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

"Don't meddle. Do what you're supposed to do."

Yao turned his head, looking at the humanoid black shadow before him.

"Hehehe… I'm really looking forward to seeing the darkness inside this brat," the shadow cackled eerily, slowly approaching the unconscious Gin. A pitch-black hand reached toward Gin's forehead.

Just then, two figures burst into Yao's laboratory. Seeing them from a distance, Yao frowned.

"I thought I could stall them a little longer… didn't expect them to come so quickly. Tashima really isn't the indecisive boy he used to be."

Wangryō had already warned him that Myo had returned, so Yao had stayed up all night drafting a "Weapon Plan" about the two Mangekyō.

The plan was significant enough that the loyal Myo would immediately report to Tashima — buying Yao some time. But apparently his once-indecisive disciple had grown far more decisive as clan head.

"Wangryō, abort the plan. Attach yourself to Gin and await my command," Yao ordered.

He couldn't risk exposing Wangryō yet, and this move would force Tashima to remove Yao from the project and protect Gin.

Without hesitation, the black shadow dissolved into a pool of inky liquid and merged into Gin's body.

"Uchiha Yao! Clan Head's orders: the experiment is over!"

Myo, with the round, rotund En in tow, stormed into the room and held up Tashima's written decree.

"What? Clan Head wasn't tempted by my plan?" Yao turned, his expression cold as he faced his two clan brothers.

"Now isn't the time for such a plan. The Clan Head has ordered me to take over your research. He specifically instructed that you, Yao, take some time off and rest."

En and Myo glared warily at Yao, prepared for him to lash out. After all, he was no mere researcher.

"You don't need to be so nervous. If it's the Clan Head's order, of course I'll obey," Yao said flatly, shaking his head. He took off his lab coat and walked out without another word.

"That… was too easy, wasn't it?"

Myo and En exchanged a glance, both feeling uneasy at how simply Yao had backed down.

"No matter. Let's just get Gin back first," En muttered, looking at the still-unconscious Gin.

Unable to guess what Yao was really thinking, Myo gave up for now and helped En carry Gin back to his room.

Outside the research facility, Yao glanced back at the place he'd spent most of his life. A fleeting look of regret passed through his eyes.

"What a pity. Soon, all this will be nothing but ashes… along with this cursed clan."

Yao muttered to himself, his aged face twisting into a mad grin.

"Kin… a world without you has no right to exist."

——

Under the night sky, far outside the Uchiha clan's territory, a disguised figure stood on a moonlit hillside, waiting.

At the sound of footsteps, several burly men emerged from the woods. Their eyes glinted with bloodlust, and though their rugged faces were fierce, they oddly bore the delicate maru-brows of their clan — incongruous with their demeanor.

"You're the one who sent us that information?" the square-jawed leader asked arrogantly.

"Yes. The Uchiha clan recently changed leaders. This new one isn't a warmonger and prefers to lay low. So these past few years they've stockpiled plenty of resources," came the reply, a strangely androgynous voice that made it impossible to tell the figure's age or gender beneath the mask.

"Such cowardice. War is the only path to strength," the leader sneered.

"And why would you hand us the Uchiha's defense map?"

In distant Water Country, the Kaguya clan — newly arrived and seeking conquest — had unexpectedly received an intelligence package.

It contained detailed information on the Uchiha clan, complete with a defense map.

The Kaguya had initially been skeptical, but this was too tempting. If they could seize such a prize, it would strengthen their position and let them establish themselves in Fire Country.

Water Country was poor, fragmented, and its islanders were fierce but disorganized. Many clans there often eyed Fire Country hungrily, making probes and hoping someday to take a real foothold.

"You don't need to ask. Just think of me as an avenger," the masked figure said calmly from the darkness.

"You sneaky thing… even if you don't say it, we'll soon know if what you gave us is real."

The Kaguya leader gave a signal. From the crowd, a man who didn't quite fit the others stepped forward — notably, he lacked the clan's signature maru-brows.

"This boy is a hybrid of our clan and the Hyūga. His bloodline awakened, and he can scout several kilometers away. He'll confirm whether your intel is true," the leader said coldly, patting the man's shoulder.

"If you've lied to us, we'll make sure you die a thousand deaths."

Just as the Uzumaki and Senju had intermarried to strengthen ties, the Kaguya and Hyūga also had a long history of occasional unions.

This unassuming man was one such hybrid.

Though he hadn't inherited the Kaguya's deadly Shikotsumyaku, he did possess a mutated Byakugan. Unlike the Hyūga's pure white eyes, his pupils appeared normal unless activated.

"Kaguya Takuya. Scout the Uchiha perimeter and check if it matches the intel."

Takuya nodded silently and set off toward the Uchiha's outer defenses.

"Byakugan, open!"

As he moved, Takuya formed a seal and his eyes turned pure white, though without the bulging veins of the Hyūga.

It was a far weaker Byakugan, with only its telescopic vision intact — likely due to his mixed blood.

Even so, this made him highly valued. Few in this era could reliably gather intel, and for the Kaguya — a clan of brute-force fighters — knowing enemy positions was critical.

Using his mutated Byakugan, Takuya soon spotted the Uchiha's outpost several miles away. He counted the men, circled to another angle, and kept observing.

Back on the hillside, the atmosphere was tense as the masked figure and the Kaguya waited. When Takuya finally returned, panting, the leader asked:

"Takuya. What did you see?"

"Captain Sōsuke," Takuya said breathlessly, "I confirmed. The Uchiha's perimeter matches the intel exactly."

"Ha ha ha ha ha! Heaven favors us!"

Kaguya Sōsuke roared with laughter. Lowering his gaze to the masked figure, he sneered:

"So you really do have a deep grudge against the Uchiha… very well. After tonight, there won't be an Uchiha left in this world."

(End of Chapter)

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