Naruto: Evolution

A moment later, Orochimaru had already left, leaving Gen alone in the same place, immersed in his thoughts.

"A test…?"

He murmured in a low voice, while a fleeting flash of understanding crossed his eyes.

Although it was Orochimaru who proposed taking him as a disciple, during their conversation, he imposed a condition:

Before officially accepting him, he wanted to assess his strength.

Tomorrow, Orochimaru would assign him an opponent, and if he managed to defeat them, then he would be officially recognized as his disciple.

Despite the unexpected nature of the challenge, Gen was not worried about losing.

What truly intrigued him was the purpose behind the test.

Evaluating the power of a potential disciple was not something out of the ordinary, but he did not rule out the possibility that Orochimaru was simply testing his abilities out of curiosity.

What did he really want?

Even so, Gen had no intention of backing down.

Just as he had decided to become Orochimaru's disciple after weighing the pros and cons, he also had no intention of refusing the next day's test.

Some things must be faced sooner or later.

Avoiding them would be useless.

Even if he backed down now, similar situations would continue to appear on his path.

So, better to resolve it as soon as possible.

...

Hokage Mansion

After returning from the Konoha forest, Orochimaru went directly to the Hokage's office to meet with his master.

Hiruzen was waiting for him behind his desk, pipe in hand, observing him with a thoughtful expression.

"What do you think…?" he finally asked, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Does Gen Uchiha's situation match the information we have?"

Orochimaru smiled slightly.

"In general, yes. Despite his youth, his mentality is far more mature than that of his peers, and his talent is exceptional."

"If he manages to pass tomorrow's test, I will be happy to accept him as a disciple."

Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, letting the aroma of tobacco permeate the air before responding.

"The Uchiha are part of Konoha, and the emergence of a new talented generation is always a positive thing."

However, his tone became more serious.

"But the atmosphere within the clan has been changing. There is tension, and if not handled properly, it could lead to problems. That is why it is crucial for the most outstanding young ones to be guided in the right direction."

His eyes narrowed.

"Jiraiya already has Minato, a prodigy with a promising future. Now it's your turn to train a new talent for the village."

Hiruzen set his pipe down on the table and concluded.

"Take care of the test. If he passes, it will be your responsibility to guide him."

For an instant, a glint crossed Orochimaru's gaze.

Then, his expression softened into a calm smile.

"I understand, Master. I will take care of guiding him properly."

...

Boom… Boom… Boom…

Each of Gen's jumps made the ground tremble with force.

He carried on his shoulders a rock even larger than the one from the previous day, adding that extra weight to the load he was already bearing on his body.

The pressure on his muscles was extreme, but his posture remained firm, and with each repetition, his body quickly adapted to the effort.

A few meters away, Kurenai and Shizune watched him out of the corner of their eyes while trying to continue with their own training.

After being freed from the Genjutsu, both had resumed their exercises, but it was difficult for them to ignore Gen.

Not only because of the intensity with which he trained, but also because of the striking muscle definition that stood out with each movement.

Despite the high intensity of the exercise, his body did not develop excessive volume; instead, his musculature remained agile, compact, and explosive, with a perfect balance between strength and speed.

But it wasn't just a matter of strength.

A man's muscles, just like a woman's, had their own appeal. Even at a young age, the visual impact was there.

Drops of sweat ran down his defined back and torso, highlighting every contour of his physique. A spectacle hard for the girls to ignore.

Kurenai and Shizune felt a slight warmth on their cheeks.

!

But as soon as they realized what they were doing, they quickly looked away, fearing that Gen would notice they had been watching him too much.

What they didn't know was that Gen was already fully aware of their gazes.

However, he paid it no mind. He knew that in the future, he would also have the chance to return their looks.

Perhaps they thought they were gaining something, but he wouldn't be losing out either.

That was Gen's calm mindset.

Except for a brief lunch break, when he went to a restaurant in the village to eat, Gen spent the entire day training.

Although Kurenai and Shizune were often distracted by his presence, they worked hard to keep up with his pace with great dedication.

Without realizing it, the training day came to an end, and when the sun began to set on the horizon, Gen barely felt any fatigue thanks to his extraordinary recovery ability.

On the other hand, Kurenai and Shizune were completely exhausted.

To prevent them from having any mishaps on the way home, Gen, being a true gentleman, accompanied them to their doorsteps.

Although the Yūhi clan was not one of Konoha's great families, their residential area was quite well-off.

However, in comparison, Shizune lived even better.

Despite coming from a civilian family, her home was not only not inferior to Kurenai's but even surpassed it in size and elegance.

Following the most convenient route, Gen first dropped Kurenai off at her house and then accompanied Shizune to hers.

After bidding her farewell with a gesture, Shizune remained standing at the entrance, watching with a mix of exhaustion and fondness as Gen's figure disappeared down the path.

Then, a mature voice broke the silence.

"Is he your companion?"

!

The sudden voice took her by surprise, making her jump.

After an entire day of intense training, her body was already at its limit, and the scare caused her legs to falter, nearly making her collapse to the ground.

But just before she could fall, a white and delicate hand grabbed her by the collar of her clothes with total ease, holding her in the air as if she were a kitten.

"T-Tsunade-sama!"

Recognizing the person beside her, Shizune reacted immediately, bowing respectfully.

In front of her, with one hand on her hip and the other hanging carelessly, Tsunade looked at her with interest.

"You haven't answered my question." Her lips curled into a smile. "Is that Uchiha boy your classmate?"

Shizune's change was drastic.

All her lively and carefree demeanor disappeared in an instant, replaced by a timid and submissive air.

"Yes… Gen is my classmate," she answered in a low voice, avoiding direct eye contact.

"So his name is Gen?" Tsunade repeated the name with curiosity before letting out a mocking laugh. "Well, I definitely wasn't expecting this. Shizune, you're quite precocious… You already know how to find yourself a boyfriend at such a young age."

!

Tsunade's words struck Shizune like a bolt of lightning, and her face instantly turned as red as a tomato.

Her entire body tensed up, embarrassment washing over her from head to toe.

She had been raised by Tsunade since she was little, seeing her as both a maternal figure and a mentor.

Now, being caught in an alleged romantic inclination at her age, it was impossible not to feel extremely nervous.

Tsunade's teasing smile only made her discomfort worse.

________

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