"I'm telling you, Sandaime-sama only chose a new successor because he didn't want to deal with Katsuki trying to fight him for it," Shisui says, a weird mix between genuinely honored and horrified. "He probably chose me because he thinks Katsuki will go easy on me since we're family. Or maybe he thinks that's why I should be the one to deal with him." He turns to Tenzo, wide-eyed as a new idea comes to him. "What if Sandaime-sama thinks I can stop him?"
As usual, Tenzo has absolutely no sympathy for him. "I doubt the leader of the village would base his criteria for the next leader of the village on a ten year old and what you might or might not be able to prevent him from doing."
"I heard Tobirama picked his successor by closing his eyes and pointing. Otherwise, he definitely would have picked Kagami, who was the obvious choice. And Hashirama wanted Madara, even though he was crazy, just because he had a thing for him. Clearly it's not some sacred process."
"They were close friends. And the one about Nidaime-sama is a rumor. One that you spread."
"You've no proof of that! And anyway, you haven't met Katsuki. You don't know what a determined little demon he is. He almost exploded my face off, the battle maniac."
Tenzo quirks a judgemental brow at him. "You're telling me you had trouble against an Academy student. You, Shunsin no Shisui, known for your speed."
Shisui rolls his eyes. "He startled me, okay? How was I supposed to know he'd figured out how make explosions with his feet? I blocked a kick, and he nearly blew my arm off!"
Tenzo snorts.
"And Itachi looked proud of him. Pacifist, my perky, round ass. He's just as bloodthirsty as his brother. He's just better at hiding it."
"I don't want to think about your ass in any context, ever. Please refrain from dropping it in casual conversation," Tenzo says, grimacing.
Shisui shoots him a dirty look. "Don't change the subject.""I wouldn't dream of it," Tenzo says, visibly mentally checking out of the conversation.
Shisui either doesn't seem to notice or doesn't care because he continues to complain all the way up until they part ways at the Uchiha Compound, and Tenzo heartlessly abandons him when a a vaguely child shaped demon pops up out of the bushes to attack him.