The next morning.
"Let's move out."
Tajima's face was pale as paper, his weak wave of the hand and frail frame making it look like even a breeze could knock him over.
"…Why don't we just rest one more day?"
Gin glanced at his uncle, who looked just shy of collapse, and kindly suggested it.
"A trifling setback like this… is not enough to defeat me."
Tajima's voice was firm as he forced himself upright, his words full of resolve—
grrrgle~ grrrgle~
Another ominous growl came from his stomach. His face went green as he gritted his teeth.
"…Then… let's rest a little while longer and leave later."
Clutching his abdomen, he briskly left.
"Tch, tch… here's hoping it still works in the future…"
Gin shook his head with genuine pity as he watched his uncle shuffle off.
"Oi, oi, oi—Uchiha Gin."
A familiar voice called from behind him. Gin turned, but there was no one there. Just as he began to suspect he was hearing things—
"Down here!"
He looked down and was startled to see a black, mushroom-shaped head sprouting up from the ground.
"…How did you even follow us out here?"
It was none other than Wanliang from Uchiha Yao's side. Apparently he'd been tailing them all along, waiting for Tajima to leave before making contact.
But Gin wrinkled his nose—not because he had an issue with the guy, but because…
"…What's that smell on you?"
He pinched his nose and instinctively took several big steps back, his eyes full of suspicion.
"…Did you crap yourself?"
"I did NOT!!!"
Wanliang nearly erupted then and there.
"…You… you've become the clan clown?"
Because honestly, what else could explain how a lump of black goo could stink this badly without soiling itself?
"Enough!"
Gin even thought he could see a humiliated and furious expression on the little blob of mud.
"You actually did pretty well—poisoning him like that was a smart move. Tajima's current state makes him easy to take down."
Wanliang swallowed his anger and even gave him an approving nod.
"…Haha…"
Gin could only laugh awkwardly at that. If you had to assign blame, 99% of it was on Tajima himself for chugging the spicy broth.
"Don't worry. Once the nameless one is unsealed, the master himself will appear, and killing Tajima will be a piece of cake."
That caught Gin off guard. Yao himself is coming?
After all those hours watching the tragic drama of his own past, Gin knew exactly how much of his life's misfortune was thanks to Yao's "guidance"… and the black goo in front of him was a key player in that.
"Do you still have the headband the master gave you?"
Wanliang suddenly asked.
"…Always kept it on me."
Gin thought of the simple, dusty old headband in his pack.
"Good."
Wanliang's shadowy eyes gleamed faintly with satisfaction—since that headband had a little something extra mixed in.
After giving his instructions, Wanliang sank back into the earth and vanished without a trace. Even when Gin tried to sense him, he couldn't detect a thing. Clearly, the guy's stealth techniques were top notch.
When Tajima finally returned, he was dragging himself along, his body still frail and shaky.
"L-let's… go."
Gin scratched his head guiltily. Sure, it was mostly Tajima's own fault… but he couldn't claim zero responsibility.
"…Uncle, the weather's gotten chilly. Here, wear this cloak. Very warm."
Digging through his pack, Gin pulled out a luxurious white cloak lined with gold trim.
"…I appreciate the thought…"
Tajima forced a smile but raised a hand to refuse—the flashy thing clashed completely with his style.
"Aw, come on. No need to be so formal with your nephew."
Before he could protest further, Gin draped it over him. And as soon as he did, Tajima felt his strength rush back into him, his weariness lifting, even his digestive tract felt as solid as ever.
"…What is this?"
He looked at the extravagant cloak in disbelief.
"Don't underestimate it, uncle—this came from a travelling craftsman of the Land of Crafts, cost me a fortune. Supposedly made by Seimei himself—restores stamina and chakra."
"…Not bad at all."
Tajima's eyes immediately changed. He gave a little cough and nodded.
"You've grown into a thoughtful young man, Gin. I'll accept this cloak. But don't test your elders like this in the future. Don't make it a habit."
"…Huh???"
Watching his uncle confidently claim the system-issued magic-resistance cloak as his own, Gin couldn't help but think: Do all clan leaders have this level of shamelessness?
With his new cloak fluttering behind him, Tajima's steps became steady and brisk once more, while Gin followed behind, rolling his eyes.
The two of them journeyed another half-day through a long canyon before finally arriving at their destination.
"This is it. The seal site should have a Senju clan mark—keep an eye out."
They split up to search the area.
"…This place is huge…"
Gin looked over the endless forest and sighed. Once Tajima was out of sight, he activated his white eyes, his pupils turning pale and glowing faintly blue.
With his 360° field of vision, Gin darted through the woods at high speed, scanning everything in sight.
But even after a full circuit, he didn't find any clues. He started to wonder if the intel was wrong.
Just as he was about to give up, his left hand suddenly glowed red, a crimson sigil appearing on the back of his hand.
"…Oh… right."
That mark—Xiao Guang's Mangekyō pattern. Her personal ocular power.
Yasakani no Magatama: control and life-drain.
"…You're trying to lead me to her?"
Feeling the heat in his palm, Gin tried reaching out to it mentally—and the sigil flared brightly in response.
"…Alright then. Lead the way."
He spun around with his left hand extended—the sigil blinked furiously when he faced a certain direction.
"…That way, huh?"
He took off running, following the signal across several miles until he arrived at a flat plain. In the distance stood a solitary boulder.
The sigil pulsed furiously as he approached.
Gin dashed to the boulder and ran his hands over it, eventually finding a faint, weather-worn crest near the base.
"…Senju clan emblem. This is it."
Gin immediately became a digging machine, pulling a huge golden shovel from his system pack and going to work.
As he dug, he couldn't help but hum:
"In the little garden, dig dig dig…"
(End of Chapter)
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