The girl in his arms, trembling softly and radiating heat, made Gin swallow unconsciously. His gaze fixed on her flushed cheeks, and his heart stirred.
Sensing his heated stare, Hikari shyly closed her eyes, arms tightening around his neck, her long legs rubbing against one another, her whole body aflame.
"A-Gin~"
Her sweet call tugged at his heart.
"Little Hikari…"
Gin understood — this was her way of asking for a reward for the mission. Looked like he wouldn't escape without paying up tonight. But he wasn't just some lust-driven fool. His brows furrowed as he examined her carefully… then his lips curled into a cold smirk.
"Hmph. I can see it. You're not Hikari."
The girl froze, surprised for a moment, but quickly adjusted, pressing her body against him again.
"Gin, what are you saying~? I'm your beloved Hikari."
Her soft touch failed to sway him. Gin's eyes sharpened.
"Enough. Drop the act, Yami."
"…Heh. How boring."
Her shy façade vanished, replaced by a devilish charm as Uchiha Yami, Hikari's second persona, revealed herself.
"Wouldn't it be better to just enjoy this and pretend nothing's wrong?"
Her hands slid under his clothes, tracing the lines of his body.
"Enjoy? Do you hear yourself?" Gin growled, tossing her to the ground. "You nearly break my spine every time."
"Eh? Really? I thought that was one of your new poses."
Standing up, Yami brushed dirt off her plump hips, the bounce of her curves almost mocking.
"You…" Gin nearly fainted. If not for his insane recovery, he'd already be playing mahjong with his ancestors.
"Fine, fine. This time I'll be gentler~"
Her sultry smile returned as she lunged at him like a predator. Gin braced himself.
"Not again!"
But just as Yami was about to pounce, a ripple of space distorted around her. Her figure blurred—
And in the next instant, another body fell into his arms.
At first Gin thought it was still Yami's trick… until the scent hit him. Different. Familiar. He looked down.
"Osamu?! You?!"
The purple-haired girl lay unconscious in his arms. Gin froze like he was holding a burning coal.
"Osamu, wake up!"
"…Mmm? This place…"
Slowly, Uchiha Osamu stirred. Her strength returned as her body adapted under her ocular power.
But when she realized she was being carried—
"Ahhh!!"
Her face flushed scarlet. With lightning crackling around a short blade she pulled from nowhere, she thrust it toward the man still holding her.
"Osamu! Look! It's me, your teacher!"
The blade halted just at Gin's nose, lightning dancing across it, his sweat evaporating in the sparks.
"…Sensei?"
Her eyes opened fully. Seeing it really was Gin, her cheeks burned hotter, but she lowered the weapon.
"Phew. Almost ruined my beautiful face." Gin sighed, relieved.
"Gin-sensei, put me down…"
Her voice was tiny with embarrassment. Gin obeyed, but asked, "Osamu, what happened? Where's Hikari?"
"…I think I awakened another dōjutsu."
Her tone steadied as she explained.
Gin's eyes lit up. Before, Osamu had only awakened "Akunokoku-tama," a time-based ability that allowed her to view past events. But now…
"What's your new technique called? Don't tell me it's Kamui?"
"No."
"Then Amenotejikara?"
"…No."
She shook her head each time, finally saying, "It's called Ōnamuchi-no-kami."
"Ōnamuchi…?" Gin muttered. Another ability he'd never heard of.
"After awakening it, my Akunokoku-tama evolved. Now I can exchange places with targets I see during time reversal."
Gin's mind raced. That explained how Yami vanished mid-pounce and Osamu appeared in her place.
But… did it really stop there?
"Osamu… is it really just swapping places?" Gin pressed.
She hesitated, her eyes flickering briefly toward Yami. "…Yes. That's all."
Gin saw through it instantly. She was lying. But after a moment, he sighed.
She's grown. Even she has her secrets now. I can't keep prying like an overbearing father.
"Anyway," Osamu quickly added, "Sensei, about the Bijū — I sensed the wedges I placed were destroyed."
"Hah, nothing serious. I just replaced them with new ones." Yami cut in arrogantly.
"Oh… I see." Osamu nodded, though her eyes avoided his.
Gin narrowed his gaze but let it go. When she was ready, she'd tell him.
Back in Konoha, the three split ways. On the road home, Gin and Hikari walked together. After a long silence, she finally said,
"Gin, something's wrong."
"Oh?" His brow rose.
"…I feel like I've lost a memory."
She frowned deeply, looking every bit the detective.
"Haha. You were gone for less than a minute. How could you forget anything?"
"Maybe… maybe it's just my imagination."
She pushed the thought aside, then shot him a sultry smile. "Anyway… tonight's my turn. Don't worry, I won't break your back like Yami."
Gin fell silent. Was this really Hikari… or Yami again?
Meanwhile, Osamu walked alone. Turning into a dark alley, she finally crouched down, cheeks burning, hugging herself tight.
Her heart pounded like it would burst.
"That was insane… I actually became Hikari for a moment…"
She trembled, recalling the sensations she'd inherited in the swap — things she never should have felt.
"Sensei… I saved you. This time, I saved you."
Her new eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
(End of Chapter)
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