Konoha: The King of Souls from Uchiha

c63: Master and Disciple

"What are you laughing at?"

"It's just something that made me genuinely happy."

Mitarashi Anko burst into the house, flinging open the tea room door without ceremony, her tone as brash as ever.

"Children aren't qualified to know," Uchiha Gen said seriously, his expression as unreadable as a mission report from the ANBU archives.

"What?! You're only one year older than me!" Anko huffed with irritation, stomping over to Orochimaru. She knelt beside him and clung to his arm, giving him a pleading look. "Sensei, come on, tell me!"

"It's better if children don't know such things," Orochimaru replied flatly, his expression like carved stone.

"Hahaha..."

Uchiha Gen laughed with amusement. Orochimaru's lips curled into a rare, subtle smile, though he remained silent. That moment of silence shattered the cool, enigmatic image Anko had in her mind of her teacher one who rarely laughed aloud and carried an aura of dark mystery.

Although Anko was undeniably gifted recognized early by Orochimaru for her potential her nature was still straightforward and immature. Her understanding of Orochimaru remained on a surface level. There were some matters she wasn't ready to grasp. Better to shield her from them than complicate her path.

"Tch! You're so biased, Sensei!"

Anko grumbled, releasing Orochimaru's arm with a pout and plopping down on the floor in frustration.

"Anko, have you completed the training schedule I gave you?" Orochimaru asked, turning to her with a calmly inquisitive gaze.

"And the ninjutsu I taught you have you mastered it?"

"I did! I finished everything and learned the jutsu too!"

"Very well."

As he said this, Orochimaru lightly tapped the top of her head—his version of a reward.

Anko's earlier annoyance instantly vanished. Her frown melted into laughter. That gentle gesture pierced through her emotional storm like the sun through early morning mist.

Watching from across the room, Uchiha Gen exhaled silently. So this is the power of kindness. Orochimaru was rarely openly affectionate, but even a simple gesture like that worked wonders on someone like Anko.

Contrary to their public image, the Uchiha clan could be incredibly warm. If shown genuine kindness, even the coldest Uchiha would remember it in their hearts though they'd never show it on the surface.

"By the way, senior brother," Anko said suddenly, as though remembering something, "I saw Kurenai-senpai on the way here. She said to tell you there's a class reunion tonight. Seven o'clock. Box 3 at Barbecue Q."

"Understood," Gen replied calmly, not showing any reaction.

"Sensei, want to test me on what I've practiced?"

"No need," Orochimaru replied simply. "I believe you've followed everything precisely."

"Right? I think I'll ace the next Chūnin Exams!"

Her tone was confident, brimming with self-assurance.

Then she glanced back at Gen, who sat relaxed, his demeanor calm and composed. Her expression shifted; her eyes gleamed with challenge.

"Senior brother, I haven't seen your true strength yet. How about you test what I've learned, instead of Sensei?"

Uchiha Gen blinked, then smiled faintly.

Had her recent improvements gone to her head?

"What do you think, Orochimaru-sensei?"

"Fine," Orochimaru said lazily. "Just don't go too hard."

That offhanded tone made Anko's pride bristle.

"Sensei! Don't underestimate me!" she shot back. "I know I'm not at onii-san's level he's a full jōnin, and I'm still somewhere around high-chūnin—but I've been your disciple for years. It won't be so easy for him to beat me!"

She planted her fists on her hips, stood tall, and puffed her chest out confidently.

"Oh?" Gen raised an eyebrow.

That casual response sent a jolt through her veins.

"Just wait! You'll see!"

"Alright," Gen said mildly. "Let's begin, then."

But neither he nor Orochimaru moved.

Bang!

Gen raised his hands into the cross-hand seal. A burst of smoke filled the room and standing before them now was his identical shadow clone, smirking calmly.

"Let's go, Anko."

Anko's face immediately flushed.

"You're sending a shadow clone to fight me? Are you seriously looking down on me that much?!"

"Anko, you have talent," Gen said patiently. "But you're still young. You need time."

"Ugh! That annoying grown-up tone again!"

She stomped forward with determination. "If I destroy your clone, you better get up and fight me yourself!"

"I will," Gen promised, chuckling. "That's fair."

"Alright then! I'll prove I've gotten stronger!"

Without wasting another second, the shadow clone and Anko departed for the nearest training ground. Since Orochimaru's residence lay in the heart of Konoha near the Senju Compound, they couldn't risk causing property damage or drawing unnecessary attention within the village core.

After the two left, Uchiha Gen took the opportunity to ask Orochimaru about high-level ninjutsu. Given Orochimaru's obsession with the arcane and experimental aspects of jutsu, his interest was immediate and intense, and soon the two were deep in a passionate exchange about forbidden techniques, chakra manipulation, and theoretical applications of summoning contracts.

About fifteen minutes later, the sliding door of the tea room creaked open again.

Uchiha Gen stepped in first his clothes as neat and white as when he had left, not a strand of hair out of place. He looked serene, unfazed.

Behind him trudged Anko Mitarashi. Her clothes were scuffed, her knees lightly bruised, a faint cut above her eyebrow, and her hair slightly messy. Her face was full of dejection and frustration.

Bang!

The shadow clone of Uchiha Gen dispelled in a puff of chakra-laced smoke. As it vanished, a ripple of invisible information surged into the original Gen's consciousness the combat data, sensory feedback, and tactical insights all integrating seamlessly. His chakra pool, fractionally restored, flickered quietly.

"Sensei..." Anko groaned as she collapsed onto a zabuton cushion, slumping. "Why is my senior brother so absurdly strong?! I couldn't even land a hit—he overwhelmed me in taijutsu, outmaneuvered me in genjutsu, and buried me in ninjutsu!"

Her voice trembled between disbelief and humiliation. The energy she usually brimmed with had completely vanished.

Orochimaru, for once, chose to offer rare encouragement: "It's only natural. If he had no ability, how could he qualify to be your senior brother?"

"You're a prodigy, Anko. But Gen is... a prodigy among prodigies."

"With his current level of refinement and battlefield instinct, even among elite jōnin, he would be considered exceptional. You, on the other hand, have only just reached the threshold of chūnin-level strength. Of course you couldn't match him yet."

He paused meaningfully.

"If you had won, I'd have had reason to be concerned."

Those calm words, so uncharacteristic of Orochimaru's usual indifference, immediately warmed Anko's mood. Her eyes lit up this was the first time her teacher had said something so... reassuring.

Then she noticed Gen approaching and flinched.

"What are you doing?" she said, eying his outstretched hand with suspicion and the wariness of someone who'd just sparred with a lightning storm.

"Healing your injury," Gen replied casually. A soft green glow of medical chakra emanated from his palm precise, focused, and efficient.

Anko's eyes widened in shock. "Wait senpai, you know medical ninjutsu?!"

Gen smiled faintly, his expression distant but sincere. "It's just medical ninjutsu. Nothing too difficult."

His tone was light, almost puzzled, as though surprised anyone would find it remarkable.

Anko's heart sank again. The blow wasn't physical this time. It was spiritual.

Her senior brother was fast, precise, technically brilliant, and now apparently had mastery of medical arts too?

This... was too much. Her mind was spinning.

Never again... Never again will I challenge him. It's just emotionally devastating.

Orochimaru maintained his usual cold expression, but inside, he was quietly satisfied. This apprentice of mine… he reminds me so much of myself in the days when I used to flaunt my superiority in front of Jiraiya.

Once Gen finished tending to Anko's minor wounds, he withdrew his hand, the chakra light fading.

"All done," he said. "Go freshen up. I'll take you to get some meatballs and anko soup later."

Anko blinked in surprise. Her face, previously pouty, began to glow with her usual cheer. Her spirits lifted. Despite everything, her nature was simple and sunny. She got to her feet, tied her hair back with practiced ease, and skipped off toward the bathroom, shouting over her shoulder

"I'm going to eat so much later, just you wait!"

Uchiha Gen and Orochimaru exchanged glances and shared a knowing, faint smile.

"Sensei," Gen said, "Want to join us for a walk around Konoha?"

Orochimaru waved the suggestion off with an elegant flick of the wrist. "I'll pass. You youngsters enjoy your street food and trinkets."

His golden eyes narrowed slightly with amusement. "As for me, I relax by studying cellular structures, chromosomal sequences, ribonucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acids, mitochondrial membranes, and cytoplasmic viscosity..."

The avalanche of obscure technical jargon came rolling off his tongue.

Gen's face tightened. He massaged his temple. Why did I even ask?

"Could we not do this?" he muttered under his breath, raising an eyebrow in annoyance.

Seeing the reaction, Orochimaru relented. He gave a rare chuckle and ceased his lecture. Even he recognized the value of a light touch in teaching.

At moments like this... I really am the ideal mentor, he mused.

Just then, Anko returned, now scrubbed clean, hair tied, and eyes bright with anticipation. She bounded back into the room.

"Sensei!" she said, "Can you guide me for a little while this afternoon? I want a new training plan."

Orochimaru glanced at her, then nodded with quiet approval. "Only for a short time. I've other work I must attend to later."

"Got it!"

Anko nodded rapidly, her energy restored. Then she turned to Gen with a sunny smile: "Come on, let's go, big bro."

"Sensei, we're heading out!"

Orochimaru gave a faint wave in acknowledgment as the two left. As the sliding door shut behind them, a small smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Having disciples like this… isn't such a bad thing after all.

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