"I lost."
Senju Gen lowered his head, expression conflicted.
"But even then… I still couldn't force Yuan to use his full strength. I could feel it—he wasn't taking me seriously at all."
At those words, the young woman's hand—just about to pick up a red bean tart—paused in midair.
Her brows drew together.
"Gen… have you lost confidence?"
Gen immediately straightened his back under her gaze.
"No. Never."
Only then did she calmly lift the tart.
"Uchiha Yuan was able to create that standing-breath cultivation method. His talent is not inferior to Great-Granduncle Tobirama."
Gen nodded—his hand quietly reaching for the tart—
Only to freeze when he felt her needle-sharp stare pierce him. He offered a sheepish grin and retreated.
She continued:
"Yuan's breathing method greatly strengthens the body. When combined with our Senju clan's own training arts, our power increases rapidly.
Gen, as long as you train steadily, you will catch up to Yuan one day."
Her tone shifted, softening into a sigh.
"But I've heard Uchiha Yuan is extremely domineering and reckless.
Now that he's made such great contributions… with the village's longstanding fear of the Uchiha, conflict between him and the higher-ups is inevitable."
She shot Gen a sideways glare.
"And when that day comes, I do not want to hear that you've rushed in like the incident with Yoshihara Yūtō."
Gen protested immediately:
"Sis, you don't understand—Yūtō is a disgusting, shameless bastard. He blamed others for his own mistakes, and his slander is what drove Senior Kakashi's father to his death!"
She sighed.
"The village has already judged the White Fang's case. It isn't something for you to question."
In truth, she thought silently,
our Senju clan supported the White Fang's candidacy for Fourth Hokage. Many of our elders resented the Third for sacrificing us heavily in the Second Shinobi War. Our casualties were enormous, yet he kept forcing our clan to the front lines…
Her gaze sharpened with irritation.
"After you and Yuan beat that Yoshihara brat, the Third forgave Yuan because of your involvement.
But do you know what happened that night? Shimura Danzō barged into our compound and scolded our elders for 'failing to discipline the younger generation.'"
"What?! Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Gen was genuinely shocked.
She waved a hand dismissively.
"A mangy old dog barking—nothing more.
If our Senju clan hadn't been weakened, how could that Danzō dare act so arrogantly on our land?"
Gen blinked—he hadn't expected his gentle elder sister to speak of Danzō in such a way.
He laughed.
"Sis, you and Yuan really are alike. Yuan also calls Danzō an old dog all the time."
Her elegant nose twitched in annoyance.
"Gen. Don't lump me together with him."
Yet she still nudged a fruit cake toward him.
"Now… tell me everything. Start from the moment you met Yuan."
Gen recounted in detail the conversation, the sparring, and everything that happened.
When he mentioned that Yuan had half-seriously proposed making Gen his brother-in-law, the girl couldn't help a soft laugh.
"So Uchiha Yuan really does value you quite a bit.
His sister's name is Izumi, right? How old is she? Cute?"
Gen's face turned bright red.
"Y-Yuan was just joking! Besides, Lady Mikoto seems to want Izumi as her daughter-in-law. I don't think she'd let Izumi marry outside the clan."
The girl's expression became thoughtful.
"Actually, Yuan's proposal isn't bad. A union between Senju and Uchiha… might create even stronger bloodline power."
"Sis—don't joke like that!" Gen protested.
"I don't want my future wife chosen just to produce some 'powerful bloodline.'"
Uchiha Clan Grounds
On the way home, Yuan ran into Izumi and walked with her.
"Izumi, is Lady Mikoto angry?"
Izumi nodded vigorously.
"I've never seen her so angry before! I feel like she wanted to bite a chunk out of you!"
Yuan chuckled.
"Well… I did basically deny her son right in front of her."
Izumi suddenly stopped and looked up at him.
"Brother… do you dislike Itachi-kun?"
Yuan stopped as well and met her eyes.
"What about you, Izumi? Do you like him so much you want to be his bride?"
Izumi's face turned crimson.
"B-Brother, I asked first…"
Yuan answered slowly:
"I don't dislike Itachi. In fact, I admire him.
He and Shisui are similar—extraordinary talent, yet none of the clan's arrogance."
He smiled faintly.
"Young girls tend to admire strong boys their age.
It's normal you feel that way. I'm sure many other girls in the clan like him too."
At that, Izumi remembered clearly—half the young girls in the clan had confessed their admiration for Itachi.
Yuan's tone turned serious.
"But admiration is the furthest distance from understanding.
Izumi, do you understand Itachi's heart?"
Izumi lowered her head and shook it.
Yuan gently ruffled her hair.
"What you feel now is admiration, fondness, and curiosity—not love.
It's far too early for love.
I hope you meet more good boys instead of fixing your eyes on one person."
Izumi fell silent.
When they reached home, Yuan immediately noticed a visitor.
A gray-haired elder sat in the living room, and his mother was serving him tea.
"Yuan, this is the clan's Fourth Elder," she said. "He's here for you today."
She pulled Izumi aside, leaving the two alone.
Yuan approached, bowed respectfully, and sat down.
"Elder."
"Yuan," the old man said with a warm smile, "this is our first meeting. I am Uchiha Sanga."
His eyes studied Yuan with undisguised curiosity.
"I've heard your name for quite some time.
I didn't expect that after Shisui, our clan would gain yet another rising powerhouse."
Yuan lifted the tea cup, took a sip, and replied calmly:
"Fourth Elder, what business brings you here today?"
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