Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha is not motivated.

The rest area next to the training field

Minato sat around the golden hot pot, a small bowl in his hand, staring blankly at the boiling red oil broth before him, his azure eyes filled with confusion.

"Fugaku, bring me another plate of mochi."

"Yes, Uncle!"

"Grandpa Yin, don't you have a milder hot pot base? I'm taking care of my skin lately!"

"Xiao Meiqin, wait a minute, Grandpa will make you a special nourishing mushroom soup base right away."

"."

Listening to the lively conversation around him and smelling the spicy aroma of the scalding food in his hands, Minato couldn't help but wonder if he was under some kind of illusion that could transform all his sadness and despair into a feeling of overwhelming happiness.

Weren't we just fighting?
Why suddenly
It turned into a camping hotpot party?
"Minato-kun! Can I have this piece of meat?"

Suddenly, a voice pulled him back to reality. Looking at Choza, who was staring longingly at the beef roll in his bowl, Minato nodded slightly.

"Haha, Minato-kun, you're such a good person!"

After snatching the beef roll he'd been eyeing with surprising speed for his clumsy frame, Dingza swallowed it whole, chewing with a blissful expression. His already small eyes narrowed into two tiny soybeans.
“He’s already eaten enough, Minato. Don’t spoil this guy too much.”

Witnessing this, Shika sighed, reached out and picked up a piece of bean curd skin floating in the pot. He savored the sweet bean curd colliding with the spicy broth, while giving Dingza a disapproving glare as Dingza ate until his belly was round.
"That's right~ That's right~"

Hai, who had been enthusiastically showing off his leafy greens, looked up and echoed his sentiments with a resentful expression.

The poor child, sitting next to Ding, can only eat grass.
"It's okay, I don't actually like eating meat that much."

Minato shook his head, his gaze shifting to Rope Tree, who was being punished by kneeling and lifting a cement block in the training ground. Seeing Rope Tree's pitiful expression, his tongue lolling out and drooling, a flicker of pity crossed his face.

Overwhelmed with sympathy, Minato couldn't help but plead for him. Nawaki, sensing a kind gaze, saw a savior and kept winking and gesturing at Minato, trying to beg him to intercede on his behalf.
"Grandpa Gin, Nageki-senpai..."

However, before Minato could even utter a word, he was interrupted by Uchiha Gin, who had anticipated this, holding up his chopsticks.
"Don't pity that brat. He almost turned this place into a cesspool. It's already an act of leniency that we didn't make him go to the dry toilet at the east end of the village to reflect on his actions."

"Uh"

After briefly imagining the scene of Nawaki successfully unleashing his bloodline limit technique, Minato suddenly lost his appetite for the sesame sauce in his hand, and the sympathy he had shown towards the culprit vanished.

"I think the punishment was too lenient."

"what?"

Nawaki stared in disbelief at Minato, who had turned his head away, his whole body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes filled with disappointment and sorrow.
I never expected that Minato, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, would betray his senior.

Seeing Nawaki's trembling appearance, Uchiha Gin frowned.
"Don't move! Your arm is not allowed to bend even slightly until I tell you to put it down."

"Yes!"

“Gintoki, isn’t this a bit too strict? After all, Nawaki is the First Hokage’s grandson.”

Sitting next to Uchiha Gin, Maruboshi Kosuke scratched his head and couldn't help but remind him.

"Hmph! Even if he were the grandson of the First Hokage, or even if he were the original Hashirama from prison, he would still have to reflect on his actions if he dared to use such a disgusting secret technique."

The mere mention of Rope Tree's secret techniques ignited a rage in Uchiha Gin. This brat had managed to develop a completely different Mud Release technique, one that no one else had ever ventured into.

Based on the interaction of water and soil, Nawaki added a small amount of Yang Release chakra.
I don't know which genius taught them this mixing method, but it must have been taught by a complete idiot.
If we follow the formula, Water + Earth + Yang = Wood, but for some reason, in Rope Tree's hands, the answer to this formula becomes a pile of shit.
Of course, the bloodline limit of the rope tree isn't the kind of lump you might imagine, but it still falls into the category of biological fertilizer. While it provides the conditions for plant growth, it carries an unspeakable, terrifying odor.
In short, perhaps due to the difference in the purity of Yang Release, what should have been a magnificent tree turned into incredibly foul-smelling biological fertilizer.

However, Uchiha Gin believed that one day in the future, when the bloodline within Nawaki's body fully awakens, he would most likely be able to unleash the original Wood Release technique, which is no weaker than Yamato's.

"Grandpa Gin, so you know Mr. Kosuke?"

Mikoto, who was eating a hot pot on the side, saw Uchiha Gin and Maruboshi Kosuke interacting familiarly, and immediately asked the question that everyone was wondering about.
"In Konoha, if you randomly pick someone and ask them, is there anyone I don't know, and is there anyone who doesn't know me?"

Gin Uchiha glanced at Mikoto, who looked like a curious child, then leaned back, his face full of arrogance.
"What do you mean by 'Konoha Superstar'?" (Leans back tactically)

"."

Looking at the arrogant and domineering Uchiha Gin, everyone present was speechless for a moment.

Okay, okay, you live the longest, so you get to decide.

"Mr. Kosuke, why don't you explain it?"

Mikoto rolled her eyes and passed the question to Kosuke Maruboshi across from her.

"Gintoki was my guide on the path of a ninja. Without his guidance, I might have been a mediocre genin for the rest of my life."

Maruhoshi Kosuke took a deep breath, his eyes filled with nostalgia for the past.
Although Uchiha Gin did not acknowledge him as his disciple, the bond between them as master and student was undeniable.

"Oh? So Uncle does have serious business to do?"

"Are you a spinning top, kid?"

Gin Uchiha glared fiercely at Fugaku, who had slandered him, then put down his chopsticks and gave instructions to Kosuke Maruboshi beside him.
"This kid is yours from now on. Train him as much as you want, but don't treat him like one of your own."

"Hehe, with your words, I can confidently unleash my full potential."

"what?"

Seeing the two openly plotting before him, Fugaku donned the same pain mask as Nawaki, looking utterly dejected. The potato slice he'd just taken a bite of suddenly lost its flavor.

After dinner,

The younger generation of Minato took the initiative to clean up the mess. The little guys worked quickly and efficiently, tidying up the chaotic rest area. They divided the tasks and worked in an orderly manner, already showing the beginnings of teamwork.

The Hyuga brothers, as the seniors, took on the role of supervisors, using their clairvoyant eyes to check if anyone was slacking off.
"Keep up the good work, guys! The best is yet to come!"

Rope Tree's punishment period was over, and with his knees red and swollen, he was squatting next to the rest area, wolfing down the leftovers that the goddess had left for him.
Although it was somewhat cold, it was full of what he thought was love; his flushed face had completely lost its previous sorrow.
"Rope Tree, eat slowly."

"Hmph! Ugly table manners." The two teammates standing beside Rope Tree watched him gorge himself, one showing concern and the other disdain.
"You bastard Fugaku, say that again!"

Nawaki, who was savoring the goddess's delicious food, raised an eyebrow, ready to fire at Fugaku, when he suddenly remembered that what he was holding was the leftovers given to him by Mikoto. His face immediately lit up with smug satisfaction.

"Wait, hehe~ I know, you must be jealous that I ate the leftovers from Mikoto's bowl."

"what?"

Fugaku looked at the smug Nawaki with an expression that said, "Look at me like I'm an idiot."
"Take this potato, for example. It still has Mikoto's marks on it. Look at those delicate teeth marks! Five ants~ Five ants~"

Facing the gazes of his rival, Nawaki chuckled, picked up a bitten slice of potato from his bowl, and proudly showed it off to Fugaku. Finally, under their strange looks, he swallowed it whole and began to chew it slowly.
"Nawaki-kun, that's..."

"Don't tell this idiot, I find it disgusting."

With a livid face, Fugaku raised his hand to stop Mikoto, who was about to speak but hesitated. He forced himself to turn his head away, suppressing the nausea in his heart. Nawaki thought he was unable to bear looking at him because of remorse, and immediately ate with even more relish.

"Lu Jiu, is this older brother really alright?"

Hai, who was washing the dishes, turned around, his delicate face scrunched up in a frown. He couldn't help but wonder if his elders had bet on the wrong person.
"Well, things have come to this, we can only take it one step at a time."

Shikaku, leaning on a broom and idly slacking off, sighed helplessly. The teeth marks on the potato slices didn't look like they were left by Mikoto with her small mouth. She didn't even have this much observational ability. Nawaki-nii was too dense, wasn't he?

If things continue like this, forget about becoming Hokage; it's uncertain whether he can even become a renowned ninja.

but
Getting into this circle wasn't without its benefits.

Out of the corner of his eye, Shikaku glanced at the hardworking Minato not far away and gave a barely perceptible nod.
During their time together, he discovered that Minato was not only exceptionally talented but also kind and tolerant. Although young, his handsome and sunny appearance was already beginning to show.
If he continues to grow along the normal path, he will definitely be one of the top star ninjas in the village. Investing in him might yield unexpected returns.

With this in mind, Shikaku made up his mind to go back and discuss it with his father, including Minato Namikaze in the investment portfolio. He figured they should cast a wide net and surely they could catch something, right?

Unlike the busy children nearby, Uchiha Gin, who was sitting on a recliner in the rest area enjoying a sweet dessert after his meal, lazily asked Maruboshi Kosuke, who was sitting upright beside him, a question in his tone.

"You've finally simplified your water dragon bullet to six seals?"

"Yes, I have to thank Gintoki for his guidance."

Maruboshi Kosuke looked grateful. If it weren't for Uchiha Gin's repeated guidance, he wouldn't have been able to become a Jonin proficient in Water Release.

"No, no, no, this is all the result of your own hard work. I just gave you a little push from behind."

Uchiha Gin shook his head. He had only been teaching Maruboshi Kosuke some Water Release techniques while trying to get him into a losing streak; the level of his instruction was roughly equivalent to that of the white-haired guy.
"Gintoki."

Thinking of the care and concern Uchiha Gin had shown him over the years, Maruboshi Kosuke couldn't help but shed tears of gratitude.
"Stop crying and acting like a woman. Since you've simplified the Water Dragon Bullet to six seals, I should keep my promise."

Faced with a tearful Kosuke Maruboshi, Gin Uchiha waved his hand helplessly, then brought up the promise they made during their meeting a few years ago.

To encourage Maruboshi Kosuke, he made a promise that if the latter could simplify the Water Dragon Bullet Technique, he would teach him a ninjutsu.

"Huh? I almost forgot if you hadn't mentioned it."

Maruhoshi Kosuke quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and asked with a face full of curiosity,

What skill do you want to teach me?

Uchiha Gin didn't answer, but thoughtfully stroked his chin. He had originally considered teaching him the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
But during the battle just now, he discovered that Maruboshi Kosuke's Ryuu-ryu genjutsu was quite sophisticated, managing to trap Fugaku, who possessed only three tomoe, within its grasp.
Unfortunately, compared to the unpredictable and enigmatic Konoha Ryūryū swordsmanship of the perpetually genin-level Maruboshi Kosuke in the original timeline, it still falls short in terms of practicality.
If it could be optimized, the increase in combat power would be far greater than throwing shurikens.
"Your illusion technique that subdued Fugaku was quite good."

"You mean the Flowing Willow Flow? That's a unique illusion technique I developed by observing a willow tree. It's all about creating a series of interconnected illusions so that the enemy can't tell which layer is the illusion."

Maruhoshi Kosuke proudly introduced his unique illusion technique. The moment it was released, countless drooping willow branches would appear in the enemy's vision, pulling them into a pre-woven, bloody illusion while they were momentarily confused.
Unfortunately, this move consumes a lot of mental energy and can only be used in one-on-one combat; it's not very helpful when facing multiple enemies.
"But besides being able to control a single target, it has no offensive capabilities, right?"

"Uh, as expected, nothing can be hidden from Gintoki."

Upon hearing Uchiha Gin pinpoint the flaw in his genjutsu, Maruboshi Kosuke scratched his head sheepishly.

"What if we add this to illusion magic?"

Uchiha Gin smiled slightly, raised his hand and pointed to the slender katana standing beside Maruboshi Kosuke.

"Please enlighten me!"

Having received the pointers, Maruhoshi Kosuke's heart stirred, and he bowed respectfully.
"Qiang~!"

Gin Uchiha casually drew the willow-leaf slender sword specially crafted by Kosuke Maruboshi, and began to twirl it lightly, mimicking the swaying motion of a willow branch.
"This is."

Maruhoshi Kosuke first frowned, his eyes filled with confusion and doubt, but soon, as if he had grasped something, a strange light gradually flickered in his eyes, though the confusion on his face remained.

"Haven't you figured it out yet?"

Seeing that Maruboshi Kosuke was somewhat slow-witted, Uchiha Gin, who found the act troublesome, completely stopped pretending and directly used the original Konoha-ryu Willow Style swordsmanship.
The children who had been secretly watching the two for a long time were surprised to find that Uchiha Gin's figure, wielding the willow-leaf slender sword, had vanished from the spot.
"Wow! So many willow branches!"

Instead, a forest of steel willow leaves stretched out, their graceful movements in the wind captivating all their attention.

"Uh, why can't I move?"

The Hyuga brothers, with their keen observation skills, were the first to notice something amiss. Their screams jolted everyone out of their reverie in the willow-leaf forest. Only then did they belatedly realize that they had lost control of their bodies and could only stand there, awaiting their fate of being torn apart by the steel willow leaves.

Fugaku, struggling to no avail, frowned deeply, his crimson Sharingan eyes filled with astonishment. "Damn it, how come this is even more difficult than the illusion I just broke?"

"I understand!"

Just as the shadow of death loomed over everyone's hearts, Maruhoshi Kosuke's excited voice suddenly rang out, his wide eyes filled with a look of sudden enlightenment.

The willow leaves, which had been gleaming with a chilling light just a moment ago, vanished without a trace, and a tall, slender figure reappeared.

"Huhu. Huh."

Uchiha Gin appeared "weak," leaning on his sword for support. His handsome face was deathly pale, and as he breathed heavily, visible beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, starkly reflecting the sunlight. This instantly brought his long-standing image of a beautiful but frail figure to life.
"Good that you understand. I don't have much chakra left, so I can't demonstrate it a second time." (End of Chapter)