UCHIHA KING OF THE SOULS

The front lines had already set up designated camping areas for the Konoha shinobi who had arrived as reinforcements. These areas were strategically placed to ensure convenience, but as expected of ninja operations, the encampments were not arranged in a conventional military fashion. Unlike standard armies, shinobi required personal space to maintain vigilance, rest, and prepare for upcoming battles. Therefore, the tents were spaced apart to prevent unnecessary disruptions and allow for quick maneuverability if an ambush occurred.

Uchiha Gen, in no rush to claim a spot, remained lazily at the rear of the arriving squad. As a result, he was among the last to be assigned accommodations.

"You two, wait a moment."

Hearing this, Hatake Kakashi and Nohara Rin stopped in their tracks, turning to face the speaker. Their eyes landed on Uchiha Gen with mild curiosity.

"Excuse me, what's the matter?" Kakashi asked, his tone neutral, his expression unreadable beneath his ever-present mask.

Because Gen had been lagging behind, neither of them had initially noticed the distinctive red-and-white Uchiha fan emblazoned on the back of his battle armor. Without a word, Gen shifted slightly, subtly exposing the clan emblem as an unspoken declaration of his lineage.

"A member of the Uchiha clan?"

"Hello."

"Hello."

Due to their close bond with Uchiha Obito, both Kakashi and Rin had developed a certain fondness for the Uchiha clan. The association naturally elicited warm responses from them, and they greeted him in unison.

Gen acknowledged them with a polite nod but lingered momentarily, his gaze settling on Rin before flickering toward Kakashi.

Alas, this girl was doomed to a tragic fate the moment she fell for Uchiha Obito.

Even with his resolve to alter the course of events, Gen knew he could only try his best—success was never guaranteed.

Eliminating Nohara Rin before she became a catalyst for Obito's downfall was an option. If she perished outside of Obito's sight, perhaps his descent into darkness could be averted. However, this approach was riddled with risks. Hatake Kakashi, Namikaze Minato, and even Obito himself would undoubtedly stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind her death.

Furthermore, Uchiha Madara would never allow an interference in his grand scheme. Gen was well aware that his own lineage, tracing back to Uchiha Izuna, would mean nothing if he obstructed Madara's plans.

And what was lineage compared to Madara's ambitions?

By blood, Gen was distantly related to Obito—both hailing from separate branches of the Uchiha clan. In a cruel twist of fate, Obito, a descendant of Madara's line, was doomed to be nothing more than a pawn in a game orchestrated decades before his birth.

Since Madara's defection and subsequent assault on Konoha, his direct bloodline had faced severe repercussions within the clan. Their influence waned, their members dwindled, yet even now, Obito was unknowingly walking the same path Madara had set for him.

As for Gen, he was only half a month older than Obito—a mere sliver of time separating their fates. And knowing Madara's ruthlessness, Gen was certain he would never be spared should he interfere.

Besides, the shinobi world was rife with unpredictable techniques. Who knew what contingencies Madara and Black Zetsu had prepared? Corpses could be erased, souls extracted, and secrets buried beyond recognition.

To truly erase a threat like Rin, even her soul would have to be consumed—eliminating all possibility of her reaching the Pure Land or being revived.

But such a fate was too cruel for a girl like her.

Still, in the grand scheme of things—when weighed against the disaster that would come, including the Nine-Tails attack—such a measure might be necessary.

The real problem? He had no opportunity to act.

As a crucial element in Obito's corruption, Rin was undoubtedly under surveillance. It was all but certain that White Zetsu was lurking nearby, observing the camp. Perhaps there were multiple of them, blending seamlessly with the environment.

Gen's current abilities were insufficient to detect them. If he couldn't locate them, he couldn't eliminate them. And if he couldn't remove the surveillance, he couldn't make a move.

He wasn't about to throw his life away for some grand ideal of protecting the world. Neither Konoha nor the Uchiha clan were worth that sacrifice.

At the end of the day, he was a pragmatist—self-preservation came first.

"Why do you keep staring at me?"

Kakashi's voice pulled Gen from his thoughts. The silver-haired shinobi, visibly uneasy under the prolonged gaze, furrowed his brows.

Gen, snapping back to reality, responded with an air of seriousness:

"Is your left eye a Sharingan?"

Kakashi instinctively raised his hand to his covered eye, nodding cautiously. "Yes."

"Are you aware of the bloodline laws of the Uchiha clan?"

At this, both Kakashi and Rin tensed.

"Are you demanding the Sharingan back on behalf of the Uchiha?" Rin's voice wavered slightly as her hands clenched.

Kakashi's expression darkened, his tone turning firm. "This was Obito's final gift to me. I will never return it."

Gen chuckled, shaking his head. "You misunderstand. I have no intention of taking it back."

"Then what do you mean?" Rin asked, still wary.

"I'm simply giving you a warning. If you want to keep that Sharingan, you should start making preparations now."

Kakashi and Rin exchanged worried glances.

"Why?" Kakashi asked, skeptical. This Uchiha didn't behave like most of the clan members he had encountered.

Could he be an outlier, much like Obito?

Gen smirked. Of course, I have my reasons.

"Because Obito was my distant cousin," he stated plainly. "And he was a hero of Konoha. A hero's final wish should be respected."

At that, Rin bowed politely. "Thank you. Is there anything we can do?"

Kakashi, too, regarded Gen with newfound consideration.

Gen crossed his arms. "The Third Hokage has already promised to appoint a Fourth Hokage."

"With his victory at Kannabi Bridge and his prior accomplishments, Minato-sensei is already a top candidate."

"Even if he isn't chosen, his influence will only grow."

"If you want to keep the Sharingan without issue, Minato should negotiate with the Uchiha clan. A small price will resolve the matter."

"What price?" Kakashi asked warily.

"For example, selecting a Uchiha shinobi to join Class 7."

Both Kakashi and Rin hesitated at the suggestion. The idea of someone replacing Obito sat uneasily with them, yet they couldn't deny the logic in Gen's proposal.

Not only would it secure Kakashi's Sharingan, but it might also gain Minato the Uchiha's support—an invaluable asset for a Hokage candidate.

"You want to join our team?" Kakashi asked, eyes narrowing.

Gen shrugged. "It's a possibility, but not a necessity."

"There are stronger options—Uchiha Itachi, son of the young clan head, or Uchiha Shisui, who made a name for himself during the Kirigakure skirmishes."

"In the end, it doesn't matter who. What matters is that they are Uchiha."

He was being practical. A shinobi needed a team, and without sufficient strength, he couldn't act alone. Having a leader like Namikaze Minato would provide unparalleled benefits.

And if not him, there were always backup plans.

"What's your name?" Kakashi finally asked.

"Uchiha Gen."

"Thanks for the warning and help. We'll discuss this with Minato-sensei."

"Please do."

As they left, Gen entered his tent, shutting it behind him. Sitting down, he released his chakra, focusing on refining his Fire Release techniques.

Meanwhile, Kakashi and Rin reported the conversation to Namikaze Minato, who, after some thought, smiled and said:

"It's certainly a mutually beneficial solution."

"The question is—can you accept a new teammate?"

After a moment of contemplation, Rin spoke first.

"Obito's place in our hearts will never be replaced. But having another comrade… could help."

Kakashi sighed. "Then let's give him a try."

Minato's warm smile widened. "In that case, welcome to Class 7, Uchiha Gen."