"I'm going on a mission for a few days. Don't go running around."
After breakfast, Uchiha Gin shouldered his pack and reminded the still-eating Senju Itama."If sothing happens, just go find Izuna. I already spoke to him."
"I know already. I'm not a little kid anymore. Stop nagging and just go."
Itama rolled his eyes at Gin's hesitant look, clearly eager to finish his al.
"If you really can't figure out what to do, just focus on staying alive. Here — take this, just in case."
Still worried, Gin dug into his bag and pulled out a golden pendant shaped like an hourglass, handing it to Itama to wear.
"All right, all right. So naggy…"
Itama accepted the strange-looking pendant, noticing the golden grains of sand slowly trickling inside. He could tell it was valuable and muttered,"Gold?"
"That's for keeping you alive — don't even think about pawning it off."
Gin had truly gone all out for the little brat's safety, even giving him his only Zhonya's Hourglass to use.
[Zhonya's Hourglass: When HP drops below 40%, gain invincibility for 3 minutes (once per day).]
With everything settled, Gin quickly made his way to the rendezvous point he'd agreed on with Tajima. From a distance, he could already see his uncle waiting, so he hurried over to greet him.
"Sorry, uncle, got held up a little."
"No matter. I only just arrived as well. But you…"
Tajima opened his eyes and stopped mid-sentence, his gaze falling on Gin's… outfit."Your… attire is a bit excessive."
Tajima's expression twitched strangely.
"Pretty good, right? I'll get you a set too later."
Gin proudly patted his Warden's Armor, trying to sell it.
"Heh… no need."
Tajima flatly rejected him — no way he'd wear sothing so embarrassing in public and ruin the Uchiha na.
"Well then. Let's go."
Tajima took the lead, Gin close behind, traveling day and night. By the ti they reached a forest, Tajima finally slowed down and signaled to stop.
Choosing a secluded corner, they made camp."The seal site is still a ways off. We'll camp here tonight."
Having morized the route, Tajima said,"At this pace, we'll reach the destination tomorrow."
He then pulled out two pieces of dry rations to ease his hunger.
"Let's eat! I brought a lot of good stuff!"
Finally getting a chance to go out on a mission, Gin had packed thoroughly. One by one he pulled out fresh ingredients, and even — at the end — a big pot.
"You… think this is a picnic? When we get back, you're copying the three shinobi taboos ten thousand tis!"
Tajima clenched his jaw, palm to his forehead, at the sight of Gin's enthusiasm.
"…Eh?" Wait — isn't it?
Gin swallowed that retort before he got scolded again.
"All right, all right, I'll put it away. Sha, though — all this cost a lot."
Disappointed, Gin began putting the food away, but then noticed Tajima eyeing the strange pot curiously.
"…What's this pot for?"
Tajima examined it for a while without figuring it out.
"This? Specially made for hotpot!"
Gin held up his custom-made yin-yang hotpot and explained.
"So this is the 'hotpot' Izuna ntioned."
Tajima finally understood, recalling how Izuna and Madara always spoke of it, often drooling unconsciously.
"…Wanna try it?"
Noticing Tajima seed tempted, Gin teased, pulling out a block of deep red, pungent-slling seasoning."This here's my secret extra-spicy beef fat base. Packs a punch!"
"Hmph."
Tajima's sharp eyes fixed on him, making Gin feel a little guilty.
…Right. Coming on a mission and indulging in luxury like this — no wonder he's the clan head. His awareness is on another level.
But then Tajima nodded seriously and said,"Nights are cold. Eating sothing spicy to keep warm is necessary."
When Gin began putting the pot away, Tajima stopped him."Well? What are you standing there for? Get it ready."
No wonder he's the clan head — he really does things differently!
Gin imdiately got to work, preparing an outdoor hotpot feast.
"Huff… phew… no wonder even picky Izuna raved about this — such rich flavor."
Sweating from the spice, Tajima slurped down the food while praising it."What'd you put in here?"
Feeling the heat, Tajima was surprised to find his chakra even slightly more active.
"Heh. Good stuff."
Gin had mixed in that "miracle powder" Izuna had given him for his birthday — supposedly a secret Akimichi supplent.He'd never give sothing that precious to just anyone.
While the two of them enjoyed their al, deep underground, Wanyō was having a hard ti.
"These two… actually started eating? And this sll…"
Hiding below, Wanyō swallowed. The overwhelming, spicy aroma actually awakened taste buds he hadn't used in over a thousand years. Truly, hotpot was terrifying.
After the al ca talk.
Gin sat there with the empty pot, his expression full of conflict. Tajima noticed and misunderstood.He eyed Gin and said slowly,"Gin… is there sothing you want to tell ?"
No. Please don't get it twisted — I'm just worried you might not be able to get up tomorrow.
Tajima, embodying the old ninja principle of "waste nothing," actually slurped down the last of the hotpot broth in one gulp.Gin, knowing how potent it was, worried those extra "openings" might not handle it well — but didn't know how to warn him.
"Sigh… since your body has fully recovered, it's ti I told you the truth."
Seeing Gin's troubled look, Tajima assud his mory seal was starting to weaken and sighed.
…What?
Why did the mood suddenly get so heavy?Gin raised a brow suspiciously. Could it be the original host still had so shocking secret?
"It all started… on that night, twelve years ago…"
Stop. Please stop. I really don't want to hear a full-length tragic flashback. Can't you just tell the ending?Otherwise, at the pace of that guy's writing, this flashback could stretch ten chapters.
Gin sighed, looking at Tajima already lost in the mory whirlpool.
"Please… no more flashback kills, okay!"
(End of Chapter)
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