Uchiha Gin, who had lost his sight, could still clearly sense the extreme emotions of his surviving clan members. Waves of hostility washed over him, weighing down the usually optimistic boy with an overwhelming heaviness.
At this moment, his fragile heart could no longer endure such intense online abuse.
Even though the events weren't consciously caused by him, it was his power that ultimately inflicted pain and suffering upon his clan.
"Gin, what are you saying?"
A girl who cared deeply for Gin hurriedly asked when she heard his words.
After many chapters of silence, Uchiha Tajima finally spoke.
"Gin, this isn't your fault. It was because I fell for the enemy's diversion. If you hadn't stopped them, the entire clan might have faced total destruction."
"No, if I don't take the blame, the clan will never forgive you."
Gin shook his head, looking at Tajima with his vacant eyes.
"Are you really going to do this?"
Sensing the boy's resolve, Tajima frowned. Despite the tragic events, he didn't blame Gin. Gin had done all he could.
"Anyway, I can't see anymore. I'm practically useless now," the boy replied, resigning himself to his condition.
"No! I won't allow it! You still have so many promises left unfulfilled. You can't leave me!" the girl pleaded, holding onto Gin's thin arm as her eyes filled with tears.
"Grandfather Haru, when I'm gone, please transplant my eyes to Hikari. That way, she won't go blind," Gin said, ignoring the girl's plea, turning instead to Uchiha Haru.
Gin had once read a plan in Uchiha Igaku's book about ultimate weapon. In the final pages, there was a method to transplant the Mangekyō Sharingan from one individual to another, allowing them to gain both pairs' full power without suffering from vision loss.
As someone who knew the storyline, he was confident in this theory's validity. He'd already died once, so maybe closing his eyes here would lead him to a new beginning.
"Very well."
Seeing Gin's determination, Haru didn't refuse.
"Hikari, I'm sorry. Even if I'm gone, you must live freely and see the world through my eyes," he told the girl by his side, his words landing heavily on her young heart.
"No! Please, don't!" the girl cried, gripping his arm as Gin gently removed her hand and walked toward Tajima.
"I've already lost four family members today..." Tajima's voice broke the silence. "I don't want to lose another."
Seeing Gin as his own, Tajima couldn't bring himself to act.
"Besides, your parents sacrificed themselves to save me. If I did this to you, my sister and brother-in-law in the Pure Land would never forgive me."
Tajima recalled the mission years ago. Due to faulty intelligence, they'd been ambushed, suffering devastating losses. Gin's parents had sacrificed themselves so that he could escape.
"But…"
Hearing the hint of refusal in Tajima's voice, Gin frowned.
"I've awakened the Mangekyō as well," he revealed, having gained the legendary Uchiha eye due to the loss of someone dear to him.
"My Mangekyō ability is called Kotoamatsukami. It allows me to alter a person's will."
Gin was stunned, realizing his uncle had awakened the same ability as that naive, cheerful Uchiha from later generations.
"But I've decided to use Kotoamatsukami to make everyone forget the culprit who destroyed the clan grounds," Tajima declared, looking around and revealing his plan.
"Can you alter so many people's wills at once?" Haru, a Sharingan researcher, questioned the feasibility of such a feat.
Indeed, Kotoamatsukami's power was likely limited; otherwise, the Uchiha clan would have conquered the Warring States era long ago.
"No, I can only alter one person's will at a time, and it requires a lengthy cooldown," Tajima explained, knowing his Mangekyō's limitations.
"But with Gin's Tsukuyomi, we might have a solution," he added, pointing at the confused Gin.
"Huh?"
"Do you mean using his Tsukuyomi?" Haru asked, understanding Tajima's intention. Gin's Tsukuyomi had a high compatibility; if it could work with Hikari's Yasaka Spears, it might also pair well with Kotoamatsukami.
"But my eyes are…"
Gin reluctantly pointed to his sightless eyes. The plan sounded ideal, but reality was harsh.
"If you're blind, let Nameless replenish your chakra and ocular power," Haru instructed.
The girl immediately began transferring her chakra and ocular energy through a mark on Gin's hand.
"Ahhh!"
As the withered body absorbed her energy, Gin couldn't help but moan, which caused the girl to blush. As her dark energy flowed in, his vision gradually returned.
"It's still blurry, but better than total blindness."
Overjoyed, Gin felt newfound strength as a glimmer of crimson bloomed in his eyes. "I can even use the Sharingan!"
Feeling powerful, Gin clenched his fists, his entire being filled with renewed vigor.
"Uncle, let's do this!"
Seeing his spirited nephew, the others were pleased for him—except for Haru, who looked concerned. Noticing something in Gin's condition, Haru whispered something to Tajima, who frowned, showing a hint of guilt.
"Gin, have you thought about how to change the clan's will?" Tajima asked as the boy's excitement faded. The clan had been invaded, but both Gin and the girl bore responsibility.
Gin looked at the girl clinging to her clothes, and an idea formed in his mind.
In this tragedy, the girl's sudden loss of control had led to the deaths of his uncle and aunt, while his own rampage had devastated much of the clan, leaving countless casualties.
Tajima's plan was to alter the clan's memories, erasing the culprit.
However, as the caster, Tajima would retain these painful memories, carrying the burden alone.
"Uncle, if you're going to change anything, make them hate me," Gin said, looking up with a resolute expression. "Even if they forget, I'll never forgive myself."
It wouldn't feel right to erase the guilt without facing responsibility, which was deeply rooted in Uchiha's nature.
"Let this be my way to atone," he said, his eyes filled with determination, ready to bear the sins alone.
"Are you sure?" Tajima asked, moved by Gin's resolve.
"There's no need for you to shoulder this."
As Gin's gaze met the tear-stained eyes of the girl tugging on his sleeve, he placed a finger on her forehead and, with a hint of regret, softly said,
"Hikari, please forgive me this once."
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