Team 7

Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi stood silently behind Uchiha Gen.

Both the staff in Asuma Sarutobi's hand and the kunai in Kurenai Yuhi's hand bore traces of dark red blood.

After watching Uchiha Gen kill the onmyoji with his own hands, they, too, had spilled blood.

Now, looking at Uchiha Gen's back, they finally understood completely.

Uchiha Gen's strength was not simply that of a genius overwhelming his peers.

It was truly... an overwhelming blow from an entirely different dimension.

With strength like that... was he really a genin just like them?

"You did well on the mission. His name was Jigumi, an A-rank onmyoji wanted by the Land of Nō. Given his strength, this mission shouldn't have been only D-rank.

"So, once we return to Konoha, I'll request a change to the mission's rank. The corresponding payment should be somewhat higher than originally offered."

Shibi Aburame's voice came from behind the three of them.

Having undergone this baptism of blood meant that their careers as shinobi had officially begun.

"Teacher... let's go back to Konoha."

Asuma Sarutobi spoke quietly, his voice trembling slightly.

After experiencing his first kill, Asuma Sarutobi had completely lost any desire to spend more time outside.

Now, he wanted more than anything to return somewhere familiar.

"You noticed it too, didn't you, Gen?"

In response to Asuma Sarutobi's words, Shibi Aburame merely looked at Uchiha Gen and spoke softly.

"Yes. Both of them have the same Curse Power fluctuations as Jigumi."

Uchiha Gen's tone was indifferent, his scarlet Sharingan quietly watching Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma Sarutobi.

In his vision, wisps of black mist were rising from their bodies, affecting their emotions.

"Onmyoji mostly come from the Land of Nō, the Land of Calamity, the Land of Demons, and other places said to be cursed by demons and gods. People born in these countries

are inherently unable to mold chakra. However, they can turn extreme negative emotions into Curse Power. As a result, many professions different from those of shinobi have developed with Curse Power as their foundation.

"Take this onmyoji, for example. Onmyoji generally fight using ritual arrays set up beforehand and talismans drawn in advance.

"This bandit stronghold contained a ritual array Jigumi had set up beforehand, but its main function was merely to stimulate people's negative emotions and induce fear.

"Normally, some ritual arrays prepared by onmyoji are more troublesome. So, if you encounter an onmyoji again, remember to find a battlefield better suited to yourselves before fighting them."

Shibi Aburame gave an unusually long explanation. As he spoke, he raised his cuff, and several insects flew out, burrowed into the ground, and began destroying the ritual array.

Within moments, the black mist around Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi began to dissipate.

Off to the side, Uchiha Gen calmly watched the scene before him.

It no longer mattered. At this point, whatever happened in the Shinobi World seemed normal to him.

Even if someone told him now that this world also had monsters or something of the sort, he would believe it.

Hmm... come to think of it, did the toads of Mount Myōboku, that so-called sacred summoning ground, count as monsters?

"So I was scared because I was under a curse! Ahahaha, I knew it! How could I possibly be scared?"

As the black mist dissipated completely, reason reclaimed the high ground in Asuma Sarutobi's mind.

Recalling how he had just wanted to go home and hide under the covers, Asuma Sarutobi could not help blushing slightly.

Looking at Uchiha Gen's calm face, which betrayed no other emotion, Asuma Sarutobi could only think that he had embarrassed himself terribly, and he began laughing it off.

Unfortunately, the moment Asuma Sarutobi finished speaking, Shibi Aburame's voice followed.

"This ritual array only amplified fear. Presumably, Jigumi set it up specifically to collect fear more effectively."

"Teacher... has anyone ever told you that you really have no emotional intelligence?"

"Hmm?"

"Never mind... Teacher, are we riding that big beetle back to Konoha?"

"Did I say something I shouldn't have? I apologize."

"Aaaaah!!! Teacher Shibi, are you doing this on purpose?!"

"Idiot."

"Hee~"

"Gen, you're back!"

Just as Uchiha Gen and the others returned to Konoha to turn in their mission, a familiar voice rang out beside them.

Even without turning around, Uchiha Gen knew who it was.

He looked toward the voice, and sure enough, the only person in Konoha who would call his name with such enthusiasm was Obito Uchiha.

But there were obvious claw marks on Obito Uchiha's face, and beside him stood Kakashi and Rin Nohara, along with... a familiar yet unfamiliar blond figure.

He stood tall, with gentle features and a clear, unclouded air about him. A warm, reassuring presence naturally surrounded him, like... a little sun.

Konoha's Yellow Flash-Minato Namikaze.

"Oh, Minato. You're here to turn in a mission too, I take it."

Shibi Aburame also noticed Team 7 and greeted Minato Namikaze, whom he knew very well.

"Yeah-oh, Shibi. What a coincidence. Are these your subordinates? No wonder you rated them so highly. They're all very good."

Minato Namikaze smiled softly, his eyes bright and sincere as he looked at Uchiha Gen, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi.

Behind Shibi Aburame, Asuma Sarutobi immediately puffed his chest out slightly at those words, a measure of pride welling up inside him. A high rating-then that damn old man must have changed his opinion of him somewhat, right?

While Minato Namikaze and Shibi Aburame caught up, Obito Uchiha had already rushed up to Uchiha Gen, his face full of curiosity.

"Gen! How did your mission go? I heard you went to a bandit hideout. That's super dangerous! Did you run into any strong enemies? Did you look super cool fighting?!"

His face was full of excitement, his eyes filled with longing to see powerful fighters battle, completely disregarding the claw wounds still on his face from some unknown animal.

Rin Nohara followed helplessly and gently urged him to stop.

"Obito, don't be so reckless. Gen and the others just got back. You should let them get some rest."

"But I'm curious!"

At her words, Obito immediately scratched his head awkwardly. He did not dare ignore Rin Nohara, but even so, Obito Uchiha continued staring expectantly at Uchiha Gen.

Kakashi Hatake stood farther back, his gaze resting impassively on Uchiha Gen.

"You didn't take a mission outside the village? Then how did you get those injuries?"

Looking at the claw marks on Obito Uchiha's face, Uchiha Gen frowned slightly and asked.