c33: No Life
"Where's Orochimaru-sensei?"
"Alright, drink it secretly if you must!"
After placing the payment box on the table, Mitarashi Anko pushed open the sliding wooden door of the private room. But to her surprise, Orochimaru was nowhere in sight. Instead, she caught Gen Uchiha mid-swig, lifting a bottle of sake to his lips. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"The teacher left earlier," Gen replied nonchalantly, swirling the bottle.
"Want a taste?"
"It's good stuff," he added with a half-lidded smirk, slouched comfortably on a floor cushion, the bottle balanced in one hand.
Anko's throat moved unconsciously at the suggestion. She quickly shook her head, pouting. "Underage drinking is prohibited! It's one of the three great taboos for shinobi!"
Gen chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
Anko's cheeks puffed up in frustration, two round lumps forming as she scowled.
"Three taboos? You're talking about money, alcohol, and women, right?" Gen said, waving the bottle lazily. "I've faced death for the village more than once. Am I not allowed a little indulgence now and then?"
"A little drink, once in a while—what harm could it do?"
"Besides, resting body and mind is essential for a shinobi's long-term mental focus. Even Kakashi-senpai relaxes at hot springs or reads those trashy novels of his after missions."
The 'three prohibitions' were indeed part of shinobi doctrine, especially stressed at the Academy. But they weren't absolute. Originally meant to guard against overindulgence that could dull a ninja's edge, the rules were also about control—over both the self and one's power.
Anko hesitated. That… actually made sense?
"Well, maybe just a sip…"
She scooted next to Gen, eager now. Gen smiled and poured her a cup. She gulped it down quickly.
"Ack—liar! That's awful! So spicy!"
She doubled over, coughing and blushing.
"I don't see how it's that different from water," Gen muttered.
To him, it really wasn't. In his previous life, he had downed far stronger spirits than this mild sake. He was drinking out of habit, not for the taste.
"You have no taste buds or what?" Anko gasped, her eyes watery. "It's completely different from dango and sweets!"
Gen just gave a faint shrug. Then he lifted the bottle, tipped it up, and poured half of it down his throat with ease—no hesitation, no tears, no wheezing.
Anko blinked, stunned.
With a thump, Gen set the bottle down on the low table, rose to his feet, and said, "I'm heading back. Coming?"
"How are you not drunk?!"
He gave a wry smile but didn't explain. A pot of sake was nothing. In his previous life, he'd been able to handle over half a liter of 54-proof liquor. This young body, strengthened by chakra training and natural Uchiha resilience, had an even higher tolerance.
"I'm coming too. I have money now, so I'm getting dessert."
"Don't overdo it," Gen warned lightly. "Orochimaru-sensei did leave some instructions."
"Yeah, yeah, senior brother," she mocked, sticking her tongue out. "Acting high and mighty all of a sudden…"
"It's just embarrassing if my junior ends up chubby."
"Rude! I don't gain weight no matter what I eat!"
Gen shook his head slightly. She was bluffing, unaware of the real reason—her constant training burned through most of her sugar intake.
The two left Orochimaru's residence, bickering playfully. After a stroll through the dimly lit Konoha streets, they eventually parted ways.
Back at the Uchiha district, Gen let out a soft sigh as he sank into a white leather sofa. He set aside the ornate blade on his back—the Kusanagi no Tsurugi, gifted to him by Orochimaru. After a brief rest, he placed his hand over the hilt and summoned a condensed orb of soul energy—sparkling like starlight, the size of a plum.
He absorbed it instantly.
Then, focusing his chakra and inner reserves, he summoned another orb—this time the size of an apple and pressed it into the Kusanagi sword.
The change was immediate.
The blade shimmered, then pulsed. A narrow slit opened along the surface of the steel eyes, a small mouth, and nose appeared. The sword hovered into the air, animated with life.
"Master," it intoned, the voice metallic and sharp.
Before Gen could respond, a flicker of crimson light shot past. A miniature red dragon Zhu Rong flitted through the air, circling the newly awakened sword with fascination.
"From now on, your name is Wu Sheng," Gen said after a moment of thought. "Let any who face your edge meet their end without regret."
"Yes, Master!"
Zhu Rong narrowed his eyes, huffing smoke. "You dare disrespect my brother? Shall I roast you into scrap?!"
"I do not fear flames," Wu Sheng replied coldly, already drawing back as if ready to strike.
"Alright, you two, that's enough," Gen said calmly.
Reluctantly, the two homitz ceased their confrontation, each staring the other down.
"Neither of you can harm the other right now. Zhu Rong, while you were indeed born first, Wu Sheng still deserves your respect."
Gen Uchiha's tone was calm but firm as he addressed the two Homitz.
"And Wu Sheng," he added, shifting his gaze, "don't assume Zhu Rong owes you deference. If he is your elder brother, then you should treat him with love and trust."
"My little brother needs care and understanding—that's how you earn respect."
Gen folded his arms, maintaining a serious expression as he spoke with the dignity expected of an Uchiha heir trained by Orochimaru himself.
"Understood, Master," Zhu Rong replied obediently, bowing his head slightly.
"Yes, Master," Wu Sheng answered, his voice crisp and metallic.
Gen's words weren't said lightly. Factually, neither of the sentient constructs could currently gain the upper hand in a fight. Zhu Rong was a Homitz composed of pure fire-nature chakra an elemental being. And although fire is traditionally strong against metal, Zhu Rong's maximum temperature output remained limited for now.
Kusanagi no Tsurugi, now fused with Wu Sheng's essence, was forged from a metal even more resilient than the standard chakra-enhanced alloys used in elite weapons like Asuma Sarutobi's trench knives. In the ninja world, Kusanagi's blade was practically indestructible its metallurgy far surpassing the melting points of ordinary iron (1538°C) or steel (roughly 1500°C, varying with carbon content).
On the other hand, Wu Sheng couldn't overpower Zhu Rong either. Being an elemental embodiment, Zhu Rong had no physical body to slice through, rendering most of Wu Sheng's attacks ineffective.
"Alright, go have some fun but remember, don't leave the house, and no fighting."
"Yes, Master!" the two Homitz echoed together, flying off with a burst of energy.
Watching them zoom through the air like two spirited children, Gen rose from the sofa and headed to the kitchen. Despite his stern nature, he still enjoyed moments of domestic calm—perhaps a remnant of his past life.
As he stirred the miso soup, Zhu Rong floated nearby, curling himself around the gas stove's blue flame, happily absorbing the heat as nourishment.
Wu Sheng hovered nearby, his metallic gaze fixed on his master, eyes wide and shimmering with silent expectation.
With a resigned sigh, Gen pulled out a kunai and two steel shuriken from his tool pouch and placed them directly onto the flame.
Wu Sheng immediately dove in, mouth opening wide. With sharp clicks and crunches, the metal utensils vanished bite by bite.
By the time Gen sat at the low dining table to eat, Zhu Rong and Wu Sheng were once again airborne.this time tearing through the house in a spirited game of hide-and-seek. From the ceiling beams to the stairwell, their antics echoed like those of hyperactive siblings.
After finishing his lunch, Gen took a brief rest, then retrieved two scrolls from his satchel: one detailing the high-level genjutsu Kokuangyo no Jutsu (Bringer-of-Darkness Technique), and the other containing the complex formulas of Orochimaru's Hebi Ninjutsu (Snake Techniques).
Though the Kokuangyo no Jutsu was classified as an A-rank illusion, it posed no serious challenge for Gen. As a Uchiha, he had a natural affinity for genjutsu, bolstered by his Sharingan's perceptual prowess—even in its current stage.
After carefully analyzing the sequence of chakra control and hand seals, he practiced for a quarter of an hour. Lying back on the sofa, he formed the correct sequence swiftly.
"Genjutsu: Kokuangyo no Jutsu."
A wave of darkness swept across the room.
"Agh! Master—I can't see anything!" Zhu Rong's voice rang out in alarm.
"Same here!" Wu Sheng echoed, his tone more annoyed than frightened.
They flailed in midair, completely blind.
Gen smirked. Of course, he wouldn't use himself for trial runs—that would've been idiotic. Zhu Rong and Wu Sheng were perfect test subjects for his newly-learned illusion.
But he wasn't entirely cruel. After confirming the technique's effectiveness, he dispelled it with a flick of chakra.
"Phew, it's back," Zhu Rong said, blinking in midair.
"I'm fine now too. Again?"
"Alright."
Having mastered the genjutsu, Gen turned his attention to the scroll on snake ninjutsu.
Unlike genjutsu, this wasn't something that came naturally to him. The techniques were esoteric—requiring a combination of binding seals, serpent chakra imitation, and direct summoning control.
While his base aptitude wasn't extraordinary in this domain, his analytical mind and experience from another life helped. Slowly, steadily, he started to make progress.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the village, an entirely different storm was brewing.
At the Hokage building, Danzo Shimura stormed through the corridors, his face ashen with rage. Without pausing, he pushed past the Chūnin guards and threw open the doors to the Hokage's office...
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