In a village not too close to Konoha, yet not too far either—
Gen Takuya stood wearing a mask.
In front of him, several figures knelt on one knee.
They were his subordinates.
Not shinobi—just strong ordinary men.
Because while it seemed like shinobi were everywhere, that was only because all eyes were on the hidden villages.
In truth, shinobi were scarce.
If he used shinobi, the risk of being discovered increased drastically.
And right now…
Gen Takuya couldn't afford to show his face.
"My lord, this is the report for this mission. Everything has been handled. And this is what we've earned recently—please review it," the leader said respectfully.
"Mm."
Gen Takuya took the ledger, glanced at the numbers, and showed satisfaction—then unhesitatingly took the majority for himself.
"The rest," he said, looking at them through the mask, his voice altered into something neither clearly male nor female, "you distribute among yourselves."
"Thank you, my lord!" The leader's face lit up.
Even after Gen Takuya took most of it, what remained was still a fortune to them.
And more importantly, they understood exactly how that money was made.
Without Gen Takuya backing them, they would never have been able to earn it.
Of course, people were greedy.
No one didn't want more.
But they didn't dare.
If it were only a matter of strength, they could've taken one big score and run—
But…
The moment the leader remembered that bone-deep agony, cold sweat burst across his skin.
They would rather die than experience that sensation again.
Gen Takuya nodded, instructed them to continue their operations, then left.
He didn't have time to "win hearts."
His method was simpler—borrowed from an old tale about controlling others through fear and pain.
A life-and-death talisman.
Not with martial arts—
With sealing techniques.
Even so, it wasn't perfect.
That was why his men didn't know this:
A crow was always watching them.
In case they ever tried to break the seal.
Gen Takuya was confident his seals weren't something just anyone could undo.
Among those he personally knew, only Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato could likely crack them.
But who could guarantee there weren't other fuinjutsu masters in the world?
It never hurt to leave yourself a hidden blade.
…
Konoha, the Hokage's Office.
"Oh ho, excellent work. The mission was completed flawlessly," the Third Hokage said, smiling as he read the mission report.
"I was fortunate," Gen Takuya replied modestly, standing before the desk.
Not every shinobi reported directly to the Hokage upon completing missions.
But Gen Takuya was a Tokubetsu Jōnin. He had the qualifications.
In any village, jōnin were top-tier combat power. Tokubetsu jōnin might be "elite cannon fodder" on the battlefield, but within the village, they were still valuable talent.
"And after this mission," the Third Hokage asked amiably, "are you going right back to locking yourself indoors to study sealing techniques?"
"Yes," Gen Takuya answered simply.
It was the persona he maintained in Konoha: an isolated, obsessive fuinjutsu researcher.
The Third Hokage wore an expression that said, of course.
Most people who knew Gen Takuya knew his life consisted of two things.
One: missions, when he ran out of research funds.
Two: research, once he had money again.
The Hokage wasn't interrogating him. It was more like casual concern—Gen Takuya was a mission fanatic, and the village benefited from it. It was only right to show him some kindness.
With that, the Third Hokage picked up the Hokage stamp and pressed it onto Gen Takuya's mission scroll.
The mission was officially concluded.
Just as Gen Takuya turned to leave, another figure stepped inside.
A green jōnin flak jacket.
Blond hair.
Blue eyes.
Namikaze Minato—the man who would become the Fourth Hokage.
"Hokage-sama," Minato said, walking to Gen Takuya's side. His voice was calm and polite. He gave Gen Takuya a gentle nod as well.
Gen Takuya returned the nod, slightly surprised to meet Minato here.
"Oh! Minato," the Third Hokage chuckled, exhaling a thick plume of white smoke. "I nearly forgot to call you in."
Then, as if a thought struck him, he added, "Takuya—Minato is also highly skilled in sealing techniques. Don't always shut yourself away and reinvent the wheel alone. Sometimes, exchanging ideas makes you improve faster."
"Yes," Gen Takuya replied, expression unreadable.
Minato looked at him with interest.
He'd heard of Gen Takuya—a strange man obsessed with fuinjutsu.
"Gen Takuya-senpai, right?" Minato smiled warmly. "If there's a chance, I'd like to exchange sealing knowledge with you."
"Mm… sure. But you don't need to call me senpai," Gen Takuya said, eyeing him.
Gen Takuya was only a few years older.
In rank, Minato was already a jōnin.
In actual combat…
Even after fusing Uzumaki blood, Gen Takuya still wouldn't dare claim he could beat Minato.
And yet Minato still called him senpai.
No wonder Minato's reputation and relationships were so exceptional.
"Haha. I heard about you a long time ago," Minato said easily. "A 'seal-obsessed man.' I've wanted to visit you for a while, but never had the chance."
"Then if the chance comes, we'll exchange techniques," Gen Takuya replied.
He couldn't refuse here.
If Minato wanted to call him senpai, then so be it.
…And honestly, being called "senpai" by the man countless people considered their hero?
It didn't feel bad at all.
Who disliked being praised?
"Hehe. The exchange can wait until later," the Third Hokage said, tossing a scroll to Minato. "Minato, I called you here because I need you to handle a mission. It's S-rank. Right now, you're the only one suitable."
Minato nodded. It wasn't his first S-rank mission.
Gen Takuya, however, paused—then lowered his gaze, an imperceptible sigh in his heart.
As expected.
He could handle A-rank missions at best.
S-rank?
He'd never completed one alone.
"Hokage-sama. Minato-jōnin. Then I'll take my leave," Gen Takuya said.
After receiving their permission, he left.
The Hokage would discuss the details of an S-rank mission with Minato now.
Gen Takuya had no place there.
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