unusual for a student to rest at home a little longer after being injured.
As long as neither the Academy nor Jiraiya raised concerns, minor doubts from others wouldn't jeopardize Karin's situation.
As for the Academy itself — it was in turmoil.
After hearing the many speculations about the Hidden Leaf higher-ups disliking Shinji, Kakashi immediately approached the Academy, demanding severe punishment for the rumor-mongers.
The Academy administration responded swiftly — several students who had spread rumors out of jealousy toward Shinji were expelled on the spot.
In the Teachers' Office.
Iruka reported the Academy's disciplinary actions to Kakashi, then assured:
"Please don't worry, Kakashi-senpai. We'll be extra careful to ensure these rumors don't harm Shinji."
Kakashi nodded.
He understood the wounds left by rumors all too well.
After all, his own father — the famed White Fang — had been driven to suicide by baseless accusations and gossip.
For a long time, Kakashi himself had believed his father was wrong — that the mission should come above all else.
It wasn't until much later that he understood:
Those who don't value their comrades are worse than trash.
Just as Kakashi was about to turn and leave, Iruka hesitated, then called out:
"Senpai!"
Kakashi turned back:
"What is it?"
Iruka stepped forward and said seriously:
"If Shinji ever makes mistakes... I hope the village can forgive him. You know the hardships he's been through..."
Before Iruka could finish, Kakashi interrupted:
"What are you saying?"
Iruka, stunned, asked:
"Isn't it true? Why else hasn't any jōnin chosen him? A genius like him — shouldn't the village be cultivating him with everything they've got?"
Clearly—
The rapid spread of rumors wasn't baseless.
Even Iruka, a teacher at the Academy, subconsciously believed that the village's failure to assign Shinji a mentor must hide deeper reasons.
Because Shinji's excellence was simply too obvious to ignore.
In truth—
Having become accustomed to battling powerful shinobi and even fighting against extradimensional "Lampbearers," Shinji didn't realize just how dazzling he appeared within the Academy.
He thought he was keeping a low profile — after all, he had never revealed his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan nor used any dojutsu at school.
But that so-called "low profile" was only relative to himself.
Even at his most restrained, the potential he displayed at the Academy rivaled Kurama Yakumo's 'Wood Release'.
Kakashi sighed:
"The village doesn't intend to target Uchiha Shinji. It's just... we haven't found the right mentor for him yet."
Iruka looked at him skeptically:
"Really?"
"Sigh..."
Kakashi placed a hand over his face, sighing heavily.
At the same time Kakashi was busy dealing with rumors at the Academy—
Shinji had arrived, as usual, at the Hidden Leaf Hospital.
By now, Karin's fusion had progressed to 80–90%.
Maybe just another four or five days, and the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan would be fully stabilized.
Thus, Shinji was focused on researching formulas — preparing ahead.
Once Karin completed her fusion, the next step — implanting First Hokage cells — would have to begin.
Fortunately, after assisting Kusada Kaoru in her surgeries, Shinji had thoroughly grasped the process and was now about 70–80% confident in formulating proper fusion agents and inhibitors.
As he made his way through the hospital corridors, a few unfamiliar figures immediately caught his eye.
"Hmm? Who are these people?"
Without changing his expression, Shinji calmly passed by them, but suspicion stirred in his heart.
Since Tsunade's return and her takeover of the Medical Corps, Shinji had heightened his vigilance toward everyone and everything within the hospital.
And after the recent jōnin selection chaos, he was even more cautious.
Thus, he instantly sensed something was off about those strangers.
However, he didn't act rashly.
Instead, he quietly slipped into his personal laboratory.
Soon, he immersed himself in his studies.
BOOM—!!
Suddenly, the laboratory shook violently.
Shinji sprang to his feet, activating his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Through the powers of Susanoo Tomoshibi fused with his high-purity Byakugan abilities, he unleashed his piercing vision across the hospital.
Walls and corridors became translucent white outlines in his eyes.
He quickly locked onto the site of the explosion.
"Just as I thought."
He smirked coldly.
As he had suspected — the explosion hadn't occurred randomly.The blast had originated precisely at the ICU where the Hidden Sand survivor was being held.
Without a doubt, someone had finally lost patience.
Shinji mused:
"Karin only needs a few more days to complete her fusion. That Hidden Sand volunteer no longer needs to stay alive. Since someone launched an attack... let him die naturally."