The forest was dark, shadows shifting between flickers of light.
Uchiha Gen and Uchiha Shisui walked side by side, both dressed in dark combat tights and armor. Their builds were similar, their movements equally sharp. but Gen's sword rested differently at his side, and his features carried a certain sharpness that stood out.
Not that Shisui was lacking; there were no unattractive members of the Uchiha clan, male or female.
"How are you getting along with Kakashi and Rin?" Gen asked casually.
"They're good people," Shisui replied with a smile. "Minato-sensei is also… a good teacher."
"Sounds like you've been recognized already," Gen said.
"That was fast," Shisui chuckled. "You're more suited for Team 7 and Minato-senpai, than I am."
"No," Gen shook his head. "They've already recognized you."
"Haha, no need to comfort me. Minato-senpai hasn't completely accepted me yet…" Shisui trailed off, a touch of guilt in his tone.
"But that's fine. After becoming Orochimaru's disciple, I realized he's a better fit for me than Minato." Gen Quickly added.
"Don't take it to heart." Gen patted his shoulder.
He knew Minato Namikaze well, a man whose kindness spread evenly to all. That generosity meant few ever reached the core of his heart.
Aside from Kushina, and even she had taken years. To Minato, even his disciples were just part of the whole, not above others in the village.
In some ways, he resembled the First Hokage, willing to sacrifice anything, even those closest to him, if it meant protecting Konoha.
If Kushina ever turned against the village, Minato would kill her himself and follow her into death.
Orochimaru's trust was rarer and that, among other reasons, was why Gen had chosen him.
Shisui, thinking Gen was only trying to cheer him up, simply smiled and decided he owed his friend a favor later.
By the time their talk ended, they had reached the cluster of tents housing the Uchiha stationed here.
The ninjas didn't know Gen, but Shisui's face was familiar to all of them. Some had watched his rise from the start. When they saw him, their earlier tension lifted a little, and they greeted him warmly.
"This is Uchiha Gen," Shisui introduced, smiling. "A shinobi no weaker than me... maybe even stronger."
Gen's eyebrow twitched. If I didn't know you, I'd think you were buttering me up.
The surrounding Uchiha frowned at the claim, skeptical. The 'Uchiha Twins' nickname was mostly known in Konoha. These men had been stationed on the Mist frontlines and knew little beyond letters from the late clan leader to Fugaku.
"Stronger than Shisui?" someone muttered.
A thin young man in a dark, high-collared combat uniform stepped forward, eyes bloodshot. His left eye held a two-tomoe Sharingan, his right a three-tomoe—a rare imbalance, but his prowess was among the best here. Only a handful of senior ninja surpassed him.
"Shu , what are you doing?" Shisui's tone darkened. "Stand down."
But Shu didn't move. "Shisui, I just want to see this man you say is better than you."
The murmurs spread.
"Yeah, let's see."
"Just a friendly match."
Shisui's frown deepened, ready to shut them down until Gen spoke.
"It's fine, Shisui. I've been wanting to spar with one of our own."
"But..."
"Do you think I'll lose?" Gen's voice cut in, steady and amused.
He stepped forward, eyes shifting to crimson as his two-tomoe Sharingan began to spin.
Shu sneered. "Two tomoe in both eyes… and you think you can beat Shisui's three? Let alone mine?"
"You'll know soon enough," Gen said lightly.
Shu's lips curled. "Then let's take this somewhere else..."
"No need."
"What's wrong? Afraid?"
"There's just no point. This will be over quickly."
That quiet arrogance made more than a few Uchiha scowl. Who did he think he was?
"You… are looking for death!" Shu snapped, lunging.
... and froze mid-step as Gen's gaze caught his.
The world around Shu bled into red. Five massive, rusted nails pinned his limbs and torso in place. There was no pain, but his body—both here and in reality—wouldn't move.
"Hmph… a simple genjutsu. I can break this," Shu muttered, forcing his Sharingan to spin faster, flooding his vision with pupil power.
Nothing happened.
"What—?" Panic slipped into his voice. He pushed harder, every muscle in his face tightening. "Move! Move!"
No matter how his Sharingan strained, his body remained bound.
A blink later, the illusion shattered and a kunai was pressed against his throat. His breath caught, skin prickling at the cold edge.
"See?" Gen's voice was calm. "That's the end."
Around them, the watching Uchiha were silent. They had seen everything, Gen walking up to Shu with deliberate calm, drawing a kunai, and ending the fight before it began.
Two tomoe defeating three in an instant… not through trickery, but sheer control of genjutsu and pupil power.
Even Shisui couldn't hide his surprise. With three tomoe in both eyes and mastery over genjutsu, he could do the same, but never with only two tomoe.
Gen's Sharingan wasn't just strong. It was dangerous.