Withdrawing from the Sharingan's recorded memory, Uchiha Gin didn't awaken Mangekyo as Uchiha Yao had hoped, despite the trauma of losing kin.
"It didn't work?" Yao's face darkened. That memory had triggered his own Mangekyo; he'd expected Gin to follow suit, but no luck.
"Maybe I don't remember my parents well. They died when I was young," Gin said, rubbing his temples to ease a headache, offering a plausible excuse.
"You saw it—Tajima murdered your parents," Yao said coldly, caressing his son's Sharingan. "Don't be fooled by his facade. Once we control Nameless, we'll have our revenge."
"Uh-huh," Gin nodded absently, still processing the memory.
"I'll go then. I'll return with news on Nameless," Gin said, moving to leave since his Sharingan couldn't progress further.
"Let Black Zetsu escort you," Yao said, waving to the old jailer without pressing Gin to stay.
Once again enveloped by black liquid, diving underground, Gin felt less rattled this time. He even reached out, touching the fluid form of Black Zetsu.
"You have your own consciousness?" Gin asked, testing.
"I'm the embodiment of my master's will. His thoughts are my consciousness," Black Zetsu replied after a pause, a black face forming in the sludge, offering a half-smile.
"What do you do for fun?" Gin asked, shifting gears abruptly.
"?!"
Black Zetsu froze, unsure how to respond.
"If you've got consciousness, you've got hobbies. I love sweets—what do you enjoy?" Gin chatted casually, unbothered by Black Zetsu's inhuman nature.
"Hm… beyond my master's orders, I don't have hobbies. If I had to pick…" The black face showed a thoughtful look for the first time. "I gaze at the moon when idle."
Whoa! A wave of déjà vu hit Gin, nearly making him yelp. This guy wasn't just suspicious—he was screaming red flags.
After a brief exchange, they fell silent. Soon, Black Zetsu delivered Gin outside the dungeon, sinking into the ground and vanishing.
Before this visit, Gin wasn't sure who was lying. But Black Zetsu's words confirmed it—the jailer had tipped his hand.
Now certain, Gin knew his "grandpa" Yao was being manipulated by this so-called will. Black Zetsu was the mastermind.
"This place is off-limits from now on," Gin decided, vowing to avoid Yao to steer clear of the puppet master's gaze.
Back at his new home, Banma had tidied the mansion well enough. Sinking into fresh bedding, Gin slept soundly.
The next day, waking from a deep sleep, Gin ruffled his curly hair and shuffled to the old house to make breakfast.
"Rise and shine, brat! Help out!" Kicking open the bedroom door, still grumpy, Gin bellowed.
Every morning, he slaved over food while Banma slept till noon. Fed up, Gin decided the kid's lazy days were over.
"Mmph… can't eat more…" Banma, half-asleep, was yanked from bed, mumbling in his underwear, eyes bleary.
"Senju or Akimichi?" Gin snapped, ready to mock Banma's bare sleeping habits, but the kid's food-obsessed sleep-talk ignited his temper. He delivered two swift smacks to Banma's plump backside.
SMACK!
"You creepy Uchiha, let me go!" Banma, jolted awake, yelped. Gin, pleased with the springy feedback, tossed him down and left. "Hurry up, or no food today."
Banma, clutching his blanket, glared with humiliated fury, itching to tear Gin apart.
"Ungrateful brat. Without me, you'd be minced meat back at the Senju grounds," Gin said, rolling his eyes, holding a bowl, facing Banma's hateful stare. "Eat, or it's cold."
Banma shot him a venomous look but, eyeing the tasty breakfast, swallowed hard. Muttering food's too good to waste, he dove in.
"That's better. Full stomach, clear mind," Gin said, clapping, satisfied. Heading out, he added, "Clean up, or no dinner."
Banma nodded grudgingly, too hooked on the food to argue.
Instead of slacking at the dungeon, Gin headed to Uchiha Tajima's estate, following memory.
Knocking, Uchiha Izuna soon peeked out, spotting Gin and opening the gate wide.
"Where's Madara?" Gin asked, following Izuna through the long, tatami-lined halls, noting the empty mansion.
"Big brother left early," Izuna grumbled, voice thick with resentment.
"Another date?" Gin teased, grinning.
"Exactly!" Izuna huffed, stomping the wooden floor, his small feet echoing loudly.
"Father, cousin's here," Izuna said, sliding open a door to reveal Tajima waiting inside.
"Uncle, what's the mission?" Gin asked, uneasy, facing the silent Tajima.
Was it really about unsealing Nameless?
"This was meant to stay quiet, but since you watched Madara and Izuna grow up, as family, you should be involved," Tajima said, his stern face softening briefly, looking at his nephew. He spoke slowly.
Recently, Izuna mentioned Madara's odd behavior. Initially dismissive, Tajima tasked Izuna with investigating, uncovering a surprise.
Izuna found Madara cozying up to an outsider boy near the clan grounds. Thinking it was just kids playing, Tajima grew suspicious when the boy showed impressive ninja skills.
Suspecting ulterior motives, Tajima decided to take Izuna and Gin to confront the boy and uncover his true intentions.
"Madara's been acting strange. Izuna's investigation revealed he's close with an outsider boy, possibly a spy from another clan," Tajima explained.
"We're going to capture this boy and see if he has hidden agendas."
"Why do you need to go personally, Uncle? Isn't this beneath a clan head?" Gin asked, puzzled. Catching a kid shouldn't require Tajima's involvement.
"Madara's my son, a potential future clan head. His record must stay clean," Tajima said, thinking long-term. Only family could handle this.
Gin sucked in a breath, realizing he was roped into breaking up a young romance.
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