Chapter 45: Lost Memories: The Childhood Sweetheart

Fourteen years ago.

Uchiha Tajima's residence.

Stroking his wife's protruding belly, a young Uchiha Tajima was overjoyed. Looking at the dappled tree shadows outside the window, he decided on the spot that his first child would be named Madara!

At that moment, a crisp knocking sounded at the door. A puzzled Uchiha Tajima rose to open it, and the visitor was none other than his long-unseen teacher, Uchiha Yao.

"Teacher, you've been living in seclusion these past few years. What brings you to see me today?"

Seeing his mentor had arrived, Uchiha Tajima immediately reached out to welcome him inside.

"Tajima, ah, no—Clan Head."

The expressionless Uchiha Yao bowed, preparing to pay his respects.

"Teacher, please don't be so formal. Before you, I will always be your disciple."

Uchiha Tajima, who had always respected his teachers and the Dao, hurriedly stepped forward to stop him from bowing.

"Etiquette cannot be discarded."

"There is no need for that. Teacher, you wouldn't visit without a reason. What is it that you truly need?"

Uchiha Tajima shook his head and asked.

"I have lived to see my own child die. Gin is the only child he left behind. I hope to live with him; I do not wish for this child's childhood to be spent in loneliness."

After a long silence, Uchiha Yao raised his head. His ink-like eyes were as deep and dark as black holes, revealing no emotion.

Uchiha Tajima looked troubled. These two young people who had awakened the Mangekyō were entrusted to him personally by the old Clan Head, who had urged him to look after them well.

The two children carried power that did not belong to their age; if not guided, they would surely become ticking time bombs. Thus, Uchiha Tajima could only regretfully refuse.

"I am sorry, Teacher."

Seeing Uchiha Tajima's struggle, Uchiha Yao wore an expression of expectation. His tone softened as he continued,

"Then, let me join their research. I heard from Uchiha Miao that you are studying the abilities of their Sharingan. I believe I can be of help."

"Since that is the case, then I will trouble you, Teacher."

Knowing he could not refuse, Uchiha Tajima had no choice but to agree. Moreover, Uchiha Yao's research into the Sharingan was second to none within the clan.

With Uchiha Yao's addition, it would be of great help to the growth of the two children.

Having obtained the answer he wanted, Uchiha Yao had no reason to stay any longer. After a simple farewell, he turned and vanished into the night.

A few years later, Uchiha Yao joined the research team for the two children and, relying on his superior technical skills, gradually replaced Uchiha Miao as the leader of the research team.

At that time, Uchiha Tajima's wife was about to give birth. As a father, he was caught between clan affairs and family matters, unable to pull himself away. Thus, the research work on the two children's Mangekyō fell entirely upon Uchiha Yao alone.

But Uchiha Tajima was not without a contingency plan. According to some rumors, Uchiha Yao's personality was becoming increasingly eccentric. Worried about his mental state, Uchiha Tajima made two preparations.

In addition to Uchiha Miao as the deputy, he also dispatched the loyal Uchiha Yan to serve as a guard for the research institute, and incidentally, to monitor Uchiha Yao's every move.

Thus, several years passed, and Uchiha Tajima's children were born successfully.

Among the two children, Uchiha Tajima allowed Uchiha Gin to go out for activities outside of experiments due to his status, provided he was supervised by a dedicated person. Wuming, however, could not leave the institute due to the dōjutsu Eight Thousand Spears.

Such peaceful days lasted until six years ago.

"What? Uchiha Yao proposes to cultivate the two children as 'weapons' of war?"

One day, Uchiha Tajima, who was hunched over his desk correcting documents, looked up in surprise. He looked at the worried Uchiha Miao before him and asked in disbelief.

"That is correct. According to Uchiha Yao's research, he discovered that Uchiha Gin's Mangekyō ability and Wuming's ability can complement each other."

"Wuming's dōjutsu Kagutsuchi can manipulate and strengthen Uchiha Gin's Amaterasu, upgrading the black flames into a shape-shifting ninjutsu, increasing its lethality to a new level."

"And Uchiha Gin's Tsukuyomi can help Wuming's dōjutsu Eight Thousand Spears imprint enemies in groups. Eight Thousand Spears absorbs chakra and feeds it back into Uchiha Gin's Tsukuyomi, allowing the two to form a perpetual motion machine."

Uchiha Miao held a document and reported to Uchiha Tajima based on the experimental predictions.

"Uchiha Gin is his own grandson. How could he bring himself to do this?"

Uchiha Tajima asked in confusion. As Clan Head, he naturally understood the meaning of "weapon of war."

That would be a double torture of inhuman cruelty. Those labeled as "weapons" must abandon their identity as humans and live on as weapons without self-thought.

"I am not clear on that, but he has already begun the experiments. I estimate he will start with Wuming first."

Uchiha Miao's withered face carried a trace of worry. He knew Wuming's Eight Thousand Spears ability all too well. Compared to Uchiha Gin's two purely combat-oriented dōjutsu, the threat of Wuming's Eight Thousand Spears was too great. Mind control combined with chakra absorption made it a sharp tool for large-scale, protracted wars. If a rampage were to occur, it would cause irreparable losses to the Uchiha clan.

"No! Make him stop the experiments immediately. Elder Miao, you go and take over his position. Remember to soothe the two children first."

Upon hearing that Uchiha Yao had begun the "weapon of war" experiments without his orders, Uchiha Tajima immediately ordered him to terminate them.

"Yes!"

Uchiha Miao received the order and immediately set off to return.

Inside the research institute.

In a ward with four white walls, there were two beds. The young man leaning by the window yawned out of boredom, his slightly lazy eyes looking blankly at the scenery outside. His fluffy little curls were swayed left and right by the breeze, and his handsome little face carried a reassuring, warm smile. At this moment, he did not know that a nightmare was about to arrive.

The young man was named Uchiha Gin, but he was not a local. He was a transmigrator who had accidentally fallen into the water, drifted down a great river, and followed the flow.

When he was first born, he saw the backward environment around him and his eyes went black on the spot. He thought he had returned to ancient times where one had to use bricks to wipe their butt. He frantically recalled the little knowledge essential for ancient transmigration.

How do you make soap again?

However, when the swaddled Uchiha Gin inadvertently saw the fan pattern behind his father, he immediately perked up.

So he had come to the Naruto world, and he was still an Uchiha! As long as it wasn't the eve of the Uchiha Massacre, he could take off!

As it turned out, things went against his wishes. Not long after, Uchiha Gin discovered that the era he was in seemed to have a problem. There was still a very, very long time before the plot began. With no cheats, he had no choice but to settle for being a normal child, save his life, and then plan slowly.

Fortunately, the family composition after transmigration was quite good. His father, Uchiha Gin, was well-liked and strong—a perfect Minato-style character.

His mother, though cold on the outside and warm on the inside, was also a woman who valued relationships and spoiled Uchiha Gin to no end.

There was also a mysterious grandfather. Uchiha Gin always felt that the other party didn't seem to like him much, but was quite concerned about his father.

Uchiha Gin had thought he had received a daily life script, but accidents always came unexpectedly. Not long after he had established bonds with his current parents, he heard the bad news that his parents had died on the front lines.

Perhaps the emotions of a modern person were more delicate. Overcome with grief and hatred, Uchiha Gin exploded on the spot and awakened the Mangekyō, which was not a disgrace to the army of transmigrators. However, he himself fell into a coma due to excessive consumption.

After waking up, Uchiha Gin discovered that he had been protected by the old Clan Head at the time. Along with him was that girl from the neighbor's house.

Her parents were subordinates of Uchiha Gin's father and had also sacrificed themselves.

After several twists and turns, the two people with difficult fates finally arrived at this research institute.

"Ha~"

Stretching out a long yawn, a ray of sunlight shone on Uchiha Gin's fluffy curly hair. Every gesture revealed a lazy temperament. He turned his head to look at the slender girl on the other bed and asked,

"Xiao Guang, do you really not want to go out? I can ask my uncle to take you out to play next time he goes out. Let me tell you, Izuna wet the bed a few days ago, hahaha, and was severely disciplined by my aunt."

Uchiha Gin laughed until his eyes narrowed into slits. As a transmigrator, when he learned he had two famous cousins, how could he not "discipline" them properly?

【Achievement Unlocked: Flicked one-year-old Madara's little Kun-Kun】

【Achievement Unlocked: Angrily rubbed two-year-old Madara's dog head】

【Achievement Unlocked: Watched three-year-old Madara dance】

As he was speaking, Uchiha Gin pretended to be vigilant and looked around. After confirming no one was there, he raised a hand to his mouth like a trumpet and whispered,

"But I know that bed sheet was actually Madara's. That kid is too bad. He bullied Izuna for being young and framed him for wetting the bed."

Hearing what Uchiha Gin said, the girl who had been resting with her eyes closed opened them. Her black eyes were full of helplessness, and then she rolled her eyes. The girl got up and said,

"Don't tell me about the embarrassing things your brothers did anymore. I'm really not interested."

"As for going out, I have nothing left to miss outside. Staying here is quite good, anyway, I have you."

The girl whose parents had both died had no other relatives outside. Her only reliance now was probably the Uchiha Gin before her.

Thinking this, the girl's eyes fell on the young man who was trying to make her happy with his antics, and her tone changed.

"A-Gin, if you are really bored, go find your grandfather. He has locked himself in the laboratory for months. Are you really not worried about him?"

The girl remembered Uchiha Yao, whom she hadn't seen much lately, and mentioned him casually.

"Aiya, why mention him? Every time he comes, it's to make us test in the laboratory. We're tired to death and he doesn't even give us a candy. In comparison, Grandpa Yan is better; he always secretly gives me candy."

Uchiha Gin's eyes drooped, revealing a lazy expression, and he frantically complained about his grandfather.

Eight years ago, the two young children were brought to the institute. At first, Uchiha Tajima often came to visit them, but later, due to succeeding to the position of Clan Head, the number of times he came slowly decreased.

Uchiha Gin was fine; he was often picked up by his uncle to enjoy himself. Uchiha Hikari, however, was confined to the institute because her Sharingan was not stable and her dōjutsu control was not mature, and she was supervised by the thin and tall Uchiha Miao.

After another period of time, a new researcher arrived. Uchiha Gin recognized at a glance that it was his own grandfather, Uchiha Yao, whom he didn't see much.

After taking over Uchiha Miao's work, he often communicated with the two children, and during that time, he left behind quite a few photos.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 46 =====