Uchiha Gen withdrew his gaze from the direction Uchiha Shisui had disappeared and quietly continued toward his home.
How does one truly remain unseen?
By blending perfectly into the world around them.
Gen didn't want to draw the attention of the village — not from the Hokage's office, nor from the ever-watchful eyes of the Uchiha Police Force.
So, outwardly, he presented himself as the perfect example of a stereotypical Uchiha: proud, confident, and coldly aloof.
In a world where only strength commanded respect, appearing weak was not an option.
The moment weakness was shown, oppression would follow.
That was why, for years, the persona Uchiha Gen wore was that of an ordinary Uchiha with exceptional taijutsu talent — nothing more.
Strong enough to earn respect, but not so special as to draw suspicion.
Unlike most of his clan, Gen had no intention of awakening the Sharingan.
His training as a spell cultivator followed a different path — his body and spirit had been tempered through natural energy.
His perception and reaction speed already rivaled the ocular prowess of the Sharingan.
And more importantly, not awakening it meant avoiding unwanted scrutiny.
After all, only those who awakened the Sharingan became targets of both clan expectations and village surveillance.
---
When he arrived home, Gen pushed open the door.
"I'm home."
"Gen, dinner's ready! Tonight we're having Izumi's new recipe — honey-glazed roast meat!"
His mother, Uchiha Rei, called out warmly from the kitchen.
Gen removed his sandals and entered the dining room. Soon, his mother and little sister arrived, carrying steaming dishes.
Izumi, however, turned away with a pout.
Her small face was cold, and she pointedly ignored him.
Uchiha Rei sighed, shaking her head. "Izumi, are you still mad at your brother?"
"Yes," Izumi huffed. "And unless a certain someone apologizes, I'll stay mad forever."
Gen sighed softly, then reached under the table and pulled out a small box. With a teasing smile, he said, "Izumi, look what big brother bought for you. Seven-Colored Rainbow Dango — from Nanase-tei."
At the mention of the famous sweets, Izumi's curiosity got the better of her. The moment Gen opened the box, a delicate aroma filled the air. Inside were rows of colorful, perfectly shaped dango.
Izumi tried to keep her composure. "Even so… I won't forgive you that easily."
Gen chuckled. "Then big brother's heart will break from sadness."
Her eyes softened. "If big brother apologizes, I'll forgive you immediately!"
He relented, smiling. "Alright. I'm sorry, Izumi. I shouldn't have told you to stay away from Uchiha Itachi. I'll take it back — I won't interfere again."
He didn't mean the words entirely.
But he had learned that trying to control people through force often produced the opposite result. The more you suppressed something, the more it resisted.
Izumi's face brightened instantly. "Hehe! You'd better mean it!"
She picked up a rabbit-shaped yellow dango and took a bite, a happy smile lighting her face.
Moments later, she picked up a piece of roasted meat and held it up to Gen's mouth.
"Try it, big brother! It's my first time cooking!"
Gen obliged, taking a bite. "Mmm! It's delicious — the best I've ever had."
For a time, the Uchiha household was filled with laughter. Izumi giggled as her mother smiled, and for a moment, Gen felt the faint warmth of peace — something increasingly rare in the Uchiha District.
---
After dinner, Gen sat alone in the courtyard, gazing up at the stars.
His thoughts wandered back to the training ground earlier that day. Among the many chakra signatures he sensed, one stood out — sharp, confident, filled with challenge.
Senju Gen.
A boy with the surname Senju.
It was a name Gen hadn't expected to hear in this era.
The Senju Clan… still has descendants?
When he returned home that evening, curiosity drove him to ask his father.
"Father, the Senju Clan and our Uchiha Clan were once the two great pillars of Konoha. Why are there so few now?"
Uchiha Hazuki poured himself a cup of sake, his expression turning solemn.
"The Senju Clan's decline began after the Great Wars. During the First and Second Shinobi World Wars, the Senju fought on the front lines and bore the brunt of Konoha's battles. Their courage won many victories — but it also cost them dearly."
He took a slow sip.
"Even Senju Nawaki — the heir of the clan, Tsunade-sama's younger brother — fell in the Second War. After that, their numbers dwindled. Many of their shinobi died in service to the village they helped create."
Hazuki smiled faintly. "Reckless, yes — but truly admirable."
He refilled his cup and looked at his son. "You must be wondering why the Uchiha didn't earn such praise during those wars, hm?"
Gen nodded. "Yes. Our clan's pride wouldn't allow being overshadowed so easily."
Hazuki's smile faded. "The truth is… we weren't allowed to shine. The village elders restricted the Uchiha to policing duties — protecting the village, they said. Only a fraction of our fighters were sent to the front lines."
Gen's gaze darkened.
So that's it… to keep the Uchiha from gaining glory, they would rather sacrifice more of their own shinobi.
In the shinobi world, strength and merit dictated power.
Had the Uchiha achieved the same military prestige as the Senju, even the Hokage's advisors would have been forced to respect them.
Instead, the clan's strength was intentionally kept in check — their pride smothered beneath the guise of "duty."
---
Several days later — Ninja Academy
In class, Instructor Sarutobi Retsu was explaining the 361 chakra points of the human body and how chakra circulated between them.
Uchiha Gen listened intently, connecting these theories with his own cultivation insights.
When the lesson ended, the classroom erupted in noise as students rushed out in groups.
Gen stayed seated, lost in thought.
Since the first day, most classmates had kept their distance from him.
Even after learning that Uehara Yu's rumors were false, their wariness remained. Such was the way of children — fear disguised as avoidance.
After a moment, Gen stood, preparing to leave — but noticed one other student still there, staring absently out the window.
"Hatake-kun, why are you still here?" Gen asked gently.
Hatake Seiko turned, his silver hair glinting faintly in the sunlight. "I prefer the quiet," he replied simply before turning back to the view.
Gen smiled faintly and left the room without pressing further.
---
On the training field, older students practiced throwing kunai and shuriken or performing basic ninjutsu. The younger ones watched in awe.
"Punch back! Don't flinch!"
"Good kick!"
"Nice hit — harder!"
The sound of shouts and cheers filled the air.
Gen's eyes drifted toward one corner of the field where a small crowd had gathered.
He recognized several faces — Hyuga Kagami, Uchiha Eiji, and other clan heirs.
Two students were sparring in the center. One wore the Uchiha crest, the other the symbol of the Shiranui Clan.
Their match was fierce but brief — the Shiranui boy was quickly overwhelmed and sent sprawling.
The Uchiha victor smirked arrogantly. "I only used seventy percent of my strength. You thought you could challenge an Uchiha?"
The Shiranui boy flushed with humiliation and retreated.
Just then, another figure stepped forward from the crowd.
He clasped his hands together in the Seal of Confrontation and said firmly,
"Senju Gen. Please instruct me."
A ripple of surprise spread through the students.
"Senju…?" someone whispered.
That surname still carried weight — a remnant of a bygone era.
The Uchiha boy blinked, then mirrored the gesture.
"Uchiha Shinsuke," he said evenly. "Let's see what the last Senju can do."
The crowd drew closer, the air thick with tension —
as the legacy of the two greatest clans was about to clash once more.
Visit patreon.com/MexxyWave to get access to 30+ chapters