Ketsuhan lifted its tail, pointing in two directions while stuttering.
"East... cave, black snake... Black Snake, hiss—, you can beat it."
"Alright, then I'll make a trip to the cave in the east. When I come back tomorrow, I'll bring you a sheep as an apology for beating you like this," Uchiha Gen said to Ketsuhan.
The python lay on the ground and nodded gratefully at him.
Not long after, with his chakra fully replenished, Gen set off again for the location Ketsuhan had mentioned. When he arrived at the cave and saw the black snake, he realized he didn't even need to lift a finger.
The snake, known simply as Black Snake, was the same black-scaled giant snake he had beaten back to Ryuchi Cave in the Forest of Death a month ago. Although it had been beaten quite miserably by his tactical planning then, its strength was still respectable. While not as formidable as Ketsuhan, its power was not something an ordinary Genin could easily handle.
After his trip to Ryuchi Cave, besides the two capable giant snakes, Ketsuhan and Black Snake, Gen didn't go off to subdue any more powerful summoned beasts. Maintaining summoned beasts requires a continuous expenditure of time and energy. Gen's own chakra reserves were large compared to his peers, and they were even greater after equipping the Young Madara card, but he wasn't a monster like Naruto with a bottomless well of energy. Being able to summon two beasts at once to assist in battle was currently his limit.
As for even more powerful summoned beasts, if they were too strong, Gen wouldn't have the ability to tame them anyway. By the time they emerged from Ryuchi Cave, the trio had returned to their previous training ground. Orochimaru's figure had long since disappeared, and the sun was slanting westward, nearing dusk. Unknowingly, they had spent nearly a whole day in Ryuchi Cave.
"Tsk, what a pity. I didn't find that two-headed snake that chased me last time." Sarutobi Enjun stood with his hands on his hips, a look of regret on his face.
"Don't even get me started. I had just contracted some ordinary pythons when I entered the territory of a crazed red giant snake and had to release the Reverse Summoning Jutsu early to return," Uzuki Ruri said, looking frustrated.
If she hadn't successfully established a summoning contract and still had the chance to return to Ryuchi Cave later, she would have been depressed.
"I did alright; I contracted two capable giant snakes. Enjun, Ruri, it's getting late, so I'll take my leave now. There's a clan meeting tonight." Gen waved a hand at his two teammates.
"Mhm, then bye-bye, Gen." Uzuki Ruri nodded gently.
"Alright, you head back first. This is your first time attending a clan meeting, so don't be late." Sarutobi Enjun acted serious, but he stole a glance at Uzuki Ruri, a hint of joy uncontrollably appearing between his brows.
Hell yeah! Now we can naturally enter our 'world for two'!
Gen took in the scene and chuckled to himself, then turned and walked toward the Uchiha compound.
If you can't get them, you're a simp; if you can, you're a wolf.
And Sarutobi Enjun was currently in a state of 'wolf-simp' duality, being both at once. Uzuki Ruri, his teammate, was actually very smart. On the surface, she seemed to be slowly getting closer to Sarutobi Enjun, but in reality, she maintained a calculated sense of distance.
In the art of manipulation, although she was still a bit green, it was very effective against a pure-hearted guy like Enjun. Like a carrot hanging in front of a donkey's head, it looked like it could be eaten at any moment but was always kept just one step out of reach. The things one cannot get are always the most desired.
As the son of the Hokage, Sarutobi Enjun had a special status. For Ruri and the clan behind her, this approach was the choice that maximized their interests. Things easily obtained seem cheap to people of high status, and they don't know how to cherish them. However, one cannot create too much distance, lest the person give up entirely.
But Gen didn't really care whether the relationship between these two would affect the team's operations. Uzuki Ruri was smart enough to know her boundaries. Everything she did was calculated to avoid affecting the squad's performance. Whether it was Sarutobi Enjun's father the Third Hokage, the Uchiha clan behind Gen, or Orochimaru, they were all behemoths that Uzuki Ruri and her small family could absolutely not afford to offend.
It was currently a little after five in the evening, and the clan meeting was scheduled for seven, so there was still some time. Gen first had a meal at a snack shop in the compound, then went home to shower and change into formal attire.
He donned a grayish-blue high-collared long robe, grey loose pants with leg wraps, and open-toed ninja sandals. On the back of the clothes was the conspicuous red-and-white Uchiha fan crest.
Time's almost up. Let's go!
Gen checked his appearance in the mirror for a moment, then kicked open the door and strode toward the Naka Shrine. On the way, other clan members dressed similarly left their homes, heading toward the same location. The Naka Shrine was located by the Naka River. Since the Uchiha clan moved to Konoha, this had become the place for the clan to hold meetings and worship their ancestors.
"Gen, come here to this old man." Under the tall golden statue of Indra, the Great Elder tapped his cane and spoke to Gen.
"Great Elder, Mikoto-senpai." Gen jogged over to greet them.
"Mhm. The order of the clan meeting is determined by the Sharingan, ninja rank, and the timing of awakening. Once we go in, you should be positioned in the last row."
After the Great Elder gave Gen a few instructions, he waited quietly. The remaining Uchiha clansmen entered the Naka Shrine one after another until the seven o'clock bell rang and the shrine doors slammed shut. The interior immediately fell silent, filled with a solemn atmosphere.
A man whose hair and beard were slightly graying, looking to be about fifty years old, held long incense sticks and offered them to the golden statue of the Uchiha ancestor, Indra. Uchiha Fugaku stood quietly to one side. The one offering incense was the current head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Hisaku.
After he finished, he bowed to the golden statue, and the rest of the clansmen bowed in unison with practiced rapport. Gen reacted quickly and, with a subtle reminder from the Great Elder, bowed simultaneously. After the bow, Uchiha Hisaku rose leisurely and pressed a hidden mechanism on the altar in front of the statue.
Would you like to continue witnessing the secret clan meeting and the reveal of the Uchiha stone tablet, or should we skip to the following morning as the squad prepares to leave for the Land of Rain?