Shimura Ken stumbled back two steps, staring at Uchiha Gen in disbelief.
Both his arms tingled with pain — in that brief exchange, he had thrown four punches in rapid succession, only for all of them to be caught and countered. Their fists had collided directly, with brute strength.
But unlike him, Uchiha Gen hadn't budged an inch.
Hatake Seiko, who stood at the side, blinked in shock. He hadn't expected Uchiha Gen to hold his ground, much less overpower Shimura Ken — a sixth-year student at the Academy, already known for his solid chakra control and physical training. Gen, a year younger, should've been completely outmatched.
Shimura Ken's expression twisted with anger as Gen gave him a faint, disdainful smirk.
"Everyone, attack together!" Ken barked, fury flaring in his eyes. "Let's teach this Uchiha brat a lesson!"
After a brief hesitation, the boys beside him shouted in agreement and charged in.
The riverside erupted into chaos — the sound of fists meeting flesh, the dull thud of kicks, the splash of water as bodies stumbled and rolled.
Moments later, the dust settled.
Shimura Ken and his group lay scattered across the ground, groaning in pain. Uchiha Gen stood at the center, his chest rising and falling — though that exhaustion was just an act. In truth, his stamina was barely touched.
"W-What did you do to me, you little—?!" Sarutobi Akagi, one of the fallen boys, shouted in panic. "My body… I can't move!"
Gen smirked. "You really should pay more attention in class, Akagi. I just struck a few of your tenketsu — chakra points."
Akagi blinked in confusion. Tenketsu? He didn't remember their instructors ever covering that… but then again, he'd spent most classes whispering jokes with Shimura Ken instead of listening.
Shimura Ken gritted his teeth, trying to rise, but his body refused to obey. The blow he'd taken to the chest still burned — Gen's punch had hit like a hammer, scattering the chakra he'd gathered mid-fight. His limbs felt heavy, his joints weak. He couldn't even form a seal.
"Hmph," Ken spat, glaring at Gen. "Others might fear the Uchiha, but I don't!"
Turning his head, he glared at Seiko. "Hatake brat, count yourself lucky today."
With that, a few of his followers helped him limp away from the riverside. As they left, he threw one last glare at Gen.
"Uchiha boy! This Lord will remember you!"
When the group disappeared, Hatake Seiko stepped closer, his expression a mix of gratitude and worry.
"Uchiha… thank you," he said quietly. "But now that Shimura Ken's after you, he won't let this go. He'll make trouble for you later."
Gen shrugged lightly, brushing dirt from his sleeve.
"Don't worry about it. I'm an Uchiha — a mere Shimura isn't worth my concern."
Then, with a faint grin, he added, "Besides, you don't owe me thanks. I just met Senior Kakashi earlier. He treated me to a bowl of ramen, so helping one of his clanmates felt right."
Seiko froze.
"Wait… you met Brother Kakashi?" he blurted out, disbelief written all over his face. "And he treated you to ramen?! That's impossible! You're lying!"
Gen laughed. "Why would I bother lying? Ask him yourself if you don't believe me."
Seiko's eyes widened further. Could it really be true? The idea of someone casually eating ramen with Hatake Kakashi — the famed prodigy of the clan — was hard to imagine.
Kakashi's name carried weight even among the older students. Many envied him, but those from the Hatake Clan admired him the most. For Seiko, Kakashi was a distant idol — the pride of their family, the genius who carried the clan's reputation alone.
But Kakashi was also cold and detached. Even at home, he kept to himself, constantly training and rarely speaking to his kin. For Seiko, the thought of sitting beside him, sharing a meal, felt like an unreachable dream.
As Gen turned to leave, Seiko suddenly called out, "Wait!"
Uchiha Gen paused, glancing back.
"Could I… ask you to guide me in Taijutsu?" Seiko asked earnestly, lowering his head.
Gen raised a brow. "You want me to train you? Why?"
Seiko clenched his fists. "Because you're strong. I want to be like that too. I'm tired of getting pushed around by people like Shimura Ken. Please, Uchiha — teach me!"
Then, without hesitation, he bowed deeply.
Gen's lips curved into a faint smile. His gaze softened, but his tone remained calm.
"…Alright."
---
Later, the two arrived at the Hatake Clan's compound — a small, peaceful territory on the outskirts of Konoha, with only a few dozen members but plenty of open space.
In the courtyard near a large training hall, Seiko took a stance.
"Uchiha, please instruct me!"
Gen nodded once. "Begin."
Seiko lunged forward, kicking off the ground with surprising speed. He leapt high and came down with a sharp flying kick aimed at Gen's chest.
Gen merely lifted a hand and caught his ankle midair, twisting lightly before tossing him aside.
Seiko rolled in the air, landing with a somersault and launching into a flurry of punches.
"Too slow," Gen said calmly, deflecting every strike with minimal effort.
"Faster. Your stance is too open. Don't rely on momentum alone."
He sidestepped another kick. "Your timing is off — body and chakra aren't in sync."
Seiko gritted his teeth, pushing harder, weaving in a few hand signs to supplement his movements with chakra.
"Better," Gen murmured approvingly. "That's closer. Keep that rhythm."
He remained unmoved throughout the exchange, casually blocking, redirecting, and correcting each attack with a tap or a flick. His tone was patient but sharp — every word a critique that cut deeper than any blow.
By the time Seiko's arms began trembling from exhaustion, Gen smiled faintly.
"Not bad. You've got a heart, Hatake. That's a start."
Seiko nodded breathlessly, his respect for the quiet Uchiha deepening by the minute.
For the first time, he understood why Kakashi had treated this boy differently.
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