Chapter 42: Uchiha Tajima, the Self-Directed Actor

“No, his eyes told me that he was betrayed.”

Uchiha Yao spoke these words through gritted teeth.

“And the one who betrayed him was his most trusted cousin, Uchiha Tajima!”

His own father was killed by his own cousin? This news was even more explosive than knowing his old man was a super genius; it made him gasp for air.

“If I hadn't later discovered the footage recorded in Jin's eyes before his death, I wouldn't have believed that the Uchiha Tajima who cried nearly to the point of fainting at the funeral could actually be such a despicable villain!” Uchiha Yao said with resentment.

“When you were eight years old, your parents led a squad to execute a decapitation mission. Unexpectedly, the enemy was prepared and had laid a massive trap. In the end, your father led your mother and Uchiha Tajima to fight their way out. Just as they were about to escape, Uchiha Tajima struck your father, causing a heavy injury. This allowed the enemy to catch up to your father. Your mother refused to leave him behind, and ultimately, both of them died together in a tragic sacrifice.”

Uchiha Yao slowly revealed the truth behind the original owner's parents' deaths.

“These images exist within Jin's eyes.”

After Uchiha Jin's body was recovered, the one who performed the autopsy was none other than his father, Uchiha Yao.

Uchiha Yao had sensed something wrong from the lingering ocular power in his son's eyes, so he had endured the pain of temporarily removing the eyes to take them back to the research institute for study.

Years later, he finally saw the aforementioned images through his son's Sharingan.

“My son was a genius! And you, my grandson, are a peerless genius with even greater talent than your father.”

Uchiha Yao turned his gaze. After a slight struggle in the corner of his eye, a mysterious light flickered in his single black eye as he stared intently at Uchiha Gin, speaking with absolute certainty.

“Huh?”

Uchiha Gin, suddenly being addressed, was somewhat bewildered. Didn't he know how mediocre the original owner was? A peerless genius? He was a peerless loser, more like. *Old man, you've got the wrong person.*

Seeing his grandson's face full of disbelief, Uchiha Yao continued, “When Uchiha Tajima told you the news of your parents' deaths, you, at only eight years old, awakened the Sharingan.”

“???”

Uchiha Gin felt like his brain wasn't working anymore. Wasn't it he who awakened the original owner's Sharingan?

“And it was the most powerful of the Uchiha clan—the Mangekyō Sharingan.”

Uchiha Yao's words were shocking.

“???????”

Uchiha Gin's brain completely stalled. At this moment, he desperately wanted to slap himself a few times to ask where his Mangekyō went.

“Uchiha Tajima witnessed the birth of your Mangekyō Sharingan with his own eyes. From that moment on, he set his sights on you.”

Uchiha Yao ignored Uchiha Gin's "changing expression" and continued his story.

“Furthermore, you weren't the only one with a Mangekyō back then.”

Uchiha Yao showed a look of reminiscence. “There was another child, just like you.”

“Who was it?”

The hidden photograph flashed through Uchiha Gin's mind.

“The child of your neighbor. Her parents were members of the same squad that sacrificed themselves alongside your parents.”

“After that child awakened the Mangekyō, her emotions became extremely unstable. The people at the research institute called her 'Nameless.'”

Uchiha Yao did not know much about the other child's family.

“Because you two were too young to control the power of the Mangekyō, the elderly Clan Head at the time appointed me to look after you while simultaneously conducting research on Mangekyō ocular techniques.”

Uchiha Yao seemed to recall happy times, and a slight smile pulled at his cold lips.

“Originally, you two children were very happy living in the research institute, but two years later...”

Uchiha Yao's tone shifted, and his expression turned cold.

“The old Clan Head passed away from illness, leaving the clan leaderless. At that time, the leader of the militant faction, Uchiha En, and the second-in-command of the research institute, Uchiha Miao, publicly nominated Uchiha Tajima to succeed as Clan Head. They also advocated that Uchiha Tajima marry the daughter of the previous Clan Head. Not knowing the truth, I also cast a vote in favor.”

“I didn't expect that the first thing Uchiha Tajima did upon taking office was to have Uchiha Miao replace me, demoting me to another department for research.”

“From that day on, I didn't see the two of you for a long time. During that period, I asked Uchiha Miao, but I was shut out. He told me you were undergoing secret experiments and could not leave easily.”

Regarding the experiences Uchiha Yao described, Uchiha Gin realized with growing dread that there wasn't a single trace of this so-called research institute in the original owner's memories; there were only memories of the young Uchiha Tajima adopting him and treating him like his own son.

For a moment, he could not distinguish who was lying and who was telling the truth.

“Do you think I am deceiving you?”

Seeing Uchiha Gin's confusion, Uchiha Yao said indifferently.

“That's right. If what you're saying is true, then why do my memories only contain images of Uchiha Tajima growing up with me?” Uchiha Gin asked.

“Then your memories, and even your very perception, have been tampered with.”

Uchiha Yao shook his head and said, “By Uchiha Tajima's ocular technique.”

*Kotoamatsukami?!* The unique genjutsu of the Mangekyō Sharingan, hailed as the "strongest genjutsu."

It can directly invade a person's brain and modify their will without them even realizing it.

The effect is extremely powerful, allowing one to manipulate an opponent unconsciously and achieve victory without conflict, but each use requires a cooldown period of over a decade.

With a calculated expression of doubt, Uchiha Yao explained, “Uchiha Tajima awakened the Mangekyō at some unknown point. His ocular technique can modify a person's memories and even their will. He used that technique on you, which is why your memories are skewed.”

*The original owner actually took a hit from Kotoamatsukami?* Uchiha Gin was shocked. This genjutsu, which would be legendary in the future, already existed now.

But it made sense. During the Warring States Period, people awakening the Mangekyō in the Uchiha clan were everywhere. It was inevitable that the "strongest genjutsu" known to the future shinobi world, Kotoamatsukami, would be recorded in history for people like the Third Hokage to know.

“What exactly happened while I was at the research institute?”

Uchiha Gin couldn't help but ask.

“While I was there, I was merely researching why you both awakened the Mangekyō at the same time,” Uchiha Yao replied.

“I discovered that your Sharingan and Nameless's had an extremely high compatibility. I speculated it was due to the mutual attraction of your ocular powers during their awakening, and it also had a great deal to do with the deep bond between you two.”

“And what happened to me and that Nameless girl after that?”

What Uchiha Gin cared about was what Uchiha Miao had done to them after Uchiha Yao was kicked out of the team.

“I do not know. I tried to contact you while you were imprisoned, but I was blocked by Uchiha Tajima and his associates. Not long after, I found you appearing in Uchiha Tajima's home, but I saw no sign of Nameless.”

“Until six years ago, when that incident happened in the clan territory.”

After speaking for so long, Uchiha Yao finally mentioned the tragedy of the clan territory six years ago.

“Was it the Kaguya clan attacking the territory?”

Uchiha Gin recalled the original owner's memories and voiced his guess.

“Heh, how could it be? A mere Kaguya.” Uchiha Yao showed great disdain for the Kaguya clan. “Brainless as they are, they were merely being deceived.”

“What do you mean?”

Hearing the word "deceived," Uchiha Gin's curiosity was piqued again.

“Uchiha Tajima sent people disguised as rogue ninjas to deliver intelligence to the Kaguya clan, who had fled to the Land of Water.”

“What intelligence?”

“The Uchiha territory is undefended. Come quickly!”

Uchiha Yao spoke in a low, chilling voice.

“To gain prestige, Uchiha Tajima actually lured the Kaguya clan to attack his own home, intending to descend like a god to save his clansmen from the fire and water.”

“Was Uchiha Tajima's strength sufficient?”

The Kaguya clan's Kekkei Genkai was, to some extent, a counter to the Uchiha clan, whose Taijutsu was relatively weaker. How could the Uchiha Tajima, who had not yet reached his peak, deal with the Kaguya clan attacking in full force?

“The two 'weapons' he mastered were his greatest confidence at the time.”

Uchiha Yao's cold tone caused the surrounding air to frost over, making Uchiha Gin's body tremble slightly.

(End of Chapter)