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

Over the next hour, Uchiha Rucha enthusiastically rattled off all of "Uchiha Gin's" supposed crimes.

From petty things like dining and dashing, peeping on widows bathing, or stealing candy from children…

To darker deeds, like dragging a girl off the road into the woods in the middle of the night and "exercising" with her right in front of her boyfriend, then silencing them both.

When the victim's parents tried to complain to the clan, he detained them as well, and in the end they "reunited as a family" — finishing the whole ordeal with a smug line: "A family ought to be neat and complete."

There were countless similar tales. Gin's alleged misdeeds had become an oral tradition among the Uchiha. In time, his name became infamous, feared by ordinary clansmen, hated by those with power. If not for his status, someone would've already "delivered justice" and removed this scourge.

"…???"

But none of these memories were in the original host's mind.

The original Gin was reclusive by nature, and after surviving the tragedy he had even less contact with others.

He lived quietly, took care of himself, and only occasionally lashed out when others taunted him about being the lone survivor of the massacre.

"The world doesn't know me, but it never stops spreading my legend."

"You saw all this yourself?" Gin finally interrupted Rucha's long-winded account.

"…Er, no."

Rucha scratched his head awkwardly after thinking it over.

"Then why do you make it sound so convincing?"

"…I don't know. Someone said it, then everyone started saying it. 'You did all this, Uchiha Gin…'"

Even Rucha started to doubt himself — when had he come to believe this was Gin's true character?

So everyone took baseless gossip as truth. Was someone deliberately spreading it? Or…?

Suspicion welled up in Gin's chest. Why smear the original host's name?

Who was behind isolating the original like this? And why target such a harmless weakling?

Was it just resentment that he'd been the sole survivor?

Survivor's Guilt.

That term flashed through Gin's mind.

Survivor's guilt — where those who lived through a disaster often feel tremendous moral pressure and harsh judgement from others, weighed down by the question: "Why you?"

The original's growing isolation and silence in the face of slander may have stemmed from this.

But silence was taken as acquiescence.

And so his reputation became a monstrous caricature — the line between rumor and reality blurring, until no one knew the truth anymore.

"Gin-dono, that's all I know."

Gin had only half-listened to Rucha's rambling by the end, but he got the gist: more baseless gossip.

"Alright. Thank you, Rucha. I like people who tell me the truth."

Knowing the original had never done anything so vile, Gin bore no grudge toward Rucha.

"I… I'll go get back to work now."

Seeing Gin still calm after hearing so much, Rucha decided he'd better get out while he could.

"Mhm. Let's have tea sometime," Gin said absently, waving him off.

Once outside, Rucha leaned against the wall, legs weak and drenched in cold sweat."I said so much, and he didn't even get mad. He's nothing like the rumors…"

Shaking his head, he thought: That's not for a lowly guard like me to worry about.

He still had night duty to prepare for, now that his buddy Tietan was trying to get transferred out.

Putting aside the "injustice" the original host had suffered, Gin decided to go find that so-called old guard and see if he could get any clearer answers.

Block Three — where petty thieves and minor offenders were held.

Some stayed for a few weeks, some up to a year before being released.

There were some Uchiha among them, but also wandering shinobi. Their common trait: weak, timid.

The guards on duty here were two young Uchiha boys, no more than ten years old, trying to look stern despite their baby faces — a comical sight.

When Gin approached, the skinny one called out:"Restricted area. Unauthorized personnel keep out."

"…You don't know who I am?" Gin raised a brow, surprised he didn't recognize him.

"I don't care who you are. Without orders from the commanding officer, no one takes a step past here."

The boy's expression was all business — and his "commanding officer" was clearly Uchiha Kage.

"I'm the newly appointed records officer. I'm here to audit prisoner files."

Gin didn't want to argue, so he just stated his role plainly.

"Oh, if you're the records officer, go right ahead."

The skinny boy immediately stepped aside.

"You idiot, Hoka! You just believe whatever some stranger tells you?"

His partner — a round-faced boy with clear, dumb eyes — immediately protested.

"But he said he's the records officer…" Hoka mumbled, rubbing his head.

"I, Uchiha Jiro, won't fall for tricks like that!" the round-faced boy declared proudly.

Gin squinted at him — this boy looked awfully familiar. "You're Uchiha Jiro? Is your brother Uchiha Dairo?"

"How'd you know?"

Jiro's eyes widened at the mention of his long-lost brother.

"I was on a mission with him. Just got back a few days ago."

Gin played the "comrade" card.

"Oh, say so sooner! Please, go right in!"

The Uchiha boys really were too honest — no wonder the clan got itself wiped out.

"Thanks, little Jiro. And you too, Hoka."

Gin smiled at them, then turned to Hoka: "By the way… how'd you know my name?"

That left the skinny boy completely bewildered.

After leaving the two boys behind, Gin made his way deeper into Block Three.

The prisoners here were clearly more relaxed than in the other blocks — some were even chatting and bragging to each other.

The light sentences must've left them with no real fear of punishment, and the heart of steel system didn't even trigger.

Gin searched cell by cell with no luck — he was starting to wonder if Rucha had just made the whole "old guard" up.

But then he spotted an open cell.

Inside was a hunched figure, mopping the floor.

Noticing he wore the Uchiha high-collared combat uniform, Gin called out:"Excuse me, may I—"

Before he could finish, the hunched figure turned around.

Under the dim light of the corridor, Gin saw an aged, wrinkled face marked by the passage of time.

Most striking of all were his eyes — both pupils were a milky grey. The hand gripping the mop was shriveled and pale, like a bird's claw.

Startled, Gin swallowed his words mid-sentence.

Then he saw a faint wisp of blackness pass through the old man's eyes as a raspy, crow-like laugh escaped his dry lips.

The words that followed made Gin's heart tighten.

"Hehehehe… you've finally come."

(End of Chapter)

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