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

The stench of death was overwhelming. In that split second of peril, Uchiha Gin's eyes turned blood-red.

The tomoe in his right eye spun wildly, and his ocular power surged without restraint.

Believing he had already won, Kaguya Jōsuke was eager to witness the miserable state of the Uchiha before him.

But instead of the spray of blood and Gin's screams, what he felt instead was a searing, bone-deep pain radiating from the wound in his chest.

[Amaterasu]

A black lotus bloomed in his chest. The endless agony suffocated him, the burning sensation spreading from his lungs to every corner of his body.

The bones fueled by his bloodline limits shattered instantly upon contact with the black flames. Jōsuke, unable to sustain his technique, lost all strength. The massive bone flower wilted into nothingness, and Gin pulled his arm free, leaping back.

Before Jōsuke could counterattack, Gin landed in a half-kneeling position, one hand bracing himself while the other wiped away the bloody tears from his right eye. His face pale, he said,"As expected of the legendary Shikotsumyaku… truly formidable. I, Uchiha Gin, willingly acknowledge you as the strongest in taijutsu. I concede defeat!"

With that, he weakly closed his eyes and dismissed Amaterasu.

"Host failed. Gained 12 Heart Energy. Two more battles required to unlock Heart of Steel chest. (Current total: 22)"

The black flames at Jōsuke's chest vanished. The man, now barely clinging to life, coughed up blood in great mouthfuls. His chest wound, charred by intense heat, emitted a nauseating smell of burnt flesh.

With his body ruined, Jōsuke was no longer the lifeless shell from earlier. A flicker of clarity returned to his eyes as he stared at Gin in confusion, frowning as if trying to remember something.

"You… brat… you are—"

"You remember something?"

Seizing the opportunity, Gin asked urgently.

This Kaguya clan member seemed to know what had happened during the massacre at the Uchiha compound six years ago.

Right now, Gin needed to know the truth—about both the attack and the original owner's missing memories.

"No… you're not him… those eyes—"

Jōsuke, already drained after years of imprisonment, had pushed his kekkei genkai to its limits just moments ago. This final spark of awareness was nothing more than the fleeting brilliance of a dying candle.

As his voice weakened, Gin realized he was running out of time and pressed further,"During the siege of the Uchiha compound… who ordered it? Where did the other Kaguya go?"

At those words, Jōsuke's dim pupils suddenly widened in terror. Trembling, he tried to retreat, mumbling frantically,

"They're all dead… everyone who saw the moonlight is dead!!"

"Who's dead? What moonlight?"

A new clue! Gin lunged forward, grabbing Jōsuke's shoulders. His Sharingan bore into the dying man's eyes, demanding answers.

"Two tomoe…? Hahaha… you're not… you're not—"

Jōsuke's mutterings grew incoherent. His body went limp, and moments later, he was dead.

Damn riddlers!

Gin placed the corpse down gently, his brow furrowed, then turned and strode out of the cell.

Not far down the corridor, he encountered Uchiha Lücha, who froze upon seeing Gin's bloodstained, disheveled appearance.

Then Lücha's gaze fell on Gin's hands—slick with blood—and he involuntarily shuddered. Remembering Gin's "notorious reputation," he nervously asked,"Lord Gin… what happened?"

"Kaguya Jōsuke attacked me during questioning. But he'd been imprisoned too long; his strength was diminished. I killed him. Go get someone to clean it up."

Gin spoke plainly, showing no intention of concealing Jōsuke's death. After all, he was just a deranged prisoner. Dead or alive, it was only paperwork.

"Yes, sir!"

Hearing Gin casually admit to killing a prisoner sent a chill down Lücha's spine. Swallowing hard, he obeyed.

Watching Gin walk away, Lücha let out a shaky breath. The man's presence alone was terrifying enough to make his blood run cold.

When Lücha entered the cell, he examined Jōsuke's body—only to recoil in horror.

Jōsuke's broken, bound hands were already pitiful enough, but now each of his ten fingers had been stripped of bone entirely, dangling limply like noodles.

And that wasn't the worst part.

His chest… there was a pitch-black hole where his heart should have been. His ribs were shattered, his chest cavity scorched by fire release, and the air still carried the nauseating scent of roasted flesh.

Lücha lifted his head and recalled Gin's seemingly harmless demeanor. He could not reconcile that image with the sheer brutality before him.

"No wonder the clan rumors paint him as a monster… ordinary people could never do this."

Resolving to drag his buddy Uchiha Tiedan far away from Gin, Lücha hurried off.

Meanwhile, Gin returned to the archives and opened the door—only to find someone waiting inside.

The man smiled warmly, rising to greet him.

"Lord GIn, since you've just joined us, if there's anything you need, just tell me. I'll arrange it."

It was Uchiha En, the elder he'd met yesterday in the clan leader's office. Round and jovial, En looked like a cheerful Buddha—though Gin knew he had once been a ruthless executioner in his youth.

"You're too kind, Elder En. Commander Uchiha Ryuei has already set everything up for me," Gin replied politely."I'm new here, so please forgive me if I make any mistakes."

"The archives may be tedious work, but they'll calm your mind. The clan leader thinks you've been too restless lately, so this will help you settle down—and keep you busy."

En's words made the clan leader's intentions clear.

"I see. Then I'll follow the clan leader's arrangements," Gin said respectfully.

"By the way, Lord Gin, what were you doing just now? I was waiting for you for a while," En asked casually.

"I found a prisoner file that caught my interest, so I went to take a look," Gin admitted honestly, knowing he couldn't hide it.

"Ah, such dedication! You've just started, and you're already working. Admirable!"

"Not at all, Elder En. You're the one who truly embodies dedication," Gin replied smoothly, engaging in polite small talk.

As they conversed, Uchiha Lücha burst into the room, speaking hurriedly,"Lord Gin, the prisoner's body has been cleared away. Rest assured, nothing will be left—ah! Elder En!"

He froze mid-sentence, realizing belatedly there was another person present. Upon seeing En, Lücha went pale and collapsed to his knees.

The room went dead silent.

"Believe me, it was the prisoner who attacked first," Gin said quickly, his expression radiating sincerity and innocence.

"Cough… These prisoners truly have no fear. How dare they attack so brazenly! Luckily, you're strong, Lord Gin. If you'd been hurt, how could I face the clan leader?"

Elder En smoothed the tension over, his expression that of a kindly elder concerned for a junior.

"Just lucky, that's all," Gin replied humbly.

"Well, since everything is fine, I'll leave the archives to you. Do your best, Lord Gin," En said, patting his shoulder before leaving.

Once En was gone, Lücha finally stood up and shuffled over, looking nervous, as if awaiting punishment.

"Lücha, you seem like a smart one. I need a favor," Gin said instead.

"Say no more! If Lord Gin needs something done, I'll do it—even if it costs me my life!" Lücha declared, slapping his chest with absolute loyalty.

"Good. I just need you to check which prisoners were locked up six years ago."

"Consider it done!"

(To be continued)