Malice from Uncle

"How can you slander me out of thin air?"

Uchiha Madara, his face red with indignation, roared at Uchiha Gin. If he had known, he never would have bared his heart to this unreliable cousin.

"I thought that with your age, you could give me some constructive advice. Who knew you were just as shallow! I, Madara, am ashamed to associate with you."

With that, he flicked his sleeve and stormed out the door like the wind.

"Hey, don't leave! Let me give you some pointers, or you'll spend the rest of your life being pinned beneath someone!"

Uchiha Gin cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at Uchiha Madara's retreating back, drawing sidelong glances from passersby in the corridor as they began whispering among themselves.

Uchiha Madara wished he had two more legs so he could flee this place of trouble faster.

Seeing his older brother flee in such a sorry state, Izuna immediately set down the medicine he had just collected and chased after him, putting on a grand youthful pursuit.

A bewildered Uchiha Tajima watched his two sons run off one after another, then turned and asked Uchiha Gin with a face full of confusion.

"A Gin, how did you tease Madara this time?"

"Hehe, it's nothing. Just ask Izuna when you get back. He said he wanted to report this matter to you personally."

Uchiha Gin said with narrowed, smiling eyes.

"That was terribly rude. I'll make sure to properly discipline that child when I get back."

Uchiha Tajima shook his head as though he felt apologetic for Uchiha Madara's behavior.

"Uncle, saying that really makes me feel like an outsider."

When no outsiders were around, Uchiha Tajima always had Uchiha Gin call him Uncle rather than Clan Leader.

"A Gin, this was my mistake. You had just returned from a mission, and I immediately put you to work without even giving you time to rest."

Uchiha Tajima made a guilty self-criticism.

"You're being too formal. It's my own fault for not being skilled enough and getting injured by the Senju Clan."

When Uchiha Gin woke earlier, he had heard Madara and Izuna talking. Uchiha Miao had attributed his coma to old injuries from his previous mission. Since he had no intention of exposing what he had done, he naturally went along with it.

"You need to rest properly after a head injury. Don't let it leave any lasting effects."

Uchiha Tajima patted Uchiha Gin on the shoulder, looking every bit the kind elder.

Yet from the other man's eyes, Uchiha Gin vaguely sensed a fleeting hint of scrutiny.

"A Gin, you still haven't finished your report on the last mission, have you? After you encountered members of the Whirlpool Clan, what happened? Did you meet anyone suspicious?"

After checking on Uchiha Gin, Uchiha Tajima casually brought up the previous mission.

Thinking carefully, his report had been forcibly interrupted after he revealed his Sharingan, and he had never made up for it afterward.

"After we encountered the Uzumaki Clan, the disparity in our numbers and strength left us unable to resist very quickly."

Putting on a thoughtful expression, Uchiha Gin pondered for a moment before recounting, "That musclebound man leading them beat Seal Fire Captain back again and again. Fortunately, I caught a young Uzumaki clansman in the forest."

Recalling Uzumaki Mito's adorable Bun Hairstyle, Uchiha Gin continued with a smile. "That Uzumaki Clan child seemed to have an important identity. I used her as leverage to draw away that musclebound man. In the end, we struck a deal: I released the child, and he spared our lives."

After hearing Uchiha Gin's half-true account, Uchiha Tajima nodded. "You remained calm in a crisis, just as expected of my nephew."

"It's all thanks to Uncle's usual guidance."

Uchiha Gin flattered him.

"Didn't you encounter any other strange people or things?"

Uchiha Tajima asked again, unwilling to let it go.

"Uh, now that you mention it, you've reminded me. While that Uzumaki Clan child was my captive, she took out a Ninja Tool and tried to resist."

Uchiha Gin punched his palm as if he had just remembered something.

"What Ninja Tool?"

Uchiha Tajima became interested.

"It was just a pearl, nothing special. After she activated it, only a rune flew at me. But after it hit me, there was no unusual reaction. Maybe it was broken."

Uchiha Gin shrugged, indicating that he felt no discomfort whatsoever.

"Where did it hit you?"

"Here."

Uchiha Gin pointed at his head.

"I see. Then Gin, get some proper rest. Don't go to work for the next few days."

Uchiha Tajima first furrowed his brow almost imperceptibly, then rose to his feet and spoke to Uchiha Gin.

"I'm already fine. I can go to work as usual tomorrow."

Uchiha Gin got out of bed and performed several difficult movements for Uchiha Tajima to prove that nothing was wrong with him.

"All right, but don't push yourself."

Unable to persuade him otherwise, Uchiha Tajima could only nod in agreement.

Uchiha Gin watched his uncle leave with a smile. Once the other man had gone far enough away, the smile on his face faded.

Uchiha Tajima was hiding something from him.

During their conversation just now, Uchiha Gin had somehow felt a sensation arise in his heart. It told him that Uchiha Tajima harbored an extremely concealed malice toward him.

Was it an illusion?

Uchiha Gin silently pondered, but once that feeling had taken root, it could not easily be dispelled.

Before long, Uchiha Gin finished tidying up, left his sickbed behind, and saw that it was getting late. It was time for him to go home.

As he passed the market, he bought quite a lot of vegetables. If he failed to return someday, Senju Itama, that little brat, would at least have enough to last a few days.

After picking out several ingredients that could be stored for a long time, he was about to pay the vendor when he unexpectedly sensed a wave of malice from the man before him.

The feeling came out of nowhere and left him confused for a moment. In the end, he chose to toss the money to the shifty-eyed vendor.

Carrying his things, he walked home with his head lowered, silently mulling over that sensation from earlier. Was it an illusion, or something else?

When he pushed open the door, Senju Itama did not ambush him this time. The previously messy room had actually been cleaned until it looked brand-new.

Hearing the door open, the black-haired version of Senju Itama, wearing an apron, poked his head out from the kitchen and looked Uchiha Gin up and down, noting his displeased expression.

"Why are you back so early today?"

"What are you doing, brat?"

He tried using the sensation from earlier on Senju Itama, only to find no response of malice.

"Hmph, I only made food for myself. If you want to eat, make your own!"

Only then did Uchiha Gin notice that the little brat was actually holding a spatula.

"Oh? The Senju Clan's Young Master can actually cook?"

Uchiha Gin curiously squeezed inside, only to see an indescribable mass in the wok. "Hey, hey, hey, what kind of Cthulhu cuisine are you making?"

"Who are you looking down on? Try it. It's absolutely delicious!"

Hearing the doubt in his tone, Senju Itama immediately scooped out a plate of censored-looking matter from the wok and handed it to Uchiha Gin.

"Forget it, forget it. I'm not blessed enough to enjoy that. I'm afraid if I eat it, I'll start seeing my Uchiha great-grandmother."

After being deeply moved, he still refused. Uchiha Gin wanted to live a few more years.

"Don't come begging me for a bite later."

Brimming with inexplicable confidence, Senju Itama picked up a lump and stuffed it into his mouth.

A few seconds later—"I'm begging you, don't die!"

As he shook Senju Itama, who was foaming at the mouth, Uchiha Gin felt immense regret.

If he had known, he would have wolfed down everything in the wok earlier. At worst, he would have had diarrhea a few times. This little brat really dared to die.

Fortunately, it ended without real disaster. Uchiha Gin shook Senju Itama until he vomited nonstop, throwing up everything he had eaten and barely saving his life.

Looking at the utterly weakened little brat before him, Uchiha Gin felt a wave of lingering fear. This brat's life was tied to his own now. If anything happened to him, Uchiha Gin would lose his life as well.

He picked up the little brat. His small body was incredibly light and soft as boneless in his arms. Looking again at the brat's sleeping face, Uchiha Gin realized that he was not so unpleasant-looking after all. His little round face was even somewhat cute.

Uchiha Gin shook his head, driving away the strange thoughts in his heart. He was not Uchiha Madara. How could he possibly have any thoughts about a man from the Senju Clan?