"Good job, Uchiha clan boy."
While Uchiha Gen and the others were still talking, a one-eyed, middle-aged ninja stood up from another table in the snack shop and walked over, speaking in a low voice.
His remaining eye was filled with admiration as it rested on Uchiha Gen. A faint, seemingly kind smile appeared on his face before he turned and quietly left the shop.
Not long after, several ninja in their thirties passed by outside. When they noticed Uchiha Gen, they exchanged a few whispered words among themselves before nodding subtly in his direction.
The events on the training ground spread rapidly through the ninja community, and many felt a long-suppressed sense of satisfaction.
Although the incident involving the Konoha White Fang had been forcibly suppressed by the Village years ago, his influence had never truly faded from the hearts of the shinobi.
To many of them, Sakumo Hatake had always been a hero of the Village.
Seeing this, Uchiha Gen couldn't help but smile.
"Justice still lives in people's hearts," he said softly. "It seems many in the Village still remember Senior White Fang."
Senju Gen and Hatake Seiko both nodded in agreement.
---
Deep underground, in a vast, dark, and silent space, lay the hidden base of Root.
A masked ninja knelt on one knee before an elderly man whose body was heavily wrapped in bandages. He reported in detail on Yoshiwara Yūto's defeat and the Hokage Office's handling of the incident.
After a long silence, the old man slowly opened his eyes. A cold, vicious glint flashed within his gaze.
"The Uchiha clan truly lives up to its reputation as an evil clan," he said grimly. "A mere Academy student dares to act so arrogantly—attacking even a Jōnin instructor. Such behavior shows blatant disrespect for the Village."
"Feeling sympathy for Sakumo Hatake?" he scoffed. "That man harmed the Village. His suicide was the most fitting end. What could an Uchiha brat possibly understand?"
"This is nothing more than the Uchiha clan expressing their dissatisfaction with the Village."
His voice grew colder.
"Hiruzen is far too soft. How can he continue to compromise with the Uchiha? They should have been suppressed long ago."
This man was Danzō Shimura—Hokage advisor and the true leader of Root.
As the mastermind behind the smear campaign against the Konoha White Fang, Uchiha Gen's actions were nothing short of a slap to Danzō's face.
Worse still, the boy belonged to the Uchiha clan.
After a brief pause, Danzō spoke again.
"To defeat that useless Yoshiwara using taijutsu alone… this Uchiha child has talent. Bring him to me tonight. I want to see him in person."
"Yes."
The masked Root operative vanished in a blur, using the Body Flicker Technique.
---
After parting ways with Senju Gen and the others, Uchiha Gen made his way back toward the clan compound.
The impact of teaching Yoshiwara Yūto a lesson had far exceeded his expectations. Along the way, he encountered many ninja who greeted him with friendly smiles.
Only then did he truly realize that the supporters of the White Fang had never disappeared. Their dissatisfaction with the Village had merely been buried alongside Sakumo Hatake's name.
They were forces that could still be rallied.
Whoosh.
A figure suddenly appeared atop a roadside wall ahead—it was Kakashi.
He stood silently, his visible eye fixed on Uchiha Gen.
Uchiha Gen walked forward step by step. Though Kakashi's mask concealed most of his face, Gen could still sense the complicated emotions swirling beneath his calm exterior.
Stopping in front of him, Uchiha Gen looked up and smiled.
"Senior Kakashi. Long time no see."
Kakashi stared at Uchiha Gen's youthful face. After a brief silence, he spoke softly.
"…Thank you."
Uchiha Gen was about to respond, but Kakashi vanished the instant the words left his mouth, leaving nothing behind but a faint swirl of air.
---
As Uchiha Gen drew closer to the clan compound, the number of clan members he encountered steadily increased.
At the gate, he ran into a squad of the Uchiha Military Police Force.
Their leader—a tall man with short hair—looked him over carefully before speaking.
"You're Rei's eldest son, aren't you?"
"Yes."
The man laughed heartily and patted Uchiha Gen on the shoulder.
"Well done! To defeat a Special Jōnin at your age—you've brought honor to the clan."
The others joined in with proud laughter.
"Indeed. Now those civilians will think twice before underestimating us."
"An Academy student defeating a Special Jōnin—only the Uchiha could produce such a genius."
"I knew it. Rei's eldest son was fearless even during the Nine-Tails incident. He even dared to mock those Root dogs when they blocked us."
Hearing their praise, Uchiha Gen smiled calmly.
"I couldn't help it. As an Uchiha, I can't tolerate a shameless scoundrel as my superior."
Then he asked casually, "So, what punishment did the Village decide on?"
The leader burst out laughing.
"What, scared?"
Uchiha Gen shook his head proudly.
"If I dared to act, then I won't fear the consequences."
The man's admiration deepened.
"Well said. Don't worry—the Village hasn't issued any punishment. After all, we are the Uchiha clan."
"Hahahaha!"
The group laughed loudly as they passed through the gate.
---
Inside the compound, nearly every clan member Uchiha Gen encountered offered words of praise—along with looks of disbelief.
No one had expected the eldest son of Uchiha Rei's branch family to stir up such a storm.
Not far from his home, he ran into Uchiha Eiji and the others.
"Gen, I really didn't misjudge you," Uchiha Eiji said excitedly. "I just didn't expect you to be that strong. That was a Special Jōnin!"
Uchiha Hayabusa and the rest looked at Gen with undisguised awe.
"When I first heard the news," someone said, "I thought it was a rumor."
Uchiha Gen replied calmly, "I only wanted to vent some anger for Senior White Fang."
"Konoha White Fang?" Uchiha Eiji frowned. "Wasn't that just an excuse?"
Uchiha Gen's expression darkened slightly.
"Of course not. Senior White Fang is someone I genuinely respect. Otherwise, why would I bother provoking that instructor at all?"
"I thought you just wanted fame," Uchiha Eiji scratched his head. "You do have the strength for it."
Uchiha Gen shot him an impatient glare.
"Do you think I'm like you? I don't need to defeat a petty scoundrel to become famous. That would only insult me."
He had witnessed the entire White Fang incident unfold.
He had seen Sakumo Hatake destroyed by crude lies and filthy political schemes.
And now that Sakumo was his teacher—
How could Uchiha Gen, as his disciple, ever ignore the man who had once stabbed his teacher in the back?
---
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