Is Uchiha Madara in Love?

In his previous life, Uchiha Gin had lived alone and developed excellent cooking skills. After coming to this world and waiting so long, he finally had a chance to show them off.

When he emerged carrying his signature Braised Fish and Sweet and Sour Pork, the two brats who had been arguing red-faced abruptly stopped. Their noses twitched as though searching for something. "Cousin, what's that smell? What are you carrying?"

Realizing the scent was coming from the dishes in Uchiha Gin's hands, the impatient Uchiha Izuna eagerly asked. Senju Itama, who was tied up nearby, also raised his head curiously to look.

"Here, your cousin's cooking. Hurry up and try it."

Uchiha Gin raised a brow, set the dishes on the dining table, and turned back to fetch the rest.

At his call, Uchiha Izuna stopped bickering with Senju Itama and quickly sat down beside the table.

His eyes sparkled as he stared at the dishes, which had everything—color, aroma, and flavor. Drool began streaming uncontrollably from his mouth, and unable to resist, he reached directly for the glossy Sweet and Sour Pork.

"Wash your hands first!"

Uchiha Gin returned carrying a stack of bowls and chopsticks along with a plate of Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes. Seeing the boy act so impatiently, he barked a reprimand.

"Got it."

Izuna stopped his outstretched hand and muttered with a pout.

After washing his hands, Izuna did not care about manners anymore. The earlier fight had drained quite a bit of his strength, so he immediately picked up his bowl and dug in.

"This meat is sweet and sour—it's delicious!"

With his mouth stuffed full of Sweet and Sour Pork, Izuna's eyes shone as if he wanted to swallow the bowl too.

"Grrr~"

Watching Uchiha Izuna eat until his mouth glistened with oil, the bound Senju Itama quietly swallowed.

He had not eaten or drunk anything for several days. Smelling the fragrance wafting from the table, his stomach rumbled traitorously, and he lowered his head in grievance.

"Hey, Cousin, whose bowl and chopsticks are those? Did you invite someone else?"

Struggling to swallow the food crammed in his mouth, Uchiha Izuna noticed another set of tableware and asked curiously.

After finishing the cooking, Uchiha Gin emerged from the kitchen in an apron and walked straight over to Senju Itama, who was sitting on the floor with his head lowered.

With a ripping sound, the rope around Senju Itama's hands snapped apart.

Having regained his freedom, he stared in disbelief at the domestic-looking Uchiha Gin before him. The other man gently patted his head and said,

"What are you spacing out for? Go eat too."

"Why?"

Not understanding, Senju Itama moved his stiff hands and asked warily.

"If I tell you to eat, then eat. Why are there so many questions?"

Uchiha Gin gave his confused Little Head a hard knock, then lifted him onto the dining table and shoved chopsticks into his hand.

Tears welled in Senju Itama's eyes from the pain. He stared at the food on the table but refused to touch it for a long while. Uchiha Gin picked up a tender piece of fish with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his blankly open mouth.

As saliva began to flow, the flavor of the Braised Fish spread across his taste buds. In an instant, tears streamed down his cheeks. Then he buried his head in his bowl, shoveling down rice as he said,

"You damned Uchiha, don't hit my head again!" As though the tears he had just shed were all because of Uchiha Gin's knock.

For the rest of the meal, the two brats competed to snatch dishes. In the end, the older and stronger Uchiha Izuna won without suspense.

Picking up the last piece of Sweet and Sour Pork, he sneered at the defeated Senju Itama with a wickedly arrogant look. "Is that all? Is that all?"

After the farce ended, Uchiha Izuna rubbed his round belly and lounged comfortably on the sofa. Senju Itama, however, sensibly helped Uchiha Gin clear the bowls and chopsticks. "You're quite perceptive, kid! Your Brother must be very happy to have a little brother like you."

Seeing Senju Itama actually take the initiative to help clean up after eating, Uchiha Gin praised him.

At Uchiha Gin's praise, a strange smile appeared on Senju Itama's Small Face. He narrowed his eyes and provocatively looked at Uchiha Izuna, who was lying dead on the sofa.

()

Seeing Senju Itama's pretentious act, Uchiha Izuna ground his teeth in hatred.

"This little bitch!"

"Brother, who exactly is this brat?"

Unable to swallow such an insult, Uchiha Izuna immediately asserted his claim and deliberately asked Uchiha Gin in a loud voice.

Hearing Uchiha Izuna's question, Senju Itama stiffened while holding the dishes, and his expression darkened.

Uchiha Gin patted his shoulder, signaling for him not to care, then said, "This kid is an orphan I encountered during a mission. His temper is a little foul, but he has decent talent. I brought him back to train him as a trusted subordinate."

During the chaotic Warring States Period, homeless orphans could be found everywhere. A lucky few might be taken in by a clan and become servants who did odd jobs.

But most were unlucky. They either starved to death on the streets or became cannon fodder in war. The unluckiest were captured for human experiments, meeting utterly miserable ends.

"Oh."

After hearing Uchiha Gin's explanation, Izuna did not Press For Answers further. After all, he was merely an orphan from another clan, not someone worthy of the Clan Leader's son's attention.

Uchiha Gin's explanation made Senju Itama, who was still cleaning up nearby, secretly relax. The other man had not exposed his identity, but an enormous question also arose in his heart. Why was this guy protecting him so thoroughly?

During their post-meal chat, Uchiha Gin sat down on the sofa and asked Uchiha Izuna, who was still picking his teeth, "Has anything happened in the clan recently?"

"Not really. Everyone has been training hard lately. Father said fighting would begin again soon."

Uchiha Izuna said it casually, not fully understanding the meaning of war.

"Could the decisive battle be about to begin?"

Hearing this, Uchiha Gin thoughtfully stroked his chin.

"But there is something strange."

Uchiha Izuna suddenly spoke, and his expression did not look very good.

"What is it?"

Seeing his unpleasant expression, Uchiha Gin could not help asking curiously.

"Recently, Brother has been acting all mysterious."

Uchiha Izuna said uncertainly,

"It seems like he's in love. He sneaks out every day, and when he comes back, he's ridiculously happy."

"Cough, cough, cough. How can you be sure he's in love?"

Izuna's guess was so absurd that Uchiha Gin nearly choked on his saliva.

"Uchiha Cuihua from the village entrance used to secretly go out at night and spend a long time in the Small Forest with Uchiha Tiedan from the Patrol Team. When she came back, she would be beaming. Later, the two of them got married."

Uchiha Izuna said seriously,

"I've seen that smile. It's exactly the same as Brother's right now!"

"Pfft!" Uchiha Gin, who had just taken a sip of water to calm himself, sprayed it all out.

The Water Pillar struck Senju Itama, who had been watching the show beside him, dead on. Under the latter's resentful gaze, Uchiha Gin wiped his mouth and casually patted Uchiha Izuna's head. "At your age, instead of learning properly, you're peeping on people's dates. Who else knows about this?"

"Hmph, I reported it to Father. Father told me to keep a close eye on Brother when I have time and see who he's secretly dating."

Rubbing his Little Head where it had been patted sore, Uchiha Izuna spoke with the solemn air of someone entrusted with an important mission.

So Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, those two rivals, had already met. That meant Konoha's founding was not far off, and his days of safely slacking around were coming soon! Just as he imagined his wonderful future, hurried knocking sounded at the door.

Uchiha Gin stood up warily and gestured for Senju Itama to retreat into the inner room before opening the door.

An unfamiliar Uchiha Clan Member stood outside. His gaze was icy and his face withered, as though he were a lifeless corpse.

"Uchiha Gin, the Clan Leader has an order."

The voice from his mouth was as hoarse as sandpaper scraping.

Uchiha Gin frowned, unable to figure out what his Uncle was up to this time, but he still nodded in acceptance.

"For the coming days, you will go to the Dungeon."

The single sentence made Uchiha Gin's hair stand on end, his pupils contracting violently.

"To take up a post. Report tomorrow."

Couldn't this guy speak without pausing so dramatically?