Still fuming, Gin left Tajima's office without looking back. As he glanced at the grandiose clan leader building before stepping out the door, a dark thought flickered in his mind.
Nothing good ever happens in that place.
One day, he was going to blow it sky-high.
As he returned home, already in a sour mood, a commotion erupted before he even stepped through the door. Chickens flying, dogs barking, chaos. Gin sighed.
"Can't catch a break anywhere, huh?"
Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open—and just as he expected, Hikari and long-unseen Itama were at it again.
The two were locked in a test of strength, gripping each other's hands tightly. Gin's eyes drifted over the bulging veins in their pale knuckles and their reddened faces. They'd clearly been at this for a while.
"Gin! This little brat's been sleeping in your room! Who knows how many indecent things she's done while you were out!"
Hikari turned her head with effort, her voice squeezed out through clenched teeth as her face burned with frustration.
"Don't listen to this old hag spouting nonsense! I got up in the middle of the night and entered the wrong room, that's all!"
Itama was clearly handling things much better, calm and steady. Her flushed face was most likely due to being exposed, not exertion.
"And she has the nerve to say she went on a honeymoon with you! That you bathed together in a hot spring! What shameless lies!"
Itama jumped in frustration, flooding her body with Yang-style chakra. The raw energy began radiating from her like heat from an oven.
Despite being younger than Hikari, she was never one to lose in raw strength. Channeling monstrous force into her limbs, she exploded with power.
Hikari, who thought they were evenly matched, suddenly felt as if she'd been hit by a speeding train. Before she could react, she was flung through the air.
Twisting in mid-air, Hikari barely managed to land gracefully, but she was seething.
She was just playing around. Did Itama really think an Uchiha would go all out in a contest of raw strength?
Her eyes shifted, pupils turning red as three tomoe swirled into place. A chilling aura swept through the room.
Gin stepped in before the brawl could escalate further. His brow twitched as he glared at both girls.
"I just worked unpaid overtime and got saddled with a new mission. Don't test me."
"Or it's house rules time."
At the mention of "house rules," both girls immediately fell silent and covered their behinds. Clearly, they'd experienced Gin's "discipline" before.
"Gin-sama, welcome home~"
As the tension lifted, a gentle voice called out. From the kitchen emerged a purple-haired figure holding a teacup.
"You look exhausted. Please have some tea to refresh yourself."
Gin accepted the tea and inhaled deeply. The scent calmed his nerves.
"Ahh~ Chiri really knows how to soothe me. If only she were my daughter…"
He patted her head fondly.
"Uh-oh, green tea alert. Hostilities must end immediately!" *2
Both Hikari and Itama snapped their heads toward each other, instantly forming a silent alliance.
"Gin~ Come sit, I'll massage your shoulders."
Hikari blinked over, bumping Chiri aside and flashing a sweet smile that totally contradicted her earlier fiery demeanor.
"Curly ape, I'm cooking. Want fish?"
Itama whipped out an apron, smug as ever.
Gin was stunned. He blinked as he was ushered onto the couch by Hikari, who gently began massaging his shoulders.
"Is the pressure okay, Gin?"
"Mm, a little harder. I like it firm."
A soft cherry-red aura flared around Hikari.
"Ohh, that's the stuff!"
Chiri didn't mind being pushed aside. She simply poured more tea, her demeanor as peaceful as ever.
Moments later, Itama brought out dish after dish, filling the table with Gin's favorite foods. The rich aroma filled the room.
Gin opened one eye and caught the scent.
"Well, well~ Not bad at all."
He licked his lips and praised her cooking.
"You just eat. Not a peep out of you."
Itama grinned smugly at Hikari.
"Alright, good work everyone. Let's eat!"
As the table filled with laughter and warmth, Gin finally felt peace.
After dinner, Chiri stood to leave.
"Gin-sama, I'll take my leave now. My mother will be worried."
Just as she turned to go, Gin remembered her reward. Digging into his pouch, he pulled out a literal gold brick and handed it to her.
"Here, Chiri. Don't think it's too little~"
"Eh?! This is way too much, I can't accept this!"
She knew full well that her mission barely deserved anything. A gold bar? No way.
"Just take it. That's the official payment."
He shoved it into her hands, then waved the scroll sealing the Kohaku no Jōhei.
"I can't split this thing. It was used by the Rikudō Sennin. You can't put a price on that."
She hesitated again, so Gin narrowed his eyes.
"Only a few days since you became my apprentice, and you're already ignoring your master? Planning to overthrow me or something?"
The thought of pinning him down suddenly popped into Chiri's mind. Her cheeks flushed crimson.
"Th-thank you, Gin-sama!!"
Grabbing the gold, she fled the house in embarrassment.
"…She really must miss her mom."
But to be honest, he missed Lady Eimei too...
With time to spare, Gin reminded the girls not to fight and wandered into the backyard.
The place was neatly tended—clearly, Itama had followed orders for once.
Lying back on a chair made of Mokuton, Gin awaited his next NPC drop.
Maybe a golden summon? He longed for Sasori, the Red Scorpion.
Or at least the Yellow Flash! He wanted to learn Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) to teleport behind people and poke their butts.
As his mind wandered, the air shimmered—an NPC was arriving!
A watery ripple shimmered in the air.
"C'mon, give me gold! Give grandpa GOLD!!"
A large foot in wooden sandals stepped through the portal—and Gin's heart sank.
Neither Sasori nor Minato wore sandals like that.
When the figure fully emerged, Gin's face turned to stone.
The man was tall and muscular with waist-length white hair, long red lines beneath his eyes, a red coat over a brown outfit, wooden sandals, ninja bracers, and a large scroll on his back.
It was unmistakably the Toad Sage...
But something was wrong.
The headband didn't say "oil" (油)... it said "sugar" (糖)?
Wait... was his memory faulty?
While he was doubting himself, the NPC's blank stare suddenly turned to shock. His gaze darted wildly until it landed on Gin.
Panic. Pure terror. Like he'd just seen a monster.
He wanted to flee, but couldn't move. Helpless, the NPC bit his finger and began smearing blood on his face.
"No way... no way... did I actually pull a GOLD?!"
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