Encountering Kakashi

'If Senju Gen can't block the next few moves, he's going to lose.'

Uchiha Yuan watched the two figures flickering rapidly in the arena and thought to himself. He had already noticed that Senju Gen was starting to fall into a disadvantage.

Through observation, Uchiha Shinsuke's attacks were swift and agile, while Senju Gen's Taijutsu focused more on power.

In other words, Uchiha's Taijutsu excelled at quick attacks, following a speed-oriented style; while Senju's Taijutsu emphasized power, resilience, and endurance, excelling in prolonged battles.

Uchiha Yuan had noticed that in their exchange, Uchiha Shinsuke had landed three punches on Senju Gen, in return for one punch from Senju Gen.

"Bang... Bang..."

After a series of heavy collisions, Uchiha Shinsuke and Senju Gen suddenly separated.

Then, Uchiha Shinsuke executed an agile backflip in mid-air and landed steadily, while Senju Gen retreated seven or eight steps backward before stabilizing himself.

Watching the two, the surrounding crowd murmured, wondering who had won.

Senju Gen rubbed his chest, a hearty smile on his face, and then formed a hand seal for reconciliation, saying, "I lost."

At the last moment, Uchiha Shinsuke's movements suddenly accelerated, breaking through his defense, and three consecutive punches landed on his chest almost simultaneously.

"Senju Gen, you are very strong."

Seeing Senju Gen concede, Uchiha Shinsuke did not display the arrogant and mocking expression he usually had after defeating an opponent. Instead, he returned a hand seal for reconciliation with a solemn expression.

Afterward, with no one else stepping up to challenge, the gathered crowd dispersed.

Just before the next class was about to begin, as Uchiha Yuan returned to the classroom door, he encountered Senju Gen walking from the other direction in the hallway.

"Yuan-kun."

"Classmate Senju."

Senju Gen paused, his gaze meeting Uchiha Yuan's for a few seconds; then, he smiled, nodded, and walked into the classroom.

Uchiha Yuan noticed a fine layer of sweat covering Senju Gen's forehead, indicating that he had likely been training alone after the spar.

After school.

Uchiha Yuan walked out of the Ninja Academy gate, surrounded by classmates heading home in small groups, chatting and laughing.

At this moment, he felt a bit hungry, so he changed direction and headed towards the village's commercial street.

Near the entrance of the commercial street, Uchiha Yuan walked into Ichiraku Ramen.

"One large Tonkotsu Ramen, please."

"Ah, it's Yuan-kun. Please wait a moment," the owner, Ichiraku, said with a smile.

In a moment, a girl about Uchiha Yuan's age brought a bowl of Pork Chop Ramen to his front.

"Yuan, here's your ramen."

"Thank you, Ayame."

Uchiha Yuan picked up his chopsticks, about to start eating, when the curtain of the ramen shop was pulled open, and a figure sat down in the seat next to him.

Then, a cold, dispirited voice sounded.

"One Seafood Ramen, extra fish balls, thank you."

Uchiha Yuan noticed Ayame, who was standing behind the counter, show a look of joy. He couldn't help but turn his head to look beside him.

He saw that the newcomer was a boy with silver-white hair. Although he covered half his face with a black mask, it was still easy to see that he was a handsome boy.

"Okay, Kakashi, please wait a moment," Ayame said, then quickly ran into the back of the ramen shop.

It was Kakashi.

Uchiha Yuan's gaze directly appraised Kakashi from head to toe. This was the second time he had seen Kakashi since the Fourth Hokage's memorial service.

Kakashi had noticed Uchiha Yuan's gaze from the start and didn't want to pay attention. However, he didn't expect the other's gaze to remain fixed on him without moving.

He couldn't help but turn his head and look at Uchiha Yuan without a word.

Meeting Kakashi's cold, emotionless gaze, which was like a stagnant pool of dead water, Uchiha Yuan smiled slightly and said, "What luck to run into Senior Kakashi today. I've long admired your great name.

I'm a fifth-year student at the Ninja Academy, named Uchiha Yuan.

At the Ninja Academy, I've always heard the teachers mention you, saying you are the most outstanding genius since the founding of the Ninja Academy."

Hearing Uchiha Yuan's words, Kakashi's eyes showed no change. He merely glanced at Uchiha Yuan before looking away.

At this moment, light footsteps approached, and Ayame brought over a bowl of Seafood Ramen.

"Kakashi, here's your noodles."

Kakashi took the ramen, silently unwrapped his chopsticks, and prepared to eat.

Then, his movements suddenly stopped because Uchiha Yuan was still looking at him.

Seeing Kakashi's cold gaze turn back to him, Uchiha Yuan simply showed a humble smile, "Senior, please make yourself comfortable."

Kakashi and Uchiha Yuan stared at each other, the coldness in Kakashi's eyes growing stronger.

But Uchiha Yuan's smile never changed, as if he was completely oblivious, not understanding the rejection in his eyes. He met Kakashi's gaze with a composed expression.

Swish!

The next second, Uchiha Yuan felt his vision blur. Kakashi's figure suddenly disappeared.

Such speed, I can't even see clearly. As expected of Kakashi, he's truly strong.

Uchiha Yuan was secretly startled, but his face showed a confused expression. He quickly got up and looked around the ramen shop.

"Huh? Where did Kakashi-senpai go?"

Hearing this, Ayame poked her head out from behind a curtain. Seeing that the Seafood Ramen on the table hadn't been touched, her face showed disappointment.

Ayame asked, "Did Kakashi-kun leave?"

"Yeah, senpai just suddenly disappeared."

A hint of playfulness flashed in Uchiha Yuan's eyes. He sensed Kakashi's presence nearby the Ichiraku Ramen shop.

So he said to Ayame, "Does Kakashi-senpai dislike the Seafood Ramen you prepared? Look, he didn't even eat a bite. That's really rude. Next time I see him, I must scold Kakashi-senpai."

At the same time, in Uchiha Yuan's perception, Kakashi's aura fluctuated slightly.

Clearly, Uchiha Yuan's words had stirred Kakashi's previously still, dead-water-like heart.

Ayame wrinkled her nose and said unhappily, "Yuan-kun, don't talk nonsense. Kakashi-kun must have suddenly received a mission."

Uchiha Yuan reached out and brought the richly garnished Seafood Ramen in front of him, saying, "Since Kakashi-senpai has left, this bowl of Seafood Ramen prepared by Ayame shouldn't go to waste. How about I finish it on behalf of Kakashi-senpai?"

With that, he picked up a mouthful of noodles with his chopsticks and ate it, then praised, "This is truly delicious! The texture, the broth, it seems even more flavorful than the Seafood Ramen I've had before. Ayame, you must have put a lot of effort into this bowl of ramen.

It's truly a shame Kakashi-senpai missed out."

Ayame said with some dejection, "Thank you for the compliment, Yuan-kun."

Outside the Ichiraku Ramen shop, Kakashi, standing on a rooftop, heard Uchiha Yuan's words. His indifferent expression could no longer be maintained. His dead-fish eyes, devoid of emotion, showed a very displeased expression.

Besides that idiot Obito, has another strange guy emerged from the Uchiha clan?