After establishing his private research lab, Uchiha Gen found his schedule busier than ever.
By day, he handled Konoha's Police Force affairs, signing reports and mediating disputes; by night, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to commute to his hidden laboratory deep in the mountains.
There was no time to slack off anymore. If he wanted his evenings free for his experiments, he had to clear every case on his desk before the end of the day.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, was juggling several of his own research projects. He could only lend Gen occasional assistance, though having both of them based in the same underground complex made collaboration easy whenever they needed it.
Despite the constant workload, Gen never forgot how to enjoy life.
One lazy afternoon, instead of heading to the lab, he invited Uzuki Yūgao out for a change of pace.
The two slipped quietly out of Konoha. Once they were beyond the village perimeter, Gen summoned Kyouki, his great spectral mount, and together they soared southeast through the clouds.
Half an hour later, a vast sea of color opened beneath them—a valley blanketed in wildflowers, shimmering under the mountain sun.
Yūgao's eyes widened in delight. She pressed her hands to her chest, overcome by the sight.
The flower field lay cradled between mountain peaks, a river glinting as it wound through the valley. The slopes on both sides were thick with blossoms of every hue. Under the strong mountain breeze, the whole expanse rippled like a living canvas. Even from above, the air carried a sweet floral scent.
"Let's go down, Gen!" Yūgao said, tugging his arm eagerly.
Flower viewing was one of her greatest pleasures. Seeing such a breathtaking sight, she looked almost giddy, like a child seeing the first snow of the year.
Gen chuckled and patted her hand. "All right, all right. Hold on tight."
Kyouki descended in a smooth arc, landing lightly among the blossoms.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Yūgao ran forward, darting from one patch of flowers to the next—kneeling to smell them, brushing petals with her fingertips, eyes sparkling.
Today she wore what Gen had teasingly called her "off-duty uniform": a white cropped jacket over a soft T-shirt, blue-white skinny jeans, and her violet hair tied in a high ponytail. The simple outfit made her look effortlessly youthful—bright, clean, and a little too lovely for Gen's peace of mind.
He smiled and let her wander while he busied himself with preparations. Sending Kyouki off to rest nearby, Gen chose a spot on the hillside sheltered from the wind. He summoned a delivery snake, which uncoiled and spat out a neatly sealed camping crate.
The snake's enormous body flattened a stretch of flowers before vanishing in a puff of smoke, saving him the trouble of clearing ground himself.
Gen unpacked the equipment, setting up a tent with the practiced ease of someone who'd done this many times before.
Yūgao soon came trotting over to help. "Are we going back to the village tonight?" she asked, holding down one side of the canvas.
"Of course not," Gen replied with a grin. "We're staying here just the two of us."
The words made her pause. A hint of color rose to her cheeks, and she turned away, pretending to focus on the ropes.
By afternoon, the campsite was ready. They played along the riverbank, splashing and laughing as they tried to catch fish with their bare hands, then climbed to the opposite slope to chase the sunset. They hunted small game in the nearby forest, gathered fruit, and returned to prepare dinner.
The easy rhythm between them, half teasing, half tender, made the hours slip by unnoticed. When the sky began to glow with streaks of orange and rose, Gen led Yūgao, now tousled and flushed, back to their camp.
They built a fire, set an iron plate over it, brushed it with oil, and began grilling their spoils—fish, meat, tofu, vegetables. The scent of sizzling food filled the cool evening air. Instead of sake, Gen had brought a bottle of red wine.
"How's the food?" he asked, dropping a piece of golden beef into her dipping sauce bowl.
Yūgao smiled softly. "It's perfect—the view, the food, the wine… and the company."
Gen laughed. "Couldn't have said it better myself. Cheers."
They clinked cups, the sound clear and bright in the mountain air.
Far away in Konoha, Gekkō Hayate had long since given up pursuing Yūgao. Whether it was by his own realization or the gentle persuasion of others was unclear, but it had been a wise choice.
With Gen's growing power and influence, competing for affection would have been… unwise.
Now, only Gen and Yūgao remained—no rivals, no distractions.
They ate, talked, and laughed as the sunset deepened into violet dusk. When the last embers of daylight faded, Gen lit an oil lamp and scattered beast-repelling powder around the camp. Not that he feared anything wandering close; he simply didn't want their quiet spoiled by uninvited guests.
After dinner, they cleaned up, then took a slow walk through the moonlit flower fields. The moon was full and bright, silvering the valley in soft light. The flowers swayed in waves under the breeze, their scent richer and sweeter than before.
They wandered until the chill set in, then returned to the camp, lying together on a blanket outside the tent to watch the stars.
The night was calm. The world seemed to hold its breath.
Gen turned slightly, drawing Yūgao closer. She didn't resist—only rested her head against his shoulder. Their conversation grew quieter, their laughter softer. The space between words began to fill with warmth instead of sound.
When he finally leaned in, she didn't turn away.
The tent's lamplight flickered gently, then dimmed. Beyond the canvas, only the rustling of flowers and the whisper of wind broke the silence of the valley.
At dawn, the first rays of sunlight spilled across the hills. Gen stepped out of the tent, bare-chested, stretching with a faint, satisfied smile. He picked up a damp blanket, infused it with a touch of Fire Release chakra, and watched the steam rise as it dried in seconds.
He spread the blanket in a patch of flowers, then turned back. A moment later, Yūgao emerged from the tent, still half-asleep, wrapped in his cloak. Her violet hair tumbled loose around her shoulders, her cheeks flushed with morning color.
"Honestly," she murmured, embarrassed but smiling, "you're outrageous. Doing all this out in the wilderness…"
Gen only laughed and drew her close again.
The valley was quiet except for the morning birdsong and somewhere beneath it, the soft laughter of two people who had found, at least for now, a moment of peace.