Although curious about the strange behavior of the two patrolling Uchiha earlier, Uchiha Gin had no time to dwell on it as the squad pressed on toward the village.
As the pace of the group slowed, a massive walled fortress came into view before Gin.
In this war-torn era, productivity and living standards were low, but as a major clan, the Uchiha built their stronghold out of finely hewn stone. Though not as polished as the concrete walls of future Konoha, it carried the unique character of its time.
The guards at the gate simply verified their identities and let them through.
Upon entering the Uchiha stronghold, Gin saw clan members training everywhere—young and old alike. Even children barely a few years old practiced throwing live steel shuriken, while the older ones honed their kenjutsu. The clashing of metal was constant, and there were women among them too—truly a clan where everyone was a warrior.
Walking through, Gin couldn't help but note the Uchiha genes really were no joke. Everyone he passed was strikingly good-looking. His own supposedly handsome face seemed plain in comparison.
But despite his admiration, Gin also noticed something odd: every Uchiha he passed avoided meeting his eyes. Some mothers even hurried their daughters back indoors when they saw his gaze, shutting doors and windows behind them.
"What the hell? Why are they looking at me like I'm some kind of monster?" Gin scratched his unruly hair in confusion. "Was the original owner of this body that unpopular?"
"Gin, you'll be the one to report to the clan head later," came the voice of Uchiha Homura at the front of the group.
"Understood, captain," Gin replied, knowing he couldn't dodge it.
They arrived before a grand building in the center of the stronghold. Homura informed the guards they had returned to report on their mission. A moment later, the doors were opened for them.
After winding through several corridors, they reached a room. Pushing the door open, they saw a middle-aged man seated at the head, flanked by two elderly men, one thin and one heavyset. They seemed to be in the middle of a discussion, but stopped as the squad entered.
This was Gin's "first" time seeing the man who was both his convenient uncle and the current Uchiha clan head: Uchiha Tajima.
Tajima wore the clan's trademark spiky hairstyle. His lean face bore deep lines, and his dark, imposing eyes radiated authority.
Looking at this familiar yet foreign man, the squad knelt in greeting. Gin was stunned at first—no one had told him about this part. Too late to kneel now, he could only stand there awkwardly.
The others kept signaling at him with their eyes, but unfamiliar with this custom, Gin froze.
"Good to see you alive. Stand," Tajima finally said coldly, but did not scold him, as if used to this behavior.
"Thank you, clan head," the squad chorused, rising to their feet.
"Homura, I've always trusted your strength. To be the first to complete the mission was expected," Tajima said, his tone carrying a hint of praise.
"All thanks to the clan head's guidance," Homura replied smoothly.
"Then tell me the details of the mission."
Homura did not speak, but glanced at Gin. Picking up on the cue, Gin stepped forward and set down the unconscious Senju boy he had been carrying.
"Clan head, allow me to report the mission," he said.
"Gin, don't cause trouble. There are elders present. Stand aside for now—I'll have a task for you later," Tajima said, surprised.
"Clan head, let Gin report," Homura interjected.
Tajima raised an eyebrow at that, then turned to look closely at the nephew he had largely ignored until now. "Fine. Then go on."
With permission, Gin began describing the mission from the moment he stormed into Senju territory. When he recounted being gravely wounded by a Senju powerhouse, Tajima's eyes glinted dangerously. Hearing how they witnessed a clash between the Hagoromo and Senju clans, Tajima showed a hint of appreciation. When Gin mentioned capturing Buddha's son, Tajima's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he glanced at the boy.
Finally, Gin described being pursued by the Uzumaki.
"That muscle-bound brat was Uzumaki Arashina's son? Quite the formidable opponent. How did you survive?" the heavyset elder asked curiously.
Gin wasn't annoyed by the interruption, and Tajima also looked at him expectantly.
"Because in that desperate moment… I awakened this." Gin pointed to his eyes, where two tomoe spun slowly in his Sharingan.
Normally, opening the Sharingan would be cause for celebration, but as his two-tomoe eyes appeared, the room's atmosphere froze. The two elders' expressions darkened dramatically.
Tajima's eyes also turned crimson, his own three tomoe spinning furiously, as though to pull Gin into them.
The sudden chill left Gin speechless for a moment. Cautiously, he asked, "Should I… continue?"
"Homura, the rest of you may go. The mission was a success. Take a few days off to see your families," Tajima ordered, cutting him off.
Unsure what was happening, the squad obeyed and left.
As Gin picked up the boy to leave as well, Tajima's icy voice stopped him.
"Gin. You stay. I have some questions for you."
Seeing no choice, Gin set the boy down again and waited. But Tajima didn't question him right away—instead, he turned to the heavyset elder.
"Elder En, what is the meaning of this?"
"That shouldn't be possible…" Elder En muttered.
"Elder Mizu, explain this to me," Tajima said, turning to the thin elder, who simply kept staring at Gin's slowly spinning tomoe.
Under that gaze, Gin felt a chill. Inwardly, he thought, Was the original's talent really that bad? Just opening two tomoe is enough to shock all the high-ups ?
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