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

Clocking in for another day at the dungeon, Uchiha Gin no longer felt yesterday's discomfort. It was as if this sort of environment suited the original host of his body just fine.

Arriving at his post without issue, he looked at the same messy scene as yesterday and felt his head ache.

But Uchiha Kage had already made it clear he wouldn't be given an assistant, so Gin sighed and rolled up his sleeves.

The archive's layout was simple: bookshelves lined the walls, with a desk in the center of the room. Gin first went over each shelf to check for labels.

[Block One: Scrolls in green. Crime level: high]

Seeing the neat explanation written there, Gin relaxed. At least this would save him some trouble.

After a while, he also located the shelves for Block Two and Block Three. Their scrolls were blue and purple, representing medium and low crimes, respectively.

The scroll he'd randomly picked up yesterday was blue — so that Kaguya Joshin had only been considered a medium-level criminal.

And yet, his file described him as "wandering ninja, suspected mental disorder."

Which meant the team that had arrested Joshin hadn't connected him to the massacre at the Uchiha compound six years ago.

He'd only been locked up because he went berserk and killed two patrolling Uchiha on a whim.

Having "spoken" to Joshin at length yesterday, Gin was sure the man's mind had long since cracked.

They'd probably gotten nothing useful out of him back then, which was why he'd languished in the medium-security Block Two all this time with no further interrogation.

"So the lead through Kaguya Joshin is cut off. Maybe I can find something if I look into who captured him back then…"

Muttering to himself, Gin picked up Joshin's file from his desk.

Kaguya Joshin: wandering ninja, killed two Uchiha, suspected mental disorder, resistant to genjutsu interrogation, details unknown. Currently held in Block Two.

Flipping further, he spotted a note.

"Captured by Uchiha Kage's team."

It was him?

Gin pictured the terrifying, cold man who'd guided him yesterday.

So Uchiha Kage had been the one to arrest Joshin. But from his face alone, Gin could tell he was not an easy man to talk to. He frowned, wondering how to bring it up.

Just then, the door to the archives swung open.

Speak of the devil — in walked Uchiha Kage himself, his face gaunt and lifeless.

Seeing Gin sitting there intently studying scrolls, even Kage was faintly surprised — this infamously depraved troublemaker was actually working.

But that was for later. He'd come today at Elder En's behest to ask about yesterday's prisoner death — as was his job anyway.

Although the dungeon was technically under Elder En's authority, he oversaw too much to handle every detail personally.

So each department had a delegated manager, and Kage was the one for the dungeon — running the whole place top to bottom.

"You killed a prisoner yesterday?"

Kage's tone was as cold as ice.

"No! That was self-defense!"

Gin raised his voice in mock grievance, then explained:

"I was just checking records when the guy suddenly attacked me. Luckily he was in bad shape and his shikotsumyaku was brittle — a few counterattacks and he just keeled over."

"Shikotsumyaku?"

Kage's eyes narrowed at the mention of that bloodline limit.

"What was his name?"

"Kaguya Joshin. Not sure who stuck a dangerous freak like that in Block Two… someone really…"

Gin deliberately trailed off, feigning indignation.

"That was me."

Kage's face darkened as he admitted it.

"…A most correct decision! Letting prisoners experience the Uchiha's humane management style is very important."

Gin hastily backpedaled when he saw Kage's expression blackening.

That mollified the man somewhat, and seeing his chance, Gin smoothly asked:

"You really are incredible, Captain Kage — how did you manage to take down such a dangerous guy back then?"

Kage's brows unfurrowed as he seemed to search his memory. Seeing that, Gin kept quiet and waited.

After a few minutes, Kage began recounting the story.

Six years ago, shortly after taking over as clan head, Uchiha Tajima had led all the young fighters to the front lines to establish his authority.

But while they were away, disaster struck the clan compound — the clan head's residence was razed to the ground, and only one survivor was left.

Wracked with regret, Tajima immediately increased the size of the patrol teams and expanded their coverage area.

A month later, a patrol encountered a strange man wandering near their territory.

At first he just shambled around, seemingly harmless — just another vagrant.

But when one cautious Uchiha used his Sharingan to cast genjutsu, the man suddenly went berserk and attacked, his powerful taijutsu killing two weaker Uchiha on the spot.

The survivors called for reinforcements, and Tajima sent Kage — who was at the peak of his fame then — to capture the assailant.

"Was Kaguya Joshin sane at that time?"

Gin interrupted.

Kage didn't mind and continued:

"When we arrived, it was already midnight. We followed the tracks left by the patrol until we finally saw him."

"He looked pitiful. His hair was matted, his clothes in rags, and he staggered like a drunk. You wouldn't have thought he was a killer — just some mad vagrant."

"Was he injured?"

Gin asked again.

"Yes. His back looked as though it had been burned by fire — oozing pus and blood."

Burned? Broken mind?

That detail made Gin's thoughts swirl. He felt like he was close to a realization but couldn't quite grasp it.

"How did you finally bring him down?"

Gin pressed on.

Kage nodded and resumed.

"At first, when I struck him, he collapsed instantly. But as soon as one of my men activated his Sharingan to check, Joshin suddenly exploded into motion again."

"Luckily, my team was strong — though one of them still lost an arm. Then we fought him in earnest — mostly taijutsu. He was fast, and ordinary ninjutsu couldn't touch him. He seemed immune to genjutsu too — we had to wear him down physically."

"It was a close fight, until I noticed something odd — he kept glancing around and hiding in the tree shadows during the fight. That opened him up, and I finally broke his arms and legs to subdue him."

"Hiding in the shadows?"

Gin frowned, still unable to figure it out.

"I didn't understand it at the time either. But after we locked him up, I heard him mumbling to himself."

"What did he say?"

That line piqued Gin's curiosity.

Kage's cold voice echoed in his ears:

"Run! Don't let the moonlight touch you!"

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome][Thank You For Your Support!]