c91: Better than Better than Better than Worse
Back in Uzushiogakure, Uchiha Gen arranged for Yuichi and Mori to stay at the Uchiha clan's merchant base operating under the alias Hoshino Trade Company. They received a hearty meal infused with chakra-replenishing medicinal herbs, and were given rest in a quiet ward protected by low-grade barrier seals.
The next morning, the two were disguised as traveling merchants and joined a caravan escorted by retired shinobi. They took the Land of Fire's eastern route to return to Konoha.
The recovery of their bodies progressed rapidly. Although the food in captivity was bland, it was regular, and they weren't malnourished. Their tenketsu had not been sealed, and with their Uchiha physique known for naturally high chakra levels—they hadn't suffered significant physical degeneration.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Gen returned to the four-room villa granted by the Fujita family in the industrial quarter of Uzushiogakure. His operations to harvest soul energy and lifespan resumed in a silent, steady rhythm.
In the blink of an eye, nearly four months passed. The calendar turned to September 30, Konoha Year 51, exactly ten days before the Nine-Tails Rebellion triggered by Uchiha Obito under Madara's influence.
That night, Gen Uchiha harvested the soul of Fujita Saiyo Nishiyo's successor and absorbed the final batch of prey prepared by the Fujita clan. This marked the conclusion of his operation in the Land of Whirlpools.
Sensing that his soul energy had reached its limit, Gen checked into the World Hotel under an alias, reserving the entire top suite. After layering multiple chakra concealment and disruption barriers learned from Uzumaki sealing scrolls he began his attempt to evolve his Sharingan.
The occipital lobe in the spiritual striatum of his soul began resonating with the physical occipital lobe of his brain. His soul power burned at a rapid rate, converting into a unique form of ocular chakra similar in concept to the Yin chakra that Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki once wielded.
The three-tomoe Sharingan, already at its peak in insight and reaction, began shifting under the assault of this rare energy. Unlike the typical Mangekyō evolution, which was triggered through trauma loss of a loved one or extreme emotional upheaval this was a synthetic, force-induced evolution. The chakra flow was controlled, but painfully slow.
Conventional Mangekyō evolution is binary: it either succeeds under trauma and unlocks new ocular tomoe patterns or it doesn't happen at all. There is no half-success.
Half a minute passed. All the stored soul energy vanished. Uchiha Gen opened his eyes, panting from the drain.
But.there was no dramatic shift.
He rose, walked to the bathroom, and examined himself in the mirror. The Sharingan that stared back was still three-tomoe but the tomoe were thinner, sharper, and visibly closer to merging.
It was a transitional state.
He estimated that the soul power consumed was more than enough for normal evolution. Originally, he had overcompensated but even that had not triggered the final transformation.
A quarter more soul energy might push it over the edge.
Was it because unconventional evolution demanded greater chakra refinement?
Or because the Mangekyō ability latent within his eyes required more power than usual something on par with Kamui, Tsukuyomi, or Kotoamatsukami?
Or perhaps... some other, unknown reason?
He hoped it was the second one. After all, if the ability was rare and powerful enough, it would justify the increased investment. A powerful ability is better than a rushed awakening.
In the ninja world, nothing is more precious than an ability that guarantees survival. Even Izanagi, at the cost of vision, was used by Danzo to cheat death. Kamui could ignore dimensions, and Amaterasu burned even flames.
As long as he lived, he could plan again.
Now, his Sharingan was between the three-tomoe and Mangekyō. Better than the former, not quite the latter. The lost energy wasn't wasted—it was preparation.
Closing his eyes, Gen deactivated his Sharingan and returned to the bedroom to sleep.
—
The next morning, Gen Uchiha checked out after breakfast, handed over the room's chakra keys, and quietly left Uzushiogakure through a merchant convoy path. Ten days wasn't enough time to harvest more soul energy. There was no point in staying.
By mid-afternoon, Konoha's forest borders came into view. Gen summoned Zhu Rong, his summoned beast, and flew low under the treeline. He landed quietly in the outskirts of the forest, concealed his trail, and walked the rest of the way into the village.
Back in Konoha, everything was as it had been. He left coded messages for Orochimaru at the Snake's Den bar, dismissed his doubles from surveillance duty, refreshed his barrier seals, and collapsed on his own bed.
As the saying goes, a golden nest or silver nest isn't as comfortable as your own doghouse. Though the Fujita villa and World Hotel offered higher luxury, nothing felt safer or freer than his home in the Uchiha district.
Lying flat until sunset, Gen enjoyed a new novel written by a retired shinobi from Kusagakure. He didn't move until his stomach growled. Putting the book aside, he went to the kitchen.
Then—the doorbell rang.
He paused, wiped his hands, and opened the door. A large group of people stood outside, smiling and carrying gifts—homemade pickles, dried fish, chakra-enhancing nuts, and sake brewed from fermented senju bark.
Yuichi and Mori had returned safely, and their families had brought them to show their gratitude.
Though Gen felt slightly guilty, he maintained composure and welcomed them warmly.
After all, what he did was morally gray. He didn't kill them, but he had arranged their capture. Sparing their lives didn't erase the crime.
He admitted he had a double standard. But it wasn't shameless. He was harshest on himself and lenient with others. He never confused right and wrong.
After an evening of laughter, conversation, and gratitude, the families finally left.
From the second-floor balcony, Gen watched them leave their arms interlinked, children chatting excitedly, elders smiling. He smiled faintly.
Some things… just aren't worth pushing to the end.
His efforts had brought him closer to his own goals and saved two Uchiha lives. In this war-torn world, that was enough.
Humming a tune from a lullaby Mikoto once sang, Gen returned to the kitchen.
I've had too much rich food lately, he thought. Tonight I'll just make rice porridge and grilled yam.
—
After dinner, Gen sat on the sofa reading. Zhu Rong coiled peacefully beside him while Wu Sheng, his blade spirit, floated in the air practicing silent slashes.
Though he lived alone, Gen didn't feel lonely. He had lived like this in his past life—self-sufficient and inwardly focused.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang again.
Zhu Rong shrank into Gen's shadow. Wu Sheng returned to his sheath.
Gen opened the door.
Shisui and Itachi stood there.
"Yo," said Shisui, holding a bag of juice and snacks. "We heard you were back. Figured you could use some company."
Gen chuckled and welcomed them in. The table was quickly filled with bottled plum juice, dried persimmons, mochi, and seaweed crackers.
Shisui looked at the cozy setup and laughed. "Xuan, you're living the good life! Meanwhile, I'm chasing rogue ninja across the Land of Cliffs."
Despite the words, his tone was relaxed. There was no resentment—only quiet pride.
"Want to switch?" Gen teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Forget it!" Shisui waved. "I'd go crazy without a mission every two days. I like staying busy."
Tool man instincts, Gen thought. If the daimyo saw him, they'd cry tears of gratitude.
Turning, Gen said to Itachi, "Mi casa es su casa. Take what you want."
"Thank you, Brother Gen."
Then with a serious smile, Itachi added, "Since you call me brother, I'll do the same!"
Gen's heart warmed slightly. Itachi didn't seem jealous at all after the birth of his younger sibling.
This was typical. The Uchiha often had multiple sons. Sibling rivalry wasn't rare but neither was harmony.
"Sister Mikoto gave birth?" Gen asked.
"Yeah. On July 23rd. Father named him Sasuke."
Gen raised an eyebrow.
Sasuke, huh?
Despite Fugaku's alliance with Minato Namikaze, he still named his son after Sarutobi Sasuke the famed leader of the Sarutobi clan during the founding of Konoha.
Even though this version of history no longer required appeasing the Sandaime, the name remained—likely out of admiration.
Sarutobi Sasuke was known for his mastery of all five elemental chakra natures. A true warrior of the Warring States Era.
Not a bad namesake at all.
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