Orochimaru Goes Shopping

Uchiha compound.

On the training ground, two figures were engaged in a fierce battle, fighting at a level far beyond what an ordinary chunin could reach.

Whoosh!

Kazue suddenly pulled out a large number of shuriken and hurled them out. At the same time, she rapidly retreated as a considerable amount of ocular power gathered in her left eye.

Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!

This was a Sharingan genjutsu that could make someone see the things they feared most.

"Useless. I have the Sharingan too. This kind of genjutsu can't affect me—"

The next moment, the Uchiha chunin froze. In his field of vision lay nothing but the bloody corpses of countless clan members.

Not good! I actually got caught—

The chunin tried to react, but unfortunately, it was already too late. Kazue heavily wounded him on the spot with a Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.

"That's enough. Well done." At the side, Uchiha Setsuna leaned on his cane and nodded in satisfaction.

"I am truly sorry. Lady Kazue is simply too strong. Those eyes of hers actually placed even someone as prepared as me under a genjutsu..."

The chunin struggled to his feet. Though his entire body was scorched, he still respectfully dropped to one knee before staggering away to receive treatment.

"...You worked hard."

Kazue smiled as she watched his retreating figure.

Setsuna said, "Kazue, the speed of your growth has exceeded my expectations. In just over a year, you have become one of the greatest geniuses in the clan. I am very pleased."

"Thank you, Elder. Serving the clan and displaying my talents—that is my value." Kazue smiled.

"..."

Setsuna watched Kazue turn to leave, then suddenly spoke. "Your spirits are low. No matter how hard you try to conceal it, the signs still show. You cannot hide them from these eyes of mine."

A pair of three-tomoe Sharingan emerged in Setsuna's eyes.

"Kazue, it seems you have run into some trouble. Did you quarrel with your companions? But the two of you have always gotten along well. Or perhaps... you have become lost regarding your future?"

Setsuna's gaze was exceptionally sharp. He had survived from the Second Hokage's administration all the way to the present.

More importantly, he, Setsuna, had inherited Madara Uchiha's will. He was the most radical member of the entire Uchiha clan.

"No, Elder. I merely feel that it is wonderful to be able to shine my own light in this era." Kazue gently tucked back her hair.

"I see. But the light of a firefly can never rival the sun. Kazue, you seem to have grown thinner than before, and your skin is deathly pale... If I am not mistaken, it is probably Kekkei Genkai disease?"

Setsuna stood calmly in place, his gaze deep as he watched the genius whose body had paused ever so slightly.

There was only endless calm on his aged face.

"Elder, you—"

"I told you long ago that you could not hide anything from these eyes of mine. Once every other possibility has been ruled out, the only thing obscuring your vision is this possibility."

Setsuna sighed.

So it really was Kekkei Genkai disease. It was something close to a curse, always haunting the ranks of geniuses like a ghost throughout the past thousand years.

It was not limited to the Uchiha clan. Such cases occasionally appeared among other ancient clans as well. The more monstrously gifted a young person was, the closer they came to this unsolvable curse.

"The more one excessively excavates the power of their bloodline, the more likely they are to trigger the curse within it. As for the principle behind this..." A flicker of doubt passed through Setsuna's eyes.

He could not see the reason behind it, but he had to keep Kazue alive.

For Kekkei Genkai disease to erupt at the age of ten was truly terrifying. By all normal reasoning, Kazue's talent should have been unmatched within the Uchiha clan.

Only...

"Only, Kazue, was your Kekkei Genkai disease truly caused by yourself alone? Was there no influence from any external factor?"

Setsuna stared down Kazue's stubborn gaze.

By this point, Setsuna had more or less understood.

Shiranui Genitsu's new Kekkei Genkai could allow someone judged by the clan to possess mediocre aptitude to rapidly grow to this degree...

And those somewhat unusual two-tomoe Sharingan...

Truly remarkable.

But it seemed the price was equally severe.

"Can your illness be cured? I can step in and seek out the finest medical ninja. Even Lady Tsunade may not be impossible."

"No, I have my own way. It should..."

Setsuna nodded slightly and said slowly, "So Genitsu has already noticed your illness... I may be old, but I still have my experience. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, come find me. Perhaps I may be able to help. Kazue, the entire Uchiha clan will always stand behind you. Remember that."

After saying this, Elder Setsuna turned and left.

Kazue watched Setsuna's almost completely unguarded back. After a brief pause, she resumed her training as though nothing had happened.

Even if her life was nearing its end, there were still things she had to do.

Genitsu left Kazue's house, considering finding time to establish a secret laboratory of his own.

"Oh, isn't this Kazue's companion? Want to try some of my char siu?"

"No, Uncle Hand-Burner. Next time for sure."

Genitsu replied with a smile.

In this era, biotechnology in the world of Naruto had only advanced to the cellular level. To carry out deeper research, truly sophisticated high-end equipment was still necessary.

As he pondered this, Genitsu also prepared to leave the Uchiha compound.

Then he smacked his forehead.

"Almost forgot—the Shadow Clone Technique!"

Poof!

Two shadow clones appeared and raced toward Obito's house in unison.

"Obito's grandma, we're here to take over again! We absolutely won't let anything happen to you!"

"Damn it..."

Faintly, the furious cursing of a certain adult seemed to drift over.

Genitsu pretended not to hear it. Everyone was already so familiar with one another that there was no need for formalities. Saying what was on one's mind every now and then was no problem.

After leaving the Uchiha compound, Genitsu headed straight for the food street. Rarely, he intended to spend some time relaxing.

"So lively. This is nice, but how many of these people will die in war over the next twenty years? Peace... what a luxurious dream."

Genitsu shook his head slightly.

Throughout the entire Naruto series, no one had yet found a truly practical path to peace.

Even after the Fourth Great Ninja War, after Kaguya was sealed, the so-called peace that had been created was merely the result of massive global population losses, allowing the sparse surviving population to enjoy abundant resources.

Mutual understanding between people? The prince's path would fail after one or two generations at most.

As for something like permanent peace, Genitsu had already come to understand it. He had a vague plan to seek his own path.

Suddenly.

"Hm?"

"?"

Their eyes met.

"Damn it, you bastard Genitsu! Why are you here?!"

Anko, who had just wolfed down a skewer of dumplings, instantly flew into a rage.

But Genitsu's attention had already shifted away from Anko, dressed in a kimono, and fallen upon the figure beside her.

Also dressed in a kimono... Orochimaru.

"So you are Genitsu-kun. What an excellent junior... We have finally met." Orochimaru extended his long tongue, curled the entire skewer of dumplings into his mouth, and spoke in a hoarse voice.