Chapter 25: Uchiha Shisui
After a short while, Uchiha Gen's shadow clone returned with the official document confirming his promotion to Jōnin, stamped with the Uchiha clan's approval and the Hokage's seal.
Gen Uchiha set down his spoon, calmly wiped his mouth with a napkin, and took the scroll from the clone's hand. With a quiet puff, the clone dissolved into a swirl of white smoke classic Kage Bunshin dismissal.
Anko took the document and skimmed it intently. After a moment of silence, she returned it without expression, but her eyes betrayed the impact. She had braced herself, yet the truth still landed hard.
Just a one-year difference, yet one was a Genin, the other already a Jōnin...
"Don't start crying out of despair now," Gen teased lightly.
"I'll treat you to this round of dessert. And when I officially become Orochimaru-sama's student, I'll treat you again."
Anko—who hadn't yet suffered the emotional scars of Orochimaru's eventual betrayal still retained her free-spirited optimism. She instantly perked up, grinning from ear to ear.
"You said it yourself. Don't go back on your word later!"
"I won't. I've got a little savings."
"Let's go, then."
After settling the bill at Sweet Home, the two young ninja exited the shop, chatting lightly as they walked through the lantern-lit streets of Konoha. After a short stroll, they split off to return to their respective homes.
By 6:00 PM, Uchiha Gen, physically spent from training, had taken a hot shower and collapsed onto his living room sofa. Zhu Rong, his unique summon tied to his Soul Fruit, floated lazily through the air nearby.
Even their play had purpose while lounging, Gen used the spiritual resonance between himself and Zhu Rong to analyze the chakra nature of the living flame. This dual meditation subtly advanced his understanding of Fire Release transformation, refining his control over elemental manipulation.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Zhu Rong froze, then, with a burst of light, zipped to the control panel and unlocked the courtyard gate. With another flicker, he retracted into Gen's left forearm, transforming back into an intricate flame-patterned tattoo that pulsed gently with chakra.
Gen stepped outside and smiled as he opened the gate. "What brings you two here?"
Standing at the entrance were his Team 7 comrades Hatake Kakashi and Nohara Rin.
"Come in. You're just in time."
They followed him into the house and settled into the living room. Gen pulled three bottles of chilled juice from the refrigerator and handed them out.
"Next time, give me a heads-up," Gen said with a smirk. "It's close to dinner and I didn't prep anything."
Kakashi accepted the drink silently, his usual stoicism heavier than normal. "The teacher told us everything," he said at last. "Still... we didn't expect it."
Rin, ever the heart of the team, smiled encouragingly. "Don't be discouraged, Gen. Even if we're not squadmates anymore, we're still friends."
"We fought side by side during the war. That doesn't fade," she added sincerely. "If you ever need anything, Kakashi and I won't hesitate."
"Thanks, truly."
Gen shrugged with a quiet laugh. "No big deal. It's not a life-or-death farewell just a reassignment. Besides, it's not like we're moving to different countries."
He waved dismissively and stood. "Forget all that. Stay for dinner. Let me show off my cooking skills."
With that, Gen strode into the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves. Rin looked to Kakashi, who met her gaze and gave a silent nod.
"Gen, want a hand?" she called.
"Can either of you cook?"
"Of course we can," she replied, stepping in. "We're not helpless."
"Great. Come on then. Let's make something decent."
Kakashi, whose independence had increased since the tragic death of his father, Hatake Sakumo, had learned to cook out of necessity. Rin, raised in a civilian household, had been taught domestic skills from a young age.
That said, their methods and dishes differed drastically from Gen Uchiha's.
Gen's menu—comprising twice-cooked pork, mapo tofu, kung pao chicken, stir-fried greens, and tomato egg soup was entirely unfamiliar to the two Konoha-born teens. The dishes came from Gen's past life memories of Sichuan cuisine, recreated from memory and a few old-world video tutorials.
"How's the taste?" Gen asked, watching as they took their first bites.
Rin's eyes lit up. "Wow! This is amazing! It looked unusual, but it's packed with flavor!"
"Whoever marries you in the future will be lucky," she added, grinning and nodding like a pigeon pecking at seeds.
Kakashi, having removed his mask to eat, gave an uncharacteristically open compliment. "It's better than anything I've made. I'll have to ask you for tips."
Gen laughed. "If you like it, help yourself. I made plenty."
The conversation died down as hunger overtook the mood. The three teammates sat together at the table, surrounded by warmth and the smell of spices sharing a rare, quiet moment of normalcy amid the lives of ninja.
After the meal, Kakashi and Nohara Rin helped clean up washing the dishes, chopsticks, cups, and plates before preparing to leave.
Uchiha Gen walked them to the door and said, "Although I haven't had much personal contact with Shisui, I've heard quite a bit. He's widely regarded as a good person."
"He's... an unusual Uchiha, like me."
Kakashi and Nohara Rin exchanged surprised looks. Another unusual Uchiha?
Was it fate that Team 7 kept crossing paths with outliers from the Uchiha clan?
"I understand," Kakashi said seriously. "We'll treat him fairly. I hope he'll be someone we can respect like Obito and you."
"See you," he added before walking off.
"Bye, Gen," said Rin with a smile.
"Goodbye."
Gen silently watched them go, his thoughts shifting.
I hope Shisui can change both of your fates.
Even if the chance is slim being assigned to Team 7 only grants a glimmer of hope.
Despite his talent, Gen knew that altering the trajectory of events like Obito's descent or Rin's tragic fate wasn't easy. Even knowing the future, some things resisted change.
Alongside Zhu Rong and the other Homitz, his strength was already high well beyond most Jōnin. Yet, when he thought of legendary figures like Uchiha Madara, Black Zetsu, and White Zetsu, the gap still felt enormous.
Madara might be old and nearing the end, but a withered beast was still a beast a skinny camel is larger than a horse, as the saying went.
Just as the silhouettes of Kakashi and Rin vanished into the Konoha dusk, Gen was about to return inside when a familiar figure approached from the opposite side of the road.
The newcomer wore a black, high-collared short-sleeved shirt and matching trousers, a single-shoulder brown armor plate on the right, and white cloth wraps spiraling down his legs. The crest of the Uchiha clan was stitched boldly on his back. A small tantō sword hung behind him, and his prominent nose peeked from beneath the streetlight's shadow.
Wow, two surprise visits in one evening?
Gen smirked.
The reason he could easily guess the identity was because his home sat on the fringe of the Uchiha district, away from the bustling core. Though his parents had been shinobi, neither had awakened the Sharingan, so their home had been located in the outer blocks of the clan estate property typically assigned to branch families.
Even after unlocking his Sharingan and being formally recognized within the main clan structure, Gen had never felt inclined to relocate. This place had become his comfort zone.
"Shisui, you came to see me?"
"Yes, Gen," Shisui replied, offering a soft smile one that reflected the warmth he was known for even in the most hardened Uchiha circles. Among the clan's rising stars, Shisui was the only one other than Gen spoken of with equal distinction two prodigies dubbed by some elders as the "Uchiha Twin Stars."
"Then let's talk inside?"
"Gladly."
The two entered and made their way into the living room.
"What'll you have? Juice or tea?"
"Juice. Tea's too much of a process right now."
Gen chuckled and fetched the drinks. They each took a seat on the sofa.
Unlike most Konoha households, which retained traditional tatami mat seating and kneeling customs, Gen preferred modern comforts like chairs and couches habits he'd brought from his memories of another life.
"So, what's up?" Gen asked, resting his elbow casually on the armrest.
"I wanted to apologize... and also learn a bit about my new teammates," Shisui said, his voice open and sincere.
"Apologize? For what?"
"It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault, really. It's just a matter of choice," Gen replied calmly. "Whether it's you, me, or someone else as long as we're Uchiha, we do what's best for the clan."
At this point in time, the tension between Konoha and the Uchiha wasn't at its peak yet. The seeds of suspicion had been sown, but the atmosphere was still workable. Thus, when Gen spoke of loyalty to the clan, Shisui didn't flinch he agreed.
Becoming Orochimaru's disciple was a strategic gain for the Uchiha, one that didn't necessarily conflict with the village's interests. From that angle, Shisui held no resentment, only introspection.
"Even if that's true," Shisui said softly, "I still feel the need to say it. I should have congratulated you earlier, but I hesitated."
Gen Uchiha stared at him, silent for a moment.
"..."
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