The mysterious figure waited until the Kaguya clan finished verifying the intel, then turned and lted into the night. The Kaguya didn't stop him.
After all, in their eyes, this sneaky fellow was nothing more than a pathetic worm, too weak to take revenge on his own.
Under the moonlight, the figure removed his disguise, revealing a pale, aged face, his scarlet eyes gradually fading.
Yao recalled his earlier contact with the Kaguya, and a stiff smirk tugged at his lips.
"These brainless mad dogs… just perfect to use as a smokescreen. When they and the Uchiha are tearing each other apart, I'll make my move."
——
"Gin, wake up already!"
Feeling dampness on his cheek, Gin slowly opened his eyes to see a slender girl weeping, her tears falling onto his face. Dry-mouthed, he instinctively licked at the salty, slightly sweet moisture at the corner of his lips.
Seeing Gin awake, the girl threw herself into his chest like a fledgling returning to its nest, burying her face in his shirt as she sobbed.
"I… I had such a strange dream… you weren't there… and I was so scared…"
Still a little stiff, Gin propped himself up and let her cry in his arms, gently stroking her dark, silky hair.
"It's alright. I'll always be here with you."
"Really…?"
The girl raised her tear-reddened eyes, looking up at Gin as if trying to confirm sothing.
"Of course. Didn't you always say you only have ? If I don't take care of you, who will?"
Patting her head, Gin motioned for her to sit up.
"Hmph… who said that? I can manage just fine without you," the girl huffed, realizing how close they'd gotten and quickly pulling away, pouting in embarrassnt.
"Alright, alright, you two lovebirds can stop already. You're making our old teeth ache from the sweetness," joked the round and jolly En from the doorway.
Only now did Gin notice that Myo and En had returned after being sent away earlier.
"That old man?"
Thinking of Yao's eerie behavior, Gin quickly asked.
"The Clan Head ordered him off this project. You two can rest easy now," the lean Myo explained, though his normally cold eyes betrayed a trace of concern.
"Any discomfort? Eyes? Head?"
Gin imdiately ntioned his worsening eyesight, while Hikari recounted the "weapon" talk she'd heard from Yao's people.
"Weapon…?"
Hearing the unfamiliar term, Gin shot Myo a puzzled look. Myo sighed and produced the so-called Weapon Plan docunt.
Gin skimd it and frowned.
"That old man must've lost his mind! Turning and Hikari into mindless 'weapons of war'?!"
——
anwhile, Tashima, having rejected Yao's plan, returned to his manor.
His wife, who had just given birth to twins, was nursing one baby while another young child slept nearby.
In this era of no family planning, the ninja clans all believed in having as many children as possible — more people ant more strength. Looking at his wife and children, Tashima's harsh eyes softened.
"You've worked hard."
He sat on the mat beside his wife, gently caressing her frail body.
"It's nothing. Where are Ban and Izuna?"
Tashima's wife was a gentle, virtuous woman — the daughter of the previous Clan Head — who hated fighting. Her soft nature complented Tashima's steel, and their love was unexpectedly deep.
"They're old enough to train. I sent them to the dojo for a while to toughen up," Tashima replied.
His sons, Ban and Izuna, were already of age to join small skirmishes. He preferred they eat bitterness under his watch now, rather than bleed more on the battlefield later.
"Ahh… I'm still recovering…"
Hearing that her two sensible boys were already out training, the woman blushed, her soft voice turning coy.
"You think I'm that kind of man?!"
Tashima barked in mock indignation, but his broad hand already betrayed his thoughts, gripping her waist as he leaned close.
——
Under the night sky, the Uchiha compound was calm. Patrols diligently circled the periter, their eyes sharp even in darkness thanks to their clan's vision.
But as their shift neared its end, so relaxed their guard.
"Swish swish swish—"
Sharp sounds cut through the forest. The lead patrolman fell instantly, blood spraying like petals.
"Enemy attack!!"
The alarm was raised, a blazing signal flaring in the sky before bursting. The remaining patrol drew weapons, eyes flashing scarlet as they charged forward without hesitation — buying ti for their kin.
In the blink of an eye, hundreds of figures surged from the shadows — feral, bloodthirsty Kaguya clansn crashing over them like wolves. The patrol was annihilated in monts, their torn limbs littering the ground.
The stench of death crept like an invisible hand over the peaceful Uchiha stronghold.
——
Bored in his research dorm, Gin lay on his bed, counting the stars outside.
Then he saw a distant flare of fire in the darkness — the Uchiha's signal for enemy attack.
His eyes widened, but he didn't hesitate. He flipped out of bed and ran.
The research facility was already in chaos. Guards assembled, researchers scrambled to save docunts. Gin ignored everything else and pounded on a door.
"Bang bang bang!"
The door swung open. A sleepy Hikari hugged her pillow, rubbing her eyes with a yawn.
"Gin… what now…?"
"The clan's under attack!"
Ignoring any sense of propriety, Gin grabbed her hand and pulled her into a sprint.
"Where are you taking …?"
Still dazed, Hikari stumbled after him as they bolted toward the gate.
At the entrance, En was shouting orders to the assembled guards. Seeing the two of them, he shouted:
"What are you two doing?! Get back inside — the research facility is much safer!"
En had just received word from the outer periter: an unidentified force was advancing fast, having already wiped out all patrols and sentries with deadly precision.
"I'll take Hikari sowhere safe, then I'm joining the fight!"
Gin stepped in front of the girl, patting his chest and glaring at En with fearless scarlet eyes.
"I can fight too!"
"You're not needed yet — stay out of the way," En chuckled despite himself.
Though these attackers ca hard, to the Uchiha this wasn't a do-or-die mont.
Their clan had stood for a thousand years. If sothing like this could wipe them out, they wouldn't have lasted this long.
(End of Chapter)
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