What is an Uchiha like?
Arrogant, proud, and domineering — those were the words most people in Konoha used to describe them.
At that moment, Uchiha Gen's demeanor perfectly embodied those very traits.
His sharp gaze swept over the crowd, and under its weight, the onlookers instinctively averted their eyes, avoiding direct contact.
"Hmph."
Uchiha Gen let out a cold snort and stepped out of the training ground.
As he walked past, the crowd automatically parted, allowing him to pass with an air of calm arrogance.
Among them, Hyūga Kagami — a young member of the Hyūga Branch Family — clenched his fists tightly as he watched Gen's retreating figure.
He was furious with himself. Furious that, for a brief instant, he had been intimidated by the aura of an Uchiha.
That was something his pride as a Hyūga could never allow.
He wanted to challenge Uchiha Gen right then and there — to wipe away that feeling of inferiority — but deep down, he knew the truth. With the skill Gen had just displayed, he didn't stand a chance.
Elsewhere in the crowd, Senju Gen also watched silently, his expression unreadable.
Uchiha Gen… you didn't even use your full strength, did you?
Senju Gen could tell from experience. Uchiha Gen had been holding back, pulling his strikes just enough to prolong the fight. If he had gone all out, the battle would have ended within twenty exchanges.
As expected of the one our Clan elders call the "other prodigy."
A faint smirk tugged at Senju Gen's lips as fighting spirit flickered in his eyes.
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Uchiha Clan District
As Uchiha Gen made his way home through a quiet alley, he suddenly stopped and turned around.
"I wonder who's been following me all this way."
From the moment he'd left the Ninja Academy, he'd sensed a presence tailing him — light, cautious, and deliberate. At first, he worried that someone from the Village's higher-ups might be monitoring him. So he'd pretended not to notice.
But now, within the borders of the Uchiha district, that same presence still lingered.
That meant only one thing: it was an Uchiha.
Gen exhaled quietly in relief. No outsider could move freely within the Uchiha compound without being noticed.
So who is it?
Whoosh!
A flicker of movement blurred before his eyes, and a figure landed a few meters ahead.
When Uchiha Gen saw who it was, his expression shifted slightly in surprise.
"So it's you… Senior Shisui."
Standing before him was Uchiha Shisui, the famed prodigy known for his incredible speed and his kind smile. The one many have already called Shunshin no Shisui — "Shisui of the Body Flicker."
"Gen-kun," Shisui greeted warmly, "you've got quite the sharp senses. When did you notice me?"
"I sensed you back at the Academy gate," Gen replied calmly.
Shisui chuckled softly. "Haha, as expected of you. Impressive."
"Senior," Gen asked, "you're one of the Clan's brightest talents. Why were you following me?"
Shisui's eyes softened. "I happened to pass by the training field earlier and saw your taijutsu display. Your combinations were fluid and precise — truly beautiful. I got curious, so I followed."
He tilted his head slightly. "Your movements are very different from the traditional Uchiha taijutsu style. Did someone teach you?"
Gen shook his head. "No. I developed them myself."
Shisui's eyes widened in surprise, then he laughed lightly. "To think you created your own fighting style at this age… remarkable. If there's a chance, we should spar sometime. I might learn a thing or two."
"I look forward to it," Gen replied evenly. "I'm sure I could learn plenty from you as well, Senior."
Shisui's smile faded a little, replaced by a more serious expression.
"Actually, Gen-kun, there's something I wanted to talk to you about. That's why I followed you."
Gen nodded. "Please go ahead, Senior."
Shisui's tone grew heavier. "Our Clan's pride has always been both our strength and our weakness. Lately, rumors have been spreading through the Village — ones that paint our Clan in a dangerous light. The villagers are growing more wary of us. This situation… it worries me."
Gen's eyes narrowed. "You're hoping the Clan can ease its relationship with the rest of the Village."
"Yes." Shisui nodded. "Ever since the decline of the Senju, our people have grown more arrogant. That pride has earned us enemies in silence. If this continues, I fear it may one day lead to open conflict."
Gen tilted his head, his tone casual. "And you believe that the future can be changed?"
"I do," Shisui said earnestly. "If we want to mend things, it has to start with us — the younger generation. Our classmates at the Academy come from different families, even from civilian backgrounds. If we can build bonds with them, perhaps the gap between the Uchiha and the Village can be bridged."
"I see." Gen's eyes gleamed with faint amusement. "You must have said these words to others too, haven't you?"
Shisui smiled bitterly. "Yes… but most of them don't understand. To them, what I'm saying sounds like betrayal."
Gen was silent for a while, then asked quietly, "Senior… do you remember the incident involving Sakumo Hatake?"
Shisui blinked. "Sakumo… the White Fang?"
"Yes."
Shisui's expression softened into one of regret. "A true tragedy. He was one of the Village's greatest shinobi — even some of our Clan elders admired him. I heard he broke a mission to save his comrades, but… if he had only apologized, the Third Hokage might have forgiven him. Still, it's hard to understand why he took his own life."
As he listened, Gen sighed inwardly.
Naive. Truly naive.
Shisui's loyalty to the Village was unwavering — and dangerous. If Gen revealed too much or shone too brightly, that same loyalty could make Shisui a threat to him, even unintentionally.
He'd have to keep his distance.
Shisui tilted his head. "Why bring up the White Fang, Gen-kun?"
"It's just… hearing the rumors about our Clan reminded me of him," Gen replied calmly. "He too was destroyed by whispers and suspicion."
Then his expression hardened. "But I believe what you're worried about will never happen. The Uchiha and the Senju founded Konoha together. Our Clan's devotion to the Village is no less than anyone else's."
He turned away slightly. "As for making friends at the Academy… not just anyone is qualified to be an Uchiha's friend. The strong only recognize the strong."
Shisui fell silent for a long moment. A shadow of disappointment crossed his eyes.
"Gen-kun," he said softly, "I hope someday you'll learn that true strength isn't about pride — it's about trust."
And with that, he blurred into motion — vanishing over the rooftops in a series of silent leaps, leaving only the rustle of wind behind.
Uchiha Gen watched him go, his expression unreadable.
Trust, huh?
He exhaled slowly, his crimson eyes flickering for a moment.
In this Village, trust gets you killed.
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