For some reason, ever since Osamu awakened her new dōjutsu, she had been avoiding Gin. Even when they ran into each other, she would bow her head and hurry off. The curly-haired Uchiha couldn't help but feel confused.

"You and Osamu get along pretty well. Do you know if something's wrong with her lately?"

Early morning, Gin held a steaming cup of milk, glancing at Senju Itama in her apron.

"Huh? Osamu looks glowing to me. She's doing great."

Placing breakfast in front of Gin, Itama tilted her head in thought.

"…Weird. Why does it feel like she's avoiding me? And hey—why isn't there sugar in this milk?"

One sip, Gin's brows furrowed, his face displeased.

It was one thing to forbid him strawberry milk, but now even plain milk with no sugar? How was he supposed to drink that?

"Sigh, I really can't with you. Fine, just two spoonfuls, okay?"

Seeing Gin's pitiful look, Itama softened. Raising two slender fingers, she pouted sternly.

"Alright, alright!"

Gin quickly grabbed the sugar jar, scooped two heaping spoonfuls into the half-cup of milk, then stared longingly at his empty spoon. After a struggle, he sighed and put it back. Two spoons it was.

"Not three spoons!"

He sipped slowly, savoring the overly sweet taste, when suddenly—

Bang bang bang!

The front door was pounded hard.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

Itama naturally went to answer, like the mistress of the house.

The door creaked open.

"You kids?"

Looking down, she saw a group of little ones blinking up at her.

"Hello, we're Gin-sensei's students!"

It was Sarutobi Hiruzen leading the little F6. While Itama studied them, the kids were also secretly staring at the tall, youthful woman.

"Students…?"

Hearing that, Itama immediately thought of the piles of strawberry milk recently gifted to the house. So these were the culprits.

"Curly Gin, your students are here."

Usually, around family she called him "curly-haired baboon," but in front of strangers she restrained herself.

"Mirror, who is this woman?"

Koharu glanced at Itama's impressive figure, then touched her own flat chest, muttering to Mirror.

"Shhh! Don't let her hear you!"

Mirror paled at the memory of her spinning piledriver technique. He whispered, "She's violent. If you piss her off, even Gin-ojisan can't save you."

"What? With hands that delicate?" Koharu scoffed, but Mirror insisted.

Enma adjusted his glasses, eyes glinting. "The truth is clear. This woman… is Gin-sensei's wife."

"What?! That bastard actually got a wife? The world is too forgiving."

Danzo instantly broke down.

Behind them, Choza, taller than the others, shook his head while munching on snacks. "Tsk, Danzo, running your mouth again…"

Itama ignored the children's chatter. Mirror's slander was childish nonsense. But when Enma guessed she was Gin's wife, her mood lifted instantly.

"You, glasses kid, have a good eye."

Then she turned on Danzo. "And you, with the fat ass. Must be an illness. I know a good surgeon—want me to schedule you for a removal?"

"You—!!!" Danzo almost exploded, but Hiruzen grabbed him. "Calm down!"

Just then Gin appeared, cup in hand. "What are you brats doing here instead of training with Hashirama?"

"Gin-sensei, Big Teacher's too busy. No one's looking after us!"

They whined in unison.

"So that's it."

Turns out Tobirama was buried under paperwork after Madara left, and Hashirama got dragged back to help. With no one free, the F6 became neglected kids.

"Serves them right," Gin muttered. "Kick out my hardworking cousin, then drown in your own work."

But the kids all looked up at him with pitiful eyes.

"Gin~"

Even Itama stepped in. "Gin, just look after them a bit."

"…So it's only because they're Whitey's disciples, huh?" Gin shot her a glare.

"N-no! I just don't want you turning senile from staying cooped up all day."

Her cheeks flushed.

The kids were already scheming. "Gin-sensei, who is this Onee-san?"

"She's Uchiha Banzi, my long-term tenant."

He'd been using that alias for years. At first, calling her "Banzi-kun" when she posed as male. Later, when her female form was exposed, it became "Banzi." To most of the clan, she was Banzi-neesan.

"Hello, Banzi-neesan!" x5

"Such polite kids. Here, have some candy."

"Thank you, Banzi-neesan!" x6

Even Danzo, despite himself, caved for candy.

"…Fine. I'll take you out today." Gin scratched his curly head.

"Banzi, don't make lunch. I'll feed them at Tarō's place."

"Got it."

Itama smiled, waving them off.

On the road, Koharu nudged Gin. "Sensei, what's your real relationship with Banzi-neesan?"

"I told you, she's my tenant. Big house, might as well rent out. She even cooks for me. What's wrong with that?"

Gin explained with his usual deadpan. He had to protect his "pure white lotus" image.

But Koharu clearly saw the love in Itama's eyes earlier. She muttered, "This curly-head must be blind…"

"Enough. No more buts. We're going for a walk. Later, I'll treat you to yakiniku — all you can eat."

"Yakiniku!!"

The kids cheered instantly.

Gin smirked. Food shut mouths better than any lecture.

Strolling through the streets, Gin tested their observation skills.

"You brats, stop munching candy. Look there. What do you see about those two?"

The F6 squinted at two strangers by a stall.

"…Just normal people?"

"Really?" Gin teased.

Enma pushed up his glasses. "Their clothes. They're not from the Fire Country."

"Good. Next time you can pick one ninja tool to add to your scroll."

"Really? Then that vibrating one last time—"

"You sure?"

"Please, Sensei!"

"…Fine, I'll check."

The other kids groaned in envy.

Enma wasn't done. "The cut and color… Water Country."

Gin smiled faintly. "Correct."

His eyes lingered on the pair. The old man's chakra was no joke, comparable to Tobirama. And the younger man… he looked oddly familiar.

A wig? Could it be…?

The old man, called Byakuren, glared at the stall owner, Uzumaki Shusuke.

"You're an Uzumaki, aren't you?"

"I—I'm just a merchant!" Shusuke stammered, drenched in sweat.

Byakuren's chakra flared, but his companion stopped him. "Byakuren-sama, this is Konoha."

Gin strolled up lazily. "Yo, Shusuke-nii, got any new stock?"

Relieved, Shusuke immediately pulled out some "miracle pills" from Grass Country.

"…Grass? You sure they're real?" Gin eyed them skeptically. Grass was famous for knock-offs.

Shusuke hesitated. "…Maybe I'll test them first."

Byakuren and the young man stiffened at Gin's sudden arrival. He had broken Byakuren's killing intent with just his voice.

"Who is he?" the youth muttered.

"Uchiha," Byakuren warned. "No trouble here."

But Gin caught the old man staring. "Oi, old glass-eye, what're you staring at?"

Byakuren's composure snapped. Hands together, chakra rising—

"Byakuren-sama! Please!" The youth restrained him.

Gin studied the young man closer. That face, that aura. It hit him.

"…Nice wig you've got there."

The man froze. Snowflakes began to fall around him, his chakra chilling the air.

"Sensei, it's… snowing?" The F6 shivered.

Gin grinned. "So it is you… Mizukage."

The young man's voice was low, furious.

"It's not a wig. It's Katsura!"

(End of Chapter)

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