c93: Frog Comes to the Door
"Is Xuan here?"
"There are three kunoichi at the door looking for you."
The idiot had just returned to his mother's embrace. Uchiha Gen was chatting with Mikoto Uchiha and even Madara still lingering as a spiritual presence—when someone shouted from outside.
"Present."
"Thanks, I'll be right there."
Gen responded loudly.
"It's nothing serious. Go ahead," Mikoto smiled gently.
She covered her mouth, then teased, "Xuan is so popular. Three pretty girls already waiting after you just got back…"
"They're my teammates and younger disciples," Gen replied calmly, a slight smile on his lips.
"So what?"
"If you've already put them on a team, it means you're somewhat interested in one of them," Mikoto mused, eyes sharp as always.
"I can't hide anything from you, Sister Mikoto."
Why choose only one? If you're building a legacy, think bigger.
"My return promise to them was that if they performed well on their missions, I'd personally teach them ninjutsu."
"Really?" Mikoto smiled knowingly. "Then go on."
"Uh… Brother Xuan, may I come along?" Itachi asked hesitantly.
"What for, Itachi?"
"Won't you interrupt Brother Xuan's business?" Mikoto said, slightly stern.
"I want to see Brother Xuan's strength firsthand," Itachi said sincerely.
He had heard from Shisui about Xuan's skills how they rivaled even elite Jonin—but he had never seen them for himself. Rumors in the clan described Gen as a genius nearly on par with the Uchiha Prodigy, Fugaku himself.
Mikoto hesitated, unsure if she should approve.
"Come along if you wish, Itachi."
"One monk fetches water for himself. Two monks help each other. But with three monks, no one ends up with water," Gen said cryptically.
Itachi blinked in confusion.
Mikoto, more experienced, parsed the meaning behind the idiom. She narrowed her eyes subtly.
"I didn't expect Xuan to be so... well-versed in the subtleties of human nature. Truly, a genius."
"In that case, Itachi, go ahead."
"Yes, Mother."
Gen stood up and bowed slightly. "Sister Mikoto, farewell."
"Come by more often."
"Of course."
Outside the compound's gate, three girls Yuhi Kurenai, Mitarashi Anko, and Uzuki Yugao leaned casually against the wall, chatting. Their ninja gear was recently re-tailored, and each exuded a sharper presence.
"Captain!"
Upon seeing Gen, the trio straightened and bowed with formality.
Though usually relaxed around him, respect in public was customary.
"It's been a while. You've all grown... taller, and more refined."
In the ten months since they last met, Kurenai and Anko had matured noticeably. Yugao, more composed, still bore the elegance of a quiet blade.
"This is Uchiha Itachi, son of the clan head."
The future heir?
Kurenai, Anko, and Yugao immediately recognized the political weight behind the name and offered warm greetings.
Itachi returned them with sincere, practiced politeness.
After some brief exchanges, Gen brought them to the Uchiha training ground—a quiet open arena lined with calligraphy-bound logs and worn scorches.
"How did the last mission go?"
"Ninety-eight percent completion."
Kurenai, no longer the squad lead, spoke with a note of pride.
Yugao and Anko nodded. The mission had been ranked B, requiring infiltration and information retrieval in a village near the Land of Rivers.
"Excellent."
"As promised, I owe you each a technique."
Gen withdrew three scrolls, marked with red seals against black backgrounds, and tossed them expertly to each girl.
"Kurenai, yours is a B-rank genjutsu: Shiranui – Phosphorescent Mist."
"Anko, yours is a B-rank Fire Release: Dust Flame Ash Technique."
"Yugao, you get a B-rank Wind Release: Vacuum Sword Technique."
Given their current chakra control and physical growth, B-rank jutsu were a perfect tier difficult but within reach, unlike A-rank techniques which required high-level chakra pools and refined elemental transformation mastery.
Even if they attempted an A-rank jutsu now, it would drain them completely and offer little practical use in real battle. They weren't like Naruto with the Nine-Tails or Sasuke with his natural Sharingan-based reserves.
"Shiranui is harder to demonstrate ask me later if needed, Kurenai."
"I'll demonstrate the others now. Watch closely."
The three nodded eagerly, eyes focused.
Gen began forming hand seals slower than usual for Anko's benefit.
Fire Release: Dust Flame Ash Technique!
From his lips, a thick, blazing ash cloud billowed forward, spreading in a dense gray mist across the field. The dust sizzled as it made contact with the earth, spreading fast half the training ground was engulfed in seconds.
The girls marveled at the chakra density and heat.
Though Gen wasn't at Kage-level yet, the evolution of his Sharingan to triple tomoe and the subtle boost he'd received after his last contact with Kushina's chakra chains had drastically increased his chakra reserves.
If he ever awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, his reserves might rival those of Third Hokage-era Danzo or even Tsunade.
"This jutsu can be used for cover and offense. It's especially effective against Mist Shinobi countering Hidden Mist Technique directly. If they're careless, they'll suffocate or get scorched."
Anko's eyes gleamed. Orochimaru had never taught her this.
Next, Gen pulled the Kusanagi blade from his side, its black steel glinting ominously.
He formed another set of seals and shouted:
Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!
A grid of sharp, interlacing wind blades shot forward. The impact shredded through the ash cloud, leaving streaks in the sky and gashing long, precise trenches in the training field.
"When first learning, you'll need hand seals."
"But once you master wind transformation, you'll use it like this Muji-style."
He planted his feet and swung down vertically.
Without any seals, a cross-pattern of netted wind blades flew down, splitting stone and ash alike. The explosions echoed as the ground shattered into geometric scars.
"Captain, that was incredible!"
Yugao's eyes sparkled with admiration. The technique complemented her kenjutsu perfectly and matched her chakra nature—wind.
"Thank you, Captain!"
Anko and Kurenai echoed the praise. Even Itachi looked in awe.
In return, the three girls promised to treat him to Yakiniku Q that night barbecue with high-grade beef only available to Chūnin and up.
After goodbyes, they hurried back to practice.
Gen stayed with Itachi and gave him some brief taijutsu drills until noon. Then, both returned home for lunch.
The next day, Gen visited Orochimaru's residence. The man was as enigmatic as ever, but their conversation was cordial borderline conspiratorial.
For the next few days, Gen wandered through Konoha.
Even after rebuilding, the village post-Nine-Tails attack never quite regained its exact layout. Gen made mental notes of each shift, comparing memory to stone.
Eventually, the calendar turned: October 9th, 10:30 PM.
In the Hokage Residence, Namikaze Minato returned home, bone-tired, but smiling. Kushina served dinner, teasing him with complaints about neglect.
And outside, in the dim apartment corridor
A red-eyed, green-skinned mechanical frog one of Jiraiya's messenger toads hopped along the steps.
It paused at the doorstep, then leapt high.
Ding!
Its head struck the doorbell, activating it.
Then it landed precisely in the doorway's shadow… and stopped moving, now a sentinel of silence.
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