"Achoo~!"
In the Land of Fire's capital city—the most prosperous metropolis in the shinobi world—crowds bustled inside the tall walls. Streets overflowed with dazzling goods that nearly blinded the three girls. Abandoning a sneezing Uchiha Gin, they eagerly charged toward the shopping district.
"We're going shopping~!"
"Don't forget the receipts. Meet back at the hotel later."
Gin rubbed his reddened nose, wondering which girl was missing him enough to make him sneeze. Looking up again, the girls were gone. He sighed helplessly.
"As expected… once women enter shopping mode, every other worry disappears~"
Still, it left him free. He could spend the time "critically inspecting" the Fire Country's… female establishments.
"Today feels like a good day for a foot massage~"
Humming a tune, Gin strolled toward the bathhouse district. But just as he was about to indulge, a hooded figure slipped behind him and discreetly handed him a small card.
"…Eh?"
The man radiated no malice. Gin snatched the card without hesitation.
"Wow, you've got good eyes—"
Wait! Out of all the men here, you hand me this kind of shady card? Do I look like a beetle?
Gin's brows shot up in outrage. Stuffing the card in his pocket, he sternly declared:
"What kind of person do you take me for?!"
"…Lord Gin, it's me. One of us."
The cloaked man was stunned by Gin's act. He quickly lowered his hood, revealing an ordinary Uchiha face with Sharingan glowing helplessly.
"Oh… cough. Ever heard of 'seasoned acting'?" Gin muttered, suddenly recognizing him as the clansman he'd once chatted with while visiting his uncle.
"Lord Gin, this isn't the place. Please, follow me."
Since Gin had questions for the Ghost Soldier Corps anyway, he followed him into a dark alley.
The narrow passage led them deep underground to a hidden door. The man knocked thrice.
"Password?" came a muffled voice.
"Stone is beautiful."
"…Correct."
The door creaked open. Inside was a vast chamber, filled with uniformed Uchiha moving about. When they saw Gin, they froze. Then dozens of crimson eyes lit up.
"It's Lord Gin!"
"The real, living Lord Gin!"
"He came down to inspect us himself!"
"…What the hell is with this energy?"
Gin elbowed his guide, whispering, "This is a legit Ghost Soldier base, right?"
"Of course! This is the Fire Country branch office. Only our clan's finest are stationed here."
"Then why are they freaking out?"
"Because meeting the founder of the Ghost Soldier Corps is the highest honor of all."
Gin blinked. He'd only ever formed this squad as a hobby. How had it become… this?
"…You didn't just drag me here to be a mascot, did you?"
"Of course not!" the man said solemnly—then whipped out a notebook.
"Lord Gin, please sign my autograph!"
"…Hah?"
Soon Gin was surrounded by eager soldiers, thrusting books and boards in his face.
"Not so fast, one at a time…" Gin chuckled, secretly enjoying the attention.
Then a hulking Uchiha pulled out… a pair of worn boxer briefs.
"Lord Gin, please sign my lucky underwear!"
"…Burn." Gin's eyes narrowed, Amaterasu flames instantly consuming the offending garment.
"Nooo! My Pochi-chan!"
By the time Gin had finished signing, he was dizzy from the fanfare. "Enough. You'll make me sick at this rate. I actually came to ask you something."
"Anything, Lord Gin!"
"In the Land of Waterfalls' capital, I saw a fully armed Ghost Soldier squad. Who were they?"
"They're the newest Peacekeeping Division," the man—named Heita, Gin finally learned—explained.
Peacekeepers?
Apparently, after the Takigakure massacre, the daimyo of Taki had panicked about rogue shinobi. He'd asked Gin's ally, the Wave Daimyo, for help. Thus, Ghost Soldier Corps had been "contracted" as guards. Their reputation among nobles had skyrocketed after saving a kidnapped noble from a rogue Kirigakure ninja. Now rumors spread that even ordinary soldiers were jonin-level, and leaders rivaled the Kage.
"So you're trending on the Noble Hotlist, number one?" Gin asked dryly.
"Exactly! Our fees are very high."
"No wonder my cousin complained missions were drying up—the nobles are all hiring you guys."
Heita scratched his head. "Big nations still trust their own ninja more. It's mostly small countries hiring us."
"Still… you've done well. At least Wave is earning revenue."
Gin smiled, relieved his investment hadn't been wasted. But he frowned. "If big nobles don't recognize you, why set up here in Fire's capital?"
"To monitor daimyo movements, of course."
"…Who asked for that? What idiot is spying on these parasites?"
Heita blinked. "Uh… you did, Lord Gin. Years ago. You said, 'Hold the daimyo hostage, command the Kage. Their wives and children will be mine to feed.'"
Smack. Gin slapped his forehead. "How drunk was I that day? Those were drunken ramblings!"
Heita's Sharingan spun anxiously. But Gin waved it off. "…Fine, since it's already built, consider it our intel bureau."
"Truly?!"
"Yeah, gather dirt on nobles. Could be useful someday."
"Yes, Lord Gin!"
Satisfied, Gin declined their invitation to dinner and left. Behind him, scarlet eyes glowed with fanatical devotion.
…
Hours later, Gin reached the hotel. The three girls finally returned, dragging mountains of shopping bags.
"…You've filled the storage scrolls too?"
"Of course. They're already packed."
Gin's heart bled, but he swallowed his complaints.
When asked where he'd been, he casually said, "Just wandered that street." He pointed randomly outside—unaware it was Red-Light Street.
The girls all froze.
"Who introduced you there?" Mitsuko demanded coldly.
"No one! I just walked!"
"Then how do you explain this?" Uchiha Hikari held up the very card he'd been given earlier—'Kunoichi No Mercy' printed boldly, with lurid "services" listed on the back.
Gin paled. "Ah, that… a family member shoved it at me!"
"Family?!"
Hikari's eyes burned scarlet, a crimson blade forming in the air. The other two pinned Gin down mercilessly.
"Why treat me like this? At least let me die knowing why!" Gin wailed.
"See for yourself." Hikari tossed the incriminating card at his feet.
Gin stared, devastated. Damn it, Heita! Was this your way of ruining my reputation?!
"Any last words?" Hikari's voice was icy, like a judge.
"I can explain!" Gin cried desperately.
"Explain to our ancestors!" Hikari's blade fell.
"Ahhh! Lord Seiryu, I'm innocent!!"
That night, Uchiha Gin once again did not sleep.
(End of Chapter)
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