A week later, at Hyuga Genya's house.
Guy leaped down from the courtyard wall and casually strolled into Genya's room.
Seeing Genya lounging on his bed and reading, Guy said softly, "Thank you, Genya."
Genya glanced at Guy, looking puzzled. "Why are you thanking me all of a sudden? What's that about?"
With that, he went back to his book and ignored Guy, feeling thoroughly depressed.
How annoying!
Obito put on a mask and the whole world failed to recognize him. Why was it like Genya wasn't wearing a mask at all whenever he put his on?
What the hell was the logic behind that?!
...Could that logic be applied to the noble pursuit of bringing joy to humanity?
"Genya, that punch of yours was so cool. Could you teach it to me?"
When Genya ignored him, Guy plopped down beside him and stared at him with shining eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Genya said, eyes fixed on the book in his hands.
"I mean your move, Tender Feelings Like Water Long Flowing Heartless Fist!"
Guy swung his fists, brimming with excitement. "Just hearing the name makes it sound so youthful!"
Genya: "..."
I'm tired. Let it all burn.
After Guy pestered him for several months, Genya finally taught him the double-force technique, though he flatly denied being Kamen Rider.
Honestly, Genya hadn't expected the force-generation method used in the Gentle Fist to actually work with Guy's Taijutsu.
All he could say was that Guy was born for Taijutsu.
"Ah, I can finally enjoy some peace and quiet again." Genya lay on his bed, happily reading Jiraiya's new book.
Just as he reached an exciting part and couldn't resist reaching for some paper, someone pounded on his flimsy front door.
"Genya, Genya, open up! I've got good news for you!"
Genya: (艹皿艹)
He opened the door. Obito came skipping in, swaying his hands and shaking his hips, lurching from side to side with an obnoxious grin.
Smack!
Genya slapped Obito on the butt and said irritably, "Quit acting like an idiot. What's the good news?"
"Yikes—"
Obito sucked in a breath, rubbing his backside as he complained, "Genya, you hit way too hard! Even Kakashi's never hit me that hard!"
Genya gave Obito a sidelong glance. "So Kakashi hits you on the butt pretty often, too?"
"Ahem, that's beside the point." Obito coughed twice and changed the subject. "I came to tell you some good news."
"Minato-sensei is going to become the Fourth Hokage!"
Genya glanced at the calendar.
Early in Konoha Year 48. Hmm, that seemed to line up with the original story. But the problem was...
"What does Namikaze Minato becoming Hokage have to do with me, Hyuga Genya?" Genya retorted irritably.
"Think about it, Genya," Obito hurried to explain. "Once Minato-sensei becomes Hokage, we can ask him to back you up. Then the Hyuga Main Family won't dare do anything to you!"
"Thanks, but no thanks. Give it a rest," Genya said, rolling his eyes.
Never mind why Namikaze Minato would help him.
That blond guy was just a puppet Sarutobi Hiruzen had put in power. He had no authority at all right now. What good would asking him do?
"Ah, I thought I could help you." Seeing that Genya wasn't interested, Obito looked a little dejected.
"Forget that for now, Obito." Genya patted Obito on the shoulder, his expression serious. "Since you're here, I've got an important question for you."
"Huh?" Obito was taken aback. Seeing how serious Genya was, he nodded solemnly. "All right. Ask away."
"Then here goes." Genya took a step forward, looked Obito straight in the eye, and asked with complete seriousness, "Do you... have feelings for me?"
"Huh?" With Genya so close, Obito panicked, his heart pounding.
Why is Genya suddenly asking me that? Could it be that he...?!
Obito: o(*///▽///*)q
Genya: Σ(`д′*ノ)ノ
"Holy crap, why's your face red as a teapot?" Genya hurriedly backed away from Obito in alarm.
"Then why'd you ask me such a weird question?!" Obito yelled.
Obviously, it's so I can copy you. I haven't used any of my five chances this year. Genya pursed his lips.
Seeing Obito's reaction, Genya figured he'd definitely copy something good this time.
He calmed Obito down, then opened the system interface and thought, "System, give me three copies!"
[Here comes good luck, wishing you all the best~~~] With the lottery music playing, the system interface began to scroll. [Ding! Congratulations, host. You copied the skill "Uchiha Maniacal Laughter"!] Genya: "???" [Congratulations, host. You copied the skill "Uchiha Body Slam"!] Genya: "!!!" [Congratulations, host. You copied the skill "Uchiha Bragging"!] Genya: "..."
What the hell were these supposed to be? Genya couldn't even bring himself to complain. Honestly, did he really need to copy these skills?
He could already do them himself!
"System, give me one more draw!" Genya scowled, deciding to give Obito one last chance.
If he still didn't get anything good, he'd dig a hole in the backyard and bury Obito in it!
The system interface began to scroll again.
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You copied the Kekkei Genkai "Sharingan"!] [Congratulations, host. You obtained one Bloodline Puzzle fragment. Complete the Bloodline Puzzle to enter the next stage!]
Finally, a good one!
Genya wiped the nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"All right, Obito, you can go now. Bye-bye!"
Genya opened the door, pushed Obito outside, and shut it again, all in one smooth motion.
"Hey, Genya! Are you messing with me?!"
Obito stood outside the door, baffled. "You told me to hang out at your place a little longer, didn't you? I haven't even warmed the seat yet!"
Genya ignored Obito and went straight back inside. Rubbing his chin, he began to analyze things.
"Looks like my earlier guess was right. What they call 'returning to the source' must be the process of one's bloodline drawing closer to the Ōtsutsuki."
"If that's the case, then to complete the Bloodline Puzzle, I might need to copy every Kekkei Genkai connected to the Ōtsutsuki Clan?"
...What a hassle!
Genya rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on. Outside, Obito was still shouting.
"Konoha Year 48..." Genya glanced at the calendar again, his mind wandering a little.
In the original story, Uchiha Madara rescued Obito after the Battle of Kannabi Bridge. After being manipulated by him, Obito returned to Konoha and unleashed the Nine-Tails Incident.
Now that Genya had changed the story and saved Obito, the Nine-Tails Incident that was supposed to happen this year probably wouldn't happen, right?
At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass.
Beneath a desolate stretch of land, far from any sign of human life, lay a vast, dim underground palace.
There was no light, no sound. A deathly silence blanketed everything.
No one knew how much time passed before a dark humanoid creature dropped down from the surface, breaking the long-standing silence in the palace.
"Lord Madara, the Zetsu found one of your clansmen on the battlefield. She's still barely breathing, and she's a young girl who has awakened the Three Tomoe."
"...Oh?"
A crimson glint appeared in the darkness. Atop a raised platform, an old white-haired man seated on a throne slowly opened his eyes.
He was clearly a frail old man on the verge of death, yet his gaze was terrifyingly sharp, filled with an aloofness and indifference that looked down upon the world.
He was the legendary demon who had once shaken the Shinobi World and unleashed countless storms of bloodshed!
The only battlefield rose who could dance alongside Senju Hashirama—Uchiha Madara!
"Does this child... still have any family?" Madara hadn't spoken in a long time, and his voice sounded a little rusty.
"Reporting to Lord Madara, the child's parents and teacher all died in this war."
Black Zetsu bent forward and answered respectfully. "But she seems to have a childhood friend who's also fighting on the front lines."
"Oh?"
Madara raised an eyebrow and leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful.
"Looks like it'll take a little effort to get this child to help me create the dream world."
Before you continue