'If Senju Gen can't withstand the next few moves, he's going to lose.'
Uchiha Gen silently observed the two figures flickering across the training ground, their movements almost too fast for the untrained eye to follow. From his perspective, it was clear that Senju Gen was gradually falling behind.
Through careful observation, Uchiha Gen noted the contrast in their styles:
Uchiha Shinsuke's taijutsu was swift and sharp—speed-oriented and aggressive—while Senju Gen's style emphasized strength and endurance, relying on solid defense and prolonged exchanges.
In their clash so far, Uchiha Shinsuke had landed three clean strikes in exchange for taking one from Senju Gen. The rhythm of the battle was shifting in the Uchiha's favor.
"Bang! Bang!"
After a series of heavy impacts, both figures suddenly separated.
Uchiha Shinsuke executed a nimble backflip and landed lightly on his feet. Senju Gen, on the other hand, stumbled back several steps before regaining his balance. The onlookers exchanged uncertain glances—who had won?
Senju Gen rubbed his chest with a wry smile, then formed the hand seal of reconciliation. "I lost."
At the final exchange, Uchiha Shinsuke's speed had surged, breaking through his guard to deliver three consecutive blows to the chest.
Seeing Senju Gen admit defeat, Uchiha Shinsuke didn't gloat or mock his opponent as he sometimes did. Instead, he returned the reconciliation seal respectfully, acknowledging his rival's strength.
With no more challengers stepping forward, the gathered students began to disperse.
---
As Uchiha Gen walked back toward his classroom, he met Senju Gen coming from the opposite direction in the hallway.
"Gen-kun."
"Senju-kun."
They paused briefly, meeting each other's eyes. Senju Gen nodded with a faint smile before heading inside. Uchiha Gen noticed the thin sheen of sweat on his brow—apparently, Senju Gen had gone back to training right after their match.
---
After school.
Leaving the Academy, Uchiha Gen watched classmates walking home in groups of two or three, laughing and chatting. Feeling hungry, he decided to take a detour toward the village's commercial district.
At the entrance, he slipped into the familiar aroma of Ichiraku Ramen.
"One large bowl of pork cutlet ramen, please," he said.
"Oh, it's Gen-kun. Coming right up," Teuchi replied warmly from behind the counter.
A few minutes later, a girl around his age emerged carrying a steaming bowl.
"Here you go, Gen-kun," said Ayame, smiling.
"Thanks, Ayame."
Just as Uchiha Gen picked up his chopsticks, the shop curtain was pushed aside. A new figure entered, quietly taking the seat beside him.
A cool, detached voice followed:
"One seafood ramen—extra fish cakes."
Uchiha Gen looked up. Ayame's eyes lit up, and her cheerful tone immediately gave away who it was.
"Ah, Kakashi-kun! Please wait a moment!"
Uchiha Gen turned and studied the newcomer. The boy's silver hair stood out immediately, and though half his face was covered by a black mask, his sharp gray eye and calm composure were unmistakable.
So it's Hatake Kakashi…
It was the second time Uchiha Gen had seen him—the first being during the memorial for the Fourth Hokage.
Kakashi, of course, had noticed the persistent gaze from the start. At first, he ignored it. But when the staring didn't stop, he slowly turned his head, his single visible eye narrowing slightly.
Meeting that cool, unreadable gaze, Uchiha Gen simply smiled.
"It's an honor to meet you, Senior Kakashi. I've heard so much about you.
I'm Uchiha Gen, a fifth-year student at the Academy. Our teachers often mention you as the most talented prodigy the Academy has ever produced."
Kakashi didn't respond. His expression didn't change; his eye merely flicked toward Gen before returning forward, disinterested.
A moment later, Ayame returned, setting down a bowl.
"Here's your seafood ramen, Kakashi-kun."
"Thanks," Kakashi murmured, picking up his chopsticks. But before he could take a bite, he felt that same gaze on him again.
He glanced sideways. Uchiha Gen was still smiling politely.
"Senior, please—don't mind me," Gen said casually.
For a moment, their gazes locked—Kakashi's cold and probing, Gen's calm and unreadable. Then, without warning, Kakashi vanished.
The stool beside Uchiha Gen was suddenly empty.
Such speed… I couldn't even track him. As expected of Kakashi.
Keeping his face neutral, Uchiha Gen looked around in mock confusion.
"Huh? Where did Senior Kakashi go?"
Ayame poked her head out from behind the kitchen curtain. Seeing the untouched ramen, she frowned slightly.
"Kakashi-kun left already?"
A playful glint flickered in Gen's eyes. He could still sense Kakashi's chakra signature nearby—on a rooftop just outside the shop.
He smiled and said lightly, "Did Senior Kakashi not like your ramen, Ayame?"
"Don't say that!" Ayame puffed her cheeks. "He probably got called away for a mission!"
Uchiha Gen chuckled, pulling the bowl toward himself.
"Well, it'd be a shame to waste such a delicious-looking dish. I'll eat it on his behalf."
He took a mouthful and nodded appreciatively. "Mmm… perfect as always!"
---
Outside, on the rooftop opposite Ichiraku, Kakashi's single visible eye twitched.
He had clearly heard every word.
Another weirdo from the Uchiha… first Obito, now this one.
Inside, the sound of slurping noodles echoed cheerfully.
Kakashi sighed, exasperation showing for the first time in a long while. He'd been caught off guard—by a kid.
For once, the aloof Copy Ninja felt oddly… defeated.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Gen, sensing the faint ripple of irritation from the rooftop, smirked subtly.
He hadn't meant any harm—just a little teasing.
After all, knowing what kind of man Kakashi would grow into—cool, unreadable, yet secretly sentimental—it was hard to resist provoking that calm exterior just a bit.
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