Chapter 64: Classmates
By 6:50 PM, under the gradually dimming sky of Konoha, Gen Uchiha appeared in a black robe adorned with silver patterns, walking beside Anko Mitarashi. The two made their way toward one of Konoha's renowned high-end establishments Yakiniku Q, a favorite among seasoned shinobi.
The restaurant buzzed with liveliness. Perhaps it was the temporary peace following the cessation of the Third Shinobi World War that encouraged many off-duty shinobi to come out and celebrate over sizzling meat and good sake.
Since Gen did not wear the Uchiha clan crest openly on his robe, and his presence within Konoha's shinobi circles remained low-profile—especially when compared to more famous Uchiha like Fugaku or the then-promising Shisui few among the diners recognized him. While he had built a modest reputation among certain factions for his recent feats and Jonin status, the attention of the crowd was fixated on their own food and friends.
As he opened the door to private box #3, the pair stepped into a room already filled with familiar faces many of them alumni of the Ninja Academy during Gen's years.
There sat Yūhi Kurenai, her eyes sharp even in a relaxed setting; Sarutobi Asuma, already puffing on a cigarette in defiance of the restaurant's posted rules; Ebisu, nose slightly turned up even while seated; Yamashiro Aoba, adjusting his dark glasses despite the indoor lighting; Ishino Azuru, Iwaki Die, Shiranui Genma, always chewing a senbon, and Gekkō Hayate, whose persistent cough and pallid complexion hadn't improved. Mao Yue Sunset a quiet figure occupied the seat closest to the window.
Among them, Asuma stood out most. A young man already clad in defiance, he radiated the energy of someone too free-spirited for the elite responsibilities thrust upon him as the Hokage's son.
In addition to these notables, Gen's era at the Academy had included others as well Fei Bamboo Dragonfly, Seimon Hōsei, Kamizuki Izumo, Hagane Kotetsu, Umino Iruka, Mizuki, and Morino Ibiki.
Given the nature of shinobi life missions, responsibilities, secret assignments, and even personal hardships it was rare for so many from a single generation to gather together like this.
In Konoha, "same generation" wasn't strictly based on the year of graduation. Even if students had only shared one semester at the Ninja Academy, regardless of their rank or age differences, they were still considered classmates.
"Gen and Anko are here!"
"Anko, sit over here!"
"Gen, it's been ages."
"Yo, Gen I heard you're already a Jonin, like Hatake Kakashi. That's wild!"
"Gen was always solid. He might not have graduated top of the class like Itachi or Minato, but he was consistently in the top tier."
"I heard he became Orochimaru-sama's disciple. His future's practically guaranteed now!"
As soon as the two entered, a flurry of greetings erupted friendly, surprised, admiring. Many hadn't seen Uchiha Gen in years.
Gen responded warmly, nodding and exchanging handshakes. His demeanor was approachable, far from what many of them remembered during their school years. Back then, he was known for his aloof nature quiet, proud, and wrapped in the chill of classic Uchiha detachment.
Now, though, he seemed relatable. Human.
More than a few people in the room silently wondered: When did Gen become this... easy to talk to?
Still, they preferred this version. A haughty, superior Jonin would've ruined the mood.
"Oh, Xiyan you're really growing into your looks."
As Gen moved from person to person, he eventually stopped in front of Uzuki Yugao, better known by many as Xiyan. She wore a lavender dress that complimented her pale skin and long violet hair, her features now reflecting the elegance of a young woman in full bloom. Her poise gave off the sense of a kunoichi slowly stepping into her prime.
Across the table, Gekkō Hayate, seated quietly and bearing his perpetual look of fatigue (and maybe a bit of jealousy), glanced at Gen without saying a word.
Flustered by the sudden compliment, Yugao usually confident and composed, especially for someone known as a genius among civilian-born shinobi blushed slightly and replied without thinking.
"Thanks, Gen... You're getting more handsome yourself. And... your personality's definitely changed for the better."
"Wooooh—"
A chorus of whistles and teasing noises erupted from the others. Yugao's face turned scarlet, and she quickly looked down, embarrassed.
Beneath the table, Hayate clenched his fist almost imperceptibly and again cast a calm, unreadable glance toward Gen.
Uzuki Yugao had earned her place as a Tokubetsu Jonin and an ANBU member through sheer grit and skill, despite her non-clan status. In a world where powerful bloodlines often dictated rank, she had mastered traditional kenjutsu and made clever use of standard ninjutsu to stand shoulder to shoulder with elite ninja.
Though Tokubetsu Jonin and ANBU were sometimes underrepresented or inconsistently portrayed in the original manga, the reality within the shinobi system was harsh: for a civilian ninja to reach these heights required immense personal talent, sacrifice, and opportunity.
Many civilian-born shinobi spent their entire careers as genin or chūnin—not because of lack of will, but due to limited access to advanced techniques and combat resources.
The truth was simple: Konoha's higher-ups guarded powerful jutsu like state secrets. Even promising ninja from commoner backgrounds were often overlooked when it came to elite jutsu scrolls or custom training regimens.
Becoming a Jonin meant more than just fighting power—it required strategy, adaptability, leadership, and the ability to accomplish A-rank and S-rank missions. But without powerful techniques or deep chakra reserves, even the most determined shinobi would find themselves capped.
Yet with the right support—and someone like Orochimaru backing him—Gen had all the tools. Yugao, too, had defied the odds. But she would have to work twice as hard to continue rising.
Still, for tonight, none of that mattered.
Tonight, they were just old classmates at a table—laughing, teasing, sharing memories—before the next mission, before the next loss.
And for a few hours at Yakiniku Q, peace held firm.
If you want to become a Jonin during peacetime, the general requirement is to complete over 100 A-rank missions or a comparable number of S-rank missions. Each mission carries its own set of lethal dangers and extreme unpredictability.
However, there are exceptions. If your specialized abilities are sufficiently outstanding, you can be promoted despite not meeting the mission quota. A clear example is Shizune.
In the original manga, Shizune's medical ninjutsu is second only to Tsunade, the legendary Sannin and Fifth Hokage. Because of her exceptional talent and extensive battlefield experience, she holds Jonin-level status and would be recognized as such in any of the Five Great Nations.
"Thank you for the compliment, too."
"I heard you're well-versed in kenjutsu. If you ever have time, we could spar or train together. I believe we could both learn and improve."
"I've had a fair amount of exposure to swordsmanship techniques."
Gen Uchiha gave a calm, sunny smile, his tone light and modest. Though handsome, it was the warmth in his voice that caught attention.
Hearing this, Gekkō Hayate clenched his fists under the table and ground his teeth quietly, unable to stop intrusive thoughts from creeping in.
Gen Uchiha was too much of a threat—a genius Jonin from the most prominent clan in Konoha, a clan so rich in chakra and dojutsu that it felt like being the son of a middle-class merchant standing next to the heir of the wealthiest dynasty in the Fire Country.
Hayate possessed a unique physique—a bloodline illness that forced him to operate on a razor's edge between stamina and lethality—but his family wasn't even a minor clan. Just another old shinobi household.
Gen turned slightly toward Hayate, pretending not to notice, but his Sharingan-trained perception didn't miss a thing.
His observational ability was excellent—even without activating his dojutsu.
Uzuki Yugao's heart stirred slightly at Gen's suggestion.
Training with a Jonin skilled in kenjutsu would no doubt help her break through her recent bottleneck. Though competent, she had sensed her bladework plateauing over the past few months.
"All right," she said gently. "But... am I allowed to enter the Uchiha compound?"
Yugao tucked her long violet hair behind her ear and gave a light smile.
To civilian-born shinobi, places like the Uchiha and Hyuga compounds were veiled in mystery—like sacred territories forbidden to outsiders.
Hayate felt a pang of heartbreak. He wasn't yet in a relationship with Yugao—just quietly harbored feelings for her. But watching her connect so easily with someone like Gen made that distance feel insurmountable.
"The Uchiha district may look like a dragon's den or tiger's lair from the outside, but you can walk in freely. If anyone gives you trouble, just say you're there to see me."
"Huuuh…"
A few classmates made teasing sounds.
"What do you mean, 'Huh'? If you want to come too, same goes for you."
Gen's voice was still casual as he walked to Yugao's side and sat down confidently.
Hayate, either embarrassed or unwilling to interfere, didn't take the seat next to Yugao, instead leaving it open. His eyes dimmed as he watched from across the table.
Gen began chatting casually with Yugao. Every now and then, he cracked a dry joke or offered a witty comment, making her laugh softly. Her eyes curled into joyful crescents as she covered her mouth, smiling like a girl truly enjoying the moment.
Hayate sat nearby, not literally biting his tongue, but feeling an emotional sting like splinters in his skin.
Meanwhile, toward the other end of the table, Yūhi Kurenai and Anko Mitarashi were engaged in hushed conversation, their heads tilted together. Kurenai's expression changed from confusion to surprise as Anko whispered animatedly.
A few seats up, Sarutobi Asuma puffed thoughtfully on a cigarette, appearing to listen with disinterest. But inwardly, he was frowning.
Is Gen Uchiha really that good?
Could he really beat Anko with just a Shadow Clone?
Just then, the door burst open with a loud bang, and a figure in a green jumpsuit with a bowl haircut and bushy eyebrows burst in—arms thrown dramatically around the shoulders of a silver-haired boy with a perpetually vacant stare.
"Kai! Kakashi! You're finally here—we were waiting on you!"
"Come on in, grab a seat!" someone called.
"Let's start grilling!" another added enthusiastically.
Some classmates leapt up to greet them, smiling wide.
"Kakashi, seriously—you've got to stop acting like a ghost. Rin and Obito wouldn't want to see you like this."
"You need to live with courage and energy—the way they'd want you to."
Gen's voice rang with conviction, an unexpected bit of heartfelt chicken soup for the shinobi soul.
Kakashi blinked slowly, as if waking from a deep trance. The gloom didn't vanish entirely, but he nodded subtly, forcing a polite smile as he took a seat without protest.
"I've been talking for a while, and Kakashi didn't even react…"
"Gen, you're incredible."
"Youth is passion!" Might Guy shouted, raising his arm in a familiar pose, thumb up, his sparkling white teeth flashing in the light.
A few students turned away in embarrassment at the over-the-top declaration. Even now, Guy's intensity was overwhelming.
Gen only smiled faintly. He wasn't annoyed in the least.
Who could possibly dislike Might Guy?
He was, in every sense, the man who challenged the gods with the body of a mortal. The very embodiment of unrelenting youth and determination.
"All right, Kai," Gen said. "Sit down. Let's fire up the grill."
"Youth is incomplete without meat!"
"Meat is the energy station of youth!"
"Xuan—so profound! I knew you were the one who understands me best!"
"I'm moved!"
Kai burst into tears, his face shining with emotional gratitude. Some students instinctively scooted away, notably Asuma and Ebisu, their brows furrowed in disbelief.
Gen Uchiha: "..."
"If you don't sit down and start grilling, we're going to eat everything you brought."
"Ahhh, no—don't waste the meat of youth!"
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