Konoha: The Thirty-Year-Old Uchiha Can’t Be Bothered

The stench of death closed in on him. At the critical moment, Uchiha Gin's eyes flared crimson.

The tomoe in his right eye spun madly, his pupil drinking in chakra like a bottomless well.

Kaguya Jousuke had already envisioned the boy's bloody, screaming demise.

But instead of the sweet sound of agony, a searing heat blossomed from his own chest.

[Amaterasu]

A black lotus of fire bloomed in his chest cavity, an unbearable pain spreading from his lungs to every nerve in his body.

The bone flower he'd grown with his kekkei genkai cracked and crumbled under the strange black flames. His body sagged as Gin wrenched his arm free and leapt backward.

Jousuke tried to muster a counterattack, but Gin was already half-kneeling on the floor, one hand "weakly" bracing himself, the other wiping the bloody tears streaming from his right eye, his face pale as he said hoarsely:

"No wonder the legendary Shikotsumyaku (Corpse Bone Pulse) is hailed as the strongest taijutsu. I, Uchiha Gin, willingly concede. You're unmatched."

He shut his eyes and canceled Amaterasu.

"Host defeated. Gained 12 Heart Energy. Two more fights to unlock Steel Heart chest. (Current: 22)"

The black flame on Jousuke's chest died out.

The man coughed up mouthfuls of blood, his charred, mangled chest wound still smoking faintly, the smell of burnt flesh filling the air.

Badly burned and battered, the vacant haze in his eyes began to clear.

He fixed Gin with a sharp, almost curious gaze, frowning as if trying to recall something.

"You… that kid, you are…"

"You remember something?"

Gin leaned closer, eager now.

This Kaguya seemed to know the truth of the massacre six years ago — the truth behind Uchiha's camp being razed, and perhaps the memories missing from Gin's own mind.

But Jousuke shook his head faintly, voice cracked.

"No… you're not him. Your eyes…"

Years of torment had left his body a ruin, and forcing out his kekkei genkai earlier had spent the last of his life force. This flicker of clarity was just a dying man's last gasp.

Gin saw his energy fading fast and urgently pressed on:

"Who ordered the Kaguya to attack the Uchiha compound that night? Where did the rest of your clan go?!"

At the question, sheer terror surged into Jousuke's eyes.

"All dead… everyone who saw the moonlight… all dead!!"

"Who died? What moonlight?!"

Gin pounced, gripping the man's shoulder, his Sharingan boring into the dying man's fading pupils.

"Two tomoe…? Hah… you're not… you're not…"

Jousuke muttered something meaningless, his body going limp, and then he was gone.

Damn riddle-speakers.

Gin let his corpse drop and left the cell, frowning deeply.

Not long after, Uchiha Rucha came down the hall and froze when he saw Gin — disheveled, his hands covered in blood.

Trying not to tremble, Rucha forced out:

"L-Lord Gin… what happened?"

"The prisoner attacked me mid-interrogation. He was too weak after all these years. I killed him. Have someone clean it up."

His tone was casual, as if he were reporting a broken chair.

"Y-yes!"

Rucha swallowed hard, the casual cruelty in Gin's voice making his hair stand on end. He watched Gin's back disappear down the corridor, his knees threatening to buckle.

When Rucha finally entered the cell, he almost retched.

Jousuke's broken, bound fingers now hung limp like overcooked noodles, each bone gruesomely pulled out.

Worse was the black, hollowed-out crater in his chest, ribs cracked and scorched. The air still smelled like roasted meat.

Looking back on Gin's calm, harmless smile, Rucha couldn't reconcile it with this scene of brutal slaughter.

No wonder the clan whispers such terrible things about him. Methods like this… few could stomach.

All Rucha wanted now was to grab his buddy Tetsudama and get the hell away from Gin.

When Gin returned to the archive room, he found a man waiting for him, who rose with a big, sunny smile and said warmly:

"Gin-kun, welcome to your new post. If you need anything at all, just let me know — I'll make it happen."

It was the portly Uchiha elder Yan, who he'd briefly seen at the clan leader's office yesterday.

Round and cheerful like a fat little Buddha, he didn't at all look like the ruthless killer he'd once been.

"You're too kind, Elder Yan. Captain Ryukage has already explained everything to me."

Gin replied politely.

"I'm new here. If I fall short anywhere, I hope you'll forgive me."

Yan chuckled kindly.

"The archive work is tedious, but it'll help you settle down. The clan head felt you'd been too restless lately and wanted you to take it easy here for a while."

"I defer to the clan head's wisdom."

Gin bowed respectfully.

"By the way, Gin-kun… you were out just now. Had me waiting a while. What were you up to?"

Yan's smile was easy and warm, but Gin knew better than to lie to him.

"I happened across a certain prisoner's file and got curious. Went to see him for myself."

Yan's smile widened.

"Gin-kun, so diligent already on your first day. Admirable."

"You flatter me, Elder. You're the one who truly embodies devotion."

The two exchanged the polite small talk of adults.

Just then the door banged open, and Rucha stumbled in, blurting:

"Lord Gin, the prisoner's corpse has been cleaned up. No trace— Ah! Elder Yan!"

Realizing there was another man in the room, he froze mid-report and immediately dropped to his knees.

The air went dead.

"…For the record, he attacked first."

Gin was the first to break the silence, his expression full of guileless sincerity.

"Ahem… these prisoners truly are reckless. Thankfully Gin-kun is strong enough to handle himself — if you'd been hurt, how would I explain it to the clan head?"

Yan quickly smoothed things over, his tone doting.

"Just got lucky," Gin said humbly.

"Well then, I won't keep you. I'll leave the archive in your capable hands."

Yan clapped him on the shoulder encouragingly before departing.

Once Yan left, Rucha stood slowly, his face sheepish as he stood before Gin, clearly expecting punishment.

"Rucha," Gin said mildly, "you're a sharp one. I've got a little job for you."

Rucha perked up immediately.

"Just say the word, Lord Gin! I'll go through fire and water if you ask it of me!"

"Then here's what I need — check the records for me. I want a list of all prisoners brought in six years ago."

"Consider it done, my lord!"

(End of Chapter)

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