No! No! No!

The next day.

Genya Uchiha continued his daily training.

Today, he chose a relatively secluded spot to focus on practicing his chakra control.

But even when a tree wished for peace, the wind would not relent.

Just as he was sensing the flow of chakra within his body...

A child's voice, clearly defiant and arrogant, rang out behind him.

"Hey! Are you Genya Uchiha?"

Genya reined in his chakra and turned around.

A black-haired boy in a blue short-sleeved shirt stood there with his arms crossed, looking at him with an expression that practically screamed, "I'm not happy."

The boy looked slightly younger than him and had delicate features, but the arrogance in his brow rubbed Genya the wrong way.

Who else could it be but Sasuke Uchiha?

Genya Uchiha raised an eyebrow, but before he could speak...

Sasuke lifted his chin and spoke in his cool, aloof tone.

"I heard everyone in the clan's been calling you some kind of genius lately. Even Father mentioned you."

"I'm challenging you! I'll show you that I, Sasuke Uchiha, am the greatest genius in the Uchiha Clan!"

Looking at this Uchiha Sasuke, who had yet to experience the massacre of his clan and was still caught up in his "Dad, big brother, look at me!" phase...

Genya Uchiha felt a little like laughing.

Challenge me? To prove himself to Itachi and Fugaku?

Hmm... wasn't this the perfect opportunity to give the future king of show-offs a perfectly legitimate "roughing up"?

The corners of Genya's mouth curled upward, and he deliberately spoke in a flat tone.

"A challenge? Sure. But I'll only use Taijutsu."

"Hmph! Suit yourself! Take this!"

Seeing that Genya had agreed, Sasuke immediately took an offensive stance and charged, throwing a straight punch at Genya's face.

For someone his age, his movements were precise and quick.

In Genya's eyes, however, he was as slow as a crawling snail.

Genya tilted his head slightly and dodged the punch.

Sasuke froze for a moment, then launched a string of attacks-punches, kicks, elbows, knees...

He unleashed every Taijutsu move he had learned.

But no matter how swift his attacks or how tricky their angles, Genya Uchiha always dodged them effortlessly with the slightest movement.

He strolled through Sasuke's barrage as if taking a leisurely walk, never even letting Sasuke touch the hem of his clothes.

The longer Sasuke fought, the more desperate he grew. His little face flushed red, and his breathing began to turn ragged.

"Too slow."

"Not enough strength."

"Your form's falling apart. Too many openings."

Genya offered commentary as he dodged.

Every word struck hard at Sasuke's young heart.

Finally, after one of Sasuke's spinning kicks missed, Genya stepped forward, reached out with his right hand, caught Sasuke's ankle, and gave it a tug.

"Aah!"

Sasuke lost his balance completely. With a startled cry, he pitched forward and landed flat on his face in an utterly humiliating heap.

Genya let go and looked down at Sasuke, who lay on the ground trembling with shame and anger, then said mildly...

"Kid, want to keep going?"

Sasuke jerked his head up, his eyes already a little red, and stared at Genya as he shouted stubbornly.

"I... I haven't lost yet!"

He struggled to get back up.

"Sasuke."

Just then, a voice carrying a hint of authority rang out.

Genya and Sasuke turned to look at the same time. A tall, stern-faced, middle-aged man in Uchiha clan attire had appeared at the edge of the training ground without them noticing.

It was Uchiha Fugaku.

Beside him stood the gentle, beautiful Uchiha Mikoto.

"Father! Mother!"

Seeing his parents-especially his father-made Sasuke feel even more ashamed. He hurriedly scrambled to his feet and lowered his head, not daring to meet Fugaku's eyes.

Fugaku's gaze lingered on Sasuke for a moment, betraying neither pleasure nor anger, before settling on Genya Uchiha.

"Sosuke's son, Genya Uchiha?"

Fugaku spoke in an even voice.

"Yes, Uncle Fugaku."

Genya bowed, neither servile nor overbearing.

He was facing the head of the Uchiha Clan, one of its future "victims."

You put up with Danzo and that old monkey every single day. You really know how to swallow your anger!

"That was some impressive Taijutsu."

Fugaku offered a rare word of praise, making Sasuke beside him even less able to lift his head.

"Just what I'd expect from Sosuke and Izumi's son."

At that moment, Uchiha Mikoto stepped forward and gently rested her hands on the shoulders of the still-defiant Sasuke, then gave Genya a warm smile.

"You're Xiao Ye, right? Sosuke and Izumi mention you often. Sorry we interrupted your training today."

"If you don't mind, why not come over for a simple dinner tonight? Consider it our way of thanking you for... giving Sasuke some pointers."

Sasuke's mother had extended the invitation herself, her tone so gentle and gracious that it was hard to refuse.

Fugaku nodded beside her, making it clear that the invitation came from both of them.

It was a gesture of goodwill toward a talented child within the clan.

Genya nodded in acceptance.

"Thank you, Aunt Mikoto, Uncle Fugaku. Sorry for the trouble."

That evening, Genya arrived at the clan head's home right on time.

The Uchiha Clan head's residence was larger and somewhat grander than Genya's home.

The atmosphere around the dinner table was fairly pleasant.

Fugaku said little, only occasionally asking Genya about his views on training and ninjutsu.

Genya's answers were well organized, and his insights were distinctive.

The appreciation in Fugaku's eyes deepened.

Sasuke kept his head down and ate, occasionally sneaking a glare at Genya, clearly still brooding over his crushing defeat that afternoon.

Mikoto gently served food throughout the meal, looking after everyone.

Just as Mikoto smiled and placed a piece of grilled fish in Genya's bowl, saying softly...

"Eat a little more, Xiao Ye. You're still growing."

[Ding! Exceptional charm target detected: Uchiha Mikoto. Bind?]

Pfft-!

Genya nearly sprayed out the miso soup in his mouth!

He forced it down, choking and coughing several times until his face turned red.

What the hell?

Aunt Mikoto?

Fugaku's wife?

Sasuke and Itachi's mom?!

System, what the hell are you doing?!

A married woman?! And one with this identity, no less!

"Xiao Ye, are you all right?"

Mikoto asked with concern, handing him a tissue.

Even Fugaku and Sasuke looked over.

"I-I'm fine! Thank you, Aunt Mikoto. The soup was a little hot..."

Genya hurriedly waved his hands, inwardly ranting while roaring in his mind without the slightest hesitation.

No! No! No! Bind, my ass! No married women! System, are you trying to screw me over?

This was way too dangerous!

Even setting aside the moral and ethical issues, just thinking about the possible consequences of binding Uchiha Mikoto was enough.

Would Itachi treat me like a pervert? Would Fugaku glare me to death with his Mangekyo? Would the entire Uchiha Clan hunt me down? That picture was too horrifying to contemplate!

[Binding canceled.]

Only when the system notification sounded did Genya let out a long sigh of relief inwardly, his back drenched in cold sweat.

This system really was unreliable!

For the rest of the meal, Genya was somewhat distracted, terrified that the system might pull another stunt.

He made up his mind to stay as far away from these "exceptional" targets as possible from now on.

If I was going to milk some benefits, I'd be better off choosing harmless little girls my own age...

For example...