"Huh? Who'd dare do such a thing?"
Little Kagami, who had just had his curly head mauled, blinked up in confusion, his face full of innocence.
"I don't recall raising you to be such a dishonest boy. Have you been mixing with bad company, learning bad habits?"
Gin's hand ground down harder, mercilessly rubbing the poor boy's hair.
Danzo (silently): You could've just reported me by ninja registration number!
"I didn't! I don't know anything!"
Kagami puffed his cheeks in protest. The conviction in his expression made Gin second-guess himself. He was sure he'd recovered his stolen goods—so why was the brat still denying? Could there actually be more to the story?
"Uncle Gin, what did you lose?"
Breaking free of the hand on his head, Kagami carefully asked.
"My blankets… two of them. I haven't slept properly since."
Gin sighed like a broken man. After being pinned in Ayako's room and force-fed hot dogs for three straight days, his mind had been nothing but a carousel of flashing memories. He'd nearly gone to meet the ancestors.
"Blankets? You mean the ones hanging in the yard?"
Kagami's small fist smacked into his palm in realization.
"…Didn't you just say you knew nothing?! Confess!"
Gin clutched his sore waist and growled. The nerve of this kid—stealing from family and still acting innocent.
"Uncle, you've wronged me! Big sis Hikari gave them to me—for camping, so I wouldn't catch cold!"
Kagami quickly raised his hand, eyes wide with indignation.
"…Tch."
Gin rubbed his temple. So it was Hikari's carelessness. He could guard against outsiders, but not his own family. Still… why would she knowingly leave him sleepless?
A terrible thought struck him.
Wait. No. Very wrong.
If Hikari knew he couldn't sleep without those blankets… but still gave them away… was it an accident? Or deliberate?
Gin's throat went dry. His back prickled cold. No doubt—this woman had two faces. If she made a move, it was terrifyingly calculated.
No wonder that night she'd held his pillow. She must have tried to sneak into his bed, found his marker seal, and decided to wait him out instead.
"One man against two women… impossible odds."
"…Uncle? You okay?"
Kagami poked him nervously.
"I'm fine. I wronged you. Here—out of guilt."
Gin, guilt-ridden, pulled a storage scroll from his pouch and tossed it over.
"B-but… it's not New Year yet."
Kagami fumbled the heavy scroll. His eyes wavered with strange emotion. If not for Gin's "red envelope" on the road, they might not have survived their mission. One day, he swore, he'd repay his uncle tenfold.
"In this family, it's New Year every day if we want."
Gin waved it off. That refund money had been wrung out of Kakuzu anyway—it was simply going back to the rightful heir.
"Thank you, Uncle! Then let me wish you an early happy year—may every year be like today!"
Kagami laughed brightly, clutching the fortune and bowing hard.
—
"Too full!"
After gorging at Darō's BBQ, the F6 staggered out rubbing their round bellies with Gin in tow.
"Gin! Next time I'll prep something for you. After I drank it, Ayako couldn't handle me!"
Darō called with a grin.
Gin's eyes lit up. "Tomorrow, then!"
But before they could continue, Ayako appeared, grabbing Darō by the ear. "What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"P-pain!!"
…Rest in peace, Darō.
After leaving the happy couple, Gin escorted each of the kids home before walking alone toward his own place.
His house sat in a quiet, remote part of Konoha. The moonlight stretched his shadow long across the empty path.
"Step."
He suddenly stopped, a glint flashing in his lazy eyes. Turning his head toward the swaying trees, he said evenly:
"You're back?"
"Step. Step."
A tall figure stepped out from the dark. Moonlight revealed Uchiha Madara's stern face.
"Big cousin, I missed you to death."
A rare smile softened his cold features.
"Pah! You brat just want me dead so you can inherit my fortune."
Gin rolled his eyes. His cousin's tongue only got sharper.
"Slip of the tongue~"
Madara carried a suitcase, his expression mixing joy, gratitude, and unease.
"…I thought you'd stay out longer. Why so soon?"
"My mission is complete. No point wasting time. But this—"
He set the case before Gin, eyes narrowed.
"Big cousin… who are you, really?"
Gin raised a brow. "What? Gone a while and you forget your own blood?"
"I don't mean that. Where did this come from?"
Madara opened the case: inside, a gray driver box, and two small buckle-like gadgets.
"Oh, that. My inheritance from Master Bandai. Probably a prototype from my senior."
Gin's excuse flowed like water. Madara believed him without hesitation.
"And these?"
"The buckles. Upgrade tools. Empty now, but you can infuse other powers into them. Slot them on the Driver—boom, extra power."
Gin casually clipped them in place. Click! Perfect fit.
"…I see."
Madara's eyes lit with fire. A power-up, exclusive to him, crafted by his cousin? Perfect.
"Thank you, Big cousin."
Gin waved him off. "Don't get soft on me. That's not like you."
Madara grinned, then glanced at the buckles with burning resolve. With these, he could finally crush Hashirama.
"Since you're back, go report to Hashirama. The clan kids are already restless."
Indeed, in Madara's absence, rumors spread that Konoha's leadership forced him out. Hot-headed youths were plotting revolt to welcome him back in glory.
"…I know. But first, allow me this one selfish act. Once I beat Hashirama, I'll return and set things right."
Gin sighed deeply. "Fine. Just don't overdo it. No need to ruin friendships."
"Of course~"
Even back in the Warring States, he'd never truly sought Hashirama's life. And now, with Konoha built… their "battle" was only ever destined to end with one taking care of the other forever.
Gin could only shake his head. "This is the last time. Afterward, get a real job."
Madara snorted but didn't argue. He turned, vanishing into the night.
Gin didn't notice the pitch-black shadow slinking into Madara's own, following silently.
—
Meanwhile…
Hashirama sobbed into his empty wallet. Tobirama had ordered the most expensive BBQ set, bankrupting him completely.
"Thanks for the meal, brother! Back to work."
Tobirama vanished in a flash, leaving his brother weeping on the street.
"…Maybe I can borrow from Gin's sister. Double it back after I win."
Resolving himself, Hashirama headed toward Gin's house—only to freeze as he sensed a familiar chakra.
"…Madara?"
At the same time, Madara felt him too.
"Fate."
They stepped forward, meeting under the moonlight. Their eyes met—joy, nostalgia, and warlike fire.
Hashirama's gaze, however, burned with something… else. Something that made Madara tense and clench his thighs.
"Hashirama, don't look at me like that. I'm not that kind of man."
Madara crossed his arms, resolute. Inside, though, he smirked.
"Madara… can you…"
Hashirama licked his lips, hesitant.
"Hmph! Beg me, and maybe I'll agree."
"Please, Madara—lend me 100,000 ryō to win it back!"
"…Hah?"
Minutes later, Hashirama whistled happily, counting the stack of cash Madara had loaned him.
Madara followed, face black as thunder.
Inside the gambling den, Hashirama blew through the ten-man stack like lightning, leaving only scraps.
Then, with a desperate gleam, he shoved it all on triple sixes.
The dice rolled.
[666]
"Madara! I told you, I can win!"
Hashirama strode out, arms full of winnings, cackling.
"This isn't real. Must be genjutsu!"
Madara refused to believe it. Hashirama—who'd lost every single time in his life—had just hit jackpot twice?!
Hashirama smugly shoved back Madara's loan. "See? All cleared."
"…Mn."
Madara accepted, eyes complex.
"By the way, when did you return? Tobirama thought you defected."
"Today. Just busy."
"Then the mission's complete. Good work, Madara."
Hashirama clasped his hand warmly.
Madara's lips curled. "Nine-Tails has been captured."
Hashirama blinked. "…Where is it? Outside the village?"
Madara pulled a silver card from his robes.
Hashirama froze. "…Madara, what is that?"
"This is what the mysterious Rider gave me. The Nine-Tails… sealed within."
Hashirama's smile faltered. If the beast broke free, it could destroy Konoha.
"Don't worry. Already subdued."
Madara tucked the card away.
"Good. Give it to Tobirama—he's been dying to research it."
He clapped Madara's shoulder, but Madara shoved him off, eyes scarlet, tomoe spinning.
"Not yet. Hashirama… fight me!"
"Eh?"
Hashirama blinked. Then his aura surged, blue-purple chakra flaring as his face grew sharp.
"…Tatakai."
(End of Chapter)
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