"Oh my, if it isn't Senju Tobirama. Been a long time—why do you look so pathetic now?"

Gin raised an eyebrow as he greeted the latecomer with zero courtesy.

"How's your watermelon-head brother doing?"

"You are…?"

Tobirama's gaze had initially been drawn to the strange chakra from Hikari, but as he heard the familiar taunt, he turned toward the unfamiliar man speaking. Then his eyes landed on the man's distinctive curly hair.

"You're still alive?"

At first, he hadn't recognized Gin. But that stupid curly hair awakened something deep in his memory.

This annoying-looking guy was the Uchiha who'd supposedly been killed in a single punch by his father.

"That's impossible! There's no way someone like you could survive a full-powered punch from my father!"

Seeing Gin alive again made Tobirama suspect he'd fallen under a genjutsu. He quickly surged his chakra to dispel it—nothing happened. His brow furrowed.

"Can't you hope for something better for me, you white-haired brat?"

Gin rolled his eyes at Tobirama's assumption that he should be dead.

"Hmph. If you somehow crawled back from the dead, you should've stayed away."

Now convinced that Gin was truly alive, Tobirama crossed his arms and looked down at everyone present with smug arrogance. His attitude was infuriating.

"Ugh! I can't stand this anymore! Gin, can I beat this smug bastard to death?!"

Hikari's fists clenched as she practically begged for permission to throw hands.

"I mean… I want to too," Gin muttered, silently agreeing.

Despite their seemingly calm demeanor, Mito was beginning to panic. Behind them stood Tobirama, backed by over a hundred elite warriors—enough to easily wipe out a mid-tier clan. Yet Gin and Hikari were acting like it was a picnic.

It was her fault. If she hadn't rushed out to reunite with Gin, they wouldn't be exposed.

With resolve flashing in her eyes, Mito suddenly grabbed Gin's still-raised hand and pressed it to her neck, collapsing dramatically into his arms. Her eyes welled with tears and her voice trembled as she cried out,

"Tobirama! Save me!"

Then, turning her head to press against Gin's chest, she whispered only loud enough for him to hear:

"Take me hostage. Don't let the Senju capture me."

???

Gin and Hikari both looked dumbfounded.

Especially Gin. Why did this feel so familiar? Wasn't this just like years ago? Was he supposed to pull out a kunai now, smirk evilly, and laugh "kekekeke"?

"Despicable Uchiha!"

Tobirama grit his teeth as he watched Mito be "taken hostage" again, his hands momentarily tied.

"You really didn't need to do this…"

Gin looked down at the girl in his arms with a complicated expression. She was protecting Tobirama without realizing it.

"I'm sorry, Gin-sama… It was me who brought the Senju here. I didn't know it was you helping the surviving members of the Hagoromo clan."

As she nestled against him, breathing in his distinct scent, Mito swallowed nervously. Her voice was thick with guilt.

"I thought you returned to Uzushio. What are you doing here?"

He didn't blame her, but it was still surprising. Shouldn't she be cultivating a relationship with Hashirama right now?

"Hmph! My father actually wants to marry me off to the Senju—to that Hashirama guy!"

She pouted, recalling the absurd proposal. Then she slyly pinched Gin's waist and asked, her tone laced with meaning,

"What do you think? Should I marry him?"

"Anything that goes against a woman's will definitely shouldn't happen."

Gin's expression turned serious as he replied.

"Yes! You're speaking straight to my heart, Gin-sama."

Mito's eyes lit up. At last, someone was siding with her, and it made her chest flutter with warmth.

"That's why I need achievements—to become the next clan leader of the Uzumaki. Then I can choose my own future."

She clenched her fists, whispering her resolve.

Wow. That's bold. But I kinda like it.

"You! Back off already!" ×2

Just as the two of them were getting close, two simultaneous voices rang out, yelling the exact same thing.

Gin: ???

Tobirama: ???

No one knew when they had arrived, but Kin and Gin—the brothers—were now standing behind Gin.

"Gin-sama, is that guy Senju Tobirama?"

Kin's eyes burned with hatred as he stared at the unique white-haired shinobi.

Beside him, Gin's face was just as twisted with rage.

"That's right. He's the one who led the attack that nearly wiped out your clan."

Gin added fuel to the fire—not that he was wrong. Tobirama really had been behind the attack that crushed the Hagoromo clan.

"Want revenge?"

Gin's voice turned low, like a devil's whisper.

"Hmm…"

Kin's fists trembled as his aura surged. Just when it seemed like he'd lunge at Tobirama, he relaxed his fists and let his blood drip to the ground.

"We're no match for him right now."

The old Kin would've rushed in blindly. But after being humiliated in a spar with Uchiha Osamu, and listening to Gin's lectures, his muscle-brain had begun to think.

Without mastering the clan's sacred treasures, he stood no chance against a much older Tobirama. Acting now would just mean death—for both him and his brother.

"Want my help? I charge a fee, but…"

Gin sighed inwardly. Damn this war. Even muscleheads are learning restraint.

"Thanks, Gin-sama. You've helped us a lot already. But please, let us take revenge with our own hands."

Kin looked up with uncharacteristic sincerity. His typical dumb-merchant face was filled with genuine resolve.

"Alright, alright. I'll let you have the kill. I do love playing support."

Though their time together had been short, Gin could tell the brothers weren't bad kids. Anyone willing to smash Tobirama couldn't be too evil.

Not that his fondness had anything to do with the fact that they'd off Tobirama in the future, of course.

Scanning the field, Gin formulated a plan.

"You there, white-hair!"

He suddenly called out.

"Me?" Tobirama blinked.

"Who else? You're the only white-haired weirdo here."

"It's called silver-gray luxury, thank you!"

"Let's negotiate?"

"I refuse! I've nothing to discuss with evil Uchiha!"

Tobirama even spat in disgust.

"Kekekeke… You sure you want to risk your future sister-in-law's life?"

Guess I'll wear the villain skin again.

"Damn you! Say what you want and be done with it!"

Tobirama clicked "Accept."

"See? That wasn't so hard."

This brat acts just like my little cousin. All tsun, no dere.

"I'm only here because of a mission. Let's make a deal: you let the remaining Hagoromo women and children go, and I release your future sister-in-law. Sound good? Ack!"

At the word "sister-in-law," Mito pinched his waist hard, making him yelp.

"No way! The Hagoromo must be wiped from the Land of Fire!"

Tobirama's hatred burned hot. His father had been killed by them. He wouldn't let even one dog survive.

"Oh come on~ They've only got scraps left. You can't spare them?"

Gin's eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Even a dog doesn't walk out of here alive!"

Tobirama was firm. The Hagoromo were doomed.

"How about this—this kid here is the future clan head. He can make that decision."

Gin jerked his chin at Kin, shamelessly selling him out.

"What?"

Tobirama was caught off guard. He hadn't expected such an important figure to be standing right there.

"I'll mediate. Kin, can you swear the Hagoromo will withdraw from the Land of Fire forever?"

Gin's voice rang out.

"Eh?"

Kin was confused. Wasn't that already the plan?

But when he saw Gin wink, even his dull brain caught on. Straightening up, he raised a hand and solemnly declared:

"I, Kin, swear by the name of the Sage of Six Paths—our Hagoromo clan will withdraw from the Land of Fire and never return. If we break this oath, may we be cursed by our ancestor and forever rot in Yomi."

Now that's how you make an oath.

"Well? Satisfied?" Gin turned to Tobirama.

Tobirama hesitated. He hadn't expected the Hagoromo to willingly leave after centuries in the Land of Fire. It caught him off guard.

After a moment, he nodded, but his eyes narrowed at Gin.

"I'll let them go. But I still don't trust any of you Uchiha."

Tch. Prejudice runs deep.

(End of Chapter)

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