Hearing Uchiha Mikoto's voice, Senju Gen turned quickly and saw a beautiful young woman holding a child.
He bowed politely.
"Hello, ma'am."
Mikoto smiled as she studied him.
"What an adorable boy. You're from the Senju clan?"
A faint blush crept onto Gen's face.
"Yes. My name is Senju Gen. Forgive my intrusion—I'm here to see Yuan."
"Oh? So you're little Yuan's friend? I didn't expect him to have a friend from the Senju clan."
Her eyes curved with curiosity.
"Just now you were muttering something about being jealous of the Uchiha. What exactly were you jealous of?"
Gen's gaze fell to the baby in her arms—Sasuke—whose round eyes stared at him with an oddly serious expression.
A shade of loneliness crossed Gen's face.
"I'm envious of how lively the Uchiha compound is…
The Senju district is quiet. Too quiet."
Mikoto froze for a moment.
Though she rarely paid attention to other clans, Fugaku had spoken of the Senju many times.
In the past two Shinobi World Wars, the clan suffered devastating casualties.
The once-mighty Senju had nearly vanished from Konoha's public eye.
The years of rivalry between the Senju and Uchiha were so ancient they'd become symbolic.
To the Uchiha, the Senju's decline was… not something they mourned.
So Mikoto didn't know how to respond.
She instead shifted the topic with a smile.
"You came for Yuan. Around this time he should be at the clan training grounds. I'll take you."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Uchiha Clan Training Grounds
Located on the northeastern edge of the district, only a handful of Uchiha were scattered about training.
In a quiet corner, Uchiha Yuan was sparring with his little sister, Izumi.
More precisely—he was letting her spar with him.
One hand folded behind his back, he casually deflected Izumi's rapid punches with the other, every motion fluid and effortless.
Finally, he caught her fist mid-strike, ending the practice.
Izumi panted heavily, strands of sweat-soaked hair clinging to her forehead.
Yuan's expression hardened.
"Izumi, your attacks are still stiff and predictable. I could block them with my eyes closed."
Her eyes shimmered immediately, tears threatening to spill.
Yuan continued, firm but not unkind:
"From today onward, you must complete one thousand straight-punch drills every day.
Every punch must have intent."
Izumi whispered a tiny "…okay."
Seeing her expression, Yuan's tone softened.
"Izumi, don't disappoint me."
She straightened, nodding earnestly.
"Don't worry, big brother—I won't."
Yuan smiled slightly and gently smoothed her messy hair.
At that moment, Izumi's attention shifted—
Mikoto was approaching, with Senju Gen at her side.
Izumi blinked at the unfamiliar boy.
"Mikoto-auntie, who is he?"
Mikoto chuckled.
"He came to see your brother."
Yuan turned—and surprise lit his face.
"Gen!"
Gen beamed.
"Yuan! I heard you'd returned so I came right away!"
"Brother, who is he?"
Izumi tugged at Yuan's sleeve.
Yuan's smile grew.
"He's Senju Gen—my good friend."
Then he introduced her.
"Gen, this is my sister, Izumi."
Gen nodded politely.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Senju Gen."
Izumi shyly replied,
"I'm Uchiha Izumi. Hello."
Gen gave Yuan a teasing grin.
"Yuan, I didn't know you had such a cute little sister."
Izumi's cheeks flushed scarlet.
Yuan, on the other hand, looked very pleased.
He clapped Gen on the shoulder.
"Gen, I approve of you.
Interested in becoming my brother-in-law?"
"Brother!!"
Gen froze.
Izumi squeaked in outrage and stomped on Yuan's foot.
On the side, Mikoto's smile twitched violently.
Brother-in-law?
So you're saying my son Itachi isn't "approved"?
This brat…
She glared inwardly.
Mikoto then said sweetly—too sweetly, perhaps:
"Yuan, introducing Izumi to someone else right in front of me? That's cruel, you know."
She turned to Gen with a soft but dangerous smile.
"Gen-kun, Izumi is the daughter-in-law I've set my heart on.
You wouldn't be trying to take her away from me… would you?"
Gen broke into a cold sweat.
The gentle woman before him suddenly felt like a lioness ready to pounce.
He stammered,
"M-ma'am, Yuan was just joking."
But Yuan's voice cut in—calm, serious, and absolutely sincere.
"No. I don't joke about my sister."
"As the eldest son, I'm responsible for her future.
I consider you an excellent candidate, Gen.
Of course… if you refuse, Haruka is also one of my top choices."
Mikoto: (silent rage intensifies)
So you really just threw Itachi into the trash pile, huh?
Even baby Sasuke in her arms seemed to pick up on her irritation and let out an indignant babble.
Mikoto's smile finally dropped.
She glared at Yuan once more before turning away.
Izumi panicked.
"Mikoto-auntie, wait for me!"
She hurried after her.
When the two were gone, Gen sighed helplessly.
"Yuan… using me as a shield was unnecessary."
He added:
"Mikoto-auntie's son is that famous genius, Uchiha Itachi, right?
I heard he achieved quite a bit fighting the Mist on the eastern front."
Gen smiled wryly.
"Though he still can't compare to you."
It was obvious to him—
Yuan didn't want Izumi and Itachi getting close.
Yuan met his eyes seriously.
"Gen, I know your character.
I believe you can make Izumi happy.
As her brother, that matters most to me."
A blush crept up Gen's neck.
"Haha… being trusted like that by you actually makes me really happy."
"So," Yuan continued, smiling,
"why don't you try spending more time with Izumi? I'd be glad to see you two together."
"T-that's… not really appropriate, is it? We're still kids…"
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