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

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Minato's limited experience was no match for the 78-year-old's attempt to extort money. Seeing Uchiha Gin clutching his knee and screaming in agony, his naive heart was quickly overwhelmed by panic and self-reproach. His repeated apologies offered no relief from the psychological pressure he was under.
"Boss, am I going to juvenile detention center too?"

In his panic, he turned to look at the only person he could rely on, and asked in a voice filled with grief, "Please confirm this?"

"Uh this."

Fugaku felt as if a thousand Five-Tails were roaring through his mind. Knowing Gin's tricks all too well, he hesitated, wondering whether he should explain to his little brother Minato.

"I understand, prison ward. You don't need to worry. I'll turn myself in."

To avoid putting Fugaku in a difficult position, Minato resolutely wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, raised his head high, and nodded.
"Since I made a mistake, I must be brave enough to take responsibility. I, Minato Namikaze, will not run away from it!"

After acting for half a day on the ground, Uchiha Gin immediately stopped his superb acting when he heard Minato say he was going to turn himself in. He hesitated for a moment and whispered a reminder.
"No. Didn't you consider personal matters at all?"

"Private?"

Minato, who was already fantasizing about living and eating with the three mohawk-haired guys in a juvenile detention center, paused slightly in surprise upon hearing Uchiha Gin's suggestion.
"Weren't you screaming in pain just now?"

"Oh my gosh! My pineapple cap! A private settlement would cost at least 88,000!"

"But I don't have that much money."

"How many do you have?"

Seeing Minato start to haggle, Uchiha Gin scrambled to his feet, his face full of anticipation, and asked...

"Please wait."

Still in a daze, Minato subconsciously pulled a Nine-Tails wallet from his small pouch. Opening it, a bunch of coins of varying denominations clattered out. He carefully counted them in his palm; the total amount was only one thousand ryo.

"This is all the allowance I have left this month."

Apologetically showing the coin to Gin Uchiha, Minato was about to say something when he suddenly felt his hand lighten; the coin lying in his palm had vanished.

“Your courage to take responsibility has moved me, and I have decided not to pursue the crime of assaulting the elderly.”

Uchiha Gin smiled and counted the coins that had exploded from Minato's body, nodding with a satisfied expression.

"really?"

If the victim forgives him, then he won't have to go and hang out with the mohawk trio!
"but."

"what?"

“Not a penny less in economic compensation. If you can’t pay it all at once, you can pay me in installments.”

Having acquired the commemorative coin, Uchiha Gin continued,
"Of course, you only need to pay a tiny bit of interest."

"Uncle, isn't this going a bit too far? Minato is still just a child!"

Fugaku couldn't stand it any longer, so he dashed over to Uchiha Gin and whispered something in his ear.
That's why I charged compensation based on the child price standard!

Uchiha Gin shrugged and shifted his gaze back to Minato, who was frowning in thought.
"Have you thought it through, dog?"

"I agree!"

Before his nickname could be revealed, Minato preemptively accepted the financial compensation. However, unwilling to accept it, he gritted his teeth, his azure eyes fixed on the inexplicably irritating Uchiha Gin.
"But you have to promise not to tell anyone about it."

The matter that Minato was referring to was his nickname, which he kept secret from outsiders.
"Okay~ okay~ Don't worry, I'm always a person who keeps my mouth shut and never deceives anyone, young or old."

After the old man and the young man reached a private settlement, Uchiha Gin's leg pain disappeared, his backache subsided, and his diaphragm revived on the spot.

His gait was powerful and imposing, leaving Minato momentarily stunned.
"Your corrugated cap wasn't..."

As he gradually came to his senses, his blue eyes widened in astonishment.
It seems I've encountered one of those legendary con artists who stage accidents to extort money.

Be more confident and get rid of the seeming.

"Sigh, back in the Water Gate prison, I told you not to be impulsive, but you wouldn't listen. Now your great-uncle has seized the opportunity."

Standing to the side, Fugaku sighed deeply, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a knowing look, "I've been there all along."
"Luckily, he's kind-hearted and only swindled you out of 18,000. Do you know how much Jiraiya was cheated out of by him back then?"

"How many?"

Upon hearing that there were other experts, Minato, bursting with curiosity, pressed for more information.

"For his entire life, Jiraiya will write books to earn money for his great-uncle."

Don't be fooled by Jiraiya's current fame as a popular author, with books selling enough to circle the ninja world several times a year. He actually receives less than one percent of that in revenue; the rest goes entirely to Gin Uchiha, the copyright holder.

"I call that angel investing."

Uchiha Silver Ear, who was walking ahead, twitched his ears, immediately stopped, turned his head, and glared at his nephew who had exposed his past.

He resorted to this drastic measure to prevent Jiraiya from going astray; the royalties were too much, and that kid wouldn't be able to resist.

"It's good that Hu is alright."

After learning the truth from Fugaku, Minato didn't angrily go to confront Gin Uchiha. Instead, he breathed a sigh of relief.

In his view, it was fortunate that no one was injured.

"You've got a pretty good outlook, kid. I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

This was the first time Fugaku had encountered someone like Minato, who, despite being tricked by his uncle, could still maintain an optimistic attitude.
"It's alright, prison is just a collection of material possessions."

Suddenly praised, Minato scratched his head a little shyly.

"Your personality is somewhat like your grandfather's."

Having overheard the conversation between the two brats behind him, Uchiha Gin turned around, his gaze falling on the gentle-looking Minato. He nodded thoughtfully.
"You know my grandfather?"

“They are all old neighbors, but since I retired, I rarely go to the commercial street, so I have had fewer interactions with them in recent years.”

To be honest, when he was still working at the prison, he would pass by Minato's shop every day and grab a free breakfast—that was just part of his routine.

After being forced into retirement, he no longer needed to linger in that area, and the number of times the two met decreased sharply. In recent years, they had spoken very few times, so it's perfectly normal that Minato didn't recognize Uchiha Gin.
"So he's Grandpa's friend!"

No wonder he could give himself a nickname, Minato nodded in sudden realization, then quickly performed a junior's bow and respectfully greeted Uchiha Gin.
"I was rude just now."

"I like polite kids, so I'll charge you the lowest possible interest rate for the installment plan."

"Uh, thanks."

At this point, Minato, besides smiling, didn't know what expression to use in response. Uchiha Gin sat back in his designated resting spot with an air of superiority, yawned widely, and then asked with droopy eyelids,

"Fugaku, what are you planning to train with today?"

"Let's stick to physical techniques. That idiot Nawaki's physical skills have improved a lot lately, I can't afford to lose to him!"

"Uh, are you sure?"

Oh no, this kid doesn't seem to be very bright.

You, an Uchiha who only knows how to manipulate eyes, are actually going to compete with the Senju in taijutsu? You're that stubborn. So, it's understandable that you did something that wiped out your clan in the original timeline.

"I'm sure, Uncle, you can trust me. Once I've mastered my martial arts, that idiot Rope Tree won't even stand a chance against me!"

"Go ahead, whatever makes you happy."

You can't learn something just by being taught; you can learn it in one go by doing it. It'll be much easier to correct him after this kid's head has been beaten into a pig's head by the rope tree.

"I'm going to train at the bottom of the Water Gate prison. You can observe and learn from me for now."

Having received Uchiha Gin's permission, Fugaku excitedly took off his heavy coat, gave Minato some instructions, and jumped into the training ground. Under Minato's questioning gaze, he began a one-sided beating of an ordinary-looking dummy.

At first, Minato thought Fugaku was just warming up, but after ten minutes, Fugaku was still struggling with the dummy, leaving Minato completely bewildered.
"What kind of training is this?"

Having traveled such a long way just to spar with a dummy, Minato couldn't help but begin to doubt whether the big-headed jailer he had apprenticed under was a bit off.

"Ah! That bastard Fugaku beat me to it!"

Just then, Nawaki arrived late with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Seeing that Fugaku had already taken over the training ground's dummies, his face darkened considerably.
"That's strange, isn't Fugaku-kun behind us?"

The Hyuga brothers, who were in the same group as him, blinked in confusion. They hadn't wasted any time on the road, so why was Fugaku, who was supposed to arrive later than them, ahead of them?
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio curiously surveyed the training ground they had never been to before, especially Shikaku, whose brows furrowed deeply as he watched Fugaku beat up the dummy.
Clearly, he was also caught in the same dilemma as Minato.
"Watergate!"

Ding noticed the lone Minato standing by the training ground, and since they were on good terms, he immediately greeted him.
"Chouji."

Minato raised his hand in response, but looking at Choji's innocent smiling face, he suddenly felt a pang of anxiety and hurriedly turned his head to look for Uchiha Gin.
I've already been scammed before, I absolutely can't let Choji and the others repeat the same mistake.
"Ah? Where are the people?"

Their search was fruitless; the rest area was empty.
"Yo~"

Uchiha Gin's lazy voice rang in his ears, and Minato immediately turned his head back, only to see that the guy who was good at faking accidents had somehow already stood in front of Choza and the others.
"Tonic medicine!"

In a moment of desperation, Minato once again unleashed that same unbelievable speed, a faint spatial aura swirling around his body.

In the blink of an eye, his short figure had already blocked Ding Zuo's path.
"Minato, how did you get here so fast?"

Seeing the sudden appearance of the water gate, Choza rubbed his eyes in surprise, his face filled with disbelief.
"Ding, don't go near him."

"Huh? Why can't I get close to Grandpa Silver?"

Grandpa Silver?
Minato, who was on guard, was taken aback by what he heard. Choza's tone made it sound like he knew that guy who was trying to scam someone.
"Do you know?"

He asked in surprise and doubt, only to receive an affirmative answer from Ding.

"Yes! Grandpa Yin is a good person. Every time we meet, he gives me candy!"

"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Uchiha Gin, a retired low-level civil servant."

Seeing Minato's wary expression, Uchiha Gin grinned and pulled out a handful of lollipops from behind his back. He picked out a strawberry-flavored one and popped it into his mouth, then handed the rest to Choji, who was looking on expectantly.

"Yay! Thank you, Grandpa Silver!"

"This is."

Minato, who had just received a lollipop from Choza, stood frozen in place. Looking at the all-too-familiar candy in his hand, and recalling the name Uchiha Gin, he finally remembered everything.
The mystery is solved,

The curly-haired man in front of me, who looks to be no more than thirty years old, is Gintoki, whom Grandpa often talks about. All the lollipops in the cabinet at home are made by him.
The figure that flashed through my hazy memories now completely overlapped with Uchiha Gin standing before me.

With a complicated expression, Minato tore open the lollipop wrapper. The sweet taste was indeed the familiar flavor that had accompanied him for many years.

"Should I also call you Grandpa Silver?"

"According to seniority, there's nothing wrong with calling him that."

Gin Uchiha reached out and ruffled Minato's golden head, accepting the nickname with a smile.
"Grandpa Yin, don't you have any extra dummies? I want to train too!"

Rope Tree, who was waiting impatiently by the training field, came over and asked with a frown,
In yesterday's match, he temporarily suppressed Fugaku using physical skills. Seeing how diligently his opponent is now honing his physical skills, Nawaki doesn't want to be overtaken by a shortcut.

"It's your fault for being late. I've only made one dummy so far. You'd better get in line."

Uchiha Gin rolled his eyes. The drop rate of these dummies was terrifyingly low; he had suffered several losing streaks without getting one again. This indirectly deepened his curiosity about the magical effects of upgrading the dummies.
Upon hearing Uchiha Gin's answer, Nawaki shrank back with a bitter face. Now he could only pray that Fugaku's training wouldn't go too smoothly, so that he might have another chance to win in today's match.
"Is that the training dummy that Brother Rope Tree mentioned? It doesn't look particularly special."

Nara Shikaku had a lollipop dangling from his mouth, his eyes filled with deep thought.

He had already learned from Rope Tree on his way here that the so-called path to becoming stronger was actually a battle against a magical dummy.

"Don't underestimate it, I learned how to make my Rasengan from it."

Rope Tree shook his head and explained earnestly,
"Is it really that magical?"

Shikaku blinked in surprise. While it wasn't common knowledge in Konoha that Nawaki possessed A-rank ninjutsu, it wasn't a secret among the ninja clans.
"Oh! How can I explain this feeling to you? You can only experience its wonders by trying it yourself."

Rope Tree stroked his chin, deep in thought for a long time, but his vocabulary was insufficient to describe the smooth experience of sparring with the dummy.
"boom!"

In the arena, Fugaku, who had swung his fists countless times, finally succumbed to exhaustion after a powerful punch, collapsing to the ground, panting heavily. His face, drenched in sweat, was filled with a look of intense joy.
Breakthrough!
Although he felt a sense of emptiness inside, he could feel that his understanding of physical techniques had reached a new level. If he had been in today's competition, he would definitely not have lost to that idiot Rope Tree.

"Get out of the way! It's my turn! It's my turn!"

Seeing this, Nawaki was about to seize the right to use the dummy when Uchiha Gin, quick as a flash, grabbed him by the collar, nearly suffocating him.

"Grandpa Yin, what do you mean by this?"

There are people ahead of you in line!

"Huh? There are other people?"

"That's right, he's in front of you."

Uchiha Gin nodded, pointed to Minato helping Fugaku in the training field, and said with a smile.
"Go, dog! Minato, you go up and try."

Withdrawing his glare from Uchiha Gin, Namikaze Inuyasha's questioning gaze fell upon the unharmed dummy, his brow furrowing slightly. Meanwhile, the weakened Fugaku beside him earnestly instructed...
"Minato, don't say I didn't warn you, you'd better bring out your best skill later."

"Good, the prison is big."

Minato nodded. He might not trust the dummies, but he would certainly trust his own boss. He helped Fugaku to a resting place, and then resolutely embarked on his journey to conquer the dummies.
Looking at the wooden dummy that inexplicably seemed rather irritating, he hesitated for a moment, then, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, slowly pulled out a uniquely designed three-bladed kunai from his ninja tool pouch on his back.
"My specialty? Let's try this!" (End of Chapter)