On the afternoon of New Year's Day, laughter echoed through the Uchiha clan's forest. The rich aroma of grilled meat drifted through the air, mingling with the voices of boys and girls enjoying themselves.
At a small campfire, Gen sat with three kunoichi, Kurenai, Anko, and Yugao, barbecuing together.
"How's your mission going?" Gen asked casually, turning over sizzling skewers.
"Is that even a question?"
"Of course it's always a success!" Anko replied smugly before Kurenai could answer, her mouth full of food.
"It seems you're all getting along well," Gen said, "but don't get careless. Anko, you mustn't act on your own during missions. You need to follow Vice-Captain Kurenai's orders and consider your teammates' opinions."
"Tch, I know." Anko pouted, clearly displeased.
"Really? You're only a year older than me, yet you preach so much…" she muttered. "Even barbecue can't stop your nagging, huh?"
"Then all the desserts we brought will belong to the three of us," Gen said lightly.
Anko froze, then quickly waved her hands. "Ah, no, I was wrong!"
Kurenai and Yugao laughed, while Anko sulked.
Everyone knew desserts were her lifeblood and denying her sweets was a punishment worse than death.
Gen paused, then said, "I should tell you this. Unless something unexpected happens, I'll be leaving Konoha the day after tomorrow at the latest."
"Orochimaru-sensei has something for me to do." He once again used his teacher as an excuse.
"Why does Orochimaru-sensei always send you outside the village?" Anko rolled her eyes. "And you never invite me along…"
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Gen shot back without mercy.
Anko fell silent, biting her lip. She knew he was right, she wasn't strong enough yet. She needed to grow stronger so she could truly help her teacher and comrades.
"When will you be back?" Kurenai asked softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Gen shook his head. "It's hard to say. Maybe six months… maybe eight or nine."
In truth, no matter what, he would return before the night of the Nine-Tails attack. Whether his eyes had evolved to the Mangekyo or not, he needed to be there.
"That long?" Yugao's face fell in disappointment.
"I have no choice. This mission is important to my teacher and will benefit me greatly. I can't treat it lightly." Gen smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. As an apology; if when I return, your mission completion rate is still high, I'll personally teach you ninjutsu."
"At least B-rank."
Anko's reaction was muted. After all, Orochimaru was her teacher too. But Kurenai's eyes lit up; the Uchiha's genjutsu library was far deeper than her clan's.
The happiest of all was Yugao. Her late father had only left her basic ninjutsu and sword techniques, she had no advanced jutsu at all.
"Can you tell us what jutsu it'll be in advance?" Yugao asked hopefully, hands pressed to her chest.
"Of course…" Gen smiled. "No."
Both Yugao and Kurenai deflated in disappointment, while Anko kept eating happily.
"It wouldn't be meaningful if I told you now," Gen continued. "Besides, who you are today may not be who you are a few months from now. If I choose now, what if it doesn't suit you later?"
The girls thought it over and reluctantly nodded.
"Alright, enough talking. Let's enjoy the barbecue." Gen sighed. "Who's taking over for me? I haven't eaten a single skewer yet."
"I'll do it." Kurenai offered with a smile.
"Then I'm third!" Yugao quickly added.
"Guess that leaves me last," Anko muttered.
…
They ate and talked until late afternoon, finally packing up around four and heading back to the clan grounds.
After parting with the girls, Gen made his way to Uchiha Fugaku's house. His purpose, as always, was to request leave and his excuse, as always, was Orochimaru. The reasoning was sound, and in these peaceful times, there was nothing urgent requiring his presence for the clan.
Declining Mikoto's polite dinner invitation, Gen then headed to Orochimaru's research base.
Recently, his teacher had been consumed by his experiments on body-transference techniques and other projects, sometimes not even returning home at night.
When Orochimaru finally finished his experiment, Gen said, "Sensei, today's New Year's Day. How about the three of us have dinner and some sake tonight?"
Orochimaru blinked. "It's New Year's already? Time really flies… Very well."
He removed his gloves, picked up a large cup of raw egg mixture from the side table, and drank it in one gulp.
"By the way, Sensei, I'll be leaving the village again in two days."
"Oh?" Orochimaru arched a brow. "So soon? Out of money already?"
Gen shook his head. "No. Things are calm right now, so I want to travel the shinobi world to broaden my horizons and grow stronger."
"That's good. You're still young. Better to see the world than to trap yourself in Konoha like… certain people." A trace of bitterness slipped into Orochimaru's voice.
Gen chuckled. "You're right, Sensei. A man's journey should be the sea of stars."
"The sea of stars?" Orochimaru mused, his golden eyes gleaming. "Not quite as vast as my pursuit of the world's truths, but not bad either."
"Tell me, Gen… which is better? Holding power while awake, or losing yourself drunk in a woman's arms?"
Gen blinked. "The first is acceptable, I suppose. The second… rather vulgar. Women are uninteresting."
"So you mean power has value, but women do not?" Orochimaru pressed.
"I heard you recently became a leading jōnin, with three pretty kunoichi under you?"
"You already know, so why bother asking?" Gen sighed.
"Take my advice—women will only hinder your progress."
Gen smiled wryly. "Sensei, I'm still young. I can't claim to see through such things yet. Shouldn't one experience them before transcending them? Not everyone is born with your clarity. Even Jiraiya-sama hasn't seen through it…"
"Hehe… you make a fair point." Orochimaru smirked. "That fool Jiraiya will probably never transcend it. And even the old man…"
"What about the Third Hokage?" Gen asked curiously.
Orochimaru's eyes glinted slyly. "Would you believe it if I said the Hokage himself… peeps?"
"What? Using ninjutsu to spy? That's… too perverted! Is this what a Hokage should be?" Gen exclaimed, feigning shock as if his worldview had shattered.
"When it comes to women, the old man is hypocritical and shameless. Jiraiya peeps at bathhouses, but Sarutobi-sensei… peeps from the Hokage's office. Hmph, the Hokage Building hasn't been clean for a long time."
Gen could only draw in a sharp breath. Orochimaru's resentment ran deep.
"Enough, Sensei. I won't dirty my ears any further. I'll leave the village under the excuse of running your errands. If anyone investigates, I'll count on you to cover for me."
"Of course."
"Then I'll head to your house first and prepare dinner. I'll summon you with a messenger beast later. What would you like to eat?"
"Anything with eggs. And for dessert, an apple."
"Understood. See you soon, Sensei."
"Mm."