Want to fight?

The next day.

It was the weekend, and there were no classes at the Ninja Academy, so Uchiha Gen decided to take a stroll.

Following the Naka River all the way to Konoha Back Mountain, Uchiha Gen strolled over the loose stones beside the stream, with scattered leaves littering the mountain path and the sun hanging at an angle above the treetops. Along the way, he picked up a few smooth pebbles, casually coated them in a thin layer of flame, and tossed them into the ravine. The sparks went out the instant they hit the water.

The roar of water came from ahead. A waterfall like a ribbon of white silk plunged into a deep pool, its mist shrouding half a bluestone platform.

This was Uchiha Gen's destination for the day, the place where Shisui Uchiha would die in the original story. There was nothing more to it; Uchiha Gen was simply bored and wanted to take a look.

Only... someone seemed to be here already.

Within sight, Kakashi leaned against a weathered rock beneath the waterfall, a mask covering half his face. In his left hand, he held a specially made short blade at an angle, slashing again and again at the waterfall spraying toward him.

The wind from his blade sliced through the curtain of water, sending droplets flying everywhere and soaking him all over.

Uchiha Gen stood in the shade of a tree not far away, making no sound to disturb him.

The next moment, Kakashi lowered his stance and gripped his blade, channeling strength through his wrist as he unleashed a horizontal slash. The wind from the blade abruptly tore through the entire curtain of water.

The rushing water was severed in midair the instant the blade swept through it, hanging suspended for a moment. The once-continuous waterfall split in two, the upper section held at the cliff's edge while the severed lower section crashed into the deep pool, raising a vast cloud of white mist.

"Hatake Style: Flow Severing!"

Kakashi's cool voice rang out as the waterfall split. A moment later, enough water had accumulated at the cliff's edge for the waterfall to pour down its original course once more.

After that slash, Kakashi lowered his sword hand. Water ran down the blade and dripped from its tip onto the bluestone, making tiny round spots amid the water covering the ground.

Mm, he just cut through a waterfall. Normal.

After sheathing his blade and lowering his arm, Kakashi turned his head and caught sight of Uchiha Gen beneath the tree.

The two looked at one another from a distance through the billowing mist, the waterfall's roar filling the space around them.

"Why haven't you graduated early?"

After a moment, Kakashi Hatake spoke first, questioning Uchiha Gen in a cold voice.

"?"

Uchiha Gen raised an eyebrow at that.

He... wasn't exactly close to Kakashi Hatake, was he? What was with that slightly resentful question?

"With your strength, you shouldn't need to keep playing house at the Ninja Academy."

When Uchiha Gen gave no answer, Kakashi Hatake continued.

Looking at Uchiha Gen, Kakashi Hatake couldn't help recalling what his father had told him when he had first enrolled.

"Is that your classmate? Kakashi, his hands... are very well suited to swordsmanship. No, this child should already have begun learning it.

"And... that muscle definition-it's the Uchiha's Fire Release Ninja Sword Technique, isn't it? Kakashi, it looks like you'll have to work hard. This child should be much stronger than you right now."

An...

Uchiha whom his father considered much stronger than him...

Kakashi Hatake had absolute faith in his father's judgment. Within Konoha, Hatake Sakumo was a ninja known for his "unerring eye."

So he, too, believed that he was very likely no match for Uchiha Gen at present. That was why he had been honing himself so desperately, wanting to surpass Uchiha Gen.

Only... Kakashi couldn't understand why Uchiha Gen still wanted to stay at the Ninja Academy and play those childish school games with those boring classmates.

"Why would I graduate early? It's not often you get a few years to train at your leisure. Why insist on graduating early just to slave away doing tedious missions? Isn't being the Ten-Mile Slope Sword God in the Newbie Village more interesting than doing missions?"

Uchiha Gen shrugged and answered Kakashi's question.

From the very beginning, Uchiha Gen had never had the slightest intention of graduating early.

With his check-in system, he could easily develop steadily and safely during his years as a student at the Ninja Academy.

After all, something wasn't quite right with this Shinobi World. It was always better to play it safe.

"I don't understand what you're saying, but I can tell you have no ambition at all. You know swordsmanship too, don't you? Want to fight?"

Kakashi's brow furrowed deeply at that. Although he hadn't understood a few of the terms Uchiha Gen had used, he could still grasp the general meaning.

Realizing that Uchiha Gen wouldn't graduate early, Kakashi raised the specially made Ninja Blade in his hand, pointed it at Uchiha Gen, and spoke in a low voice.

Ever since Hatake Sakumo had said those words, he had wanted to fight Uchiha Gen.

He simply hadn't ever acted on it. Now that they happened to run into each other today... he couldn't let the chance slip away.

"Sorry, not interested. Since someone's already here, I'll go stroll somewhere else."

Looking at Kakashi, who watched him silently with his blade in hand, Uchiha Gen curled his lips and turned to leave, leaving only a silent Kakashi tightly gripping the hilt of his Ninja Blade.

I'm under no obligation to be anyone's sparring partner.

Leaving Shisui's Death Waterfall—yes, Uchiha Gen had just come up with that name—he followed the river toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.

As he slowly strolled along, two unidentified green creatures flashed past.

A cool breeze swept by, and Uchiha Gen's expression remained calm.

"..."

It's fine. They're just a little fast when running at full speed. Normal.

Peacock at dawn, Tiger at noon; once the Evening Elephant emerged, Night Guy danced.

I just wonder what it would look like in a Shinobi World like this when the Eight Gates' Eighth Gate, the Gate of Death, was unleashed at full power.

Surely it couldn't kick a normal Ten-Tails to death in one blow, right? Uh... maybe it really could.

Still, isn't a Shinobi World like this interesting? Especially... when I've got cheats too.

Walking along the river with the breeze blowing against him, Uchiha Gen lifted his head to look at the sky. He eagerly anticipated how many wonderful sights he would get to see in a Shinobi World like this.

"Oh-ho-ho-ho, lap two hundred and thirty-eight!! Keep it up, Guy! Have you felt the charm of burning youth?! Faster, faster, faster!!!"

"Osu!! Dad!! I've felt it!!!! Youth!!! Burn!!!!!! Faster, faster, faster!!! Hahahahaha!"

"...Forget it. I'm going home."

Listening to the wind stirred up by the figures racing past him, along with those two "cries of youth," Uchiha Gen silently changed direction and headed home.