Chapter 65: Winning While Lying Down

In Uchiha Gin's consciousness sea, Yamanaka Soichiro had locked Gin's spirit in a dark void, fully seizing control. Laughing maniacally, Soichiro surveyed the occupied mindscape.

Like others he'd invaded, Gin's consciousness sea was a blank expanse. Unconcerned, Soichiro prepared to force Gin's body to slit its own throat.

Suddenly, a flickering presence caught his eye. Never having seen such a thing, curiosity piqued, Soichiro parted a misty veil.

A strange black door materialized, sealed by a massive lock.

Approaching, Soichiro studied it. The bronze lock bore no keyhole, only a windmill pattern faintly glowing red, exuding an eerie allure.

Unfamiliar with this, the veteran but curious Soichiro paused Gin's suicide plan, driven by a shinobi's instinct to investigate the lock.

Touching it, he expected cold metal but felt scalding heat. Tracing the windmill, he noticed faint cracks on the surface.

As a Yamanaka specializing in mental techniques, he sensed a seal placed in Gin's mind.

"What's this seal hiding?" Soichiro muttered, probing the cracked lock with his mental energy.

The moment his mind touched it, crimson eyes materialized. A surge from the lock's pattern hurled him back.

The mental backlash hit his body instantly. Reeling, Soichiro, who'd hijacked Gin's form, was forced to flee the consciousness sea.

In reality, the kunai Soichiro controlled stopped just before piercing Gin's throat. After a brief struggle, the hand dropped limply.

Soichiro's real body jolted awake, eyes wide with shock. "What's in your head?!"

"Huh?" Gin, regaining control, stared blankly at the panting, clutching Soichiro.

Hit by the Mind Body Switch Technique, Gin had blacked out, his spirit trapped in a lightless corner of his mindscape by Soichiro's domineering presence.

He'd considered using his Tsukuyomi Experience Card to blast Soichiro's spirit with Mangekyo-level genjutsu—its effect not doubled, but tenfold.

Able to observe his body's actions, Gin saw Soichiro raise the kunai to his throat. Clutching the card, he prepared to activate it.

But then, Soichiro halted, wandering into the depths of Gin's mindscape.

Moments later, Gin, holding the unused card, watched the smug Soichiro get flung out, crashing and bouncing across the void.

"No way, that's it? Old man, you went soft mid-control?" Gin taunted, his sharp tongue back in action.

"Insolent Uchiha brat! I haven't used my full power. Next move, I'll crush you!" Soichiro, wounded by the backlash, minimized the damage with his veteran skill.

"Worthy of a Yamanaka elder—so spirited! I, Uchiha Gin, declare you the master of mind-control jutsu! I bow to you!" Gin's tone flipped, flashing a thumbs-up with mock admiration.

"?!"

Expecting more trash talk, Soichiro was blindsided by the 180-degree shift. The whiplash choked him, rage surging, and he blacked out, fainting.

"Host defeated. Gained Heart Energy 10. Three more battles to unlock Heart of Steel Chest reward. (Current Heart Energy: 10)"

The system's sweet chime rang. Gin nodded, satisfied. He re-bound the unconscious Soichiro, humming as he locked the cell.

"Today's a great day for Heart gains~" Gin called to the guarding Uchiha Tetsutama, done with his Heart of Steel daily and eager to leave.

Planning to ditch work like yesterday, Gin was stopped by an unexpected figure.

"Elder Miao, good morning," Gin said, spotting the gaunt, stoic Uchiha Miao near the dungeon, purpose unclear.

No harm in a greeting. Gin approached respectfully.

"Uchiha Gin?" Miao seemed surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Gin briefly explained his reassignment to dungeon archive duty. Miao pondered, then said, "This job suits you. No missions, no clan contact."

Gin's notorious reputation was known even to Miao, who felt a subtle distaste for the seemingly harmless Uchiha, though his composure hid it.

"Your eyes—any discomfort?" Miao asked suddenly, staring at them.

"Nope! Awakened my Sharingan, vision's top-notch!" Gin boasted.

"Sharingan, huh? Come to the research lab sometime, I'll check them," Miao said, walking off toward the dungeon depths.

Gin scratched his head, puzzled. From Yao, he knew his current eyes weren't original, likely swapped by Miao himself. Why act curious now, when he should know everything?

Lost in thought, Gin left the dungeon. Unseen, Miao emerged from the shadows, watching him go. "I told Yan to use ordinary eyes. Why'd they awaken Sharingan?"

Miao, full of questions, planned to confront Uchiha Yan, the eye provider.

"Wonder if Banma's awake. I'll give him the gift—should cheer him up," Gin mused. Banma's life was tied to his; until the kid was safely returned to the Senju, Gin couldn't relax. Cooking prevented starvation, and gifts warded off depression.

"I'm practically an Uchiha saint!" Gin nodded, smugly agreeing with himself.

"Cousin! Skipping work to wander?"

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