Jiraiya

Under the "gaze of the masses," Uchiha Gen walked up and picked up several shuriken.

Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!

With a flick of his wrist, all five shuriken flew out simultaneously. Following a series of crisp sounds and five dull thuds as they bit into wood, the five shuriken were firmly embedded in the target.

What was most astonishing was that the five shuriken were arranged in a perfect parallel line, with the spacing between each one nearly identical.

"As expected."

Looking at the shuriken on the target, Ino Sarutobi nodded to himself in realization.

"Uchiha Gen, perfect score. Next, Shihi Aburame."

"So amazing!"

"As expected of Gen-kun! He really is incredible!"

"Hmph, it's just because he practiced beforehand. I'll be able to do that too, eventually."

"..."

As soon as Uchiha Gen's results were announced, the crowd began to whisper, but Uchiha Gen ignored them entirely.

After school, Uchiha Gen had just stepped out of the school gate.

"Classmate Gen! Please wait a moment!"

A gentle voice came from behind him. Uchiha Gen followed the sound and raised an eyebrow.

He saw a little blond boy standing to the side, looking rather shy. That already somewhat effeminate face, combined with his "bashful" posture, looked bizarre no matter how one viewed it.

Wait, brother? This isn't Chengdu!!!

"Is there something you need?"

Even though Minato Namikaze's current state was a bit strange, Uchiha Gen still asked.

For certain people, Uchiha Gen always had a bit more patience.

"That... could I ask you for advice on shuriken throwing and taijutsu training? I can treat you to ramen!"

Hearing Uchiha Gen's question, Minato Namikaze scratched his head and spoke with some embarrassment.

"..."

Ten minutes later.

Beside a river.

The shimmering river water, illuminated by the glow of the sunset, reflected the faces of two boys and the surrounding greenery.

On the banks of the Naka River.

This river, which ran through the love and hate between the Uchiha and Senju clans, and indeed the entire history of Konoha, now played host to two boys destined to add their own chapters to that history.

Clack!

"You're using too much force in your wrist. Your aim is correct, but you're wasting energy. Try again."

"Alright!"

Uchiha Gen squatted by the riverbank, watching the flowing water as he spoke softly.

Behind him, Minato Namikaze was practicing shuriken throwing at a wooden post using Uchiha Gen's specialized training kunai. Between the two of them, a campfire was burning, with four fish roasting nearby.

The Naka River basin was vast, and its upper reaches happened to be within the Uchiha clan grounds. Because he had only just started interacting with Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Gen hadn't brought him directly into the Uchiha compound, choosing this location near the clan's territory instead.

"Is this okay, Gen?"

After firing the shuriken in his hand at the wooden post again, Minato Namikaze looked at the five shuriken lined up in a row on the wood and turned to ask Uchiha Gen, who was practicing his qi, with a look of pleasant surprise.

"It's passable."

Opening his eyes to look at the post, a flash of surprise crossed the depths of Uchiha Gen's gaze.

Although he knew Minato Namikaze was a genius, he hadn't expected him to reach this level after only a few words of guidance, without even needing a demonstration.

"Oh no, the fish!"

A smile appeared on Minato Namikaze's face at Uchiha Gen's affirmation. Just as he was about to express his thanks, a burnt smell wafted over, and he immediately rushed to the campfire.

"It's fine, just the tail of one fish got too close to the fire and charred. The others are pretty good. Gen, the fish are ready."

After checking for a moment, Minato Namikaze picked up the fish he thought was grilled the best, handed it to Uchiha Gen, and smiled.

Uchiha Gen reached out and took it.

The taste could only be described as passable.

"That, Gen... I've been wanting to ask since we got here. Why were you willing to teach me shuriken throwing?"

Watching Uchiha Gen eat the fish seriously, Minato Namikaze suddenly asked with curiosity.

The people of the Uchiha... he had heard things about them.

"There's no reason. If I had to give you one, it's because you're one of the few people in that class who can barely be considered an opponent."

"Although you are weak right now, I feel you will improve quickly. The Ninja Academy is boring, and I want to find some amusement for myself."

Setting down the grilled fish in his hand, Uchiha Gen spoke softly.

Minato Namikaze used too little seasoning... the inside was tasteless after eating the crust.

"Uh... is that so?"

Hearing this, Minato Namikaze scratched his hair.

He truly did not know how to respond to Uchiha Gen's words; they were no different from a blanket insult, and if he agreed, he would appear far too arrogant.

"In the future, you can use this place as a training ground. It is close to the Uchiha compound, so no one usually comes here, but don't bring anyone else."

Standing up, he looked down at the leftover fish in his hand and then at the campfire. Ultimately, Uchiha Gen abandoned the idea of tossing the fish directly into the flames, instead taking the remains with him as he walked toward the Uchiha compound.

"Ah? Oh! Thank you, Gen."

Seeing Uchiha Gen leave, Minato Namikaze immediately stood up and thanked his retreating back.

"Gen... seems quite different from the Uchiha everyone talks about."

Watching Uchiha Gen's back, Minato Namikaze could not help but murmur to himself.

"Mm, indeed."

"?"

The sudden voice ringing in his ear startled Minato Namikaze, and he quickly turned his head to look.

He saw a white-haired... middle-aged man? with a nosebleed, currently squatting beside him and staring at the remaining grilled fish by the fire.

"As expected, as long as I run in the direction of the Uchiha compound, Tsunade won't chase me. I really am a genius. Hey, kid, this fish, hehe~"

Just as Minato Namikaze was wondering who this person was, the white-haired ninja suddenly spoke.

"Ah? Please, Ninja-sama, go ahead."

Upon seeing the forehead protector on Jiraiya's head, Minato Namikaze understood his identity and immediately spoke respectfully.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony! I haven't eaten a thing since I started gathering material. Sss—hot, hot, hot! Yo-ho, the taste isn't bad; it's much better than what that idiot Orochimaru grills."

Seeing Minato Namikaze agree, Jiraiya immediately reached out and took the grilled fish by the fire, taking a bite regardless of the heat.

"You are... Jiraiya-sama?!"

Watching Jiraiya eat the fish and connecting it with his words, Minato Namikaze immediately realized who the person before him was.

As a student of the Third Hokage, Minato Namikaze did not know what Jiraiya looked like, but he knew the name. Relying on what Jiraiya had just said, it was not difficult to deduce his identity.