Minato Namikaze was not a man to waste time. The moment he made his decision, he penned a transfer order and sent a ninja out.
By the time the message reached Uchiha Gen, he didn't hesitate. Within minutes, he was outside the commander's tent, bowing slightly as he stepped inside.
"Lord Minato."
"Don't be so stiff. Relax," Minato said with that easy smile of his.
Relax? I'm not even nervous, Gen thought.
"I already know the situation. From today, you'll be temporarily assigned to Team Seven, under my direct supervision. If you can earn the approval of myself, Kakashi, and Rin… I'll take you on as my disciple."
He said it so simply, but with Minato's strength, fame, and status, the words carried weight. Countless shinobi in Konoha would kill for such an offer.
"I'll do my best," Gen replied. His cheeks were warm, eyes bright—though the excitement he showed was only half true.
The truth was simpler: having a strong backer made things easier. Without one, he would just have to climb slower.
Either way, his goal was the same, to grow strong enough to survive. Even if history couldn't be changed, even if the clan massacre still came, he would have the power to protect himself.
"Go meet Kakashi and Rin," Minato said. "You'll be teammates for a while… maybe even for life."
"Yes, Minato-sama."
The Fourth's head was already bent over the next stack of mission reports. Taking the hint, Gen stepped back and left with the others.
They didn't stop until they reached a quiet stream a short walk from camp. Sunlight danced on the water's surface, flashes of silver darting below as fish swam lazily. The trees were thick with green, birdsong mixing with the low rush of the current.
Kakashi glanced at the two chunin with him. "Let's introduce ourselves. I'll go first, since I'm captain."
With Kakashi a newly-promoted jōnin and both Rin and Gen still chunin, the leadership was obvious.
"Hatake Kakashi, twelve years old. Favorite foods: salt-grilled saury and miso-glazed eggplant. I can't stand tempura that's been sitting too long. Hobbies: reading. Dream: to protect my friends. My specialties are kenjutsu and lightning-style ninjutsu."
He nodded at Rin.
Nohara Rin tucked her hands behind her back, turning slightly as she smiled. "Nohara Rin, twelve. I love strawberries, but I can't stand overly thick seafood stew. My hobby is collecting shells, and my dream… is to heal every injured Konoha shinobi I meet. I specialize in medical ninjutsu."
Both turned to Gen.
"My name is Uchiha Gen. Thirteen. I don't have a favorite food, and there's nothing I particularly dislike. My hobbies… a few: studying ninjutsu, cooking, music, reading, traveling. My dream is to live freely. I specialize in genjutsu and fire-style."
"Live freely?" Kakashi repeated. He exhaled softly. "Selfish maybe, but that's not an easy dream."
In the shinobi world, freedom was rare. Root shinobi had no lives of their own, and even regular ninjas spent most of their time running missions.
"Freedom doesn't mean doing whatever you want, does it?" Rin asked.
Gen met her gaze. A test? If he said yes, it would sound reckless and likely cost him their approval. And for now, their approval mattered.
"No," he said. "It means that when you don't want to do something, you can choose not to, and no one can force you."
"That… makes sense. I like your dream," Rin said.
"I agree," Kakashi added.
"You both have hard dreams too," Gen said lightly. "Maybe even harder than mine."
"Our dreams aren't the hardest," Rin replied. "Obito's is... he wants to be Hokage."
"True," Kakashi said with a faint chuckle.
"I'm not close with him, but I know him a little," Gen said. "We're actually distant cousins. I'm half a month older, so technically he should call me 'older cousin.' Our ancestors were brothers."
That drew some surprise, and when their eyes met again, there was a small shift—more familiarity, more ease.
Of course, the connection meant nothing to the man Obito would one day become.
That Obito had destroyed Minato and Kushina without hesitation, acting under the belief that his crimes served a greater good.
And that, Gen thought, was the most dangerous kind of person—one who could commit horrors with a clear conscience.
Still, Kakashi's talent and his lineage made him a valuable ally. White Fang's legacy carried weight far beyond the battlefield, and in the right circumstances, it could shape the future of Konoha.
So Gen smiled, kept the conversation warm, and let the bond settle in. They were far from the unshakable unity of the original Team Seven, but by the time they walked back toward camp, they were already something more than strangers.