Chapter 206: Is There Any Crown Prince in the World Who Has Been One for Twenty Years?

"Huh?"

Uchiha Gin had just tossed the apple in his hand into the trash can when he heard Uchiha Tajima's strange question, which even involved the old geezer who had already returned to the Six Paths, leaving him momentarily speechless.

"I knew it!"

Watching Uchiha Gin's hesitation, Uchiha Tajima assumed he had guessed correctly, then sighed, his gaze filled with a deep sense of indebtedness.

He had intended to offer an explanation, but seeing his uncle already wearing an "I understand everything" expression, Uchiha Gin found it difficult to refute him and could only ask cautiously,

"Do you think Uchiha Yao taught it to me?"

"Otherwise? That kind of profound secret technique is not something a greenhorn like you could research. It requires years of targeted experimentation to create such a miraculous secret technique."

Uchiha Tajima shook his head, recalling his own erudite teacher, and sighed as he said,

"This secret technique seems to have been researched specifically to save your body. I cannot imagine anyone else under the heavens, besides Uchiha Yao, who would develop such a ninjutsu for your sake."

He hadn't expected his uncle to be such a master at overthinking.

"If I am not mistaken, a long time ago, Uchiha Yao sought you out, saw that your physical condition was so dire, and specifically developed that 'Yin Seal' for your body."

No, don't go pinning labels on me.

"If you say so, then so be it~"

Listening to Uchiha Tajima's wild imagination, Uchiha Gin rolled his eyes until they were on the verge of evolving. Fine, fine, fine, you are the clan head, everything you say is correct.

In any case, there was no proof left, so Uchiha Gin didn't continue to argue, treating it as a tacit admission to save himself a lot of trouble.

"Although the teacher did wrong before he passed, his love for you was not fake. I hope you do not blame him."

Thinking that Uchiha Gin refused to admit the secret technique was taught to him because of Uchiha Yao's rebellious behavior before death, Uchiha Tajima, having figured out the reason, spoke to comfort him, hoping Uchiha Gin would not live in pain in the future.

Uh... Uncle, you're actually a pretty good guy~

Uchiha Gin peeled a banana, found it was fine, and stuffed it into his mouth in one bite. Looking at the kind-faced Uchiha Tajima, he asked,

"Hoo~ Uncle, now that the cousins have awakened their eyes, what are your plans?"

Uchiha Tajima looked at his eldest nephew, whose mouth was stuffed like a hamster, his breath hitching. He couldn't help but mutter in his heart: Can this kid be relied upon in the future?

"Actually, before I set out, I had an idea. I was still considering it, but I didn't expect Madara and Izuna to be so capable. Now that I say it out loud, I have no burden."

Steadying himself, Uchiha Tajima turned his gaze toward the window, looking at the new sun rising over the Sky City, and said in an inexplicable tone,

"What is it? Being so hesitant doesn't suit your style."

Uchiha Gin swallowed the banana and turned to look at Uchiha Tajima, who was clearly preoccupied, saying,

"I want to abdicate and let Madara succeed as the clan head."

Uchiha Tajima turned his gaze back from the sun, looked at Uchiha Gin, and slowly delivered this bombshell.

"Huh? Uncle, you're still in your prime, why are you thinking of stepping down to the second line?"

Uchiha Gin looked at Uchiha Tajima in surprise. His uncle's ocular jutsu strength was above the passing line, and his eyesight hadn't reached the point of needing glasses, so why was he thinking of retiring to enjoy his later years?

"Actually, I had this idea a long time ago. When we rescued Uchiha Hikari, I had already considered it."

Uchiha Tajima did not avoid the subject, directly stating what was in his heart. Even if the young girl in Uchiha Gin's home had a special identity, she could not escape the fate of fighting for the clan.

"Uh... you really dare to say that. Aren't you afraid I'll run off with Hikari?"

Uchiha Gin naturally understood the subtext in Uchiha Tajima's words. He stared with dead fish eyes, expressionless, and asked his serious-looking uncle,

"Hmph! Our Uchiha clan has not yet fallen to the point where we need to force our clansmen to do things they do not want to do."

Uchiha Tajima's gaze was like a torch, full of pride when speaking of the clan.

"Well played, worthy of praise!"

Hearing this, Uchiha Gin gave his uncle a big thumbs up. It really goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover.

Uchiha Tajima, this mastermind of the Warring States period, looked sinister and vicious, yet the things he did were one more upright than the last.

"It's just that I didn't expect that son of Butsuma Senju to grow to such a degree. The previous Madara was no match for him no matter what, so I couldn't step down yet."

Uchiha Tajima touched his eyeball, recalling the scene where he fought the Arhat Wood Statue, and the corners of his eyes, which had split open, throbbed with pain.

"But now, if Madara deals with that Senju kid with Izuna's help, it shouldn't be too strenuous."

Recalling the performance of his two sons after awakening their eyes, Uchiha Tajima nodded with great satisfaction.

Although the two boys were still a bit green in their use of the Mangekyo, with just a little targeted training, their future strength would definitely not be inferior to his own.

No, no, no. Right now, the brothers are just in the newbie protection period. Once the opponent gets their new power-up, the big cousin will still only be getting beaten up.

In Uchiha Gin's mind, the future Thousand-Armed Buddha appeared. Once the Hashirama face-mask was activated, the massive Nine-Tails would be nothing more than a little kitten in front of it, let alone the big cousin hanging onto the Nine-Tails.

Heh, Complete Body Susanoo? It's just a toy for the Buddha~

"What do you think?"

Seeing Uchiha Gin lost in thought, Uchiha Tajima assumed he was pondering his words and asked for his opinion.

"Good! With the two cousins joining forces, that Senju clan is nothing but a bunch of weaklings."

Uchiha Gin said the hard truth against his will, causing Uchiha Tajima to nod repeatedly in agreement.

"Although I don't think there will be much of a problem, for the sake of insurance, I hope you, Gin, can assist them a little at critical moments."

"Huh?"

You want me to fight Sukuna?

"Cough, cough, cough... Uncle, you really overestimate me. In this performance, to ensure realism, we were using real blades and real guns. That heart-piercing strike of mine was for real; if it weren't for my secret technique, you'd be attending my funeral feast by now."

Uchiha Gin flashed back onto the hospital bed and said in an extremely weak voice, choking back tears,

"Stop, stop, stop! I'm not asking you to go down there yourself. You, your home, and that apprentice of yours are no ordinary people."

Uchiha Tajima said with black lines on his forehead; he hadn't expected Uchiha Gin to take action personally.

His nephew's strength fluctuated, making it hard for him to fathom, but thinking that the boy hadn't awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, no matter how many tricks he had, he probably wouldn't be that strong.

"Oh~ you should have said so earlier, you scared the life out of me!"

Hearing that Uchiha Tajima was talking about Hikari and Uchiha Chiri, Uchiha Gin immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Fighting Sukuna is a job for those who can pilot Gundams.

"No problem! Leave Hikari and Chiri to me. I'll definitely keep them well-fed and healthy for the clan."

Thinking of this, Uchiha Gin patted his chest and promised.

"With your word, I can rest easy."

Although Uchiha Gin was not very reliable in his actions, he was very capable at critical moments. With his help, Madara should be able to handle the position of clan head.

"Since that is the case, I will go back and draft the announcement. You should rest for a while!"

Action-oriented, Uchiha Tajima couldn't wait a moment longer. He stood up, said a word to Uchiha Gin, and turned to leave.

"Hey, hey, hey, Uncle! Didn't you say that after this was done, I could go to the rear to retire?"

Watching Uchiha Tajima's hurried back, Uchiha Gin remembered their previous agreement and shouted,

"By the end of the year, for sure!"

"Damn it, it's only January!"

Uchiha Gin gave his uncle's back a big middle finger.

The next day.

"Big cousin! I'm coming in!"

As the door was kicked open rudely, Uchiha Izuna walked in with a smile, his hands full of get-well gifts.

"You kid, can you not say lines like Gian next time? It will make people with ulterior motives misunderstand our relationship."

Uchiha Gin poked his head out from under the covers, looked at his happy little cousin, and suggested with dead fish eyes,

"Oh~ next time for sure! Let's not talk about that, get up and eat some oranges!"

Uchiha Izuna grinned and pulled several fruits that looked quite familiar to Uchiha Gin out of the bag.

"Wait, little cousin, is that an orange?"

Looking at the strangely shaped, thick-skinned fruit, Uchiha Gin asked with slight hesitation.

"Ah? Otherwise? The physician said you lack Vitamin C. I asked the fruit shop owner, and he said this is the best for Vitamin C. I bought a lot specifically for you, you must eat them all, okay~"

Having said that, he skillfully peeled the golden fruit, revealing the bright yellow flesh inside, and handed it to Uchiha Gin's mouth like he was presenting a treasure.

"Eat it, big cousin, it's very nourishing. One bite and you won't make a sound."

"Get out! You want me to try eating one? I lectured you on this a long time ago, this is a damn lemon!"

Smelling the pungent sourness at the tip of his nose, Uchiha Gin's eyes blazed with fire as he kicked his little cousin. This child had grown so big, why was his cerebellum's development still lagging behind?

"Ah? Isn't it an orange?"

Uchiha Izuna climbed up from the floor, looked at the mangled fruit in his hand, and asked in confusion,

"Although it's a bit of a hassle to peel, look, isn't it exactly the same as an orange?"

"It seems the Mangekyo can't cure your eyesight either. There's no hope for you, go away!"

Uchiha Gin was heartbroken. How did he end up with such a brother? He'd be easily hooked like a fish in the future.

"Fine, don't eat it, I will!"

Uchiha Izuna was stifled with anger. Truly, kindness is wasted on a donkey. He stuffed the lemon into his mouth and savored it.

"Blech~~~"

"Ah~ yes, yes, right there. Little cousin, your technique is truly beyond my reach. In the massage industry, I, Uchiha Gin, am willing to call you the strongest!"

After the lemon incident, Uchiha Izuna no longer had his earlier arrogance. Feeling guilty, he was currently massaging Uchiha Gin.

"Ding! Host failed, obtained Heart Energy *10."

"Big cousin, there is huge good news. Do you want to know?"

Uchiha Izuna was no longer the child he had fooled years ago. Ignoring Uchiha Gin's weird talk, he looked up and asked mysteriously,

"Are you in love?"

Uchiha Gin enjoyed his little brother's massage without even lifting his eyelids and answered casually.

"Huh? Why don't you have it? That's not the point!"

Hearing Uchiha Gin's reply, Uchiha Izuna's hand paused, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes, but it did not last long before he continued,

"It's about my older brother."

"Uh, let me guess, did the big cousin rebel?"

(End of chapter)