Chapter 19

Hashirama cells!?

Is that something an Uchiha like him should even touch?

Even at home, Gin found it hard to believe what he had seen. If Hiruzen found out, he might just have him killed. But it wasn't his choice. Would they listen? Probably not.

Thinking about the things he saw on the fourth floor, the notes on Hashirama cells, and the selected jutsus in his backpack, he felt a mix of disbelief and worry. It was hard to tell if it was a pleasant surprise or a terrifying shock that had landed on his head.

"If I awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan and gain Hashirama cells, I'd at least be Kage level."

But for Gin, the biggest hurdle was the Mangekyō Sharingan. He hadn't even awakened the basic Sharingan yet.

...

Opening the door to his house, Gin saw a figure he didn't want to see, sitting by the tea table.

Talk about a buzzkill.

"Well, isn't this a surprise. The future clan leader himself has time to visit a nobody like me," Gin sneered.

If someone could enter his house without making a sound, it could only be Uchiha Fugaku.

"Next time, don't break in. Anyone who knows would understand, but those who don't might think you're a thief," Gin added sarcastically, knowing his words would sting.

Fugaku remained calm, unfazed by Gin's mocking. He waited until Gin was done before speaking.

"I heard you were taken as a disciple by Jiraiya-sama?"

Gin scoffed, "You already knew that. My status might not be much lower than yours now, dear future clan leader."

Being Jiraiya's disciple didn't seem to have any overt privileges, but it did come with hidden ones. This was essentially a ticket to becoming Hokage. Unfortunately, he bore the Uchiha name.

"You really became Jiraiya-sama's disciple," Fugaku's voice trembled, still in disbelief.

For years, no Uchiha had entered the Hokage's inner circle since Kagami's death. This had sidelined the Uchiha clan from Konoha's leadership and increased their persecution.

Fugaku could accept any Uchiha being chosen as a disciple. But why did it have to be this disgraceful failure?

Fugaku looked at Gin with a complicated expression. Any other Uchiha would be acceptable, but not Gin. To Fugaku, Gin was a stain on the Uchiha name.

He couldn't accept it, let alone the rest of the clan.

"I want you to come with me. The elders want to see you," Fugaku said after a long silence.

"When?" Gin asked.

"Now."

Gin frowned. He had never interacted with the Uchiha elders and had no opinion on them. However, the fact that they had made Fugaku the next clan leader suggested they weren't very bright.

He hadn't anticipated such a strong reaction from the Uchiha to his new status as Jiraiya's disciple. This hadn't even reached the desperate measures of the future.

"Lead the way then," Gin said, standing up.

He would have to face these elders eventually. He just hoped they weren't as foolish as he imagined.

At the Naka Shrine, flames lit the braziers on either side, illuminating the old men sitting on chairs. The flickering flames made it hard to see their faces, but their eyes shone crimson, each bearing the three tomoe of the Sharingan.

Gin stood in the center, feeling their piercing gazes. The pressure was even greater than that from Orochimaru, though it didn't restrain his movements or contain killing intent.

The elder sitting in the main seat spoke first.

"Gin, you haven't awakened your Sharingan at twelve?"

Gin endured the pressure, responding with indifference, "It's not that easy to awaken."

The average age for awakening the Sharingan was between twelve and sixteen. After sixteen, the possibility of awakening it dropped significantly. The earlier the awakening, the greater the talent. To the Uchiha, nothing could compare to the Sharingan.

"Impudent!" An elder to the side shouted angrily.

The Sharingan was the Uchiha's bloodline limit, not just any ordinary thing. Gin, however, ignored the outburst, focusing instead on the elder in the main seat, the true decision-maker.

The Great Elder, Uchiha Kagen, had survived since the Warring States period, maintaining power even after Uchiha's rebellion. All this information came from other Uchihas. The Uchiha clan had no current leader; Fugaku had been chosen as the future leader from birth.

The Uchihas were no different from Konoha, playing favorites in succession.

"Enough," Kagen stopped the enraged third elder, his crimson eyes calmly observing Gin.

"Gin, I want you to monitor the Hokage's faction for the Uchiha clan."

The death of Kagami was suspicious, and Kagen didn't trust Konoha's upper echelon.

Unless... an Uchiha became Hokage.

But Gin, a stain on the Uchiha name, was unworthy.

"I refuse," Gin answered without hesitation. This was a thankless task, and he would lose the trust of the Hokage faction as well. Why bother?

"Hmm?!"

Kagen's face darkened, even though Gin couldn't see it clearly.

"Don't forget you carry the Uchiha blood."

"Sorry, I'm a selfish person and won't selflessly serve the clan," Gin replied coldly, his words spreading through the hall like a spark in a fire.

"You disgrace! How dare you not honor the Uchiha's glory!"

"Expel him from the clan!"

"You selfish scum aren't worthy of being an Uchiha!"

Gin ignored their outraged shouts. He had never felt any warmth from his clan. For a so-called 'failure' like him, being stepped on was the norm.

Kagen observed Gin's cold smile and asked, "Do you have resentment towards the Uchiha?"

Gin rubbed his brow, organizing his thoughts.

"Old man, you're getting senile. Resentment? You think you deserve that?"

"A bunch of self-aggrandizing fools."

Gin's words were merciless. He wasn't one to suck up to anyone. He might be scared, but he wouldn't hold back if his life wasn't in danger. He'd even curse out Hiruzen Sarutobi if it didn't endanger his life.

He had nothing to lose by not catering to these shameless old men.

This was bound to anger the entire Uchiha clan, but he didn't care. They wouldn't dare harm him. As part of the Hokage's inner circle, any harm to him would bring Danzo Shimura down on them for revenge.

He understood this, and so did the elders.

Kagen felt his long-held composure shatter, his patience tested.

"You!!"

He pointed at Gin, unable to find the words.

"If there's nothing else, I'll leave now. Don't call me again. I wouldn't want Jiraiya-sensei to get the wrong idea."

With that, Gin walked out, leaving a group of impotently furious elders behind.

"Ridiculous!" The third elder shouted, never having been so insulted since Uchiha Madara.

"Don't worry. Jiraiya took him as a disciple because he's an Uchiha. When he realizes Gin's true talent, he'll abandon him."

"Then, we'll show him he's just a failure. Let him see he's unworthy of being Jiraiya's disciple."

They were determined to crush Gin's confidence when the time came, making him face the harsh reality of his unworthiness.

(End of Chapter)