Naruto: Evolution.

Sitting in his place, Gen silently watched Obito's disastrous performance and didn't know what to say.

If he compared what Obito would become in the future with his own current progress, the difference was abysmal. Gen had climbed step by step, overcoming obstacles with effort and dedication. In contrast, Obito, in his future version, would jump straight to the top, propelled by Madara's training.

At this moment, however, Obito was the worst student in the class. His grades placed him last in every monthly exam, and his demonstration of the Transformation Technique had been a complete disaster.

The teacher finished reviewing the exercise and began giving feedback to each student, pointing out mistakes and offering corrections. Shortly after, the bell rang.

It was the last class of the day. With that ring, the school day came to an end.

"Gen, we live in the same direction! Let's go home together!"

"Shut up! Your house is to the west, and Gen's is to the east. Where did you get that you go in the same direction?"

"Gen..."

As soon as class ended, some students ran out, excited for the end of the day. Others, however, gathered around a particular person.

A group of girls completely surrounded Gen.

He sighed inwardly.

It wasn't that it bothered him, but it wasn't something he had actively sought either. From the beginning, he had worked to build a friendly and sociable image with the intention of weaving a network of contacts. He had never deliberately tried to seduce any of his classmates. Not even Kurenai or Shizune.

At most, he had been a little closer to them.

Even so, his attitude, combined with his appearance and charisma, had made many girls feel a strong admiration for him.

If Kakashi returned to the academy now, he would hardly be able to match his popularity. The reality was that appearance was everything.

Even if Kakashi decided to take off his mask, the difference between them would still be minimal.

"Tch! How the hell can he be so popular with the girls?"

A couple of boys who had not yet left the classroom watched the scene with obvious envy.

Gen had built an image that positioned him as someone respected within the class. He didn't provoke open resentment or jealousy, but admiration and envy were inevitable.

Among those watching in frustration was Obito, who still had to stay behind for his punishment.

The reason was obvious: among the girls surrounding Gen was Rin. Her expression showed a mix of expectation and shyness, as if she were in some kind of trance.

Since Gen had suddenly risen in popularity, the influence Kakashi had left in the academy had been gradually fading. And that included Rin.

In this world, feelings emerged early, but that didn't mean they were mature or definitive.

Love at first sight didn't always surpass the affection built over time.

Kakashi had only been in the academy for six months. At the time, his mysterious air had caught the attention of many girls, but now Gen had become the new idol of the place.

Rin was no exception. After several encounters with Gen, she had ended up "discovering" her true feelings and, without realizing it, became part of Uchiha's group of admirers.

"Cough, cough... girls, don't be so attentive. I can go back alone..."

Gen tried to calm the situation with a smile, but the reality was that the crowd around him only grew. Some girls got closer and closer, and a few even seemed to be looking for an excuse to touch him.

Sensing that the situation was about to get out of control, he didn't hesitate to take advantage of his agility and Taijutsu skills. With a swift movement, he escaped from the group.

"Ah! Gen, wait for me!"

"Don't go! We really do live in the same direction!"

"What a shame...!"

As they watched him disappear into the distance, some girls pursued him with determined eyes, while others sighed in disappointment, seeing their attempts to take advantage of the situation frustrated.

Without looking back, Gen left the academy building and exited the premises without hesitation.

However, he did not head toward his residence in the Uchiha clan. Instead, he took a detour, crossing several streets until he entered a secluded alley.

There, after making sure no one had followed him, he formed a hand seal.

Poof...

In an instant, his body vanished in a cloud of smoke.

If any Chūnin or Jōnin had been nearby, they would have immediately recognized what had just happened:

It was the dissolution of a Shadow Clone.

That's right.

The Gen who had spent the entire day at the academy was nothing more than a clone.

That was the real reason he had left so quickly when the girls started trying to touch him. Although his chakra was strong enough to keep the clone active throughout the school day, any accidental contact could have dispelled it at the most inopportune moment.

That would have caused an unnecessary spectacle and a whole bunch of additional problems.

…

Konoha Forest

The dense foliage covered the area, with towering trees rising high and thick bushes filling the spaces between them. From time to time, small rabbits darted through the undergrowth, quickly disappearing into the vegetation.

A stream of crystal-clear water flowed calmly, winding between roots and rocks.

At one point along its course, the forest opened up, giving way to a clearing where the sound of water mixed with the echo of intense activity.

There, ten identical figures trained in different areas, organized into three groups of three and one solitary figure.

The first group, located in the clearing next to the stream, exchanged punches and kicks, practicing hand-to-hand combat.

The second group was on the water, crouched, with their hands submerged in the current. Despite the instability of the surface, their stances were firm. The water around them bubbled intensely, as if a heat source were agitating it from within.

The third group was also there, but their training was different. Each one sat in a lotus position on a square board, which was balanced on a thick wooden pole.

A few meters away, a solitary figure performed inverted push-ups, balancing on his head with both hands on the ground while his feet pressed against a rock nearly a meter wide.

His breathing was controlled, but sweat dripped down his forehead, falling to the ground with a rhythmic sound.

"Tick... tick... tick..."

Each drop that fell marked the pace of his training.

Then, his body paused for an instant.

Boom

With an explosive movement, he bent his legs and then extended them with force. The rock he had been holding with his feet was sent flying several meters before crashing to the ground.

Taking advantage of the momentum, he pushed off the ground with his hands and, with a spin, landed in a crouch.

"Has school already ended...?" he murmured as he wiped the sweat from his face.

It was none other than Gen.

He wore a thick green vest, clearly designed to add resistance during training. Additionally, both his wrists and ankles were fitted with heavy weights.

And as for the others surrounding him, who were identical to him…

Naturally, they were all his Shadow Clones.