A-Rank

"Besides, you've probably heard from Tsunade that I've been trying to improve Tobirama's techniques. But my understanding of space-time is far from profound.

"Over the years, since most of Tobirama's techniques were connected to Summoning Technique and Sealing Jutsu, I'd often tried to improve them in my spare time.

"But I'm no Tobirama, so there's very little I can improve. With the Flying Thunder God Technique, I only managed to optimize a few of the Sealing Jutsu formulas it incorporated.

"Unfortunately, after Tobirama became Hokage, he was too busy with official duties. Otherwise, the Flying Thunder God Technique could have become even stronger."

Mito Uzumaki spoke with regret. When it came to Senju Tobirama's talent for researching ninjutsu, she was certain that even ten of her couldn't compare to him.

"I understand."

Uchiha Gen nodded slightly. He was already slowly mastering Sealing Jutsu.

After all, he wanted to keep improving the Yin Seal and turn it into a second dantian, and understanding Sealing Jutsu was essential to that.

In a sense, Sealing Jutsu was the very foundation of the Shinobi World.

"Child, are you ready... to make your name known throughout the Shinobi World?"

Mito Uzumaki looked at Uchiha Gen with a smile in her eyes. In her vision, two familiar figures stood behind him, then overlapped and became the Uchiha Gen of the present.

One was someone she missed dearly. The other was someone she couldn't help but dislike.

As a war machine, Konoha moved swiftly. By the time the night had passed, the send-off ceremony was already organized.

Now, Konoha's streets were lined with its unruly residents, who cheered loudly as they saw the departing ninjas off, wishing them a victorious return.

Uchiha Gen and the other two were among the ranks, moving with the crowd toward the village gates.

They were headed for the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire.

"I really don't understand what my big sister is thinking, but whatever. Hey, blondie, stick close to me once we reach the battlefield. I'll protect you.

"And you—hmph. For Grandma's and my sister's sake, you'd better stick close to me too. I won't let anyone die in front of me while I'm defending the Senju's honor."

Not long after they left the village, Nawaki spoke to Minato Namikaze, then glanced at Uchiha Gen.

Minato Namikaze responded with a polite smile. Uchiha Gen simply ignored the idiot and kept walking, channeling chakra into the diamond-shaped mark on his forehead.

With Mito Uzumaki's help, Uchiha Gen had successfully formed the Yin Seal mark the previous night and was already able to slowly store chakra in it.

The space for storing chakra wasn't very large yet, but it would gradually grow as more chakra accumulated.

There was no denying it: when it came to Sealing Jutsu, Mito Uzumaki was undoubtedly the best in the Shinobi World at the time.

"You..."

Seeing Uchiha Gen ignore him again, Nawaki recalled how Tsunade had punched him flat the day before. Anger surged through him, and he reached out to grab Uchiha Gen by the shoulder.

But the moment he extended his hand, Nawaki's body stiffened. A golden thread had instantly wrapped around him.

Where the thread touched his skin, a bright red line appeared, showing just how sharp it was.

"Ignorance isn't what keeps a ninja from surviving. Arrogance is. If you can't change your attitude, then to spare some people the grief of mourning your death, I don't mind crippling you myself.

"Compared to death, I think they could accept you being crippled. War isn't some pointless ninja game."

The golden thread connected to Uchiha Gen's fingertips as his cold words rang in Nawaki's ears.

"When...?"

Nawaki stared in shock at the thread wrapped around him.

Although Nawaki was reckless and unsuited to being a ninja, that didn't mean he was a novice. On the contrary, with the Senju's legacy and Orochimaru's tutelage, he could certainly be called a "young genius."

And yet, even so, he hadn't realized when Uchiha Gen had made his move.

"Gen, he's still a comrade you'll have to work with in the future."

Minato Namikaze immediately tried to talk Uchiha Gen down. He only said it for show, though; he made no move to intervene.

[Defeated a C-Rank target. Obtained 1 draw from the C-Rank card pool.]

At the data notification, Uchiha Gen gave a slight twitch of his finger, and the golden thread wrapped around Nawaki disappeared.

As his Medical Ninjutsu improved, Uchiha Gen's mastery of the Golden Light Spell grew ever more proficient. He had become quite adept at Golden Light Materialization.

"..."

The instant Uchiha Gen withdrew the thread, Nawaki's legs gave way, and he slumped to the ground. Just then, he'd genuinely thought Uchiha Gen would kill him—or rather, cripple him.

"What's with this Uchiha, who's even younger than me? What was that golden thing...?"

Nawaki sat on the ground, staring in disbelief at Uchiha Gen, who had already walked far ahead. A passing Konoha Ninja immediately stepped forward to help him up.

"Gen, wasn't that a little harsh?"

Minato Namikaze scratched his head as he spoke.

"I thought it was just right."

"Ahaha, you think so?"

"..."

"..."

They continued onward in silence for a long time. Night fell, and the squad leader told everyone to make camp and rest. Minato Namikaze started a fire and sat before it, lost in thought. Beside him, Uchiha Gen closed his eyes to rest and practice his qi while letting his mind sink into Mist Space.

Mist Space.

Familiar cards of every color danced through the sky.

Looking up at the cards dancing overhead, Uchiha Gen snapped his fingers.

Snap!

As the sound rang out, all the cards in the air burst apart, sending countless shimmering lights swirling through the space.

Amid the dazzling light, a flash of purple quietly appeared.

An A-Rank card?!

Uchiha Gen had expected another C-Rank reward like the ones he'd drawn before, but his eyes lit up at the sight of that purple glow.

That idiot Nawaki was actually this useful?!

Expectantly, Uchiha Gen reached up and took down the card. A strange pattern made up of squares was printed on its surface.