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"Lord Gen! You've returned in triumph once again!"
"Yeah, Saji, has that arm of yours healed up completely?"
"Thanks to you, when I swing my blade to hack down Kumogakure ninja, this arm of mine is just as nimble as it ever was!"
"I wonder if I can join Lord Gen's squad; I hear their battle achievements are the most numerous of all."
"Forget it, to get into Lord Gen's squad, you either need to be a jonin or have some special skill. You're still far from ready."
"The battle achievements are numerous because Lord Gen has constantly been leading the team on high-difficulty missions, with practically no rest time. Only true veterans hardened by a hundred battles are qualified to follow Lord Gen."
At the camp entrance, Uchiha Gen, having returned from a mission, led his squad to exchange greetings with some ninja gathered nearby to rest. Amidst a flurry of discussions, he dismissed the squad, returned to his personal quarters, and along the way received a family letter from the clan sent by Uchiha Saji's messenger.
Now, another year had passed, and Uchiha Gen's height had shot up to one hundred and seventy centimeters, showing little difference from a normal adult ninja.
Though his face still retained a hint of boyhood, it carried a maturity beyond his years, and his gaze exuded the fierce aura born from tempering on countless battlefields of blood and fire.
His hair, unkempt for over half a year, had now undergone a light wash and was tied into a ponytail at the back with a rubber band. A few sparse strands hung down over his forehead, which, paired with his spirited face and a demeanor as sharp as a quenched blade, made him look rugged yet handsome.
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