"Tch, damn it! We're late again!"
Not long after the Hagoromo clan finished relocating, a group of fierce-looking individuals arrived at the scene. Seeing the traces of departure all over the ground, the leading man couldn't help but click his tongue in frustration.
"Captain Kōji, the young master said if we ever find signs of the Hagoromo clan again, we must report immediately."
A red-haired man behind him reminded him. They had already lost track of them several times — always by just a bit.
In the shadows, the man at the front revealed his face: charred-black skin from burns, covered in scars, with one particularly severe mark at the corner of his eye. His face was twisted by old burn injuries.
"Fine. Go inform our young master. The trail's fresh — we'll keep chasing."
His voice was hoarse as he gave the red-haired subordinate instructions. Then, with a wave of his hand, he led the rest of the squad onward.
"Since you've asked so sincerely, I'll be generous and tell you."
At the very back of the Hagoromo convoy, Gin was chatting away with a smug expression.
Beside him, one gold-haired, one silver-haired teen were diligently taking notes in a little notebook, absorbing his "strategy guide" with serious faces — terrified of missing a single detail.
"As the Art of War says: Heaven's timing, Earth's terrain, and Human unity. Without those three, even a win leads to disaster."
Seeing their confused expressions, Gin raised an eyebrow, his handsome face twisted in dramatic despair.
"Tch! Don't they teach literature in the Hagoromo clan?"
"Huh??"
The two brothers looked at each other, seeing big question marks in each other's eyes.
"Alright, fine. I'll explain it in simpler terms. Get your pens ready!"
Gin rubbed his hands with exaggerated patience, making the two boys feel a bit ashamed — were they really that ignorant?
"You know what type of jutsu Senju Tobirama specializes in?"
The brothers shook their heads in perfect sync.
"Suiton (Water Release)! You don't even know the basics and still talk about revenge?"
Writing, writing! We're taking notes!
"So think — since Tobirama's best at Suiton, you should ambush him during peak summer drought. That's Heaven's timing!"
Okay, summer. Drought. Got it.
"That white-haired guy also has a sneaky space-time jutsu. Comes and goes freely. So you'll want to fight in a small, enclosed space. That's Earth's terrain."
Writing it down, got it!
Gin narrowed his eyes, clearly up to no good.
"As I said, Tobirama can escape easily, so you need people or tools to pin him down. Don't let him act alone. That's Human unity!"
After a moment's thought, Gin added, "Also, don't chat during the fight. Just jump him immediately. Don't give him time to think."
After writing down a full page of Gin's strategy, the brothers looked up suspiciously.
"That's it?"
"That's it. This plan works on anyone. If it fails, I'll give you a refund."
Gin thumped his chest confidently.
He'd taken a little payment from the boys earlier — of course he was going to share some real intel.
Hearing his bold guarantee, the two brothers set aside their doubts and carefully tucked away their precious notebook for future study.
"Hm?"
Just as Gin reached into his cloak to inspect the scroll they had given him, his hyper-sensitive perception suddenly flared up.
Hmm, one elite captain, eighteen regular captains? They caught up fast.
Sensing the powerful life forces of the pursuers, Gin frowned slightly. Why were the Senju able to track the Hagoromo clan so precisely?
"Gin, someone's coming?"
Hikari's senses weren't far behind Gin's. Her eyes briefly flashed with killing intent.
Don't be fooled by her gentle act — before being sealed, she was a long-serving "weapon of war," and had slain more enemies than one could count.
When it came to those who sealed her away, she held nothing but hatred.
"Should I take care of them?"
The girl's eyes glinted red. Her voice was calm, but tinged with bloodlust.
"No need. I'll handle it."
Gin didn't want her to engage with too much violence. Hikari harbored a dormant dark side. If she lost control during battle, the consequences could be dangerous.
"Gin-san, Hikari-senpai, what are you talking about?"
Osamu, who lacked their level of awareness, tilted his head in confusion.
"Nothing, just some bugs."
Gin laughed it off and subtly gestured for Hikari to stay calm.
While no one was watching, he formed a seal, and a wooden branch extended from his back, dropping to the ground and transforming into a copy of himself.
Mokuton: Moku Bunshin (Wood Style: Wood Clone)
That was one of the jutsu Gin picked up from Yamato — the overworked clone that kept showing up in his yard. That NPC used to charge at him with hand signs, and Gin never understood why.
Still, he ended up learning a bunch of Mokuton techniques from him.
The real Gin deliberately slowed his pace, giving Hikari a reassuring glance. The wood clone took his place while the real body melted into the darkness.
Gin leapt ahead and positioned himself on the enemy's path. He closed his eyes, then reopened them with a glow — activating his mutated Byakugan. His vision penetrated through the trees and clearly observed the charging group.
The one leading them was heavily burned, face unrecognizable. Gin couldn't tell who it was, though the chakra felt oddly familiar.
Behind him were standard black-haired Senju warriors. What surprised Gin was that none of them seemed to be sensory types — all were pure fighters. So how were they tracking the Hagoromo so precisely?
With this question lingering, Gin deactivated the Byakugan. His pitch-black eyes glimmered faintly. He decided to wait right here — let them bring him answers.
"Damn it, that guy from the Uzumaki clan is gone. We're losing the Hagoromo trail."
Senju Kōji frowned. The trail was thinning out. Without sensory types, they'd soon lose track.
"Captain! Someone's lying up ahead!"
A clansman pointed. On the road ahead was a man lounging on a chair, leisurely munching on sunflower seeds.
"Stop! It could be a trap!"
Kōji immediately halted the group, eyes scanning the surroundings for ambushes.
"Spread out and search the area!"
After a while, they regrouped. Kōji, whose face was bald and burnt beyond recognition, frowned.
"Nothing?"
"No!" ×18
"Nope~" ×1
Wait... what?
Everyone turned toward the odd voice. The speaker sheepishly scratched his head, his fluffy hair standing out among the sleek, straight-haired Senju.
"Aiyo, this is awkward."
Gin scratched his head in embarrassment — he'd thought he'd blended in well. These Senju were too cautious.
"You… you're—!"
Everyone drew weapons and stared at the odd one out.
Kōji looked like he was about to speak, but when he got a good look at the guy's fluffy hair and lazy fish-like expression, he suddenly shouted,
"Careful! He's an Uchiha!"
"Tch! My eyes aren't even red! How'd you tell?"
For this mission, Gin hadn't worn the Uchiha uniform. That was why the Hagoromo scouts hadn't recognized him earlier either.
Yet somehow, these guys spotted him instantly.
He hadn't done any fieldwork since crossing over — always locked in dungeons. So how did this guy know him?
"Ah… of course. Great people shine wherever they go. I may be off the grid, but my legend lives on."
Gin brushed his bangs and gave a smug smile.
"So? Has my name reached the Senju already?"
"This guy… is so punchable."
Someone muttered, and the rest agreed.
Who is this guy?
All eighteen Senju turned to Kōji for an explanation.
"Where is Uchiha Fūka?!"
Kōji roared, his burned fists clenching tightly. Red veins filled his eyes as he shouted.
…?
Captain Fūka? That's ancient history. Who's still talking about him?
Gin stared blankly at the furious man. The longer he looked, the more familiar he seemed.
"You're…"
"That's right! I am—"
"Who the hell are you? Burned up like that, how would anyone recognize you?"
You look like a half-dead zombie. Who could possibly recognize you?
PFFT!!!
Kōji had expected a dramatic moment of recognition. Instead, Gin's mocking tone made him cough up blood in fury.
"Hey hey! Referee! I didn't even attack him yet and he already dropped!"
(End of Chapter)
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