Two nights later, inside the Uchiha clan compound, the dining room of Uchiha Gen's mansion was alive with warmth.
A copper pot bubbled at the center of a round table, steam rising into the air. Surrounding it were plates of beef, lamb, tofu, fresh vegetables, dipping sauces, and bottles of sake and juice.
The gathering was hardly ordinary. Alongside Gen, Mikoto, and young Sasuke sat Kurenai Yuhi, Uzuki Yugao, and Mitarashi Anko.
Since the three kunoichi would eventually move in, Gen had decided to bring them over early, letting them get used to the house and each other beforehand.
Mikoto, true to her calm and kind nature, showed them no coldness. She welcomed them warmly, the very picture of an elder sister guiding younger ones.
Only Itachi was absent. He had left the village on a mission with Torune Aburame, Fu Yamanaka, and their Jōnin leader.
Thanks to the influence of the Uchiha, Aburame, and Yamanaka clans, putting the three geniuses together on one team had faced no resistance.
Konoha's higher-ups, wary of Gen's temper and unwilling to upset the Yamanaka and Aburame, who were already displeased with Danzo's attempts to poach their youth into Root, had quietly allowed it.
The group chatted cheerfully as they dipped meat into the simmering broth. Sasuke, ever energetic, kept the mood lively with his laughter and questions.
Just then, a shadow landed outside. Kneeling on one knee, a clan ninja announced, "Clan Head-sama, an Anbu operative requests to see you."
Gen swallowed a mouthful of lamb and asked casually, "How many?"
"Only one."
"What reason?"
"He says it concerns Kumogakure."
Gen's eyes narrowed slightly. "Heh… so the results are in. Let him in."
To receive a lone Anbu personally would be excessive—rank alone didn't warrant it.
"Yes, Clan Head-sama."
The ninja vanished, disappearing as suddenly as he had arrived.
Sasuke's eyes went wide, staring at the spot where he had been. "Gen-nii! I want to vanish like that too!" he cried, pointing at the doorway with shining eyes.
Gen laughed, ruffling Sasuke's hair. "Haha, no problem. Once you grow up, you'll be able to do it too. But if you want to grow faster, you'd better eat properly and stop being picky. Nutrition fuels strength."
"I know!"
With that, Sasuke bent over his bowl, dutifully chomping down on whatever Mikoto placed there. She couldn't help but smile. Compared to Fugaku, Gen's way with children was on an entirely different level. Fugaku had always put on a stern, authoritative front with Itachi, never coaxing or guiding gently.
Not just with children, either. In other… aspects, Gen's stamina and persistence were on a whole other plane. Even now, though Mikoto's body was still strong by Jōnin standards, keeping up with him was growing difficult. She truly needed someone to help share the "burden."
"Gen… nothing will go wrong, right?" Kurenai asked softly, unease flickering in her eyes.
Yugao, too, looked tense. Only Anko was unconcerned, happily wrestling with her meat like nothing else in the world mattered.
Both women, as members of the Police Force, had already heard the rumors; the conflict at headquarters, the Kumogakure delegation leader's death.
"Relax," Gen said evenly. "If something were truly wrong, it wouldn't just be one Anbu, and he wouldn't have come speaking vaguely. Everything is under my control."
The two women exhaled slowly. His reasoning was sound.
"Clan Head-sama, he's here."
Gen turned his head—and recognized the masked figure immediately. Soul Perception confirmed it. He stood, stepping out.
"Kakashi. So it's you. Been a while."
Beneath the mask, Kakashi's expression tightened. Their current difference in reputation and power wasn't what troubled him, Kakashi wasn't one for jealousy. What weighed on him was position.
He still stood on the Hokage's side. Gen was in constant conflict with Sarutobi.
Yet they had once been teammates, comrades. He had ties to Shisui, to Gen, even to Kushina. If another clash erupted, would he be ordered to move against them? The thought left him uneasy.
Better not to dwell on it. For now, there was no such order.
"This is from Hokage-sama," Kakashi said, his voice flat but faintly warmer than his usual Anbu tone. He pulled a scroll from his pouch. "He also asked me to deliver a message."
Gen took the scroll, arching a brow. "What message?"
"Hokage-sama asks that you restrain yourself. Don't escalate things beyond control. Prioritize peace above all."
Gen blinked, puzzled then smirked faintly. Oh, he understood. Whatever lay in the scroll had clearly rattled even Sarutobi. Kumogakure's move must have exceeded their expectations.
"Got it. Did anyone else read this scroll?"
"No. It came from Kumogakure's envoy. They specifically requested it be delivered only to you. Hokage-sama respected that."
It was a deliberate tactic. Kumogakure assumed Konoha would want to shield its top fighter, no matter the friction. So they kept the time and place secret, preventing interference.
How ironic. In reality, Konoha's elders valued loyalty far more than power. A weapon that didn't obey them wasn't an asset, it was a threat.
"Understood."
Gen gestured toward the door. "Come in and eat. A few of your classmates are inside."
Kakashi shook his head. "No. I've eaten. I need to return and report."
"Mm. How's Might Guy?"
"I've been busy. Haven't seen much of him."
Gen chuckled. "He's the same as always, living simply, training earnestly, full of happiness. Sometimes, I envy him."
"…I'll be going."
With a wave, Kakashi vanished into the night. The Uchiha guard with him disappeared as well.
Gen returned to the table, scroll in hand. A glance was enough to see the faint sealing traces woven into its seal. Without the right technique, it couldn't be opened.
He set it down, lips curling. "A show of power… To anyone without the skill, this would be unreadable. You'd need help. How interesting. Just what game are you playing, Kumogakure?"
Everyone's eyes fixed on the scroll as he spoke.
Gen quickly formed a string of hand signs, pressed his palm to the parchment, and pushed chakra through a precise pattern. Slowly, the black sealing marks dissolved.
The scroll opened with a whisper.
Gen lowered his gaze and began to read.