Mito Uzumaki

Because Uchiha Gen was so far ahead of everyone else, the entire Class A had suffered at his hands for a long time.

If anyone in Class A had the best chance of defeating Uchiha Gen, it was Minato Namikaze. As for the others, they didn't think they had any hope.

"Get ready. The match starts now!"

As soon as Ino Sarutobi finished speaking, Uchiha Gen and Minato Namikaze sprang into action at the same time.

One dodged while the other pursued. Both moved with incredible speed.

Watching the two chase each other around the field like they were playing, Ino Sarutobi silently gave them both perfect scores.

This wasn't the first time those two had done this.

At first, things had been fine. Minato Namikaze was a well-behaved boy who followed all of Ino's instructions enthusiastically, even when he already knew the material.

Then Uchiha Gen had said that ordinary sparring was boring, and everything changed...

His perfect student had "fallen from grace" because of it!

"Gen, class is over."

When the dismissal bell rang, Minato Namikaze walked over to Uchiha Gen and gently nudged him.

"Let's go."

Opening his eyes, Uchiha Gen's pupils glimmered with a golden light. He stood, stretched lightly, then turned and headed for the classroom door.

Over the past year, Uchiha Gen's cultivation of life force had advanced rapidly, seemingly because people in the Shinobi World had different physiques.

By now, Uchiha Gen could cultivate while walking, sitting, or lying down. Although it wasn't as effective as focusing entirely on refining qi, it had greatly improved his efficiency.

By the banks of the Naka River.

Over the past year, this place had practically become Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Gen's private training ground. Although Uchiha Gen had his own dedicated training area, he still preferred to practice by the river.

After all, the scenery was better here.

But today, someone else was here.

A woman with red hair and white robes stood quietly by the riverbank, silently watching the water flow past. She held a smooth stone in her hand.

"Huh? Gen, is she one of your clan members?"

Looking at the woman by the river, Minato Namikaze turned to Uchiha Gen, who was frowning, and asked curiously.

Red hair... It was beautiful. Didn't most members of the Uchiha Clan have black hair?

"No. Let's go to my training ground. Someone else has claimed this spot for today, so we shouldn't disturb her."

Looking at the red-haired woman ahead, Uchiha Gen shook his head slightly and turned to leave.

At this point in time, with that appearance, it was impossible not to guess who she was.

"Stay. This is where you train, isn't it? If anyone's disturbing anyone, it's me."

Before Uchiha Gen could turn around, the woman standing by the river suddenly spoke.

Her voice was gentle, yet carried an indescribable air of authority. It wasn't unpleasant; if anything, it made her seem approachable, like... a kind and familiar elder.

"No need, Lady Mito. Our training gets noisy, so we shouldn't disturb you."

Uchiha Gen shook his head slightly and replied respectfully.

As if! Aside from that old schemer underground, the person before him was practically the strongest in the Shinobi World. He had no interest in spending time with someone like her.

Besides, his surname was Uchiha, while the woman before him had taken the Senju name after marrying Hashirama Senju.

The Senju and the Uchiha were natural enemies.

"Lady Mito? Huh?!" Minato Namikaze immediately realized who she was and bowed respectfully. "My respects, Lady Mito!"

"What's wrong? Don't want to spend time with an old woman like me? If we're talking about noise, I'd actually be more interested in chatting with you two. When you get old, you're bound to enjoy a little liveliness."

Mito Uzumaki seemed not to notice Uchiha Gen's refusal. She smiled gently and spoke in a soft voice.

Uchiha Gen could only grit his teeth and stay seated nearby. Minato Namikaze immediately sat down right beside him.

"I've heard of you two. You're exceptionally talented children, the future of Konoha. You both seem to be doing very well."

Seeing them sit down, Mito Uzumaki smiled and sat not far from Uchiha Gen.

When Mito Uzumaki sat down, Ganghuo Uchiha, who was hiding nearby, nearly panicked. But an oppressive aura pressed down on him, leaving him completely unable to move.

"Lady Mito, you flatter us. There are many people in Konoha more talented than we are. We're hardly the future of Konoha."

Unlike Ganghuo Uchiha, who was overwhelmed with emotion, Uchiha Gen remained calm.

Although Mito Uzumaki now bore the Senju name, there was no way she would ever intend him harm. He had only wanted to leave because he simply didn't want to deal with the old woman.

The reason was simple: he couldn't outplay her.

"Do you know how to skip stones?"

Mito Uzumaki didn't seem to care about Uchiha Gen's answer. She simply raised the smooth stone in her hand and smiled at him.

"..."

Looking at the smooth stone in Mito Uzumaki's hand, Uchiha Gen felt a strange sense of disbelief.

Seriously, Hashirama Senju, how many people had you taught to play this ridiculous game?

"Like this."

Whether or not Uchiha Gen answered, Mito Uzumaki flicked her wrist and sent the smooth stone flying toward the river. Then...

Plunk~

It dropped straight into the water.

"..."

"..."

For a moment, the atmosphere turned awkward.

"Hey, young man, I'm a little thirsty. Could you get me some water? Warm would be best, but there's no hurry."

In the end, Mito Uzumaki was the one to speak. Skipping over Uchiha Gen, she looked at Minato Namikaze kindly and spoke softly.

"Ah? Sure, I'll go right away."

Minato Namikaze, who had been staring down at the grass and counting the blades in front of him, was startled by Mito Uzumaki's request. He glanced at Uchiha Gen, and only after Uchiha Gen nodded did he stand, bow to Mito Uzumaki, and leave.

"May I ask what Lady Mito wanted to speak to me about?"

Only after Minato Namikaze had disappeared from sight did Uchiha Gen turn to Mito Uzumaki and ask quietly.

He... had absolutely no idea what Mito Uzumaki was trying to do.

But the gap between their strength meant he couldn't afford to make even the slightest wrong move. It was an awful feeling.

"Some members of the Uzumaki Clan are born with an ability called the Mind's Eye of the Kagura. It lets them sense a person's chakra in its truest form."