UCHIHA KING OF THE SOULS

A Night at Orochimaru's Hideout

"Where's Orochimaru-sensei?"

Anko Mitarashi pushed open the wooden door, her violet eyes scanning the dimly lit room. She had expected to find her teacher, but instead, she was met with the sight of Gen Uchiha lifting a sake bottle to his lips.

"You little—!" Anko gasped, eyes widening in shock.

Gen set the bottle down with a smirk. "Sensei left early. Want a taste?" He tilted the bottle invitingly. "It's pretty good."

Gulp. Anko swallowed hard, her curiosity momentarily outweighing her reason. But then she shook her head, scowling. "No way! We're not of age! Drinking is one of the Three Prohibitions for shinobi!"

Gen chuckled. "Oh? And what exactly do the Three Prohibitions mean to a ninja who's already put their life on the line for Konoha?" He leaned back against the tatami mat, his crimson Sharingan flickering in the candlelight. "A little indulgence isn't the end of the world."

Anko puffed out her cheeks, irritation bubbling up. "Why are you laughing?!"

"Because you're acting like a textbook academy student." Gen swirled the liquid in his cup. "You ever wonder why jōnin relax at bars after missions? Even the most disciplined shinobi need to unwind. The Three Prohibitions—money, women, and alcohol—are just guidelines to keep weak-willed fools in check."

Anko hesitated. That… almost made sense.

"Fine. Just a sip," she relented, plopping down beside him.

Gen poured her a small cup, watching with amusement as she tossed it back in one go.

"Ack—!" Anko coughed violently, her face scrunching up. "Liar! This burns!"

Gen only shrugged. "It's just sake. Compared to the drinks I had in my previous life—" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "Never mind."

Anko wiped her mouth, still frowning. "You have no taste buds or something?"

Rather than answer, Gen lifted the bottle and effortlessly downed half of it in a single gulp.

Anko gawked. "How are you not drunk?!"

Gen smirked. "I handle my liquor." He set the empty bottle down with a thud and stood. "I'm heading back. What about you?"

Anko pouted but hopped to her feet. "I'm coming with you. Now that I have some ryo, I'm getting dango!"

Gen snorted. "Just don't overdo it. Sensei will know if you slack off in training."

"Yeah, yeah. Look at you acting all big-brotherly already," Anko teased before sticking out her tongue.

Gen smirked. "I just don't want a fat little sister slowing me down."

"Oi! Rude! I don't gain weight no matter how much I eat!"

Gen shook his head knowingly. You just burn it off with all that training…

The two left Orochimaru's hideout, their banter echoing through the streets of Konoha.

A Forbidden Experiment

Back at the Uchiha Compound, Gen settled onto a pristine white sofa, placing the Kusanagi blade Orochimaru had gifted him across his lap. With a deep breath, he pressed his palm against the hilt, channeling his chakra. A small, glowing orb of pure energy emerged from his hand, sinking into the blade.

A moment later, the sword quivered. Its steel surface rippled as a slit of an eye formed on the blade, followed by a tiny nose and a mouth. Then, the Kusanagi sword floated into the air.

"Master." The sword's voice was metallic and cold.

Gen barely had time to react before a streak of red light shot toward them. A small, fiery serpent—Zhurong, his sentient fire spirit—hovered beside the sword, its beady eyes filled with curiosity.

"A talking sword? Ha! I like this one!" Zhurong snorted, releasing two tiny flames from his nostrils.

Gen smirked. "Your name is Wu Sheng," he said, gazing at the sentient Kusanagi blade. "May you never know defeat when drawn from your sheath."

"As you command, Master," Wu Sheng intoned.

But before the moment could settle, Zhurong lunged, snapping its tiny jaws at the sword.

Wu Sheng retaliated instantly, slashing at the fire spirit with a sharp whoosh.

"You dare?!" Zhurong hissed, flames intensifying. "I'll roast you!"

"I am not afraid of fire." Wu Sheng's voice was as cold as steel itself.

"Enough, both of you," Gen commanded. The two spirits hesitated before floating apart.

"You're evenly matched," he continued. "Zhurong, fire alone won't melt the Kusanagi sword. Its metal is infused with chakra stronger than standard steel."

Zhurong grumbled, but Gen wasn't finished. "And Wu Sheng, you may be sharp, but physical attacks won't work on a being made of pure fire."

Both spirits were silent.

Gen sighed. "Look, Zhurong, if you want to be the big brother, act like it. Wu Sheng, learn to respect those older than you."

"Fine," Zhurong muttered.

"Understood," Wu Sheng replied.

Gen nodded. "Good. Now go play—inside the compound. And no fighting."

"Yes, Master."

As the two spirits chased each other through the house, Gen stood and stretched before heading to the kitchen.

Training in the Shadows

Later that evening, Gen sat cross-legged on the floor, scrolls unrolled before him. His eyes skimmed over Orochimaru's notes on the Darkness Genjutsu, an A-rank technique designed to rob an enemy of their sight entirely.

After a few attempts, he performed the necessary hand seals.

"Genjutsu: Kokuangyō no Jutsu."

A dark mist expanded outward.

"Ah—! Master, I can't see!"

"Me neither!"

Zhurong and Wu Sheng's frantic voices made Gen smirk.

Success.

With a flick of his chakra, he dispelled the illusion.

"Hey! Don't test that stuff on us!" Zhurong complained.

Gen shrugged. "Better you than me."

"Unfair!"

Ignoring their protests, Gen moved on to his next lesson—Orochimaru's Snake Ninjutsu. He rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the village, Shimura Danzo stormed into the Hokage's office, his expression dark with fury…