The True Colors of a Scumbag

"Um... I think Genjutsu is just fine," Kurenai Yuhi hesitated. After all, this was her first time practicing actual Pokemon combat, and she was feeling a bit nervous.

"What do you mean 'fine'? That's only because you haven't experienced the benefits of real combat. You have to be brave enough to try new things. Trust me, would I ever lie to you?" Things had reached this critical juncture; could Uchiha Gen really let a cooked duck fly away? He had to strike while the iron was hot and take advantage of the girl's initiative to get things moving! Otherwise, who knew how long he'd have to wait for the next chance?

"Oh, alright then. Everything is in your hands, Gen-kun. I'll study hard! I'll strive to become a qualified Pokemon Master as soon as possible!" Kurenai Yuhi said, her face flushed with shyness, her eyes boldly darting toward Uchiha Gen.

The two of them spent the entire day shamelessly researching various Pokemon tactics and special moves. By the time evening arrived, Uchiha Gen emerged from the den of pleasure, looking slightly exhausted.

As for Uchiha Gen's departure, Kurenai Yuhi merely waved a hand, utterly drained. After all, she had been on the receiving end for the entire second half! Barely holding on until now was already her absolute limit.

Stepping out of Kurenai Yuhi's house and seeing the sun about to dip below the horizon, Uchiha Gen hurriedly grabbed a few takeout dinners from nearby shops and rushed toward home.

Evening, at Uchiha Gen's home.

"Where did you go? Why are you only just getting back?" Pakura asked casually. She had slept until the afternoon and vaguely remembered Uchiha Gen saying he would bring her lunch. When she woke up in the afternoon and he still hadn't returned, she assumed it had just been a dream.

"Oh, I had some things to take care of. Here is the dinner I brought you," Uchiha Gen said, changing the subject.

Pakura wasn't interested in Uchiha Gen's "things to take care of" at all. After all, as a native of Konoha, it was perfectly normal for Uchiha Gen to have all sorts of trivial matters to attend to. If she insisted on getting to the bottom of every little thing, life would be impossible.

"Keep this for a midnight snack! I just ate dinner at the Clan Head's house. A little brat named Itachi came by this afternoon and said his father wanted to invite you over as a guest, and also to meet me, an outsider who just joined the Uchiha clan. Since you weren't around, I went myself, which saved me from cooking. I didn't bring any food back for you, though—it wouldn't look good to eat and take food on my first visit," Pakura explained while putting the takeout into the fridge.

"It seems Clan Head Fugaku wanted to see what kind of person you are. They don't know you, so for the sake of the Uchiha clan's safety, that's understandable. As for inviting me, that was secondary; you were the main point. It doesn't matter if I go or not. From now on, just treat the Uchiha clan as your own family. Even though these guys don't show much of a friendly face to outsiders, they are actually quite good to their own," Uchiha Gen mused.

"Indeed, Lady Mikoto is a very nice person. Her cooking is delicious, and she speaks so kindly. She had even heard of my reputation in Sunagakure! But that guy named Fugaku always has a stiff face, like someone owes him money. I really don't know how Lady Mikoto could have taken a liking to a guy like that!" Pakura complained.

Ah? That guy Fugaku... well, one could say many people do owe him money. After all, ever since he got addicted to "pay-to-win" microtransactions, and thanks to the Welfare Lottery as a money-making venture, the Fugaku household was no longer short on cash.

Once he had money, his first priority was naturally to spend it. The problem was that the number of Uchiha clansmen was limited. Ever since Izanagi became available, everyone wanted to hoard their ocular power for emergencies. Consequently, the supply of people selling ocular power couldn't keep up with the demand.

The young Uchiha clansmen would deposit their ocular power with Uchiha Gen as soon as they had enough, but they wouldn't breathe a word about selling it to Fugaku. Since nobody was short on money anymore, if Uchiha Fugaku wanted to keep "paying to win," he had to constantly work on the older members of the clan.

In the last few days, he had even set his sights on some of the unruly minors! Relying on Uchiha Itachi's popularity, and with Itachi acting as a bridge, he had actually managed to trick a few of them.

It could be said that Fugaku now looked at everyone as if they were walking ocular power, and he felt that this power was being wasted by the clansmen. It would be better to sell it to him, a Mangekyo user, to maximize the benefits.

"Fugaku has been dealing with some things lately. It has nothing to do with you, and it's not directed at you. But his face has always been like that—you'll get used to it," Uchiha Gen explained casually.

"I've arranged to go shopping with Lady Mikoto tomorrow. Is there anything you want to eat? I'll pick some up while I'm out. I'm planning to learn some Konoha-style cooking from her!" Pakura chatted.

"Huh? Didn't you two just meet today? How are you already so close?" Uchiha Gen was curious. He had seen Uchiha Mikoto a few times; although she was dignified and gentle, her type didn't fit his aesthetic. Compared to Mikoto, he preferred someone with character like Pakura.

"Oh, I don't know, but we just hit it off. Plus, her youngest son is so cute! The little one named Sasuke—you've seen him, right?" Pakura clearly loved children; her eyes lit up when she mentioned Sasuke.

"If you like them, we can have one ourselves," Uchiha Gen said casually. They would have to have children sooner or later anyway.

"Oh, really? I thought you were still young and didn't want kids yet!" Pakura looked at Gen in surprise.

"How could that be? Children are a bit of a hassle, but we can just hire a nanny when the time comes. We have the means!" Uchiha Gen explained. Even though he found children troublesome, they were his own, after all. No matter how much of a hassle, he had to have them.

"I don't want a nanny! I want to raise my own child myself. That's how Mikoto does it, and she looks so happy! At worst, I'll just learn how to raise a child from her. With Sasuke as practice, I'll be well-prepared when our child is born!" Pakura countered his point and proposed.

"Fine, fine, we'll do it your way. It's getting late, I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. Leave the midnight snack in the fridge," Uchiha Gen said, preparing to grab his change of clothes.

"Gen, since you've agreed, there's no time like the present for having a baby. Let's start working on it now so the child can be born sooner!" Pakura looked at Uchiha Gen with a flushed face.

Ah! You've got to be kidding me? How many times has it been today?

"Pakura, are you sure you can handle this? Remember, you rested until this afternoon! Are you sure you'll have the energy to go shopping with Lady Mikoto tomorrow?" Uchiha Gen suggested, feeling a bit weak.