Suddenly, Gen gave Naruto a strange look.
He sensed two peculiar auras radiating from the boy, both familiar and alien, making his eyes narrow thoughtfully.
Could this actually work?
"Tch, my stipend just got—" Naruto began, then froze mid-sentence, eyes widening. "Wait... you mean you passed?"
"Yep." Gen shrugged, slurping his broth. "Kid, you're looking at a certified shinobi now."
"But... didn't your whole team get hospitalized?"
"They did. But it wasn't me, I hospitalized them. Last one standing graduates. Simple."
"???"
Naruto stared, utterly baffled yet weirdly impressed.
Hospitalize your teammates... to graduate?
That's an option?!
Naruto ate the rest of his ramen in a daze. But as he finished, he slammed his bowl down with newfound resolve.
"YOSH! If Gen can do it, so can I! I'm gonna be Hokage! Time to train, I'm graduating this year!"
"Not so fast!"
Ayame, who'd returned unnoticed, blocked his path.
"You haven't paid. Running off?"
"Eh? S-sorry..."
"And Gen told Dad you're treating him to celebrate his graduation. That'll be 650 ryō."
"..."
Gen and Naruto got along well.
They lived in the same district, in identical orphan-assigned housing. As a transmigrator, Gen bore Naruto no ill will. Over time, they'd become acquaintances.
Initially, Gen was wary—Naruto was surely monitored by ANBU, maybe even ROOT. But after months of no consequences, he relaxed.
I'm just a kid. Background's cleaner than bleach. Not even an Uchiha. Why panic?
Even Sasuke shared a class with Naruto. Besides, Naruto's stipend was shockingly generous. Vendors often refused him service, forcing bulk purchases that later expired. He also splurged on "limited edition" ramen kits—absurdly overpriced.
Gen wasn't destitute, but he'd never ignore such a "cash cow."
And thanks to him, I know my path now.
Back home, Gen flopped onto his bed, replaying the strange pull he'd felt near Naruto. He knew the Ōtsutsuki's power structure, but his "unawakened" state complicated things.
If I were an Uchiha, I'd just hunt down Madara's notes. A Hyūga? Wait for the blind Otsutsuki on the moon to slip up...
But Naruto's chakra had called to him. If his bloodline was truly a blank slate, its compatibility might be limitless. So—
Why not collect every Ōtsutsuki-related power?
Indra and Asura's chakra? Sure, it mutated after Kaguya ate the chakra fruit, but it still originated from her.
The Tailed Beasts? Fragments of the Ten-Tails—which was an Ōtsutsuki pet.
Even the Kaguya clan, with their Sharingan-level insanity and Senju-tier bone manipulation, might hold traces of Ōtsutsuki heritage. The Hyūga descended from Hamura, so why not a bloodline inheriting Kaguya's physical traits? She did use All-Killing Ash Bones, after all.
As for the Byakugan...
Maybe my bloodline awakens it naturally?
Gen had worried about sprouting white eyes ("Hyūga Gen" sounded lame). But relief (and slight disappointment) came: no changes yet.
Too underdeveloped? Or do I need to... absorb others' power?
Then my goal's clear.
Now, he just needed Kakashi to take him on missions—where he'd meet more targets and unlock high-value side quests!
Yet the next morning, in a training field—
"You... haven't decided?" Gen gaped at Kakashi. "You're joking, right?"
"No need for dramatics." Kakashi ruffled his silver hair, deadpan. "Your case is unique. After yesterday, D-ranks are pointless. Higher missions? I'm... unprepared. Just left ANBU, remember?"
He wasn't lying—new instructors need adjustment. What he omitted:
He'd spent dawn at the Memorial Stone "reflecting," not planning. But he did have an agenda.
"Then do what you did as a genin!" Gen pressed, hungry for progress.
"Different era. We were at war." Kakashi shrugged. Gen rolled his eyes.
"What's the difference? Shinobi take jobs, kill people, make money for the village. Same job."
"That's... reductive." Kakashi's eye twitched. Unfazed, Gen leaned in conspiratorially.
"Traders say some tycoon named Gato's seizing control of Wave Country's trade routes. What if we..."
He mimed tying a noose, then yanked it taut.
"...cough liberate his funds? Profits for Konoha!"
"..."
Kakashi's visible eye widened. For a second, he questioned everything.
Was the team's self-destruction... not a fluke?
"Absolutely not!" Kakashi snapped. "No unsanctioned operations. Understood?"
"Yes, sir..." Gen sighed. He considered self-assigning a quest to force a mission—but no funds, and missions needed official logs. Dead end.
This kid... Kakashi rubbed his temples. Teaching was harder than expected. The boy had the Will of Fire—even robbery was "for the village"—but this extremism?
I'll fix this.
"Enough schemes. I'll teach you basics today."
"Fine..." Gen grumbled.
"From yesterday's fight, you know fire and earth release—likely from Guy." Kakashi studied him.