As Uchiha Gin puzzled over the team's exaggerated reactions, all four of them activated their crimson Sharingan at once, locking their gazes on him. The intensity pinned him in place, leaving him too rattled to move.
"One three-tomoe, the others all two-tomoe," he noted.
Terrified by the stares, Uchiha Gin slowly raised his hands above his head and cautiously said, "Guys, if you're going to kill or punish me, at least let me know why. I messed up the mission, sure, but this seems overboard."
"Shut up! Who are you really? This Transformation Jutsu is so flawless even my two-tomoe Sharingan can't spot a flaw," the ponytail Uchiha snarled.
"No issues here. He's definitely Uchiha Gin," Uchiha Fuka declared, scanning Gin thoroughly with his three-tomoe Sharingan before deactivating it.
"Then what's with this act?" a burly Uchiha, who'd been silent until now, asked, confused.
Gin recalled the original owner's quirky personality. It wasn't just his weak skills—his behavior was downright deplorable. Relying on his status as the clan head's nephew, he'd bullied ordinary clan members, acting like a spoiled brat.
During this mission, he'd repeatedly clashed with the team. If not for Uchiha Fuka holding them back, he'd have been pummeled long ago.
Realizing the original's actions, Gin sucked in a breath. Surviving this long was a miracle—probably thanks to the Sage of the Six Paths' luck.
If he kept acting like the original, he'd likely get sabotaged and killed in the next mission. His earlier recklessness had already been fueled by someone stirring the pot—too many enemies wanted him gone. He had to act fast.
With a sly glint in his eye, Gin spoke up. "The old me only saw the world through my own narrow lens, full of selfish individualism."
Seizing the team's confusion, he launched into a performance.
They deactivated their Sharingan, curious about his latest stunt.
"But after these days with you all, I've realized something. As an Uchiha, I shouldn't live just for myself. I must fight for the Uchiha clan's revival!"
Gin clenched his right fist dramatically.
The others, initially just watching, felt their blood stir inexplicably, as if something within them was about to burst free.
"This guy… might actually have something," the ponytail Uchiha muttered.
"I've spent my early years under Clan Head Tajima's wing, basking in my ancestors' glory. Looking back, it's shameful. From now on, I, Uchiha Gin, will dedicate my life to the Uchiha clan's rise!"
His words ran wild, but his fervent delivery struck a chord, earning nods of agreement.
"He's got a point."
"Looks like he's really woken up."
"Recognizing your faults and fixing them—that's huge."
Seeing them swayed by his "heartfelt" act, Gin smirked inwardly and cranked it up a notch.
"I'm a vanguard of the Uchiha youth! Under the Uchiha clan's emblem, I swear: I'll uphold our ancestors' teachings, hone my dojutsu, master ninjutsu, refine my taijutsu, and stand ready to give everything for the Uchiha clan's revival!"
His passionate speech left them stunned, as if they could faintly see a glowing red clan emblem behind him.
One reserved Uchiha even whipped out a scroll, frantically transcribing Gin's words verbatim in excitement.
Clap, clap, clap…
Someone started applauding instinctively, and the others snapped out of their daze, joining in.
The ponytail Uchiha, once his biggest critic, clapped the loudest.
Uchiha Fuka, the team leader, nodded approvingly. Who'd have thought this spoiled kid could deliver such a rousing speech? A hidden talent.
"Uchiha Gin, that speech fired me up! I, Uchiha Ryoichi, acknowledge you now," the ponytail Uchiha declared.
So his name was Uchiha Ryoichi.
"Ryoichi, I've always seen your talent—your shuriken skills are masterful, echoing our ancestors!" Gin replied.
"I, Uchiha Hizuru, agree!" another chimed in.
"Hizuru, your tanto work is top-notch—dazzling and deadly precise," Gin praised.
"Me too! Uchiha Tarou's in!" the burly one added.
"Tarou, your Fire Release is unreal—scorching everything, like you've cracked chakra nature transformation. It's nearly on par with the clan head!" Gin said.
"Enough flattery. Save it for after the mission," Uchiha Fuka cut in, noting the sky turning pale with dawn.
Reluctantly, they stopped their mutual praise fest—just shy of swearing brotherhood with Gin on the spot.
"Our Seed Removal Operation is lagging. The Hagoromo clan's already taken the lead, shaming us. The war's at its peak now, so I'll distribute the target info," Fuka said.
Since the Hagoromo's success had tipped off the Senju, Fuka dropped all secrecy about the mission.
Taking the dossier from Fuka, Gin read carefully. The original owner only knew bits, but Gin, familiar with the plot, had a hunch about their goal.
The list named over a dozen Senju children, aged from four or five to just over ten.
Gin sighed inwardly. What a brutal era—living to thirty was a feat.
These Senju kids, by his old world's standards, would just be carefree schoolchildren.
He started with the first entry.
[Senju Hashirama: 14 years old, eldest son of Senju Butsuma. Skilled in taijutsu and shuriken jutsu, possibly with innate monstrous strength. Other details unknown…]
Studying the hand-drawn sketch of a bowl-cut, Gin recognized the future God of Shinobi who'd end the Warring States, establish the village system, tame all nine tailed beasts, and dominate Uchiha Madara for life.
By age, Gin estimated the timeline—peace was maybe a decade or two away.
"Looks like Hashirama and Madara's fated rivalry has begun," he mused.
Next entry.
[Senju Tobirama: 10 years old, second son of Senju Butsuma. Excels in Water Release ninjutsu and kenjutsu, with lightning-fast taijutsu. Other details unknown…]
Eyeing the red-eyed, white-haired kid in the sketch, Gin felt a headache coming. The future Second Hokage, a genius whose forbidden jutsu—like Multi Shadow Clone, Flying Thunder God, and the pivotal Edo Tensei in the Fourth War—shaped Naruto's history.
Gin admired him, but recalled Tobirama's bias against the Uchiha. Alive, he'd targeted them relentlessly; resurrected, he'd spat "evil Uchiha brat" at Sasuke.
Maybe it stemmed from jealousy—his brother Hashirama obsessed with Madara, leaving Tobirama sidelined, fueling a lifelong vendetta against the Uchiha.
Gin sighed and flipped to the next.
[Senju Itama: 7 years old, third son of Senju Butsuma. Proficient in Earth Release and taijutsu. Other details unknown…]
Younger ninja got scant details—just brief strength summaries. But unlike the prior two, Itama's portrait had a red X slashed across it, with a scribbled note:
[Eliminated.]
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If you want to read more than 20 chapters early feel free to visit pa tre on . com /Archus