Chapter 22: That Time I Shocked the High-Ups by Awakening the Sharingan

Although Uchiha Gin was curious about the strange behavior of the two Uchiha patrolmen from earlier, he had no time to dwell on it as the squad continued their journey.

As the pace of the people ahead slowed, a massive fortress guarding the exit of the village appeared before Uchiha Gin's eyes.

While productivity and living conditions during the Warring States Period were relatively backward, a great clan like the Uchiha possessed a clan territory built of exquisite, massive stones. Although it lacked the concrete high walls of the future Konoha Village, it was highly characteristic of the era.

Upon seeing the newcomers, the guards at the gate simply verified their identities before allowing them through.

Entering the Uchiha clan territory, the first thing that met his eyes were Uchiha members in training—old and young alike, with some children being only a few years old.

The small ones were practicing their aim with sharpened shuriken, while the older ones practiced Uchiha swordsmanship. The sound of clashing metal rang incessantly. Among them were many women, making it a true society of soldiers.

As he walked along, Uchiha Gin realized that the Uchiha genes were truly formidable; from the old to the young, and from men to women, there wasn't a single person with mediocre looks. His own face, which he considered handsome, seemed quite ordinary here.

Despite his admiration, Uchiha Gin noticed that throughout his walk, the Uchiha members he encountered instinctively avoided his gaze.

Some Uchiha women carrying daughters immediately pulled their children back into their houses and closed the doors and windows the moment they saw Uchiha Gin's eyes glance toward them.

"What's going on? People are looking at me like I'm some kind of ferocious beast," Uchiha Gin muttered, scratching his curly hair in confusion. "Was the original owner of this body really that unpopular?"

"Uchiha Gin, when we see the Clan Head, you will report the mission," Uchiha Fuhuo, who was leading the group, said as he looked back.

"Understood, Captain," Uchiha Gin replied, knowing he couldn't avoid it.

The group arrived at a grand building in the very center of the clan territory. Uchiha Fuhuo informed the guards that they were there to report a mission to the Clan Head. The guards went inside to report and returned a moment later to open the gates.

After walking through several corridors, they finally arrived at the door of a room.

Pushing the door open, they saw a middle-aged man sitting in a high seat, with two elderly men—one fat and one thin—standing to the side. The three seemed to be discussing something, but they stopped and looked at the newcomers as they entered.

This was the "first" time Uchiha Gin met the original owner's cheap uncle, the current Uchiha Clan Head, Uchiha Tajima.

He wore the characteristic upward-swept long hair common among the Uchiha. Two deep nasolabial folds marked his lean face, and his dark, profound eyes carried a faint sense of pressure.

Looking at this familiar yet strange middle-aged man, the members of the Uchiha squad knelt on one knee to pay their respects.

Uchiha Gin froze for a moment at their actions. No one had told him about this. What was he supposed to do now? It was too late to kneel, so he could only stand there awkwardly, looking somewhat flustered.

The others kept shooting him meaningful glances, signaling him to hurry, but Uchiha Gin, who had no such habit, was momentarily at a loss.

"It is good that you returned alive. Rise," Uchiha Tajima said coldly from the center seat. He did not reprimand Uchiha Gin; instead, he seemed accustomed to his failure to bow.

"Thank you, Clan Head!" the others replied respectfully as they stood up.

"Fuhuo, I have always been confident in your strength. It was within my expectations that you would be the first to complete the mission," Uchiha Tajima said to the standing Uchiha Fuhuo, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation. The two seemed to have a good relationship.

"It is all thanks to the Clan Head's cultivation!"

*I didn't realize this old geezer knew how to flatter people so well,* Gin thought, *he's quite the smooth talker.*

"Then, explain the progress of the mission," Uchiha Tajima continued.

Hearing this, Uchiha Fuhuo did not speak immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Uchiha Gin. Prompted by the look, Gin stepped forward, placed the unconscious Senju Banma—whom he had knocked out beforehand—in front of him, and spoke.

"Clan Head, let me report the mission progress!"

"Gin, stop playing around. The seniors are present. Step back. I will have a mission for you later," Uchiha Tajima said, looking at his nephew with some surprise. He was well aware of his nephew's current strength.

Sending him on missions was merely a way to keep him from causing trouble within the clan; he didn't expect him to provide any help to others. It was a blessing if he didn't become a burden.

"Clan Head, let Uchiha Gin report," Uchiha Fuhuo interjected from the side.

Hearing the squad leader say this piqued Uchiha Tajima's curiosity. He turned to look seriously at the nephew he had rarely paid attention to.

"Very well, Gin. Tell us about the course of your mission."

With Tajima's permission, Uchiha Gin began his account, starting from when "he" had forced his way into the Senju territory. When he mentioned being wounded and near death by a powerful Senju, a flash of ruthlessness crossed Tajima's eyes.

When he mentioned encountering the chaotic battle between the Hagoromo and Senju clans and how the Uchiha squad had watched the fight from the sidelines, Tajima showed a look of appreciation.

As Gin continued, mentioning they had captured the son of Senju Butsuma, a sharp light burst in Tajima's eyes. He glanced at the unconscious child in front of Gin with a contemplative expression.

Finally, Uchiha Gin described their encounter with the pursuit of the Uzumaki clan.

"That muscular man is the son of Uzumaki Ashina, and he is extremely powerful. How did you survive his pursuit?" asked the fat elderly Uchiha, who had been listening with great interest.

Uchiha Gin was not annoyed by the interruption, and Uchiha Tajima, who was still deep in thought, also looked toward him.

"Because I awakened it in a moment of desperation."

As he spoke, he pointed to his eyes. Within his crimson eyes, two tomoe were slowly rotating.

Normally, the awakening of the Sharingan would be a cause for celebration. However, as the two tomoe became visible, the atmosphere in the room suddenly stagnated.

The expressions of the two elderly Uchiha, who had been composed, suddenly turned terrifyingly grim, like the face-changing art of Sichuan Opera.

Sitting in his seat, Uchiha Tajima even activated his own Three-Tomoe Sharingan, staring intently at Gin's eyes. The rapidly spinning tomoe seemed as if they might suck him in.

The sudden chilling of the atmosphere left the prepared Uchiha Gin momentarily speechless. After a moment, he asked cautiously, "Should I continue...?"

"Uchiha Fuhuo, the rest of you, withdraw. Consider this mission perfectly completed. You are granted a few days of leave to go home and see your families," Uchiha Tajima interrupted, forcing Gin to swallow his words.

Confused, Uchiha Fuhuo and the others did not dare to linger and took their leave.

Seeing his teammates leave, Uchiha Gin prepared to make a run for it. Just as he was picking up Senju Banma to slip away, Uchiha Tajima's cold voice rang out.

"Gin, stay. I have some questions for you."

Seeing that he couldn't escape, Uchiha Gin could only resign himself to fate. He set the boy down and stared blankly at his uncle, waiting for the interrogation.

However, Uchiha Tajima did not address him immediately. Instead, he turned to the stout elderly Uchiha beside him.

"Elder En, what is the meaning of this?"

"It shouldn't be possible... this shouldn't be happening," replied the elder, Uchiha En, who was one of the oldest high-ranking members of the clan.

"Elder Mio, explain this to me. What is the situation?"

Receiving no satisfactory answer, Tajima turned to the other thin elderly Uchiha. Uchiha Mio did not answer.

Instead, he stared fixedly with his wrinkled eyes at Uchiha Gin's still-spinning Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

Uchiha Gin felt a chill running down his spine from the intense stare. He thought to himself, *Is the original owner's talent really that pathetic? Just awakening two tomoe is enough to shock all the high-ranking members like this?*