Based on years of experience loitering around the backyard, Gin knew that freshly refreshed NPCs often had a short "loading" period. Taking advantage of this, he stepped in for a closer look at the pale white humanoid that had just appeared.
"Hm… purity looks good, not a speck of black."
He circled around the frozen White Zetsu, muttering to himself while checking for any signs of that sneaky black parasite. Nothing. No Kuro-Zetsu.
"Tch… why couldn't it spawn with the big traitorous son? Could've gotten some early payback…"
Just as Gin was sighing at the missed opportunity, White Zetsu's blank expression twitched. Curiosity appeared in his empty eyes, and just as he locked gazes with Gin, excitement overwhelmed his face.
White Zetsu tried to speak—maybe a "hello?"—but his body didn't obey. Instead, his entire form turned monstrous, opening like a man-eating flower, lunging toward Gin with snapping jaws.
"Oh, load complete already? Great. Let's finish this quick, I've got a stage performance tomorrow."
As that eerie pressure rushed toward him, Gin's face remained calm. His eyes shifted, and three tomoe spun into view.
His right eye's tomoe spun faster and faster, until a jet-black lotus bloomed from its center, instantly engulfing White Zetsu mid-air.
[Amaterasu]
Zzzhhh—
No screams, no struggle. Just a sizzling sound. The White Zetsu, once bursting with life, turned to ash and disappeared into the wind.
Gin closed his eyes. The black flames, no longer with a target, slowly extinguished—leaving behind no trace at all.
"Daily skill refresh in the backyard: [Disguise Technique] acquired."
"…Huh? That jutsu?"
Gin raised an eyebrow.
The [Disguise Technique]—not exactly famous, but definitely troublesome. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, the White Zetsu army had used it to infiltrate the Allied Forces, wreaking all kinds of havoc.
"But it's actually perfect timing. I've been worrying about how to handle the costumes for the show. Now I won't have to worry about being recognized… hehehe."
Thinking about the jutsu's potential, Gin chuckled. Talk about a gift falling from the sky.
Cheerfully, he returned to the house. Senju Itama was still tidying up the living room. When he saw Gin's weird smile, he instinctively stepped back and raised the broom defensively.
"…What's with that look, you brat?"
Gin frowned. Had he been too soft on this little gremlin lately? Time to remind him of the fear of the almighty forehead flick. He slowly stepped forward.
"Don't come any closer!"
Itama screeched. Gin winced at the ear-piercing shriek, glancing up at the ceiling as dust fell from above. He rubbed his aching ears.
"What the hell is wrong with you now?"
"Hmph! Nee-chan already told me about your disgusting magazines! Don't even think about touching me, you filthy pervert!"
Itama brandished the broom like a warrior protecting his virtue.
"…Hah?"
Gin froze, caught off-guard. Then, as something clicked in his mind, an awkward grin crept across his face. He leaned forward with a mischievous tone.
"Tch, you dirty-minded brat. If you're curious, just say so. I was dying to know about that kind of stuff at your age too~"
He patted his bag with a wink.
"Pick anything from my collection—totally open access."
"Hmph~"
Itama turned away with a snort, trying to appear above such vulgar temptations—but his twitching ears betrayed him.
"Today I'm in a good mood, so don't miss your chance. Next time, the offer's off the table."
Gin shrugged and began fishing in his bag again.
Only to be met with a deep, judgmental glare.
"…Ungrateful brat," Gin muttered, pulling his hand back and scratching his cheek awkwardly. "When you're older and crying in bed, don't come begging me for wisdom."
Grumbling, he retreated to his room to study the new jutsu.
He closed his eyes and focused his chakra. A gentle glow enveloped his body. When he opened his eyes again—
A cold, crisp voice came from the mirror. But it wasn't his.
He stared.
He was someone else. Completely.
From appearance to chakra signature, the transformation was flawless. Without some kind of advanced perception, no one would notice.
"Still… this jutsu needs the target's chakra as a base. That's a pain."
Gin sighed. Where was he supposed to get chakra samples for all the actors?
"Wait... didn't I fight those two Senju brats a few days ago?"
Then again, he hadn't exactly collected souvenirs.
…But maybe—
He slapped his fist into his palm.
"My uncle! Didn't he fight them too? Maybe some scraps are still clinging to his armor."
With no time to lose, he raced out of his room, heading toward Tajima's office.
"Hope he's still working late!"
Meanwhile, Itama peeked out from the hallway.
"Huh? Wasn't that old hag passed out cold? Why is she running out of monkey-face's room?"
He frowned.
Hadn't Gin just left?
But that was Uchiha Hikari running out...
Confused, he pulled back inside.
On the road, Gin realized something—his field of view was… taller? Oh right. He was still transformed into Hikari.
He ducked into an alley and dispelled the jutsu, returning to his usual dead-fish-eyed self.
"There we go. You don't get paid if you don't work overtime, old man."
Reaching the clan compound, he spotted light still on in Tajima's office and sighed in relief.
Creak—
He slipped past the guards, climbed the wall, and opened the window.
"You couldn't use the front door?"
Tajima looked up, pen still in hand, clearly used to this nephew's antics.
"You said this plan was supposed to be secret."
Gin shrugged.
"So, what is it now?"
"I need to ask… when you fought those Senju kids the other day, did you leave any of their chakra on your weapons?"
"Eh? Nah, I fought them barehanded. Beat them so hard they were crying for their mama!"
"…You really can't stop boasting, can you?"
Gin rolled his eyes.
"I'm serious! I used Susanoo to beat them. Didn't use any weapons."
Tajima finally admitted.
"…Tch. Not even a trace, then. Guess I'll have to go collect it myself…"
He turned to leave.
"Wait. My Susanoo might not keep chakra traces, but maybe there's something left outside."
That stopped Gin in his tracks.
Moments later, the two of them were sneaking out of the building and heading toward the open field outside the clan grounds.
"Heh, don't tell me your face got smashed in and that's where the chakra is?"
Gin recalled how his cousins mentioned Tajima came home with a bloodied face and started laughing.
"Don't talk nonsense."
Tajima growled. He was this close to giving Gin a taste of his fists.
Red light swirled in his eyes. Three tomoe spun into a pinwheel, and silvery energy exploded behind him, forming a towering half-body figure.
"Woah—Uncle! Your Susanoo is... very Ultra-like!"
Gin gawked at the silver-grey giant.
It looked like the Father of Ultraman. Same metallic sheen, same twin horns pointing skyward, same smooth face with oval eyes and mustache-like ridges on the chin.
"Ultra-what?"
"Don't worry about it. As long as your opponent isn't an octopus-face, you're the god of war."
(End of Chapter)
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