When the final class ended and dismissal was announced, Sarutobi Retsu, the homeroom teacher, noticed that the students in his class didn't rush out as usual.
Instead, they all sat still, occasionally sneaking glances at Uchiha Gen.
Facing the numerous curious stares, Uchiha Gen appeared completely calm. He stood up, dusted off his uniform, and walked out of the classroom under everyone's watchful eyes.
Moments later, the entire class followed him out, whispering excitedly.
Watching the crowd hurry away, Sarutobi Retsu frowned in confusion. He stopped one of the students.
"Mizuo, what's going on?"
"Retsu-sensei," the boy replied breathlessly, "Uehara Yu and Uchiha Gen agreed to have a match at the training ground!"
Hearing this, Sarutobi Retsu blinked in surprise. "Uehara Yu and Uchiha Gen?"
Both were among his key observation targets — Uehara Yu, son of an elite Chūnin and one of the top students in taijutsu, and Uchiha Gen, though quieter, hailed from the prestigious Uchiha Clan.
So, out of concern, Sarutobi Retsu quietly made his way to the training ground.
---
In the center of the field, Uchiha Gen stood calmly with his arms crossed while his classmates formed a loose circle around him.
Among the crowd, he spotted Hyūga Kagami, Yūhi Murasaki, and Senju Gen.
When their eyes met, Senju Gen gave him a friendly nod.
Hyūga Kagami, on the other hand, cupped his hands and shouted, "Uchiha Gen! Don't you dare disgrace the name of our great Clan!"
Meanwhile, back in Class 9's empty room, only Hatake Seiko remained.
He had just stood up to leave when, through the window, he caught sight of Uchiha Gen at the training ground. His steps froze mid-way.
The words Uchiha Gen had spoken to him earlier replayed in his mind, dredging up memories from six years ago — memories of sorrowful faces, muffled sobs, and grief that weighed heavily on his heart.
That was the day the Hatake Clan's leader — his uncle, Sakumo Hatake, known as the "White Fang of Konoha" — took his own life.
Seiko still couldn't understand why his gentle, heroic uncle would end his life.
He remembered how, in the days surrounding Sakumo's death, villagers spat venomous words, cursing the man who had once been their greatest hero.
"How could they call him a traitor?" Seiko murmured bitterly. "He saved the village countless times…"
His gaze drifted toward the training field again.
"Uchiha Gen… what did you mean by those words?"
---
Outside, near the Academy gates, a group of Uchiha boys approached — Uchiha Eiji leading them. The surrounding students quickly made way; few dared stand in the way of the Uchiha.
As they passed, Eiji noticed the commotion on the training field.
Soon after, Uchiha Hayabusa and Uchiha Toratarō jogged up to him.
"Eiji! It looks like someone's trying to challenge the prestige of the Uchiha Clan," Hayabusa said with a grin.
Eiji's brows furrowed slightly.
"Hmph. A commoner's brat dares to challenge one of ours?" sneered another youth.
"I just hope that the outsider branch kid doesn't shame us," someone else muttered.
"Haha, that guy? Represent the Uchiha? He's barely qualified to carry our crest."
With mocking smirks, the young Uchiha gathered by the edge of the field, watching intently.
---
In the middle of the training ground, Uehara Yu stepped forward with several companions flanking him.
A cold smirk tugged at his lips. "Uchiha Gen, if you beg for mercy now, I might be generous enough to let you go. After all, we're classmates."
Uchiha Gen raised his chin slightly, replying with icy disdain.
"You mongrel, stop barking. Hurry up and attack. I've got better things to do — Nanairo-tei's selling fresh desserts today, and I don't plan on missing them."
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Uehara Yu's face darkened. With an angry roar, he lunged forward, throwing a sharp punch.
Uchiha Gen spun backward in a smooth flip, narrowly dodging the strike — but almost instantly, Uehara Yu blurred out of sight, reappearing above him.
Gen's eyes widened slightly. Body Flicker Technique?
With both fists clenched, Uehara Yu dove down.
Gen met the attack head-on, their fists colliding with a heavy thud that echoed through the field.
Both were forced back — Gen slid three steps, while Uehara Yu landed lightly after a backflip.
Gen flexed his arm, his expression turning serious. "I didn't expect you to have already learned Shunshin no Jutsu."
Uehara Yu smirked. "It's not too late to admit defeat and apologize."
Gen's eyes sharpened. "Don't get arrogant just because you can move fast. Don't underestimate the Uchiha."
Uehara Yu hesitated. The Uchiha… Sharingan!
For a moment, his breath caught. Could he have awakened it already?
If so, the Body Flicker would be useless — the Sharingan could easily read through it.
But when Uchiha Gen advanced without any visible red glow in his eyes, Uehara Yu exhaled in relief — only for that relief to vanish a heartbeat later.
Gen closed the distance in an instant, his punch whistling through the air.
Confidently, Uehara Yu caught the blow — and his expression twisted in shock.
What strength!
Before he could react, Gen pivoted on his arm, twisting his body in mid-air to deliver a sharp roundhouse kick aimed at Yu's head.
Yu released his grip and leaned back, barely dodging the kick as it sliced past his face, the gust stinging his skin.
Too close! he thought, sweat trickling down his temple. Even with Chakra reinforcement, that might've cracked my skull.
Gen landed smoothly, stomped forward, and charged again — fists blurring in a rapid flurry.
What followed was a breathtaking exchange of taijutsu — Gen's attacks flowed seamlessly like water, each move chaining into the next, giving Yu no room to counter.
Spectators gasped.
"So fast!"
"Is this the Uchiha's taijutsu? Incredible…"
Even Hyūga Kagami, known for his clan's gentle fist, watched with wide eyes. Could I even defend against that? The answer was no.
After dozens of exchanges, Uehara Yu's Chakra ran low. His defenses faltered.
Seizing the opening, Uchiha Gen drove his knee into Yu's chest, knocking the air from his lungs, then flashed forward and delivered a sharp chop to his neck.
"Uehara Yu," Gen said coldly, "you're already dead."
Yu froze. His chest burned, his throat stung — when he touched his neck, his fingers came away with faint traces of blood.
If that strike had been an inch deeper…
He swallowed hard, trembling slightly.
---
At the edge of the training field, Sarutobi Retsu exhaled slowly, his eyes gleaming. Impressive taijutsu… fluid, controlled, deadly precise.
With a single Body Flicker, he vanished from sight.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha spectators began dispersing.
"Eiji, his taijutsu's really something."
"Yeah… I'll remember that name — Uchiha Gen."
"His moves were beautiful — like a trap that keeps tightening once you're caught."
"I copied the whole sequence with my Sharingan," another bragged.
But Uchiha Eiji stayed quiet, deep in thought.
He'd fought Uchiha Gen before. The Gen he fought back then was far faster, far stronger.
He's holding back… but why?
---
Back on the field, Uchiha Gen glared down at Uehara Yu.
"Brat. Apologize."
Uehara Yu clenched his jaw. "I admit defeat… but I won't apologize. My uncle died during the Nine-Tails' attack because the Uchiha Police Force retreated!"
Gen frowned. "You idiot. That's just a rumor. I told you to apologize for claiming I ganged up on you with another Uchiha."
Uehara Yu turned toward the spectators. "If a bunch of Uchiha surrounded you with their Sharingan flaring, wouldn't you be scared too? I was lucky to escape before they jumped me!"
"Uehara Yu," Gen snapped, "enough nonsense."
He swept his gaze over the watching students.
"I accepted this match to prove something. If I ever wanted to bully someone, I wouldn't need help from my clan — my own fists would be more than enough."
The onlookers exchanged knowing looks. Hyūga Kagami gave a faint nod before turning away.
As someone from another noble clan, he could recognize sincerity when he heard it.
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