how does it feel?"
The Third Hokage asked with a smile.
"A bit proud, I suppose."
Uchiha Gen intentionally showed a somewhat youthful smile in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen, looking a bit embarrassed.
Seeing Uchiha Gen like this, the smile on the Third Hokage's face grew even wider.
No matter how talented or powerful he was, he was still just a thirteen or fourteen-year-old young man.
Previously, for various reasons, he had somewhat neglected this child. It was thanks to Orochimaru that the boy hadn't gone astray. From now on, he could interact more with Uchiha Gen, allowing him to be further influenced by his, Sarutobi Hiruzen's, Will of Fire, which would make him easier to manage.
With this thought, the Third Hokage continued with a chuckle, "You should be proud. When I became a Jonin, I was much more arrogant than you. To this day, I can't forget the envious looks from Kagami, Danzo, and the others. Hahaha!"
"Lord Third, could you tell me about Uncle Kagami back then?"
"Of course."
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly realized that this was an excellent time to impart the Will of Fire to Uchiha Gen—specifically, his own version of the Will of Fire.
Uchiha Gen naturally knew what to say at a time like this. Following Sarutobi Hiruzen's lead, he accompanied the Hokage, who had just suffered a setback on the battlefield, in reminiscing about the glorious years of the past, offering a few compliments from time to time.
"It's a pity Uncle Kagami passed away so early; I never got the chance to learn from him."
Listening to Sarutobi Hiruzen's stories about their past exploits, Uchiha Gen spoke with regret.
Uchiha Kagami's death was indeed a pity.
Even today, over a decade later, he had no one to consult when he wanted to practice the Phantom Body Flicker Technique.
Sensing the regret in Uchiha Gen's tone, Sarutobi Hiruzen thought for a few seconds before waving his hand. "No matter. Kagami isn't here, but I am. If there's anything even Orochimaru can't solve, you can ask me!
It just so happens that in the last year or two, I haven't taught you anything.
Come, let's head to the training ground!"
"The training ground? Lord Third, are you going to—"
"Let me see just how capable the youngest Jonin in our Village's history really is, and see what I can teach you."
The Third Hokage spoke cheerfully to Uchiha Gen, acting like a broad-minded elder.
Is he really going to teach me, or is he trying to test and understand me?
Probably both.
The Third Hokage could learn about his strength through Orochimaru, as well as trusted aides like Maruboshi Kosuke and Kome Aki.
On the battlefield, he couldn't handle every situation with ease, especially when facing top-tier powerhouses in the Ninja World like Kakuzu and Chiyo. Hiding his abilities then would be like gambling with his life.
However, mission reports and secondhand accounts were never as precise as testing things personally.
Doing so would indeed allow for more targeted guidance based on his specific situation.
A few minutes later.
In a quiet training ground on the edge of the Forest of Death, Uchiha Gen and the Third Hokage stood facing each other.
The former looked as if he were facing a great enemy, while the latter was relaxed, with one hand behind his back.
"Lord Third, I'm coming."
Uchiha Gen extended his left hand and made the Seal of Confrontation toward the Third Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was momentarily stunned, but he quickly returned the seal.
It had been many years since he had sparred with someone from the same Village like this, to the point where he had almost forgotten the Seal of Confrontation invented by his teacher, Senju Tobirama.
The Seal of Confrontation changed rapidly in an instant, shifting into other hand seals.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson."
A rain of fire, carrying shuriken, fell rapidly like falling stars, scattering as it blasted toward the Third Hokage.
However, these flames, which should have blasted the entire training ground, were wiped away in the next second by a large, swirling curtain of water that rose out of nowhere.
Maruboshi Kosuke was only an unofficial disciple of the Second Hokage and yet possessed such Water Release capabilities. As the successor who inherited Senju Tobirama's legacy, the Third Hokage's mastery of Water Release was naturally not low.
His Water Encampment Wall, like Maruboshi Kosuke's, was simplified to the point of needing only two hand seals with one hand to be successfully cast.
Before Uchiha Gen could even make a move, a massive, lifelike Water Dragon roared out from the water curtain.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
A brick-like earth wall with a mocking panda face rose, blocking the Water Dragon.
However, the Earth Release, which should have countered Water Release, was not very effective at this moment. After only a brief delay, it was smashed through by the Water Dragon.
Even though he had mastered one type of Earth Release nature transformation, there was still a massive gap between the two in the field of ninjutsu.
Uchiha Gen's three-element ninjutsu was only at the level of a Jonin who had mastered nature transformations, whereas Sarutobi Hiruzen had polished all five Chakra nature transformations to the absolute peak for a regular Ninja. Any one of them alone could potentially create a powerhouse close to the Kage-level.
He was even stronger than Kakuzu, who was also proficient in five-element Chakra ninjutsu.
In this particular area, Sarutobi Hiruzen could be said to be the best in the Ninja World's history over the last few decades.
"Boom!"
The Water Dragon exploded, turning into ground-covering water along with the subsiding Water Encampment Wall, but Uchiha Gen had already vanished without a trace.
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced around, then unhesitatingly formed more seals and pressed both hands into the water.
Fine currents of electricity flowed into the water through his palms, turning into snakes of lightning that forced out Uchiha Gen, who had dived underground and was trying to use One Thousand Years of Death from behind.
Forced to retreat, the latter could only pull back, lightning glowing in his palm as he used the same attribute of Chakra to neutralize and destroy the incoming lightning snakes.
"I can't find an opening to use the Sharingan's genjutsu at all. From start to finish, the Sandaime hasn't used his true strength; he hasn't even summoned Enma."
In his Sharingan, the pupils surrounded by three Tomoe spun rapidly, trying their best to perceive any exploitable weakness, only for Uchiha Gen to give up.
The absolute difference in strength was too great. The overwhelming ninjutsu alone prevented him from getting close.
Even if he did get close, the Third Hokage in his prime wouldn't hesitate to engage in close combat with anyone while swinging his staff.
The pressure the Third Hokage exerted on him was several times stronger than that of Kakuzu.
In that battle in the Land of Rain, if Kakuzu had been replaced by a full-power Third Hokage, it would have been difficult for him, Kome Aki, and Maruboshi Kosuke to even protect themselves. There was a ninety percent chance of casualties.