Under the awning outside a shop in the Uchiha clan's market district—
A voluptuous purple-haired woman looked tenderly at Gin, her eyes full of charm, completely ignoring the rising fury of the girl beside him—Hikari—while holding out a bowl of shaved ice drenched in honey syrup to his mouth.
"Gin-san, why aren't you eating today?"
The woman tilted her head with innocent confusion, tucking a stray lock of violet hair behind her ear. She scooped a spoonful of syrupy shaved ice, and the hot summer air quickly melted it into sticky trails that slid down her fair, jade-white arm and into the cleavage of her leaning chest.
Gin sat motionless, blank dead-fish eyes staring straight ahead under the intense pressure radiating from Hikari. Not a single glance dared wander.
No matter what seductive tricks the luscious woman tried, he remained as expressionless as a meditating monk.
"Ara ara~ Gin-san, are you not feeling well? Maybe it's the heat? Are you getting heatstroke?"
Still exuding sultry energy, the mature woman stuck out her pink tongue to lick the syrup from her arm. She then leaned in and pressed her clean forehead toward Gin's, trying to feel his temperature.
Not even her cloak could hold back Hikari's wrath anymore. Dark energy roared from her body. Just before she exploded, a familiar voice called out from behind them, full of helplessness:
"Okaa-sama! Please stop teasing Gin-san!"
Another purple-haired girl stepped out from the shop, wearing a cute working apron. Her long hair was tied in a neat ponytail, and she carried a tray of chilled shaved ice. Her expression screamed "I'm so done with this."
She placed the tray before the watching Madara and Izuna, then delivered a clean hand chop to the woman's head and said coldly,
"Stop doing such embarrassing things!"
Holding her head, the woman pouted, tears welling up in her charming eyes, flailing her arms like a spoiled girl.
"Uuuu~ Chi-chan's all grown up now, treating mommy . Did you forget how hard I worked raising you?"
Another merciless hand chop from the girl. She was used to her mother's antics and had zero sympathy.
"Sorry, Gin-san. I didn't manage to keep my mother in check."
Chi, the ever-considerate girl, bowed apologetically to Gin while pinning her mother's head down.
"Okaa-sama, if you don't apologize to Gin-san, I'll be very troubled."
With that, she began to push her mother's head into a bowing posture.
"No no, it's fine, Chi-chan. I know Lady Eimi was just joking."
Gin waved his hand quickly, signaling that he didn't mind the woman's antics. He and Lady Eimi were just close friends, nothing more.
"My, my, Chi-chan, do you also have feelings for Gin-san?"
The mother, undeterred, lifted her head with bright curiosity and asked her daughter excitedly.
"Are you trying to take Gin-san from me? He's about to become your papa-san, you know!"
Chi smashed her shaved ice tray on her mother's head without hesitation. With a puff of steam, the woman wailed and scurried back inside, leaving a trail of tears.
"Uuu~ Chi-chan is such a meanie!"
"Please excuse her. My mother just talks nonsense sometimes."
Chi turned her back to them, voice cold. But Hikari, ever perceptive, noticed Chi's bright red earlobe sticking out from her ponytail—revealing her inner turmoil.
"There's still one more order. I'll go make it."
Chi walked back inside, not looking back, leaving the group in awkward silence.
"Gin… who was that woman?"
Hikari couldn't ignore it anymore. Everyone else seemed used to it. She turned to Gin, demanding answers.
"Uh, that's Lady Eimi, Chi's mother. Since Itama knows Chi well, our families started interacting more often and got close."
Gin scratched his curly black hair, his face totally calm. Nothing improper had happened between them—she's a widow, he's unmarried. Purely platonic.
Judging by the mother's behavior though… something had to be going on. Hikari clenched her fist tightly, trying to convince herself Gin wouldn't do anything with a married woman.
"Poor Chi-chan. Her father died when she was just born. If not for big cousin…"
Izuna, munching on his watermelon-flavored shaved ice, couldn't resist dropping a bit of juicy gossip.
Hikari's gaze sharpened like a hawk's, locking onto Gin, who was now shivering under the sudden pressure.
"Yeah… who would've thought our lazy cousin would be up at night helping Lady Eimi fetch water?"
Madara added nonchalantly, clearly getting revenge.
Gin was floored. So even the cool-headed future tyrant could be this petty?
"Hoho, I didn't know Gin had such… tastes."
Hikari's voice dropped several octaves. Her face was shrouded in shadows, her tone dark and eerie.
"Please don't say things that cause misunderstanding. Gin-san may be lazy, but he's still an honest man."
Chi returned, carrying the last serving of strawberry shaved ice. Her expression was calm as she set it in front of the strange-acting "Hikari." She tilted her head.
"Hikari-senpai, are you okay?"
"She's probably overheated from wearing too much."
Gin stepped in quickly, covering for Hikari. Was it her dark personality again?
"Yes, today is very hot. Hikari-senpai, please try our shop's shaved ice. It's famous!"
Chi, not noticing anything odd, enthusiastically pushed the dessert.
The dark Hikari, curious about the unfamiliar food, scooped a big spoonful and tossed it in her mouth.
"Wait! Don't eat it like—"
Before Chi could finish, it was too late.
A massive chill shot through Hikari's body from head to toe. After a few loops of brain freeze agony, her consciousness shut down and she collapsed back into herself.
"Eh? What just happened?"
Back to normal, Hikari rubbed her aching forehead. She looked confusedly at the half-eaten dessert in front of her.
"See? Feeling better now?"
Chi smiled. Gin gave a satisfied nod.
"Good thing I convinced your mom to open a cold drink shop."
"It's all thanks to you, Gin-san. Without your help, she'd still be working herself to death."
Chi remembered the man who had appeared in their lives a few years ago. He helped her and her mother open this little shop, giving Chi the chance to pursue real training instead of doing grunt work to support their living.
"It was the least I could do. You've always worked so hard."
Gin thought back to the stubborn young girl, doing dangerous missions just to lighten her mother's burden. Her tiny frame had held so much strength—it had moved him to act.
The mood was getting weird. Hikari sensed danger.
This purple-haired girl… she seemed harmless at first. But there was backstory! And a two-for-one deal?! How could any man resist a mother-daughter combo?!
"Actually, Gin-san~ I've been meaning to ask a favor."
Out of nowhere, Lady Eimi reappeared again. Chi prepared to hand-chop her again.
"Don't say anything weird again!"
"Fufufu~ This time, I'm serious."
The woman dodged and turned toward Gin with uncharacteristic sincerity.
"I know Chi wants to become a great kunoichi. But her father died early, and no one has ever properly taught her the ways of a shinobi."
She paused, her alluring eyes now full of genuine plea.
"I hope Gin-san… would consider taking Chi as your student. Teach her everything. Make her strong."
Then she bowed deeply before him, showing off curves that made Gin gulp involuntarily.
Looking at her posture and sincerity, Gin fell into thought.
This was the situation with many clans. The Uchiha trained together, yes—but real ninjutsu, taijutsu, and chakra control were still passed down through bloodlines.
Without a parent to teach her, Chi's path would be difficult.
Chi froze. She had long accepted she'd have to walk this path alone. She never expected her seemingly careless mother to humble herself for her sake.
A warm feeling bloomed in her chest. Her mother wasn't just chasing men—she truly cared.
"Hurry, Chi! What are you waiting for? Go bow to your new papa!"
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