Nearly eighty years old, Elder Mizu of the Uchiha clan wore a trace of surprise on his weathered face. His heavy eyelids drooped, covering most of his eyes, but faint crimson glints leaked through, emanating an intimidating aura without need for words.
"Not quite, but our goal is likely the same—Big Cousin's Mangekyō Sharingan, right?"
Gin shook his head gently, signaling that he had no intention of donating his eyes—at least not for now. After all, if Madara himself refused the procedure, no one could force it upon him.
"Gin, Madara's vision has deteriorated so badly he can't even see clearly a few meters ahead."
Upon hearing Gin's reply, Tajima sighed in relief at first, but then adjusted his glasses and spoke slowly.
"So you've decided to give him your eyes after all?"
Gin calmly pulled out a chair and sat down, meeting his uncle's gaze with a heavy look of resignation.
"Yeah. Even if I have to use unorthodox means, I'll make sure he gets my Mangekyō."
Tajima, now fifty-four, had stepped down from clan affairs a few years back, leaving everything to his two sons. Retired, he lived a leisurely life—until now.
Seeing his gifted son on the verge of going blind, Tajima steeled himself. He had resolved: no matter what, he would give Madara his eyes and restore his sight.
"What do you think, Elder Mizu?"
Faced with his uncle's firm resolve, Gin didn't bother arguing further and instead turned to the scientist, Elder Mizu.
"I can't guarantee success. After all, there's only been one successful case of fusion."
Elder Mizu shook his head. The data he had was too scarce, and it remained uncertain whether that lone success could be replicated. As he mentioned it, his gaze landed meaningfully on Gin.
Because Gin himself had been that successful experiment—the living example of Eternal Mangekyō.
"It'll work!"
Despite Mizu's hesitation, Tajima spoke with absolute confidence, piquing Gin's curiosity.
"And why are you so certain, Uncle?"
Among the documented Mangekyō in Uchiha history, only Chiri had awakened the Eternal version—and with Gin's eyes, who wasn't even blood-related. So what made Tajima think his eyes could trigger the same result?
"Well, since we're family, I won't keep it secret anymore."
Tajima raised his head and replied after a moment's thought.
"Our Uchiha clan has a stone tablet passed down for generations. Its encrypted message can only be deciphered with the Sharingan. Normal three-tomoe eyes can only read the title, but my Mangekyō can see deeper content—including the method for unlocking the Eternal Mangekyō."
Hearing this, Gin froze. A chill crept down his spine, as if something ominous lurked nearby.
Damn it. I almost forgot about that stupid stone tablet. If I recall, by this point in the timeline, the tablet's contents have already been tampered with by that good-for-nothing Black Zetsu…
Which means Uncle saw exactly what Black Zetsu wanted him to see.
"Looks like someone's more anxious than we are."
Gin quickly pieced it all together. Of everyone who wanted Madara to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō, the most desperate was the so-called "devoted son" trying to save his mother—aka Black Zetsu.
The reincarnation of Asura had already gathered all necessary conditions. But things had gone off-script with Indra's reincarnation: Madara hadn't awakened the Eternal Mangekyō, and thus couldn't read the full text. That stalled everything.
The Rinnegan? Out of reach.
"The stone tablet says that the light of the Mangekyō will eventually fade into darkness, leading to blindness—unless one receives the eyes of another who also shines with Mangekyō light. The closer the blood relation, the higher the success rate."
Seeing Gin lost in thought, Tajima began to recite the tablet's content.
"Indeed. Scientifically speaking, the closer the blood, the lower the risk of organ rejection."
Elder Mizu nodded in agreement. He was a man of science. In his view, one day technology might allow for artificial eyes capable of using Mangekyō abilities.
"Well, then, Uncle, what's your plan? Even if Madara's on the verge of blindness, you wouldn't be able to get close enough to him."
Gin wasn't trying to belittle Tajima, but the man was over fifty and shaky on his feet. Even if Madara was blind, he could still cut him down with Susanoo in an instant.
"That's why I was planning to transplant my eyes into him during one of Elder Mizu's routine check-ups."
So that's why he came to Mizu today.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
Gin immediately shook his head and rejected the plan.
"Why not?"
"Uncle, you know Big Cousin's personality better than anyone. Unless he agrees willingly, even if you forcefully transplant the eyes, he'll just dig them out and throw them back at you."
The Uchiha clan was infamous for being stubborn. They acted clever but were essentially hardheaded.
"But if we don't try, how will we know? What if—"
Tajima sighed deeply, his weary eyes filled with helplessness. He knew his son better than anyone. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
"Stop. No more what-ifs. The moment you try, he'll be returning your gift—eyeballs first."
Gin raised his hand to halt Tajima's stubbornness, then smirked slightly.
"Actually, it's not that hard… It's just…"
"Don't you dare stop halfway—spit it out!"
Seeing Gin's teasing face, Tajima fumed and barked at him.
"We're family, aren't we!?"
"Uncle, do you still remember what my profession was?"
"Uh… couch potato?"
"Tch! Not now—before that. Think harder."
"Water-fetcher for widows?"
"No!"
"Then I give up~"
"I was a director! Don't you remember!?"
"Hah?"
Reminded by Gin, Tajima finally recalled how his nephew had once directed a perfectly orchestrated drama—one that helped both his sons awaken the Mangekyō.
"You've got another script!?"
Eyes lighting up, Tajima leaned forward in excitement.
"Oh, I've got it alright~"
Gin nodded confidently and gave a little "OK" hand sign. Leave it to him—he guaranteed satisfaction.
"Well, spill it already!"
Even Elder Mizu leaned in, curious to hear what Gin had cooked up this time.
"Ahem… The plot's simple: Uncle, you show up on the battlefield. I'll play that white-haired Senju brat. I'll stab you in the gut, you pretend to be mortally wounded, and in your dying breath, you entrust your Mangekyō to Madara, telling him to lead the Uchiha to victory!"
Gin laid out the entire scene. It was basic, but effective.
No need to overcomplicate it. Small schemes can still be cute~
"I like it. The pacing is good, realistic, smooth, and best of all—doesn't require acting skill."
Before Tajima could respond, Mizu chimed in first, nodding in approval.
"Yeah… I think it works too."
Tajima, having run out of witty remarks, gave a half-hearted compliment. But then he frowned.
"Wait, after I fake my death, how do I come back? I haven't learned Yin Seal or anything."
"You don't. You just stay dead for real."
Gin's matter-of-fact tone chilled the room. Both elders recoiled instinctively, staring at him in alarm.
"Hah!? Don't give me that look—it's not what you think!"
Gin quickly waved his hands in protest.
"Don't worry. I promise not to kill you."
Tajima rolled up his sleeves, ready to give this unfilial nephew a proper beating.
"Ahem… Uncle, you understand the current situation, right?"
Gin scratched his curly head and continued seriously.
"Hashirama's ambition to unify the Land of Fire is no secret. Other clans that resisted were either wiped out or submitted. Sooner or later, Big Cousin will bend the knee too, right?"
Tajima's face twitched. He knew well enough the tension between Madara and Hashirama. The only reason the fight had lasted this long was because his son refused to yield.
But reality was harsh. Madara's win rate had dropped significantly. Eventually, when he couldn't even scratch Hashirama anymore, his resolve would collapse—and the two clans would reconcile.
"No way! Once Madara has my Mangekyō and awakens the Eternal version, he'll win for sure!"
Unwilling to admit his son's inferiority, Tajima growled back.
"Hah? You've already been bonked by wooden golems. And you're still talking tough?"
Gin rolled his eyes.
"Then what's the point of me faking my death if we're gonna lose anyway!?"
Tajima's rebuttal sounded a bit weak even to his own ears.
"Uncle~ the reason I insist on this fake death is because it ties into my other plan."
Gin's teasing demeanor vanished. His dead-fish eyes turned serious as he looked into the eyes of his most trusted uncle.
"Uncle… I have a way across the sea. If everything works out, the benefits you'll receive… will be beyond anything you ever imagined. I hope you'll seize this opportunity."
(End of Chapter)
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