Gasps and exclamations erupted across the training ground.
The children whose parents were ordinary chunin or civilians looked at Genya as though he were a monster.
Such incredible shurikenjutsu went far beyond their understanding of what a "child" could do.
The few children from families with jonin were equally stunned, their amazement tinged with a sense of confirmation.
They murmured among themselves, their voices filled with awe.
"Just as I thought... he's like Shisui..."
"No, he might be even more... he's only five!"
"My father said Genya is Lord Sosuke and Lady Izumi's son. His talent rivals Shisui's back then, or even..."
The rest went unspoken.
Shisui Uchiha was a legendary genius acknowledged by the entire clan!
Uchiha Nami tilted her head up, watching the figure land lightly, her eyes filled with indescribable shock and... a growing admiration.
This boy, younger than her, seemed wreathed in dazzling light.
Genya basked in everyone's attention with an air of blatant swagger, then walked over to the dazed Nami, picked up two training shuriken, and handed her one.
"Did you follow that? The key is getting the angle, force, and timing right."
His voice brought Nami back to reality.
Nami instinctively accepted the shuriken and nodded hard, her eyes shining with eagerness.
"Here, I'll teach you the basics."
Genya reached out and took her small, shuriken-holding hand, adjusting her stance, the range of her arm movement, and the angle of her wrist.
"Feel how I apply the force... yes, just like that. Keep your wrist loose, but steady it the instant you throw..."
Nami's little face flushed scarlet, and her heart pounded.
She tried hard to follow the guidance coming through Genya's hand and imitate his movements.
The children around them watched.
Their envy was plain to see, especially as Nami's throwing movements visibly grew smoother and more precise under Genya's hands-on instruction.
After finishing his lesson on the basics of shuriken throwing,
Genya stepped back, looked at the admiring Nami and the curious children around them, and spoke with a faint smile.
"Shuriken are about skill. Chakra and ninjutsu are the foundation."
His hands began forming hand seals so quickly that they left afterimages.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A searing ball of flame, small but incredibly concentrated, burst from his mouth and struck in the distance, sending out a wave of heat.
Before the children could cry out, his hand seals changed again.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Several small flames scattered like dancing petals, striking a number of small targets spread apart.
The consecutive ninjutsu demonstrations left every Uchiha child present utterly stunned.
Only the crackle of burning flames and the children's heavy breathing remained on the training ground.
Genya Uchiha saw the admiration and gratitude almost overflowing from Nami's eyes.
He knew he had achieved the effect he wanted today.
[Ding! Uchiha Nami's affection +30!] [Current affection: 40]
The affection of his first "conquest target" within the clan was steadily rising, too.
He had taken another firm step on his path toward gaining power and connections...
After saying goodbye to Nami at the training ground, Genya Uchiha returned home.
He opened the front door to find his father studying a scroll at the low table in the living room, while his mother brewed tea beside him.
The instant he entered, both of them turned their eyes toward him.
Neither gaze was stern.
Sosuke's gaze was steady and deep, while Izumi's held understanding and a hint of amusement.
Genya Uchiha paused, feeling inexplicably uneasy.
Word of what had happened at the training ground had probably already reached their ears.
Besides, he had only just "happened to meet" the Hyuga Clan's young heiress last night.
"Father, Mother, I'm home."
Genya tried to keep his voice calm.
"Mm. Good work at training."
Sosuke set down his scroll, his level tone betraying neither pleasure nor displeasure.
Izumi smiled gently and offered him a cup of warm water.
"Xiao Ye, it sounds like things were quite lively at the training ground today."
Genya accepted the cup, feeling increasingly restless.
He gave a vague reply.
"Mm... I exchanged a few shurikenjutsu tips with everyone."
Afraid that saying too much would give him away, he quickly added,
"I... I'll go rest in my room for a bit. I'm a little tired."
With that, he hurried to his room, cup in hand, and shut the door.
Watching their son beat a hasty retreat,
the couple exchanged a look in the living room and smiled knowingly.
Izumi took a sip of tea, a gentle smile touching the corners of her eyes, and lowered her voice as she spoke to her husband.
"Sosuke, is our little Xiao Ye... growing up?"
Her tone held a little wistfulness, a little teasing, and that subtle mix of emotions unique to a mother noticing changes in her son.
Sosuke Uchiha picked up his scroll, but rather than looking at it, he seemed lost in thought.
"Judging by what happened at the training ground, his use of shurikenjutsu and his control over ninjutsu are far beyond those of his peers."
He began with an objective assessment, then shifted the subject slightly.
"As for his social interactions... the Hyuga Clan's main-family daughter, Uchiha Nami..."
He left the thought unfinished, but his meaning was clear.
Izumi covered her mouth and chuckled.
"It seems our son doesn't just have exceptional talent. His taste is rather... distinctive, too."
She thought of her son escorting Hinata Hyuga home the previous night, and of him "instructing" a girl at the clan's training ground today.
As his mother, she saw nothing wrong with it.
If anything, she felt he was more mature and independent-minded than other children his age. It was just that his approach... drew a little too much attention.
Sosuke nodded, his gaze sharpening.
"Hinata is the young heiress of the Hyuga Main Family. Her position is sensitive. Nami's background is relatively straightforward. Xiao Ye... seems to be deliberately expanding his circle."
As both an elite jonin and a father, he analyzed the reasoning behind his son's behavior.
Although he could not possibly guess that a "system" existed, he could still sense the purpose behind his son's actions.
"Let him be."
Izumi finally spoke softly.
"As long as he's safe and happy, and knows what he's doing, that's enough. Our son may be even more... extraordinary than we imagined."
Sosuke Uchiha fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
He chose to trust his exceptionally gifted son.
As long as he did not cross any lines, a reasonable degree of independence was necessary.
Still, as a father, he felt he might need to find the right time to talk to his son about "boundaries" and "responsibility."
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