"Something's off..." Kakashi's sharp eye swept over the devastated battlefield, his silver hair catching the wind. "Even Minato-sensei's ninjutsu wouldn't cause this much destruction."
Obito squinted, doubt flickering in his gaze. "Wait... you're from the same clan as me? A Jonin from the Uchiha?!" He sounded more doubtful than convinced, staring at the white-haired boy who looked far younger than them all.
"Teacher Minato… what happened here? Is this really the person you were chasing?" Rin asked in surprise, her voice soft but firm.
Before Minato could answer, Lucien smiled faintly and cut them off. "Minato, these are your students, right? Hatake Kakashi... Nohara Rin... and Uchiha Obito?"
The three froze, stunned to hear their names spoken so easily by this stranger.
Obito stepped forward cautiously. "Hey... who exactly are you?"
Kakashi's gaze sharpened as his eye scanned Lucien's clothing. "He wears the Uchiha crest."
Obito paled slightly. "He... he really does..." Still, he didn't dare draw too close.
"Teacher Minato... you weren't actually chasing him, were you?" Rin asked, her voice full of disbelief.
"This... can't be. He's too young," Kakashi muttered, narrowing his eyes. "No child could move at a speed rivaling Minato-sensei. Does such a person really exist?"
Minato's expression grew solemn. His voice came quiet but serious. "Yes. It's disappointing, but he is the one we were chasing. And before you mistake him for a Jonin... this Uchiha boy is only a Genin."
"Genin!?"
"A Genin... faster than Minato-sensei himself?!"
"Not possible... it's impossible!"
The three stared wide-eyed, their disbelief echoing through the training ground.
Then came the final blow—Minato's next words.
"And not only that… this person… is my uncle-master."
"What!?" Shock paralyzed all three.
Obito stammered. "Wait… your master is Lord Jiraiya, one of the Sannin... That makes him... the Sandaime Hokage's new disciple?!"
Lucien folded his arms, his voice calm but cutting. "I'm Minato's teacher's junior, his uncle-master. If you follow the lines of seniority—yes, even though you're older than me in years—you're actually two generations beneath me."
"What kind of nonsense…!" Kakashi snapped, his youthful arrogance flaring. "Forget seniority. Only strength matters. That's what speaks for a shinobi."
He made a seal with his fingers, cold breath slipping beneath his mask, eyes filled with sharp pride. The prodigy already a Chunin, Kakashi could not stand someone younger standing above him in title.
"Oh? Based on strength, then?" Lucien smirked, stepping forward, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Good. That's what I prefer too." His posture shifted, his aura instantly turning battle-ready.
The air tightened. Kakashi snorted, determination building.
But Minato quickly stepped between them, alarm flashing across his face. "Stop! No—this isn't a fair fight. Uncle-master, please... don't test a child like this!" Though his words were directed at Lucien, his eyes flickered back at Kakashi with the sharpness of a warning.
"I'm no child!" Kakashi's voice rang stubborn. "I'll prove it."
"Kakashi..." Minato's calm, teacher's stare finally broke through his pride. With a reluctant click of his tongue, Kakashi pulled back from his seals, though irritation still lingered in his eyes.
Still, Lucien's intent was unmistakable. If Minato hadn't intervened, he truly might have tested his strength against the proud prodigy.
Searching for another solution, Minato suddenly brightened with an idea. "Uncle Shigure... if you'd like to fight, then why not save it for the Chunin Exams? They're coming soon. Kakashi will be there as well."
"The... Chunin Exam?" Lucien blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't heard a word of this from Hizashi.
Minato nodded. "Yes. The Hokage has already issued notices. I was meaning to gather my team later today... but your Body Flicker distracted us."
Lucien rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So the registration has already started? No wonder... Hizashi hasn't told us yet—our missions delayed everything."
His Sharingan gleamed faintly with excitement. The Chunin Exams, huh? Fighting with other strong candidates… sounds interesting.
Then suddenly, Obito stepped closer, urgency flickering across his face. "Wait... Shigure—you said your name is Uchiha Shigure, right?!"
Curious, Lucien raised an eyebrow. "That's right. Something wrong, Obito?"
"Have you seen the Uchiha clan's genealogy?" Obito asked seriously.
Lucien shook his head. "No. I've never cared for it. Truth be told, I have no good relationship with the clan. I don't even consider myself one of them." His voice was quiet but honest.
Obito stared at him, then nodded. "As I thought..."
Lucien frowned, stepping closer cautiously. "What do you mean by that? What are you implying?"
Before he could step further, Minato's warning voice cut in gently. "Uncle-master..."
Lucien froze, realizing he had let his tone grow sharp. He exhaled and eased back just slightly, though his eyes never left Obito. "...Well? Explain."
Obito took a breath, then spoke clearly. "According to the Uchiha records... Shigure, you should be... my cousin."
The words struck like lightning.
"What?!" Minato's eyes widened in disbelief. "Obito... you mean to say… Uchiha Shigure is your cousin?!"
P.S. This chapter focused on the revelation of Lucien's family ties to Obito, while showing Kakashi's prideful challenge and Minato's attempt to balance respect for his "uncle-master" with protection for his students. The "Uncle Master" comedy adds irony, but Obito's discovery hints at deeper bonds that tie Lucien into the Uchiha clan's tangled fate.
--
If you want to read 50 additional chapters early, visit my Patreon — the link is in the novel's description.