Chapter 4: The First Tomoe Blooms – The Double Pupils Awaken!
"Y-you eat all that… yourself?" Izumi stared, bewildered. The backpack was nearly as large as Genyu himself! How could one child possibly consume its contents?Ah, realization dawned. He must be saying it out of hurt. He brought treats to share, hoping to make friends… only to be rejected and mocked. This is his pride talking. Her heart ached with renewed sympathy for the lonely boy.
"Of course, I eat it myself!" Genyu retorted, already pulling out another roasted chicken and tearing into it with astonishing speed. Grease smeared his cheeks as he mumbled between bites, "It's barely enough for me. Why would I share with people who look down on me?" A drumstick vanished, then another.
Izumi watched, transfixed. This wasn't the nibbling pace of a three-year-old; it was a ravenous devouring. Before her mind could fully process the sight, the first chicken was gone. Then a second. Then a third. He followed them with three hefty pork knuckles. Her initial shock hardened into stunned disbelief as the mountain of food steadily disappeared into the small boy. The final proof came when he polished off the entire bento she'd given him, looking distinctly unsatisfied.
Gulp. Izumi swallowed hard. Even the Akimichi clan members she'd seen couldn't match this level of consumption in a child so young.
"Genyu," she offered hesitantly, seeing his lingering gaze on the roasted chicken she held, "would you… like this one too?"
Genyu shook his head firmly, a strangely mature resolve in his young voice. "What's given is given. I don't take back gifts. It's yours." He wiped his hands, his double-pupiled eyes serious. The incongruity of his baby face delivering such a decisive statement almost made Izumi want to pinch his cheek.
Without another word, he leaned back against the tree trunk, closed his eyes, and slipped back into deep meditation, pulling chakra from the air around him.
Izumi hesitated, wanting to say more, but unwilling to disturb his focus.
"Izumi." A cold, familiar voice cut through the quiet. She stiffened. Itachi stood behind her, his gaze frosty.
"Itachi! I-I was just checking on Genyu. It's his first day…" she stammered.
Itachi's dark eyes flickered dismissively towards the meditating child. "He's nothing but the clan's aberrant burden. Don't waste your attention on useless things." His voice held no warmth, only detached scorn. "Come. It's time to resume training."
"But…" Izumi started, but the stern look on Itachi's face silenced her protest. She sighed. "Alright. See you later, little Genyu." She followed Itachi away, casting one last, regretful glance back.
'Itachi… truly as cold as they say,' Genyu thought, opening his eyes just a sl*t to watch their retreating backs. A flicker of profound contempt touched his lips as he focused on Itachi's rigid posture. The future butcher of his own kin. A man who slaughtered parents, siblings, elders, children… sparing only his precious little brother. As if other Uchiha didn't have families? Didn't have people who loved them? Pathetic. All for his twisted, self-righteous 'Will of Fire'? A joke. He's nothing but a deluded hypocrite. The surge of disgust solidified his resolve. No. I will never feel anything but contempt for you, Uchiha Itachi.
He closed his eyes again, channeling the simmering disdain into focused chakra refinement.
Evening – Training Ground
"Genyu. Time for shurikenjutsu basics. Come join the group." Shin's voice broke his concentration. The instructor gently pulled the drowsy-looking boy to his feet and guided him towards the practice area.
Whispers and sneers erupted instantly:"Ugh, why's the monster joining?""Think he actually wants to learn?""Waste of time!""Freak! Stay away!"Children instinctively shuffled back, creating an isolating bubble around him. Even Sasuke, guided by Itachi's hand, moved pointedly aside. Only Izumi remained nearby, offering a small, encouraging smile.
"Little Genyu," she whispered kindly, "just do your best, okay? Coach will test us after, but it's your first time! Missing is totally fine." Her concern for his potential embarrassment was palpable.
Genyu smiled back, utterly unfazed by the hostility. "The throwing technique? Easy. I'll get it after watching once." It wasn't arrogance; it was simple certainty. His body, tempered by constant chakra absorption, was incredibly receptive. More crucially, the enhanced perception granted by his double pupils allowed him to dissect Shin's every micro-movement – muscle contraction, joint angle, weight shift – with crystal clarity.
The statement ignited fresh ridicule."Hah! What a blowhard!""Watch once and learn? Ridiculous!""Typical weirdo…"Itachi's lips curled into a distinct sneer. "Shurikenjutsu mastery requires relentless repetition to forge muscle memory," he murmured coldly to Sasuke, loud enough for Genyu to hear. "The notion of instant comprehension is the height of ignorance and arrogance. Stay clear of such foolishness, Sasuke."
Even Shin and Tetsu exchanged a weary glance. Spoiled rich kid, Shin thought. Blind confidence. A harsh lesson in reality awaits him.
"Enough chatter!" Shin called out, silencing the group. "Pay close attention. Those who've heard this, review. Newcomers, learn well." He launched into a detailed explanation of grip, stance, wind-up, release, and follow-through. He demonstrated slowly, then at speed, the shuriken thudding perfectly into the target's center.
The children watched intently. None noticed the subtle shift in Genyu's eyes. Deep within the twin pupils of each iris – four pupils in total – a single, blood-red comma-like shape flickered into existence within each. [Note: Genyu's Double Pupils each contain three potential tomoe storage points, totaling six per eye when fully developed. This unique structure allows for greater potential complexity and power compared to a standard Sharingan.]
Unbelievable! Genyu's mind raced. My eyes aren't just seeing… they're recording! Deconstructing every motion! Shin's demonstration played out in his mind's eye, slowed down to a fraction of its actual speed. Every nuance, every subtle weight transfer was captured, analyzed, and stored. With conscious focus, he knew he could slow it further. This… this is another power! Replication. If it works for this… copying jutsu might be child's play! He remained unaware that the spontaneous manifestation of tomoe – without trauma or intense emotion – was unprecedented in Uchiha history.
"Understood?" Shin asked, concluding the lesson. "The core throwing technique. Do you all grasp it?"