Uchiha Gen sat cross-legged at his desk, the scratch of his pen the only sound in the quiet room. He was cataloging his assets. When it came to Katon, he was on solid ground. In the Uchiha clan, fire was not just a nature transformation; it was a birthright. Having mastered the Gōkakyū no Jutsu, the entry-level requirements for other fire techniques felt like second nature.
He placed three specific items at the top of his priority list: a C-rank Fūton: Reppūshō scroll, the Nehan Shōjō no Jutsu, and a weathered booklet titled:
Uchiha Style Swordsmanship: Volume One Compiled in the 14th Year of Konoha.
This volume, organized by Uchiha Kagami based on the legendary foundations laid by Uchiha Izuna, was designed for those who had not yet awakened the Sharingan. It was a primer on lethal efficiency. While the later volumes relied on the supernatural insight of the scarlet eyes, Volume One was a masterclass in pure physical mechanics. It was a combat system proven through a century of warring states sufficient to carry a ninja all the way to the rank of jōnin.
Gen knew that true powerhouses weren't "hexagon warriors" by accident; they simply ensured they had no fatal flaws.
His gaze shifted to a green Skill Learning Card. He wouldn't waste it on basic C-rank techniques. He wasn't a generational prodigy like Itachi, who could master the Gōkakyū after a single glance at age five, nor was he like Sasuke. Gen considered his own talent "upper-middle" enough to reach jōnin with hard work, but he had only surpassed geniuses like Nara Shikaku by leveraging the system's rewards.
He needed a niche. Medical ninjutsu was out; in this era, the Sannin hadn't even earned their titles yet, and Tsunade had not yet revolutionized the medical system. Sealing was too slow to show results. That left space-time and sensing.
"I'll test my affinity for space-time first," Gen mused. "If I fail, I'll use the card. If I succeed, I'll save the card for sensing."
He unrolled a black scroll, bit his index finger, and smeared his blood across the paper. This was a contract with a murder of ninja crows.
Boar—Dog—Bird—Monkey—Ram.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
Puff!
A cloud of white smoke erupted. A dozen crows burst into the room, their rhythmic cawing filling the space. The lead crow, its feathers shimmering like polished obsidian, landed firmly on Gen's outstretched arm. He smiled, pulling a bag of dried meat from his drawer to feed them. The connection was there. He had the affinity.
With the space-time test a success, he turned to the final scroll: Chakra Kanchi no Jutsu.
[Skill Learning Card (Green) used!]
A day of intense mental strain followed. By the next morning, Gen had reached the entry level. His sensory "radar" now extended roughly fifteen meters a modest start, but a life-saving one.
The morning sun began to bleed over the horizon. Gen organized his gear, pinned his new ninja license to his vest, and headed toward the Academy.
Ninja ID: 005486.
He wasn't there for classes. Today was the day the new genin would meet the men and women who would shape their futures. The courtyard was buzzing with nervous energy. Fusō, the proctor, stepped forward with a clipboard, his voice projecting over the crowd.
"Team 1: Akimichi Chōza, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi. Instructor jōnin: Sarutobi Biwako."
"Team 2: Aburame Shibi, Uchiha Inabi, Kazematsuri Sanae. Instructor jōnin: Inuzuka Agito."
Gen waited, his heart thumping against his ribs. Finally, the names were called.
"Team 7: Enju Sarutobi, Uchiha Gen, Uzuki Ruri. Instructor jōnin: Orochimaru."
Gen froze. Orochimaru? He scanned his new teammates. Enju Sarutobi was busy grinning like an idiot at Uzuki Ruri, completely oblivious to the gravity of their appointment. Gen's mind raced. In the history he knew, Orochimaru only had two notable disciples: the ill-fated Nawaki and the yet-to-be-born Anko.
The butterfly effect had begun. He was now a student of the Serpent.