Still a Good Thing?

The life-and-energy cultivation brought by the Golden Light Spell was, in some ways, a little similar to Yin-Yang Release in the Shinobi World, yet in other ways seemed completely opposite.

After discovering that improving his life-and-energy cultivation could drive his Sharingan's evolution, Uchiha Gen was thrilled.

After all, as an Uchiha, he couldn't help wanting to see his Sharingan evolve.

Besides, looking cool was a lifelong pursuit.

Who wouldn't want to pilot a giant robot, charge in like a truck, then declare, "We're all doing our best to live," right?

He just didn't know whether reaching a certain level of cultivation would let him avoid the blindness caused by the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Uchiha Gen... didn't have any blood relatives.

Ever since Uchiha Gen had fully mastered his Remembrance, he had been raised alone by an ordinary old man arranged by the clan. As for his parents...

They had supposedly died together on a mission. Uchiha Gen didn't feel much about it.

Being an orphan was perfectly normal in the world of Naruto. After all, four people could barely make up a pair of parents, right, Team 7?

He casually set the scroll aside and closed his eyes again. Beneath his clothes, a faint golden light flowed.

Ever since mastering the Golden Light Spell, Uchiha Gen had rarely slept. He spent nearly all his time improving his life-and-energy cultivation.

After all, this was the Shinobi World.

There was never enough time.

The next day.

During lunch break at the Ninja Academy.

Uchiha Gen ate the bento that a member of the Uchiha clan had specially delivered to him.

After last night, Uchiha Setsuna had rearranged every aspect of Uchiha Gen's life, from what he ate and wore to where he lived. Since Uchiha Gen's original home didn't have a private training ground, Uchiha Setsuna had arranged for someone to tell him that morning that he'd found him a new place to live.

He'd also told Uchiha Gen not to worry about daily chores, since he'd arrange for people to take care of everything. The bento Uchiha Gen was holding now was one example of that.

The bento tasted great, but...

Uchiha Gen ate, his expression helpless.

In the end, unable to eat under so many watchful eyes, Uchiha Gen looked up at all the little girls gathered not far from him, staring at him with stars in their eyes.

Facing their gazes, Uchiha Gen's mouth twitched.

Even if children in the Shinobi World matured early, they were still just children at heart.

Looking at all these kids staring at him, Uchiha Gen couldn't understand people who crossed into another world and immediately started flirting with children.

Even the most respectable version of grooming was still creepy, wasn't it?

He didn't understand. He didn't respect it.

Uchiha Gen closed his bento box, stood up, and flashed past the circle of girls around him, heading out of the classroom.

But as soon as he stepped outside, he saw a rather interesting sight. Two people who looked exactly alike except for their clothes were tugging at each other nearby.

"Brother, please calm down! Uchiha Gen might be strong enough to beat even you. I don't mind being embarrassed and punished, but if you get involved...

"If you lose, the clan elders will never accept it. Then... then they'll be even stricter with you, and even Father will surely..."

"Besides, you can't be doing this on behalf of the clan. If Father finds out you came looking for a fight with Uchiha Gen, you'll definitely be punished."

Hizashi Hyuga clutched his brother's sleeve, his face full of anxiety.

At first, he'd thought his brother had only come to see what life at the academy was like. After all, as the young heir of the Hyuga Main Family, Hyuga Hiashi didn't need to attend the Ninja Academy.

The clan's finest elite jonin taught him personally.

But when Hyuga Hiashi said he'd come to find Uchiha Gen, Hizashi Hyuga panicked.

Having fought Uchiha Gen himself, he knew exactly what kind of monster he was. One slap... just one slap had left him unable to fight.

That kind of strength, in Hizashi Hyuga's eyes, was nothing like what a normal child should have.

And since Hizashi Hyuga sparred with Hyuga Hiashi every day, he knew his brother's strength very well.

Hyuga Hiashi couldn't possibly be a match for Uchiha Gen. At the very least, Hyuga Hiashi couldn't knock someone out of the fight with one move.

The thought of his brother being humiliated after he'd already been embarrassed himself...

"Enough! Hizashi, I'm the same age as you. Even if I fight him, it won't be bullying someone younger. You don't need to use that excuse to hold me back.

"The elders have said that, with my current strength, I'll soon catch up to the Uchiha heir if I'm given time. I've already mastered the Gentle Fist. How could I lose to someone my age?

"That clan crest... Is he the Uchiha who beat you yesterday? I'm going to talk to him."

Hyuga Hiashi forcefully pulled his sleeve from Hizashi's grasp and spoke in a low, expressionless voice.

He had indeed come to the Ninja Academy today on his own. But so what?

Whenever he pictured Hizashi suffering under the Caged Bird Seal last night, the anger in Hyuga Hiashi's heart refused to subside.

The Caged Bird was a rule established by the clan, and he couldn't oppose it. But he could go after the culprit who had injured his younger brother.

Wasn't standing up for his brother part of his responsibility as an older brother?

He'd heard about Uchiha Gen's record, of course. But so what?

He, Hyuga Hiashi, believed himself inferior to no one his age. His rivals had always been people like Uchiha Fugaku.

"?"

Uchiha Gen had just stepped out of the classroom and heard everything Hyuga Hiashi had said. He was momentarily stunned, then a smile spread across his face.

Now that was a pleasant surprise.

"You're Uchiha Gen? You..."

As the smile spread, Hyuga Hiashi's voice drew closer. Nearby, Hizashi Hyuga covered his face with his hands. There was clearly no stopping his brother now.

"Enough, no need for all the talking. My time is valuable. This won't take long, so there's no need to go to the training ground. Let's do this here."

Looking at Hyuga Hiashi, who was glaring at him with a grim expression, Uchiha Gen raised a hand to cut him off, then beckoned him over with a slight curl of his fingers.