After receiving the official appointment letter, Orochimaru gathered the Jōnin commanders on the front lines and announced Konoha's decision.
'Uchiha Gen was now deputy commander.'
The Jōnin exchanged wary glances. They all respected Gen's strength, but commanding men in battle required more than raw power.
Still, none of them dared to object.
Opposing the Hokage's order would mean offending Orochimaru and Gen at the same time, master and disciple, both with strong backing in Konoha.
At best, it would ruin their future prospects.
At worst, it could earn them a convenient death on the battlefield.
So, despite their doubts, every Jōnin offered smiles and words of welcome.
From that day on, Uchiha Gen officially became the second-in-command on the Mist front. His command tent was upgraded to a size second only to Orochimaru's, with two Chūnin posted outside as guards.
Meanwhile, reinforcements arrived for Kirigakure's army. Surprisingly, however, the Mist did not immediately press their advantage. They halted their offensives instead.
Konoha mirrored the silence.
New Year's Day was approaching.
For the ninja of Konoha, it would soon be the first day of Year 52, a festival more important than any other.
In a great war, no one had the luxury to celebrate. But this was no all-out conflict, merely a skirmish of a thousand troops. That made it easier for both sides to acknowledge what everyone was already thinking; morale mattered.
It was hard enough for shinobi drafted to the front lines to risk their lives while others enjoyed peace back home. If the village celebrated New Year's while the front lines starved and bled, the bitterness would only fester.
So, for one day, both camps agreed on a silent truce.
On New Year's morning, Konoha's logistics division cooked up three proper meals for the troops, using supplies that had just arrived.
The soldiers, finally free of combat, relaxed.
Some gathered in small groups to talk, others strolled through camp despite the snow and biting wind. For the first time in weeks, the front line was filled with warmth and laughter.
Of course, not everyone was idle. Rotating patrols maintained a defensive cordon. A ceasefire was still just a ceasefire and ninja could betray it at any time.
In the shinobi world, missions always outweighed bonds. Before Gen's generation, the idea of protecting comrades at the expense of success was unthinkable.
The most infamous case was Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha. He chose to abandon a mission to save his comrades, only to be condemned by those very comrades for failing the objective.
Such was the cruel weight of the shinobi code.
That afternoon, Uchiha Gen had a tent set up on the leeward side of a mountain slope. Inside, he arranged two cushions around a small table with a copper hotpot at the center. Plates of meat, poultry from Konoha and wild game from the mountains, sat ready, alongside sake, dipping sauces, and chopsticks.
Once preparations were complete, Gen sent for Orochimaru.
Strictly speaking, private feasts like this violated wartime regulations. But Orochimaru was not one to be bound by rules.
Master and disciple sat together, sharing hotpot and sake while watching the snowfall outside. A rare moment of peace stolen from the chaos of war.
"Orochimaru-sensei, now that the Mist have received reinforcements… how should we fight them next?" Gen asked, fishing a piece of meat from the pot. He dipped it, popped it into his mouth, and sighed in satisfaction at the tender and spicy flavor.
Orochimaru sipped from his cup before answering, voice low and calm. "We'll respond to their moves with stillness. I expect they'll try a war of attrition. They suffered heavy losses at our hands before, but with fresh numbers, they'll press slowly, steadily."
Gen nodded. His gaze drifted toward the table. "Sensei… I don't remember you liking snake meat. Yet half the platter is already gone."
"This preparation makes it taste excellent," Orochimaru replied without shame.
Gen raised an eyebrow. "Won't Ryūchi Cave take offense?"
"Ryūchi Cave, Mount Myōboku, Shikkotsu Forest… all three are unique. They have ancient traditions, tied to but not bound by the shinobi world."
"So… it's acceptable to eat snakes from the wild, but not ones from Ryūchi Cave?"
"No," Orochimaru said with a small smile. "Even snakes from Ryūchi Cave eat people when they wish. My point is, the White Snake Sage isn't so petty."
Gen fell silent. That logic… makes no sense.
He changed the subject. "Sensei, do you know about Sage Mode?"
"I do. But tell me, where did you hear of it?"
"The Uchiha clan's ancient texts mention it. They say the First Hokage used Sage Mode in his battle with Madara, and the power he gained was… overwhelming."
"Hmph." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "According to the White Snake Sage, Sage Mode can multiply a shinobi's power several times over and sometimes even dozens. The effect depends on chakra reserves and the user's mastery."
Gen listened closely, committing each word to memory. His own chakra pool would determine the upper limit of natural energy he could draw in, which in turn set the ceiling for senjutsu chakra. Mastery, meanwhile, decided efficiency. With enough control, even a single unit of senjutsu chakra could yield more than its base power.
"The key," Orochimaru continued, "is balance. You must merge natural energy with your own chakra, usually one part in three. Too little or too much, and the energies clash. The backlash consumes the body, leading to death. In Ryūchi Cave, many aspirants lost control and were devoured by the great serpents. Few succeed."
He swirled his cup, pale face flushed from sake, a demonic glimmer in his golden eyes. "So, Gen… do you still wish to train?"
Gen's response was immediate. "Of course. Risk and reward always walk hand in hand."
He had no idea how many souls his Eternal Mangekyō required to evolve further. Until then, he needed another path to strength. Sage Mode was perfect. It scaled with his power and never became obsolete.
Others might struggle even to sense natural energy, but for him, it came naturally. His soul was strong; his perception keen. With control honed to instinct, chakra manipulation was as easy as breathing.
Natural energy would be harder, but how much harder could it really be?
Perhaps when I finally attempt it, Gen thought, I'll find myself saying: "So this is senjutsu chakra? Nothing special… it's almost easy."
Still, he reminded himself of the wisdom passed down by his elders; You must crawl before you walk.
Reckless attempts would only end in disaster.
To create his own unique Sage Mode one day, he first needed to master one of the existing traditions. Learning the differences among them all would be even better.
Orochimaru lifted his cup again, smiling faintly. "Very well. When the time comes, we'll go to Ryūchi Cave together."