The reason why Shisui called Gen "cousin" had an explanation.
Being from the same clan, even with the expansion and prosperity of the Uchiha, most of its members were related in some way.
In this case, although Gen's mother and Shisui's mother were not blood relatives, they were distant family members and childhood friends. Therefore, when calculating the relationship, Gen was indeed Shisui's cousin.
"Don't make that face, your current strength is already quite good," he said, putting away his kunai. "At your age, only Kakashi back in his time could compare to you."
Shisui, of course, had heard many rumors about Kakashi and his achievements, but what mattered most to him at that moment was his cousin.
"And you, cousin?"
"Me? At your age, I wasn't that strong. Rather, I accumulated talent little by little until suddenly... BOOM! I awakened my true potential," Gen smiled calmly.
?
Shisui slightly furrowed his brow, trying to process the answer. He seemed to understand and not understand at the same time.
Even so, his admiration for Gen only grew.
"Either way, cousin, you're the person I want to learn from the most. You have no idea how surprised I was when I found out you defeated a Jōnin! Now, both in the clan and in the village, everyone is talking about you," he said, his eyes filled with admiration.
Seeing the fan-like expression on his little cousin's face, Gen couldn't help but feel pleased.
Of course, this wasn't the first time he had spoken with Shisui.
Since awakening the memories of his past life, he had taken the initiative to get closer to him.
Shisui's talent was undeniable. In the canon, he was influenced by Hiruzen and others, just like Itachi, but this life would not follow the same path.
The future was not set in stone.
If Shisui was properly guided, his potential could be a great advantage for him in the future.
And Gen was certain of one thing: his loyalty and trust would always be with his clan.
For that reason, although he might appear friendly with Hiruzen and others to ensure his own development, he would never follow the same path as Itachi in the canon.
Until he achieved strength comparable to Madara or Hashirama, the clan would be his strongest support.
He would not allow internal conflicts to arise or for the Uchiha to be dragged into a tragedy.
That's why he constantly sought out Shisui, spoke with him, and trained him personally. His goal was to strengthen him and ensure he was completely on his side.
As both of them recovered the energy spent in combat, they chatted casually.
As usual, Gen pointed out his cousin's weaknesses and gave him advice on how to improve.
The conversation continued until the sky began to darken.
Finally, Shisui, grateful, said goodbye before leaving.
When the training field was empty, Gen remained in the center, lost in thought.
It didn't surprise him that the news of his victory against a Jōnin had spread quickly throughout the village. In fact, he had foreseen it.
Not only because of the impact it had on Hayato, Azora, and Momo, but also because of something Fugaku had told him after he demonstrated his strength.
The Uchiha Clan had always been extremely proud.
Even in the era when the Senju Clan was at its strongest, they never submitted.
When Konoha was founded, the relationship between the two clans was one of cooperation, not subordination.
However, after the split with Madara and Tobirama Senju's repression, the clan fell into decline.
Even so, their pride remained intact. It was something ingrained in their blood.
And the same was true for Gen.
Although he had awakened the memories of his past life and usually displayed a kind attitude on the outside, that attitude was nothing more than a mask to protect himself.
Deep down, he was also extremely proud—only his pride was reserved and strategic, not ostentatious or impulsive.
The rapid spread of the news about his victory was not solely due to the village's interest.
The Uchiha Clan itself played a fundamental role in it.
After years of decline, they had suppressed their pride for too long.
Whether to inspire the clan members or to demonstrate their strength to outsiders, they urgently needed someone to stand out.
A clan can prove its strength in two ways: through its most powerful ninja or through the excellence of its new generation.
Although Gen was not the strongest within the clan, his age and talent made him the undisputed prodigy of the new generation.
The ideal candidate to represent the Uchiha Clan.
And he had no reason to refuse that role.
It wasn't that he sought fame, but the clan was finally granting him the treatment he deserved.
Now that he was considered the key to revitalizing the clan's reputation, he had gained even more attention and resources.
Compared to the time when he was Orochimaru's disciple, his position within the clan had improved significantly.
Now, his status was second only to Fugaku, the clan's next leader.
Not only did he have access to all the clan's inherited Jutsus in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu, but he also received generous financial support.
In terms of resources, he had reached the peak within the Uchiha Clan.
"Now that I have unlimited access, the only thing I must do is make the most of it to develop my talent and increase my power as quickly as possible," he reflected.
He had a very clear plan for the future.
Not only did he need to prepare to face Danzo, Hiruzen, and other members of the "Tobirama" faction, but he also had to be ready for the imminent Third World War.
Strength improvement would always be the top priority in times of war.
Not to mention the first reason, but regarding the second, although he didn't know the exact date when the war would break out, he could make a rough estimate.
For example, this year's decision to allow large-scale early graduations.
Having students graduate ahead of time was not a normal phenomenon. It only happened in times of war when a village needed to increase its military strength.
Therefore, based on his deductions, the war would break out this year or, at the latest, the next.
________
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