The clearing wasn't large, so the voices of Uchiha Daishi and the others easily reached Uchiha Eiji's ears.
Only then did he realize something humiliating—no matter how many attacks he unleashed, Uchiha Gen hadn't moved a single step. He remained standing in the same place, calm and unshaken.
A surge of frustration and humiliation welled up inside Uchiha Eiji.
Uchiha Gen… I'll make you move your feet, no matter what!
At that moment, his goal shifted. He already knew he couldn't defeat Gen—the dozens of attacks he had launched earlier had all been blocked effortlessly. But even if he lost, he refused to let the fight end without forcing his opponent to move.
So, during the next exchanges, he deliberately feinted, concealing his true intent while secretly building up chakra.
Gen parried everything easily. After more than a dozen rounds of offense and defense, just as Gen countered Eiji's flying kick with a punch, he suddenly noticed chakra flaring from Eiji's body.
Using the recoil, Eiji flipped backward and flew through a string of hand seals mid-air.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
A roaring fireball, over a meter in diameter, erupted from his mouth and surged toward Gen.
A triumphant smile curled across Eiji's lips. Uchiha Gen, will you still refuse to move this time?!
But the very next instant, the flames shattered.
A violent gust burst forth, scattering the fireball into fragments of burning embers. The pressure was so strong that it ripped apart Eiji's left sleeve, cloth fluttering into the air.
The smile froze on his face.
In front of him, Uchiha Gen still stood exactly where he had been, unmoved.
Gen lowered his fist, the faint outline of his Seiken Zuki strike still visible in the air. That simple punch had dispersed the jutsu completely.
"...You lost," Gen said calmly, walking toward him.
Eiji stood silent, dazed and shaken.
His companions, Uchiha Hayabusa and Uchiha Torataro, quickly ran over. "Uchiha Gen, don't get cocky! Eiji only lost because he was careless!" one shouted.
But Eiji raised a hand, stopping them. "Hayabusa, Torataro… enough. I lost."
Though the Uchiha clan was proud, they also respected strength. Once the outcome was decided, they rarely denied it.
He lifted his head—and then it happened.
His pupils widened, and in each eye, a single tomoe Sharingan spun to life.
"Eiji…!" Hayabusa gasped. "You've awakened the Sharingan!"
Even Torataro's eyes lit up with joy.
Eiji touched the corner of his eye, his expression a mix of disbelief and exhilaration. The world looked sharper—details clearer. Insects darting through the grass moved as if in slow motion, their flight paths precise.
But when he looked back at Gen, something felt off.
Gen showed a flicker of surprise, but not jealousy, not even admiration. His face remained calm, almost indifferent, as though awakening the Sharingan was nothing extraordinary at all.
The surrounding children, however, stared with awe, envy, and reverence.
Eiji steadied himself. "Gen, I admit defeat. As we agreed, you can make one request of me."
Gen thought for a moment, then said, "You should have chakra cultivation manuals at home. Lend me one to study."
"...A book?"
Eiji blinked in shock. He had expected some outrageous demand. After all, before the fight, he had boldly declared that if he won, he would make Gen crawl on the ground like a dog.
Compared to that, Gen's request felt… simple.
"No. It's easy enough," Eiji said quietly, his gaze complicated. "I'm just… surprised."
With that, Eiji turned and left with his companions.
---
Gen returned to the rock at the edge of the clearing and sat cross-legged. Before him, Daishi and the others gathered in straight rows.
They were his followers—his "guard."
Most came from branch families considered to have little potential. They were dismissed as talentless, bullied by stronger clan children, and often left without hope.
But Gen, himself from a branch family, had once found them battered and humiliated after another fight. Where they expected mockery, he asked if they wanted to become stronger.
When they scoffed and attacked him in anger, he floored them all with a single punch each. From that day on, they followed him.
Gen knew well—if he wanted to change the Uchiha clan's fate, he needed more than his own strength. He needed people, loyalty, and influence. A single spark could ignite a wildfire.
It began with these so-called "useless" children.
He had given them guidance, hope… and power.
Now they call him "Big Brother."
"Tell me," Gen asked, his sharp gaze scanning them. "What's the story with Uchiha Eiji?"
Daishi quickly replied, "Big Brother, Eiji's always been the one bullying us. He probably came today because he heard we were training here with you."
Gen nodded. "How many moves did it take before you all fell to him?"
"I lasted seven…" Daishi admitted.
"He's mastered the Body Flicker Technique," another muttered bitterly. "I only lasted five."
"But," one added with a determined look, "after practicing the Seiken Zuki you taught us, I felt like his punches weren't as heavy as before."
Gen's expression softened slightly. "Good. Remember this—though the clan says you lack talent, do not give up. Through taijutsu and discipline, you can grow strong. Train diligently every day, and the day you defeat Uchiha Eiji will come."
The taijutsu he taught them wasn't ordinary. It was born from his own introspection—refining the flow of chakra, blood, and muscle through endless repetition of the punch.
Under his guidance, they resumed their training. Gen stood by, correcting their stances and breathing until satisfied.
Then, quietly, he turned and left the clearing.
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