The Furious Child Genye

"Hiss, hiss, hiss. I was going to save this move for Minato, but you forced my hand, Genye."

The moment the huge coffin appeared, the tension vanished from Orochimaru's face, replaced by a smug grin.

"Come to think of it, I have you to thank for helping me master the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu so quickly, Genye!"

Orochimaru said, "Using it on you now can be considered my way of repaying you!"

"I helped you? What do you mean?" Genye asked, baffled.

"Hiss, hiss." Orochimaru smiled without answering.

If Genye's team hadn't discovered that immortal monster back then, and if Orochimaru hadn't had such excellent material to experiment on, he certainly wouldn't have mastered the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu so quickly.

Damn it, this is such a pain. From now on, cremate every Hokage who dies!

Genye cursed inwardly, then used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Orochimaru and chop viciously at his neck.

Whoosh!

But just then, a flash of silver streaked past like a bolt of lightning, slashing toward Genye's wrist in the blink of an eye.

So fast!

A chill pricked Genye's skin. He abandoned his attack at once and sprang backward, landing at a safe distance.

"That's...!"

A Root shinobi watching from the sidelines stared in shock.

Standing in front of Orochimaru was a stern-faced, middle-aged man, so handsome he was... uh, downright dazzling.

Silver hair, red eyes, a metal Forehead Protector, blue armor, a white fur collar...

"No doubt about it. That's the Second—Tobirama Senju!" another Root shinobi whispered.

"Orochimaru, you bastard! You even gave the Second Flying Thunder God Kunai!" Genye cursed.

"Hiss, hiss. Better safe than sorry, Genye," Orochimaru said with a grin. "I couldn't very well make the Second fight you or Minato barehanded."

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm: Collapse!"

Genye used the Body Flicker Technique to change position, then raised his hand and fired a burst of chakra behind Orochimaru.

"Water Style: Water Formation Wall."

Tobirama clapped his hands together, and a barrier of rushing water rose behind Orochimaru, easily blocking the incoming chakra.

Whoosh!

Genye used the Body Flicker Technique again, appearing beside Orochimaru. But before he could do anything, the expressionless Tobirama appeared right in front of him.

"Gentle Fist: Blast!"

Genye shouted, hoping his strongest strike would at least force Tobirama back for a moment.

"Senju Style: Chakra Fist."

The chakra inside Tobirama's body surged into his right fist. Blue chakra gathered around it in a torrent, and he slammed it into Genye's fist.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged more than a dozen blows in a flurry. In the end, Genye was the one forced back.

"Damn it!"

Genye's expression darkened. To be honest, the situation had slipped out of his control.

Tobirama would intercept him in close combat, while his long-range attacks couldn't get past Tobirama's defenses unless he went all out.

But he was afraid he might hit too hard and accidentally kill Orochimaru. (He wasn't Slippery Snake yet!)

This was so frustrating!

Pervy Sage, where the hell are you? Why aren't you here yet?!

How was he supposed to fight the Second again?

Just as Genye was trying to think of a plan, a voice rang out, faint and halting, drawing everyone's attention.

"I was... reincarnated through the Impure World...?"

It was Tobirama's voice!

Genye hurriedly looked over. Tobirama's cloudy eyes had cleared, and his expression had become more animated.

Tobirama was examining his own hands. All the words in his heart boiled down to one.

"Damn it, which idiot used my jutsu to screw me over?! You son of a—!"

What goes around comes around. No one escapes the heavens' justice.

Watching this, the Root shinobi felt a pang of sympathy. They figured they'd probably meet a horrible end themselves someday.

"As expected of the Second! He managed to break free of the restraints I placed on him and regain his thoughts!"

Orochimaru rested a hand on Tobirama and exclaimed in surprise.

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm: Collapse!"

Genye struck again, but Tobirama still instinctively raised his hand and swung his kunai, scattering the chakra blast headed for Orochimaru.

"Lord Tobirama, is there any way you can fight off his control?" After his attack failed, Genye asked rapidly.

"Of course not, Genye." Orochimaru clutched his stomach and laughed so hard he doubled over. "I was just messing with you! Hiss, hiss, hiss!"

As soon as Orochimaru finished speaking, the light in Tobirama's eyes dimmed. The next moment, both men vanished from where they stood.

Boom!

Genye's fist smashed into the spot where Orochimaru had disappeared. The earth and stones shattered, leaving a crater seven or eight meters across.

"Orochimaru, you're the first person who's ever dared to mess with me like that!"

Genye seemed expressionless, but he was gritting his back teeth so hard they nearly cracked.

He should have realized it. When Orochimaru placed his hand on Tobirama just now, he should have figured it out.

Since Orochimaru had everything prepared in advance, of course he would have hidden a Flying Thunder God Kunai somewhere safe in case he needed to make a quick escape.

"Gulp."

The Root shinobi glanced at the crater on the ground, then at Genye, who looked ready to explode. They quietly edged backward.

"Hmm?"

Genye glared at them, his face dark. "Did I say you could leave?"

The shinobi broke into a cold sweat. Their leader had no choice but to step forward and feign composure.

"Lord Genye, there's nothing left for us to do here. Why don't we head back? We still have plenty of missions at the branch..."

Crack.

As the Root shinobi watched in terror, Genye cracked his knuckles and approached them with a cold smile.

"Who said that? I've been looking for somewhere to vent. Why don't you stay and help me let off some steam?"

The Root shinobi's faces turned deathly pale.

"No, please! Yamete, Lord Genye!"

"Please stop! Dame! Dame!"

"Lord Danzo, you have to get justice for us!"

At Root, a shinobi whose eyes were swollen shut dropped to his knees in front of a pillar.

"That wretched Hyuga Genye!"

Looking at his subordinate, whose face was swollen like a pig's, Danzo shot to his feet and slammed the table, furious.

"He dares openly defy me? Does he think his strength means I can't deal with him?!"

After venting his impotent rage, Danzo looked at the four pigs... ahem, his four subordinates.

"Fine. Go rest and recover. Don't worry, I'll make sure Hyuga Genye pays for this!"

Konoha Hospital.

"Pervy Sage, what am I supposed to do with you?"

Genye looked at Jiraiya lying in his hospital bed and rolled his eyes so hard they nearly disappeared.

"You're one of the Sannin, and you almost got blown up by an Explosive Tag?! Everyone's going to laugh at you if word gets out!"

"Heh." Jiraiya chuckled sheepishly, sounding a little defensive. "The one who set the trap was one of the Sannin, too. It's only natural I got caught in it~"

Nearby, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a young nurse's hand and asked gravely, "How is he, miss? Is Jiraiya finished?"

Ever since Genye's incident, Hiruzen had developed a strange fixation on the word "finished." Whenever anyone was admitted to the hospital, he had to ask if they were finished or not.

The nurse was used to this. She pulled her hand from Hiruzen's and answered expressionlessly.

"Lord Jiraiya's injuries are serious. It may take several months for him to recover completely."

"Oh, so he isn't finished..." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, sounding a little disappointed.

Jiraiya: "???"

You old geezer, I'm lying right next to you! Are you seriously hoping I'll be finished?!

Jiraiya needed to recover in the hospital, so he wouldn't be going anywhere for a while. Genye, meanwhile, naturally went back to enjoying himself in Konoha.

He'd been away for quite a while. After finally making it back to the village, he had to spend some quality time with Obito, Guy...

Ahem, spend some quality time with Kurenai, Mei, and the others!

A few months later, at the end of Konoha's fiftieth year, another major event took place.

The Land of Lightning sent a delegation to pay Konoha a friendly return visit—or so they claimed, at least.

[Good night, Makkabaka~~]