229. Kind Guy

"Just go ahead and do it. As your elder cousin, I have enough authority to make it happen."

Looking at Uchiha Gin’s face glowing with the aura of a leader, Uchiha Izuna felt deeply moved. His cousin always prioritized the family’s interests, no matter the circumstances. Such loyalty was truly the Uchiha clan’s greatest fortune.

“Alrighty~”

Receiving approval from his younger cousin, the acting clan leader, Uchiha Gin grinned widely, his smile nearly reaching his ears. Internally, he was already plotting how to teach the newly arrived ninja clans in Konoha a good lesson and make them realize who truly supports half of this village!

"Wait, cousin. Senju Hashirama sent someone over today. He wants a respected clan member from our side to accompany him to a negotiation."

Just as the scheming Uchiha Gin was about to leave, he was stopped by Izuna, who seemed to be deep in thought. Izuna quickly shared the notice he received earlier that morning with his seemingly idle cousin.

“Huh?”

“Respected?” Gin scoffed inwardly. “Which part of me fits that description?”

“Everyone’s busy right now, so I’ll have to trouble you to go on behalf of the clan, cousin. Please, I’m counting on you~”

The Uchiha clan was operating at full capacity, with every member working around the clock. Izuna had been fretting over this request, but Gin's unexpected appearance was like a lamb walking into the lion’s den.

“Well… alright. When is it?”

Accepting his fate as a tool for the clan, Gin softened when he noticed Izuna’s weary expression. Resigned, he asked about the negotiation’s timing. As for the details, he didn’t care. All he needed to do was show up and zone out.

“Tomorrow afternoon.”

“Got it. Tell Hashirama I’ll be there on time~”

Although his schedule was tight, Gin figured he could make it work.


---

Leaving the clan compound, Gin headed straight to the dungeon where he had worked for years. Looking at the slightly worn-out entrance, he couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. This place had been like a second home to him. Now, it was soon to be abandoned.

“Lord Gin? What brings you here?”

As Gin reminisced, a familiar voice came from within. Looking closely, it was none other than his old friend, Uchiha Tiedan.

“Tanaka, are you on duty today?”

Since the Uchiha clan joined Konoha, only a handful of clan members remained in the old compound to oversee security. As one of the guardians, Tanaka occasionally doubled as a dungeon guard.

“Yes, Lord Gin. But this is my last shift. Tomorrow, the prisoners will be transferred to Konoha’s temporary holding facility, awaiting family claims.”

The fifty-something-year-old Uchiha Tanaka's weathered face showed some melancholy. He had worked in the dungeon for decades and felt a connection to the place.

“Tomorrow, huh.”

Gin nodded knowingly. It was fortunate he had sought out his younger cousin today; otherwise, tomorrow’s big plans might have been delayed.

“Don’t worry, Tanaka. I’ll make sure the dungeon staff get a severance package.”

With a grin, Gin patted Tanaka's shoulder and disappeared into the dimly lit corridor, leaving his old friend confused.


---

Walking through the damp, uneven floors, lit by the faint glow of torches, Gin headed straight to Cell One, where the more dangerous ninja prisoners were kept. Cells Two and Three had been cleared earlier, their inmates released after paying a ransom.

Before he even reached Cell One, Gin heard lively chatter from within. The prisoners were enthusiastically discussing their future freedom.

“Haha, I’ll finally be free! I’ll make that bastard pay!”

“Good luck with that. I never want to see that guy again.”

“Did you hear? Once we’re out, this dungeon will be shut down. So, that guy…”

“Shush! Stop jinxing it. Just let me be!”

Gin pushed the door open and stepped into the flickering torchlight, smiling warmly at the excited prisoners.

“Hey, my old friends! Miss me?”

The room instantly fell silent, as if someone had cast a silencing jutsu. The prisoners, caught off guard, pulled their blankets over their heads and pretended to sleep, filling the air with fake snores.

“Come on, we’re all buddies here. Why the cold shoulder when we’re about to part ways?”

One prisoner, a grizzled old man with streaks of brown in his white hair, finally peeked out from under his blanket and grumbled. “What’s your game this time, you curly-haired menace?”

Gin chuckled, his tone playful yet sincere. “Relax, old man. I’m just here to say goodbye. Tomorrow’s a big day for everyone, after all.”

The next day, Gin led his team to escort the prisoners out. When a clan member tried to shackle them, Gin waved it off.

“No need for that. They’re my pals—just follow along.”

“Are you sure, Lord Gin?”

“You don’t get it. Psychological chains are far stronger than physical ones.”

As the prisoners left, many couldn’t help but wonder: Was Uchiha Gin really such a bad guy after all?



Looking up at the blazing sun and breathing in the fragrant scent of grass, Yamanaka Souichiro, who was about to regain his freedom, couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

"Souichiro Elder, what did that curly-haired guy mean with what he said yesterday?"

A middle-aged man with tawny brown hair, trailing behind Souichiro, glanced toward Uchiha Gin, who was organizing the clansmen in the distance, and couldn’t resist asking.

"I don’t know either, but when the time comes, just follow his instructions. That guy won’t harm us."

Souichiro shook his head uncertainly. If Uchiha Gin truly intended to harm them, he would have had plenty of chances over the years. There was no need to wait until this moment of impending peace.

"Hang in there, everyone! Freedom is just ahead~"

Uchiha Gin, satisfied with the calm demeanor of the prisoners, raised his voice to encourage them. Then, waving to the clansmen behind him, he declared, "Let’s move out!"


---

Meanwhile, in Konoha Village:

"Brother, one of our clansmen was attacked by a prisoner earlier and is now in critical condition."

Senju Tobirama, wearing a grim expression, approached his busy brother, Senju Hashirama, and coldly relayed the news of the unexpected incident.

"Didn’t we already assure them they’d soon be free? How could this happen at such a critical moment?"

Looking exhausted, Hashirama frowned and asked, troubled by this sudden complication.

"It might have been a personal grudge. The attacked clansman was a guard on duty in the dungeon."

Recalling the savage expression of the assailant, Tobirama explained uneasily.

"And the attacker?"

Pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, Hashirama asked, concerned about the potential fallout if one of the listed prisoners were to die unexpectedly.

"His life has been spared, but his career as a shinobi is over."

The attacking prisoner had his hands severed and was rendered crippled by the swift response of the Senju guards.

"Tobirama, handle this matter. Just make sure it doesn’t disrupt the prisoner release ceremony."

After a moment of thought, Hashirama nodded, his eyes betraying a hint of helplessness.

"Understood."

Tobirama, familiar with his brother's unspoken intentions after years of cooperation, nodded and departed to manage the situation.

To demonstrate Konoha’s sincerity, Hashirama had deliberately chosen the village center, the busiest area, as the site for the prisoner release ceremony.


---

At the Senju detention area, Sarutobi Sasuke and his ninja allies awaited eagerly, having been notified early to arrive before dawn to retrieve their clansmen.

"Why are we waiting here? My uncle is detained at the Uchiha’s side!"

Among the crowd, Shimura Kenichi voiced his dissatisfaction to his friend, Sarutobi Sasuke, irritated that the focus seemed to be on retrieving ordinary clansmen rather than his tortured uncle.

"Tobirama specifically instructed us to wait here. Hashirama will deliver an important speech, and the Uchiha prisoners will be handed over privately afterward."

Sasuke’s eyes reflected his own frustration. His former mentor, Sarutobi Takinosuke, was also among the Uchiha prisoners and had reportedly suffered severe mental trauma.

At the Uchiha detention site, the atmosphere was quieter, with only a handful of former dungeon guards on duty.

"Did something happen at the Senju side this morning? I heard quite the commotion."

Uchiha Hikari, brimming with curiosity, whispered to Uchiha Haruka, who now held a high-ranking position within the clan.

"Apparently, a prisoner attacked a Senju guard, putting him in critical condition. The attacker was severely punished, of course."

"Did he die?"

"No, but he’s essentially a ruined man now."


---

When the ceremony finally began at midday, Tobirama addressed the assembled crowd with practiced decorum.

"Today, as a gesture of goodwill, the Senju clan has decided to release the prisoners in our custody. We hope they will not only feel gratitude but also contribute to Konoha’s prosperity."

Polite but sparse applause followed, with many clans harboring mixed feelings.

As prisoners were released one by one, murmurs of the Senju’s benevolence started to circulate. However, just as things seemed to be going smoothly, a sudden commotion broke out:

"My brother! You told me he was just weak! How did he end up like this?"

The indignant shout sent a ripple of unease through the crowd, and Tobirama’s expression hardened.