The reason Kekkei Genkai bore that name was because such special bloodlines were only passed down among blood relatives. Yet Uchiha Gen said he had actually learned one!
"Gen! This isn't something to joke about."
"Big Brother, I'm not joking."
To prove it, Uchiha Gen raised his hand and slowly condensed a block of ice, tossing it onto the table. Madara immediately grabbed it and carefully felt it over. It was undeniably ice.
"Big Brother, let me touch it too!"
"..."
After the heavy snow, there was unmelted ice everywhere outside, but the block on the table was uniquely special. Izuna happily played with it after getting his hands on it.
"No one is allowed to spread word of this. It's far too dangerous and could easily bring disaster."
Madara's expression was grave. This matter was simply too unbelievable. If outsiders learned that someone could acquire his family's Kekkei Genkai, then...
"Got it, Big Brother. I definitely won't use it unless absolutely necessary."
"Mm. Since you can learn Ice Release, then the others..."
"I should be able to learn them too, but I need actual samples for reference."
The moment Madara heard that, a bold idea rose in his mind.
"What medium do you need?"
"The other person's blood would be best. Fresh blood."
"Good."
Uchiha Gen had no idea why Madara was asking, and after the three brothers chatted about a few other matters, they returned home. There would be a clan meeting that evening, so he needed to change into something more formal.
Telling the two of them about his ability to fuse bloodlines had been a carefully considered decision. When Uchiha Gen saw Izuna today, he remembered something important—something concerning the Eternal Eye.
"Uchiha Izuna... seemed to have never been brought back with Impure World Reincarnation!"
As a Mangekyō Sharingan user, Izuna had been among the strongest fighters of the Warring States Era. Yet he had seemingly become a mere background character, with no news of him at all later on. Thinking about it now, there was a high chance Madara had cremated his body!
"Or... should I get some samples now and try to awaken the Eternal Eye?"
But... the prerequisite for awakening the Eternal Eye was to develop the Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular power to perfection. Uchiha Gen had barely used his Mangekyō Sharingan. Though he could now activate Susanoo, he was nowhere near reaching its complete form.
"There's still time. I should fuse more bloodlines first. Don't rush... don't rush."
When he opened the door, the house looked the same as ever. The floor had been polished to a shine, and the air carried a natural freshness that made him feel utterly at ease.
"Haru, I'm back."
"Meow~"
"Oh? Little Kuro has put on quite a bit of weight, huh?"
Upon hearing Uchiha Gen's voice, Little Kuro immediately ran out of Haru's room to inspect him. She had not seen her master for some time and had missed him quite a bit.
"Meow~"
"Haha, good girl~"
Uchiha Gen crouched down and scooped Little Kuro up. She truly had gained quite a bit of weight; apparently, the food at home suited her tastes well.
"Lord Yuan."
"Mm. How have things been lately?"
"A little quiet, but I often go out for walks as well."
"Training requires both work and rest. Some things can't be rushed. How far have you progressed?"
"...I've only just started."
"..."
Uchiha Haru's expression dimmed. In merely half a year, wrinkles had already appeared on her face, though she was only in her twenties.
"It's all right. The Uchiha are very powerful now."
Uchiha Gen had never been particularly good at comforting people. He walked over and patted Haru's shoulder.
"If it really doesn't work out, you can switch to clerical work. I have a gathering point outside the Clan Land. Do you want to go?"
Haru shook her head. She had already thought it through and recognized her own limits. As long as she did not cause Lord Yuan trouble now, she was satisfied.
"Lord Yuan~ I made you an outfit."
"Oh?"
Haru then turned and returned to her room, taking out a set of clothes. Uchiha Gen's eyes immediately lit up when he saw them.
"You made this?"
"Do you like it, Lord Yuan...?"
"Of course! I only drew it on paper back then. I never expected you to be so skilled. You recreated it perfectly!"
Uchiha Gen took the clothes and compared them to his body. They were neither too large nor too small, fitting him perfectly. He immediately put them on.
A Divine Robe!
Or rather, the Hokage's exclusive uniform. Uchiha Gen had made a few modifications, though, replacing the words representing the successive Hokage on the back with the Uchiha fan crest.
He admired himself in the full-length mirror for a moment. He had become even more handsome.
"I've decided. I'll wear this to tonight's clan meeting."
Watching from behind him, a tear slipped from Haru's eye, but she quickly wiped it away.
"It really does look handsome. If I'd been born later, I definitely would have fallen in love with Lord Yuan."
"Haha, does that mean you don't like me now?"
"...I love you now too."
Uchiha Gen did not notice the special meaning behind Haru's words, because that possibility had never crossed his mind.
After enjoying the moment, he was about to check Haru's body when Uchiha Haru suddenly pulled her hand back.
"Lord Yuan, check me next time. I don't feel like there's anything wrong right now."
"Mm... all right."
Uchiha Gen awkwardly rubbed his nose, then suddenly noticed the wrinkles already forming on Haru's forehead.
"Don't work too hard. You've even developed forehead lines. I'll research a technique that preserves one's appearance for you later."
"...Okay~"
After eating at home, Uchiha Gen got up and headed to the shrine for the clan meeting. As acting clan head, his responsibilities and authority were growing ever greater. But if he tried to hand the position back to Madara, the clan members would probably be the first to object.
Only one person and one cat remained in the room, sitting by the stove. Haru held Little Kuro in her arms as the firelight stretched their shadows long.
"Meow~ Why don't you tell him, meow?"
"Lord Yuan is already very busy."
"Though I haven't spent long with that child, I know he's someone who values loyalty and affection. You..."
"I don't want... to become a burden!"
Little Kuro was speechless. She could not understand what this woman was thinking. Haru herself was practically... Sigh, this was exhausting.
Ninjas in the Naruto World matured quickly. Families with a foundation generally began training their children from a young age, and these youngsters were quite capable, possessing especially strong learning abilities. But this also caused them to mature early.
In modern times, thirteen- or fourteen-year-olds might still be in school, but in the Shinobi World, they were already veterans of the battlefield. Yet because of this, aside from those who died halfway through life, most entered their twilight years at thirty.
Uchiha Haru was an ordinary, traditional Warring States Era ninja. After being sent to the Clan Land, she had never slackened in her training. She began cultivating Chakra at three and awakened her One-Tomoe Sharingan at eight.
But the further she went, the more talent was required, and the gap only grew wider. Her parents had merely been ordinary clan members expelled from the Clan Land, and her talent had ultimately stopped at Genin.
But Uchiha Haru did not want to submit to fate. If ninjutsu did not work, she would practice taijutsu. If taijutsu did not work, she would learn to handle administrative affairs. Yet she discovered that, in the end, she could accomplish nothing.
Until today, when the excessive strain from childhood and the hidden injuries from the battlefield erupted. She could feel her lifespan rapidly draining away. At most, she had three years left to live, and by then she would happen to be thirty.
"Thirty years old, a threshold in a ninja's lifespan."
"What a short life, meow~"
"From now on, only you will be by Lord Yuan's side."
"Have you really thought this through, meow?"
"Mm..."
Uchiha Gen had no idea what was happening at home. In his view, Haru cultivated the Chakra Breathing Method. Though she had only just begun, her cells were being nourished, so she should be able to live to fifty no matter what.
The moon hung high in the night sky, and the cold wind howled. The snow from before had yet to melt when snowflakes began drifting down again.
"All right, this year's clan meeting is over. Although everyone's benefits remain the same, the Uchiha population has been steadily growing. Hold on for a few more years. Once we reach ten thousand, I'll establish new benefits for everyone."
"Long live the clan head!"
"Long live Lord Yuan!"
"Long live the Uchiha!!"
Before you continue