Nearly a thousand meters above the ground, the wind cut sharp against his face. Black hair streamed behind him, robes snapping in the cold air.
Uchiha Gen narrowed his eyes against the rush, gazing down at the world below.
From this height, the land was an endless green ocean. Rolling swells of forest stretched to the horizon, mountain ridges rising and falling like waves.
The sheer vitality of it all stirred something deep in his chest.
This was Shuryu's true form unleashed, wings beating hard enough to lift them to the limits of his flight.
Back in Konoha, Gen had flown before, skimming low through the treetops with Shuryu beneath him. But always in secret. On the battlefield, there'd been no chance to savor it.
Now, for the first time, he could simply enjoy the ride.
It wasn't the same as flying under his own power, but the thrill was still real.
The only regret was Shuryu's limit; barely a thousand meters above the ground.
After all, he wasn't a true dragon.
Maybe, Gen thought, if I turn Thundercloud into a Homie one day, I can climb even higher…
A shadow of red traced across the sky, weaving between clouds.
Shuryu kept close to the cover of mist, his speed steady at about two hundred seventy kilometers per hour; comparable to a helicopter, but without the noise.
Whenever they passed through a cloudbank, Gen reached out to let the cold white vapor brush over his fingers.
A smile tugged at his lips, unguarded and boyish. In moments like this, the difference between child and adult seemed meaningless.
In his previous life, he'd loved watching the scenery on long journeys, never one to bury himself in a phone or sleep the time away. That same habit carried over now.
Every shifting shadow, every ripple in the forest canopy below fascinated him.
Hours slipped by.
Three hours later, rooftops began to rise out of the green. In the far distance, Gen's sharp eyes caught the faint outline of the Hokage Rock—three blurred faces carved into stone.
He angled Shuryu down, sinking into the cover of the forest outside Konoha.
The dragon shrank down to a palm-sized ember of red, crawling into Gen's left arm for rest.
After such a long flight, even Shuryu needed sleep.
Gen still had work to do. The two captives needed a temporary holding place before he moved them to a more secure base.
Half an hour's search brought him to a cave deep in the forest. A territorial beast already called it home until Gen drove it out.
He checked on the captives, peeling back their eyelids just long enough to weave a layer of genjutsu over their drugged minds, ensuring they would not wake up.
Then he left the cave, drew the Kusanagi Sword, and fed it with wind chakra. Trees fell cleanly to his strikes. Soon, two refined wooden bodies stood where the logs had been. Into each, he poured a waiting soul and the years it would need to live.
The wooden figures blinked into awareness, still groggy.
"From now on, you'll be Mokui and Mokuna," Gen said after a moment's thought.
"Yes, sir."
"Get dressed and clean the cave."
They obeyed immediately, cloaks swishing as they disappeared inside.
Disguising himself, Gen headed for the nearest town. He bought supplies in bulk, storing them in a hidden spot just outside. Even with his strength, carrying everything in one trip was impossible, so Shuryu was summoned again to help.
Back at the cave, Gen used the last of the wood to build two crosses, fixing each with a restraint device he'd purchased in town. The captives were secured in place.
It wasn't difficult work, but it was tedious. Still, tedious or not, power demanded preparation. He didn't have some miraculous system that conjured tools from nothing only his own effort.
When the work was done, he fetched water from a pool, gathered firewood, and lit it with a casual burst of Fire Release.
The water boiled quickly; soon he was slurping down two buckets of instant noodles. It filled the belly, if not the soul.
Night crept in. Gen set explosive tags in a perimeter around the cave, mostly near the entrance. Wild beasts weren't stupid—after a few losses, they'd learn to avoid this place.
By the time he used his last tag, the forest was black. Shuryu's faint glow lit the work until it was finished.
Gen gave Mokui and Mokuna their instructions, then mounted the now-rested dragon. Wings snapped open, and they vanished into the night sky.
It was past midnight when he reached the town again. Lantern signs glowed in a rainbow of colors, and certain shops still bustled with life.
For a moment, Gen hesitated. Then a wry smile touched his lips.
After a day like today… why not reward myself?
"Hey there, handsome," a middle-aged woman in bright silks called, swaying toward him. "First time here?"
Gen, in the shape of a swordsman from his past life, tall, broad-shouldered, no longer a boy in appearance, returned a lazy smile. "First time at your Pink Flower Pavilion. I trust you won't disappoint me."
If he didn't change his face, his real age would keep him from so much as ordering a drink, let alone entering a brothel.
The woman laughed, perfume drifting on the air. "Disappoint you? Never. Our house is the finest in town." She pressed a folded menu into his hand with a theatrical flourish.
Gen skimmed it, then said, "Let's keep it simple. Food and wine first. A song or two. Then two pretty girls to help with the bath."
"A vegetarian?" she teased, eyes glinting.
"If you can't handle the basics," Gen said, "why would I trust you with the rest?"
Her laughter followed her as she went to make arrangements.
The meal was excellent—rich flavors, warm wine. Gen listened to the lilting songs, letting the tension of the day unwind.
Later, in the hot spring, steam curling around him, two attendants helped him wash. The heat seeped into his bones, easing the last traces of fatigue.
By the time he left, the night air was cool against his skin. He checked into a comfortable inn and slept deeply.
The next morning, he woke clear-headed and refreshed. After breakfast, he strolled through the town. The war's end had brought life back, though the prosperity was still far from Konoha's.
By afternoon, he was back at the Konoha frontline camp. He hadn't even sat down before a messenger arrived.
"Orochimaru-sama requests your presence."
Gen's brow lifted. "What now…?"