Hearing Uchiha Gen's words—especially the disdain and contempt unmistakable in his eyes—Yoshiwara Yūto's face flushed crimson with rage.
He glared viciously at Uchiha Gen and snapped,
"Brat, don't think you can disrespect me just because you're an Uchiha."
Senju Gen frowned and glanced at Uchiha Gen, sensing from his expression that he recognized Yoshiwara Yūto.
"Gen, you—"
Before he could finish, Uchiha Gen raised a hand, cutting him off.
"Special Jōnin Yoshiwara Yūto," Uchiha Gen said coldly, "you will never earn my respect."
He sneered, eyes sharp as blades.
"I know exactly who you are. A despicable, shameless coward. Do you still remember the Konoha White Fang?"
Yoshiwara Yūto was the ninja captured by Kumogakure during that infamous mission—an incident that forced Sakumo Hatake to abandon his objective.
Worse still, after Sakumo's return, it was Yoshiwara who publicly condemned him, accusing the White Fang of being unworthy of the title Konoha ninja.
At the mention of the Konoha White Fang, Yoshiwara Yūto's face twisted grotesquely. He let out a harsh, sinister laugh.
"Konoha White Fang… of course I remember him," he sneered. "A man who wasn't worthy of being a ninja."
Uchiha Gen's gaze turned icy.
"How dare a mongrel like you judge a hero?" he said flatly. "In my eyes, you're not even fit to tie his boots."
Yoshiwara's grin widened into something unhinged as he roared,
"Hero? Sakumo Hatake was nothing but an unqualified ninja who damaged the village's interests! What kind of hero abandons a mission?!"
His outburst drew the attention of nearby squads. Conversations died down as eyes turned toward the confrontation.
"I'll tell you why he was a hero," Uchiha Gen said, voice rising with controlled fury.
"Two hundred and sixty-six B-rank missions. One hundred and twenty-three A-rank missions. Twenty-seven S-rank missions."
He stepped forward.
"He fought on the Sunagakure front. He fought on the Iwagakure front. His name alone once terrified enemy villages."
Uchiha Gen's lips curled into a cold smile.
"That mission failed because you were captured. By your own twisted logic, a 'qualified ninja' like you should have taken your own life before surrendering—so the mission wouldn't fail."
Yoshiwara Yūto's face trembled violently. Veins bulged, his eyes bloodshot and nearly popping from their sockets.
With a furious roar, he charged.
Bang!
Uchiha Gen caught Yoshiwara's punch effortlessly and followed with a sweeping horizontal kick, sending him flying through the air.
Twisting mid-flight, Yoshiwara formed seals and flung two shuriken.
Uchiha Gen surged forward, his form blurring into afterimages. In an instant, he appeared before Yoshiwara and struck his chest with a palm like a blade.
Thud!
Yoshiwara slammed into the ground.
Uchiha Gen planted his foot on Yoshiwara's face, looking down at him with icy contempt.
"You want to be my captain?" he said calmly.
"You're weak—and worse, unreliable. On the battlefield, people like you are the first to betray their comrades. I will never trust you."
The training ground fell silent.
A newly graduated genin had openly defied—and defeated—his jōnin instructor.
Uchiha Gen stepped back, turned, and began to leave.
Behind him, Yoshiwara Yūto slowly поднялся, hatred burning in his eyes. He formed hand seals, chakra surging violently.
Before he could release the technique—
"Water Release: Water Surge Wave!"
A torrent of water crashed into Yoshiwara, dispersing his chakra and sending him flying once more.
Uchiha Gen paused and glanced back coldly before turning to Senju Gen.
Senju Gen smiled faintly.
"You're right, Gen. Someone who attacks a student from behind isn't fit to be a captain."
---
The incident quickly reached the Hokage Tower.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a long pull from his pipe as he listened to the report.
At the mention of the Konoha White Fang, a trace of guilt flickered across his face—gone as quickly as it appeared.
So someone still remembers you… he thought. What happened back then was for the village, Sakumo.
After a long silence, he exhaled a ring of smoke.
"Replace Yoshiwara Yūto," he said. "As for Uchiha Gen… the punishment will be waived."
An Uchiha had been involved. A Senju had also intervened.
Punishing the Senju was out of the question—and singling out the Uchiha alone would only provoke unrest within the clan.
Besides, in the shinobi world, strength commanded respect. A jōnin defeated by a fresh genin had little standing left.
---
Later, in a small street-side eatery, Uchiha Gen and the others gathered.
"Gen-kun… thank you."
Hatake Seiko spoke solemnly. Among those present, the Hatake clan bore the deepest wounds—after all, it was Yoshiwara Yūto who played a role in their clan head's tragic end.
When Seiko heard what Gen had done, shock gave way to a fierce sense of vindication.
Uchiha Gen picked up a skewer of fish balls and shrugged.
"No need for thanks. I didn't do it for you. I did it for Senior White Fang."
His eyes sharpened.
"He's a senior I've always respected. I've wanted to teach Yoshiwara a lesson for a long time. The fact that he wanted to be my jōnin instructor just made it unbearable."
He chuckled softly.
"After beating him, I feel refreshed."
Aida Kai spoke hesitantly,
"Gen-kun… won't this cause trouble? Won't the village punish you?"
Uchiha Gen replied calmly,
"Don't worry. Even if there's punishment, it won't involve you."
Then he turned to Senju Gen.
"You didn't need to step in. He couldn't have hurt me."
Senju Gen smiled.
"The Konoha White Fang is a senior I respect too. How could I miss the chance?"
The two exchanged a knowing smile.
"Thank you," Uchiha Gen said quietly.
He understood—Senju Gen had acted to share whatever consequences might follow.
Nearby, Hyūga Kagami whispered,
"After you left, I overheard some jōnin instructors talking. They were full of praise for Gen's actions."
---
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