Just as Uchiha Gin was puzzled by the others' extreme reactions, the four people present simultaneously activated their scarlet Sharingan, staring at him intently. For a moment, he didn't dare move a muscle.
"One has three tomoe, the other three has two tomoe…"
Feeling like he was about to wet his pants under their intense gazes, Uchiha Gin slowly raised both hands over his head and spoke cautiously:
"Everyone, if you're going to kill or torture me, at least let me understand why. I may have delayed the mission, but this seems a bit much, doesn't it?"
"Shut up! Who the hell are you? This Transformation Technique is so flawless that even my two-tomoe Sharingan can't see through it!"
The ponytailed Uchiha growled at him viciously.
"There's nothing wrong—he really is Uchiha Gin."
Uchiha Fenghuo focused his three-tomoe Sharingan at full power, scanning Gin from head to toe with intense scrutiny before closing his eyes and deactivating his dojutsu.
"Then what's going on with him now?"
A burly Uchiha who had remained silent until now asked in confusion.
Gin recalled the original owner's strange personality and realized that it wasn't just about weak strength—he had also been a downright terrible person. Relying on his status as the clan leader's nephew, he bullied ordinary clansmen like a true spoiled brat.
During the current mission, he'd repeatedly clashed with his teammates. If it weren't for Uchiha Fenghuo keeping the peace, he'd probably already have been beaten to a pulp.
Remembering all this, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
The fact that the original owner had lived this long must be thanks to the Sage of Six Paths' divine protection.
With that in mind, Gin realized that if he kept acting like the original owner, he would almost certainly get himself killed in the coming missions. After all, someone had clearly been encouraging his reckless behavior from the shadows, and he had offended far too many people. Someone might just be waiting for an opportunity to get rid of him.
Thinking this through, Gin's eyes shifted slightly as he opened his mouth to speak.
"In the past, I viewed the world only from my own narrow perspective, consumed by self-centered ideals."
Seizing the brief moment of confusion, Uchiha Gin began his performance.
The others deactivated their Sharingan, watching to see what kind of nonsense he was about to pull.
"But through these past few days with all of you, I've come to truly understand—
As a member of the Uchiha, I shouldn't live only for myself.
I must fight for the revival of the Uchiha clan!"
Gin clenched his right fist with emotion.
The others, originally just watching the drama unfold, suddenly felt their blood boil. For some reason, something inside them stirred violently, as if it were trying to burst forth.
"This guy… might actually have something in him,"
The ponytailed Uchiha muttered quietly.
"I spent the first half of my life sheltered under Clan Leader Tajima's wing, enjoying the privileges of my ancestors.
Thinking back on it now, it's truly shameful.
But for the rest of my life, I, Uchiha Gin, will dedicate myself to the rise of our Uchiha clan!"
Now he was outright making stuff up—but his stirring words and tone touched something in the others, and they began nodding along in agreement.
"He's got a point."
"Seems like he's genuinely changed."
"Admitting your faults and correcting them is a great virtue."
Seeing his heartfelt performance was having an effect, Gin couldn't help but let a sly smile slip from the corner of his mouth, and he pushed his act even further.
"I am a proud member of the Uchiha Youth Vanguard.
Under the emblem of our clan, I pledge the following:
I vow to follow the teachings of our ancestors, to hone my dojutsu, train my ninjutsu, forge my taijutsu, and always be ready—
To dedicate everything I have to the great cause of the Uchiha's revival!"
His speech was so passionate that the stunned onlookers could almost see a red clan emblem faintly glowing behind him.
One usually quiet Uchiha quickly pulled out a scroll and excitedly transcribed the entire speech word for word.
Clap clap clap…
No one knew who started clapping, but soon the rest joined in as if waking from a trance.
The loudest claps came from the ponytailed Uchiha, the one who previously had the biggest conflict with Gin.
Even Uchiha Fenghuo, the team leader, looked at Gin with satisfaction and nodded repeatedly.
Who would've thought this spoiled brat could say something so moving? A true hidden gem!
"Uchiha Gin, your words have stirred my blood!
From now on, I—Uchiha Ryoichi—acknowledge you as one of us!"
So the ponytailed Uchiha was named Uchiha Ryoichi.
"I've always admired Brother Ryoichi's talent. His shuriken skills are exquisite and reminiscent of our noble ancestors!"
"And I, Uchiha Feihe, agree as well!"
"Brother Feihe's short blades are dazzling to watch, striking precise vital points in the blink of an eye."
"And I, Uchiha Darou, feel the same!"
"Brother Darou's Fire Style techniques are nearly divine. Everywhere he casts fire, no grass grows. Surely he's already mastered chakra nature transformation—his fire jutsu is on par with the clan leader himself!"
"Enough with the flattery—save it for after the mission!"
Seeing the first light of dawn on the horizon, Uchiha Fenghuo cut off the mutual praise session.
At his command, the group reluctantly stopped, though if they had gone on any longer, they might've started bowing and exchanging blood-oath brotherhoods with Gin.
"We've already fallen far behind in this 'Weeding Operation.'
Especially now that the Hagoromo clan has taken the lead—it's a major blow to our clan's honor.
The mission has entered a critical phase. I'll now distribute the target information."
Because the Hagoromo clan had already eliminated their targets, the Senju clan had begun to catch on to their plans. So Uchiha Fenghuo chose to reveal the full truth.
Gin took the documents Fenghuo handed over and began reading them carefully.
The original Gin only knew fragments of the mission, but with his knowledge of the Naruto story, he could guess the real objective.
The list included a dozen children of the Senju clan—the oldest just over ten, the youngest only four or five.
Gin sighed inwardly.
What a brutal era... no wonder making it to thirty in the Warring States period was considered a long life.
These children of the Senju would have been carefree school kids in his past life.
He began reading from the top of the list:
Senju Hashirama – Age: 14
Eldest son of Senju Butsuma. Specializes in taijutsu and shurikenjutsu. Suspected of possessing innate monstrous strength. Other details unknown…
Looking at the hand-drawn image of a bowl-cut boy on the paper, Gin immediately recognized this as the future ninja god—founder of the ninja village system, tamer of the Nine Tailed Beasts, and the man who would one day crush Uchiha Madara.
Calculating based on age, Gin realized that the peace he longed for was still about a decade away.
"Looks like the fateful bond between Hashirama and Madara has already begun…"
He continued reading.
Senju Tobirama – Age: 10
Second son of Senju Butsuma. Specializes in Water Style ninjutsu and swordsmanship. Extremely fast taijutsu. Other details unknown…
Gin frowned at the red-eyed, white-haired brat in the drawing.
This was the future Second Hokage, a genius whose forbidden techniques defined the entire series—Shadow Clone Jutsu, Flying Thunder God, Edo Tensei, all his creations.
While Gin admired him, he couldn't forget Tobirama's deep-rooted prejudice against the Uchiha.
Even after being resurrected with Edo Tensei, he constantly called Sasuke an "evil Uchiha brat."
Probably jealous that his beloved big brother chose Madara over him...
And thus spent the rest of his life trying to suppress the Uchiha.
Sighing, Gin flipped to the next page.
-----
Senju Wama – Age: 7
Third son of Senju Butsuma. Specializes in Earth Style and taijutsu. Other details unknown…
Since he was still so young, the information was minimal.
But what caught Gin's eye was that this child's portrait had a red "X" drawn over it, with three rough words scrawled beside it:
[Eliminated]