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

Although Gin was curious about the strange behavior of the two patrolling Uchiha just now, there was no time to dwell on it as the squad pressed forward.

As the pace of those in front slowed, a large fortress-like settlement came into view. Despite the primitive conditions of the Warring States era, the Uchiha clan's compound was built from finely cut stone. It wasn't quite the concrete fortifications of the future Konoha, but it had a distinct, period-appropriate charm.

The guards at the gate verified their identities with a quick check and allowed them entry.

Inside the Uchiha settlement, people of all ages were training. Even children as young as a few years old practiced their aim with sharpened shuriken. Older ones honed their sword techniques. The constant clanging of weapons filled the air, and even women were among the ranks—it truly was a clan where everyone was a soldier.

As they walked through, Gin couldn't help but marvel: Damn, the Uchiha genes are no joke. From old to young, male to female—no one's bad-looking. His own face, which he once considered pretty handsome, now felt painfully average in comparison.

But beyond admiration, Gin began to notice something strange—every Uchiha he passed avoided his gaze. Some even went so far as to pull their daughters inside and slam doors shut when his eyes wandered in their direction.

What's going on? Why's everyone looking at me like I'm some kind of walking natural disaster? He scratched his curly hair, puzzled.Was the original body's reputation that bad?

"Uchiha Gin, you'll be the one reporting the mission when we see the clan head," said Fenghuo from the front.

"Roger, captain," Gin replied, knowing he couldn't dodge it anyway.

Soon, they reached a grand building at the very center of the clan grounds. Fenghuo informed the guards they were here to report to the clan head. One guard went inside and returned shortly to open the door.

After winding through a few corridors, they arrived at a particular room. When the door was opened, a middle-aged man sat at the head, flanked by two elderly men—one fat, one skinny. The three seemed deep in conversation but stopped when they noticed the visitors.

This was Gin's "first time" seeing the original body's uncle—Uchiha Tajima, the current head of the Uchiha clan.

He had the clan's trademark spiked-up hair, a lean face marked by deep nasolabial lines, and dark, penetrating eyes exuding quiet authority.

Faced with this familiar yet unfamiliar man, the other squad members immediately dropped to one knee in greeting.

Gin was momentarily stunned. Wait, no one told me this was part of the protocol! It was too late to kneel now, so he stood there awkwardly.

His teammates kept throwing him frantic glances, signaling him to kneel. But Gin, having no such habit, was momentarily frozen.

"It's enough that you returned alive. Rise," Tajima said coldly, not scolding Gin. In fact, it almost seemed like he was used to Gin's lack of courtesy.

"Thank you, Clan Head," the squad replied respectfully and stood up.

"Fenghuo, I've always trusted your strength. I expected you to be among the first to complete the mission," Tajima said, a hint of approval in his tone. The two clearly had a good rapport.

"All thanks to the clan head's guidance," Fenghuo replied smoothly.

Didn't peg him for a bootlicker, Gin mused. He lies so naturally.

"Now tell me how the mission went," Tajima said.

Rather than answer, Fenghuo turned to Gin, giving him a cue. Gin stepped forward, gently set down the unconscious Senju Itama he had carried all this way, and said:

"Clan Head, allow me to report the mission details."

"Gin, don't mess around. The elders are present. Step back. I have another task for you later," Tajima replied, slightly surprised.

Tajima was well aware of his nephew's limited abilities. Sending him on the mission was mostly to get him out of the village and keep him from stirring up trouble—not because he was expected to contribute. The fact that he didn't drag the team down was already a win.

"Let Uchiha Gin report, Clan Head," Fenghuo interjected.

This piqued Tajima's interest. He turned his full attention to his nephew—the one he usually didn't bother paying much attention to.

"Very well. Gin, go ahead," Tajima said.

With the green light, Gin began recounting the mission: how "he" had forcefully infiltrated the Senju territory, was nearly killed by a Senju elite, and then how the team came across a battle between the Senju and the Hagoromo clan. Tajima's eyes flashed coldly at the mention of Gin being injured but softened with appreciation when he heard about their strategic decision to watch the two sides fight.

Then came the part about capturing the son of Senju Butsuma. Tajima's eyes gleamed, and he glanced at the unconscious child thoughtfully.

Finally, Gin mentioned how they were pursued by a member of the Uzumaki clan.

"That muscle-bound man was the son of Uzumaki Ashina. He was ridiculously strong. How'd you survive that?" the chubby elder Uchiha asked, clearly intrigued.

Gin didn't seem annoyed at being interrupted. Tajima, still deep in thought, also turned to hear the answer.

"I awakened it in a desperate moment," Gin said as he pointed to his eyes.

His scarlet irises slowly revealed two spinning tomoe in each eye.

Under normal circumstances, awakening the Sharingan would be cause for congratulations. But the moment Gin revealed his two-tomoe Sharingan, the entire room's atmosphere changed.

The two elders' expressions, previously calm, darkened as if their faces had transformed into thunderclouds.

Tajima himself activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, staring deeply into Gin's eyes. The rapidly spinning tomoe seemed like they might pull Gin's very soul inside.

Gin, who had prepared a whole speech in his head, froze in the sudden tension. After a moment of silence, he timidly asked:

"…Should I keep going?"

"Fenghuo, you and the rest are dismissed. Mission well done. Take a few days off and spend time with your families," Tajima interrupted coldly.

Fenghuo and the others, confused but obedient, gave their respects and exited without delay.

Gin, seeing everyone else leave, also prepared to bolt. But just as he picked up Senju Itama and turned, Tajima's voice came like ice:

"Gin, you stay. I have questions for you."

Gin sighed, placed the kid down, and stood stiffly as he waited for interrogation.

But Tajima didn't question him right away. Instead, he turned to the heavier of the two elders.

"Elder Yan, what's going on here?"

"That… shouldn't be possible…" Elder Yan, one of the clan's oldest high-ranking members, was clearly shaken.

"Elder Miao, you explain this to me," Tajima snapped, turning to the thin elder.

But Elder Miao didn't reply. He just stared intently at Gin's gently rotating Sharingan, his wrinkled eyes filled with suspicion.

Gin began to feel chills up his spine under the scrutiny and thought to himself:

Was the original body's talent really that bad? Just unlocking a two-tomoe Sharingan is enough to shock the whole damn council?

(End of Chapter)