Naruto: The Thirty-Year-Old Uchiha Can't Get Motivated"

Uchiha Gin had a strange dream—like a living flipbook, one image after another flicked through his mind.

In the first image, a boy was holding the hand of a crying girl, saying something.

In the second, the boy was kneeling in despair amid a sea of fire, surrounded by the corpses of the elderly, women, and children.

In the third, ominous black shadows stood around the kneeling boy, while a blood-red moon slowly rose behind them.

In the fourth image, the fire surrounding the boy was dyed an eerie black by the red moon's light.

In the fifth, the boy's eyes were hollowed out, two gaping bloody holes from which blood continuously flowed—but his mouth held a radiant smile.

Just as the dream was about to continue, a sharp pain shot through Gin's head, and the dream abruptly ended.

He struggled to open his eyes. The moon still hung in the sky, and the scenery around him hadn't changed. From inside the tent came the muddled mumblings of Senju Itama in his sleep, adding a strange touch of realism to it all.

Trying to move, Gin found that his body felt completely wrecked—especially his back and head, like he'd been hit head-on by a train. The sensation reminded him of when he first transmigrated.

He raised his arm to check for injuries but was surprised to find that his right arm—snapped like a twig by that mysterious woman before he blacked out—was completely healed.

"Looks like the skill activation is over."

If he was healed, it meant the night's random skill had finished executing.

"Backyard Daily Skill Refresh: [Strange Strength] Acquired – Monster Strength ×1"

The system's prompt chimed.

"!!!"

Ignoring the mental trauma, Gin flipped upright like a ninja and stared at his pale, scrawny hands.

He clenched his fists tightly, and a warm current surged from his heart, channeling into his hands—a violent power that felt like it might explode out of him.

Spotting a massive boulder nearby, Gin threw a punch at it.

The instant his fist made contact, an explosive force erupted. The solid rock cracked violently from the impact, forming a deep crater. Spiderweb-like fissures spread across the entire surface.

Staring at what he had just done, Gin felt his throat go dry.

"This... is that legendary monster strength?"

[Strange Strength]: A Senju clan ability. Through precise chakra control, the user channels chakra into any part of the body, unleashing explosive force capable of shattering walls with ease.

The system helpfully explained.

As Gin moved around, the soreness in his body began to fade. The side effects of the Backyard Skill Refresh would disappear once the skill had run its course—though his brain remembered being beaten up, his body wouldn't retain any damage.

Feeling pumped, Gin sat down cross-legged and replayed in his mind the image of the woman who had fallen from the sky.

Though he'd only caught a glimpse, as a diehard fan of the original series, he immediately recognized the "technician" behind the punch.

"Tsunade, huh? Don't tell me she came to avenge Uzumaki Mito?"

He chuckled bitterly. He had just said goodbye to Uzumaki Mito that morning—and shared a very "intimate encounter" with her granddaughter that night.

"No grudges left overnight, huh?"

Gin raised an eyebrow, feeling rather accomplished.

"But finally—finally—a skill that's actually useful."

With Monster Strength now under his belt, Gin's power had taken a big leap. He could probably give Uchiha Fenghuo a run for his money in an arm-wrestling match now.

That joy, however, was soon replaced by annoyance as he remembered the ongoing mission involving Senju Itama. For a starter quest, it was turning out to be incredibly tedious.

Unable to figure it out, he gave up thinking and returned to the tent. He glanced at the peacefully sleeping Itama.

Rage welled up. Acting on impulse, Gin grabbed the snoring brat and tossed him out, then plopped himself down on the warm bedding Itama had just vacated.

Feeling the warmth beneath him, Gin finally fell asleep contentedly—leaving Itama outside, awakened by the fall, to shiver in the cold wind.

"Achoo! A-achoo!"

Hearing the sneeze-filled lamentations outside the tent, Gin stretched and stepped outside, only to find Itama curled up at the edge of the tent, sniffling. Ignoring the boy's tearful glare, Gin quickly packed up the tent.

If everything went as planned, they'd be back at the clan today. Looking at the kid he'd tormented all the way; Gin suddenly had a thought.

"Maybe I should just defect to the Senju and take the brat with me?"

It was a bold idea… one he promptly dismissed the next second.

The Uchiha and Senju clans were currently locked in a fierce battle. With both sides fighting like madmen, if Gin defected now, he'd probably be branded a spy and executed on the spot.

Even taking a big step back—if he did successfully defect—he'd immediately be declared a traitor by the Uchiha. Uchiha Fenghuo might even "make him disappear" in his sleep.

Neither option was safe. Gin shook his head silently. For now, he'd just have to take things one step at a time.

He quickly packed up his things and brought Senju Itama to rejoin the others. In the distance, the rest of the group had already gathered, sitting and waiting to depart.

When they saw Gin arriving last, no one spoke. Instead, they gave him cautious and suspicious looks.

Gin was taken aback. Wait… did someone awaken some kind of mind-reading system and hear my earlier thoughts about defecting? He started spiraling with wild speculation.

"We're not sparring with you," Uchiha Ryoichi finally said, noticing Gin's odd expression.

"That's right," Uchiha Tsuru and Uchiha Tarō nodded in sync.

Oh, so that's what this is about… Gin finally sighed in relief.

Apparently, the mental trauma he'd caused them over the past few days while trying to grind "Heart of Steel" loot boxes had made them extra paranoid. Grinning, he replied:

"Don't worry, guys. We're almost home. I won't waste anyone's time or energy. Let's save the sparring for after we get back!"

"Nope. Not happening. Uncle, we're not sparring—period," the three of them shook their heads in unison.

"…"

"Alright, if everyone's ready, let's move out," came a calm voice from behind. At some point, Uchiha Fenghuo had appeared.

"Yes, sir!"

The rest of the journey was smooth. With nonstop travel, they soon approached the Uchiha clan's territory.

As smoke from cooking fires rose in the distance, the team finally relaxed—everyone except Gin.

"Who goes there!?"

Just as they were nearing the village, two figures leapt out from the shadows. Jet-black hair and crimson Sharingan eyes left no doubt—they were Uchiha.

"We're a returning Uchiha mission squad," said Uchiha Fenghuo. "I'm the team captain. We've completed our task and are reporting back."

He activated his Sharingan as proof.

"Oh, it's Lord 'Silent Shadow' Fenghuo. You guys are fast—looks like you're the first squad back. Go ahead and get some rest!" one of the guards replied respectfully.

Patrolling Uchiha like them were just basic combatants, not qualified for external missions. Naturally, they respected someone like Fenghuo, who had already made a name for himself.

They quickly glanced over the team, but their eyes lingered on Gin—specifically, on the child he was carrying.

"Who's that guy, and why's he carrying a kid?" one patrol member asked, unable to hold back.

In the next moment, his partner slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide with panic, signaling him to shut up.

As the squad passed through the gate, the curious Uchiha finally shook off his friend's hand.

"Why'd you stop me from questioning him?"

"You should be thanking me. I just saved your life."

Shaking the saliva off his hand, the second guard looked visibly relieved.

"?"

The first patrolman stared at him in confusion.

"That guy… that was Uchiha Gin."

(End of Chapter)