Chapter 37: Malice from Maternal Uncle

“How can you slander someone's innocence out of thin air?”

Hearing this, Uchiha Madara shouted at Uchiha Gin with a face flushed in indignation. Had he known, he never would have opened his heart to this unreliable cousin.

“And here I thought that being older, you might offer me some constructive advice. To think you are also such a shallow person! I, Madara, am ashamed to be associated with you.”

With that, he flicked his sleeves and stormed out of the door like a gust of wind.

“Oh, don't go! Let me give you some tips, otherwise, you'll spend your whole life being pinned down by people!”

Uchiha Gin cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and shouted loudly at Madara's retreating back, drawing side-glances from passersby in the hallway, who began to whisper among themselves.

Madara wished he had grown two extra legs so he could flee this place of trouble as quickly as possible.

At the doorway, Izuna saw his elder brother fleeing in such a disheveled manner. He immediately set down the medicine he had just collected and chased after him, performing a dramatic scene of youthful pursuit.

Looking on with a bewildered expression, Uchiha Tajima watched his two sons run off one after another. He turned his head and asked with confusion, “Gin, how did you tease Madara this time?”

“Hehe, it’s nothing. Just ask Izuna when you get back; he said he wanted to report this matter to you personally,” Uchiha Gin replied with a squinted smile.

“How very impolite. I will certainly give that child a proper education when I return.”

Uchiha Tajima shook his head, appearing apologetic for Madara's behavior.

“Cousin, saying that makes me feel like an outsider.”

In private, when no outsiders were present, Uchiha Tajima would allow Uchiha Gin to call him "Uncle" rather than "Clan Leader."

“Gin, it is my fault. You just returned from a mission, and I immediately sent you to work. I haven't even given you time to rest,” Uchiha Tajima said, performing a self-examination filled with guilt.

“You shouldn't say that; it's too formal. It is my own fault for lacking skill, which led to me being injured by the Senju clan,” Uchiha Gin replied.

When he had just woken up, Uchiha Gin had overheard the conversation between Madara and Izuna. His unconsciousness had been defined by Uchiha Mio as a lingering injury from his previous mission. Since he had no intention of exposing his true actions, he naturally took the opportunity to play along.

“You must rest well to recover from your head injury; don't let it leave any lasting effects.”

Uchiha Tajima patted Uchiha Gin on the shoulder, acting like a kind elder.

However, from the other man's eyes, Uchiha Gin faintly sensed a fleeting moment of scrutiny.

“Gin, you haven't finished the report for the last mission yet, have you? After you encountered the Uzumaki clan, what happened? Did you run into anyone suspicious?”

After offering his well-wishes, Uchiha Tajima casually brought up the previous mission.

Thinking carefully, Uchiha Gin remembered that his last report had been forcibly interrupted after he revealed his Sharingan, and he had never made up for it.

“After we encountered the Uzumaki, we quickly lost the ability to resist due to the gap in numbers and strength,” Uchiha Gin said after a moment of feigned contemplation. “That muscular leader of theirs beat Captain Hoka repeatedly. Fortunately, I managed to capture a young Uzumaki in the forest.”

Recalling the cute odango hairstyle of Uzumaki Mito, Uchiha Gin continued with a smile, “That Uzumaki child seemed to have a very important status. I used her as leverage to lure the muscular man away, and eventually reached a deal with him: I let the child go, and he let us live.”

After listening to Uchiha Gin's half-true, half-false account, Uchiha Tajima nodded. “Remaining calm in the face of danger—as expected of my nephew.”

“It is all thanks to your constant cultivation, Cousin,” Uchiha Gin flattered him.

“Did you encounter any other strange people or things?” Uchiha Tajima asked again, unwilling to let it go.

“Ah, now that you mention it, you've reminded me. During the process of me capturing that Uzumaki child, she pulled out a ninja tool to resist.” Uchiha Gin tapped his hand as if remembering something.

“What kind of tool?” Uchiha Tajima grew interested.

“It was just a pearl, nothing special. After she used it, only a single rune flew toward me, but there was no particular reaction when it hit. Perhaps it was broken,” Uchiha Gin said with a shrug, indicating he felt no discomfort.

“Where did it hit?”

“Here.” Uchiha Gin pointed to his head.

“I see. In that case, Gin, get some good rest. Don't go to work for a while,” Uchiha Tajima said, first frowning imperceptibly before standing up.

“I am fine already. I can go to work as usual tomorrow.” Uchiha Gin climbed out of bed and performed several high-difficulty movements to prove he was fine.

“Alright, but do not force yourself,” Uchiha Tajima conceded, unable to argue.

Uchiha Gin watched his cousin leave with a smile. Once the man was far away, the smiling expression on Uchiha Gin's face faded.

This Uchiha Tajima was hiding something from him.

During their exchange just now, Uchiha Gin had somehow felt a sensation rise from within his heart—a sensation telling him that Uchiha Tajima harbored a very subtle malice toward him.

*Is it an illusion?* Uchiha Gin wondered to himself, but once such a feeling took root, it could not be easily removed.

A short while later, having tidied himself up, Uchiha Gin left the sickbed. Seeing that it was getting late, it was time for him to go home.

He bought quite a few groceries while passing the market; if he failed to return one day, he could at least let that brat Senju Itama hold out for a few days.

As he selected several long-lasting ingredients and prepared to pay the vendor, he suddenly sensed a wave of malice coming from the vendor in front of him.

This feeling came so abruptly that it left him momentarily confused. Ultimately, he chose to toss the money to the vendor, whose eyes were darting away guiltily.

Carrying his things, he walked home with his head down, silently pondering whether that sensation was an illusion or something else.

Pushing open his door, he found that Senju Itama, who usually ambushed him, was not there. The room, which was normally quite messy, had actually been tidied up and looked brand new.

Hearing the door open, a black-haired Senju Itama, wearing an apron, poked his head out from the kitchen and looked up and down at the displeased Uchiha Gin.

“Why are you so early today?”

“What are you doing, you brat?”

Uchiha Gin attempted to use the same sensation he had used earlier on Senju Itama, only to find no feedback of malice.

“Hmph, I only made my own portion. If you want to eat, go make it yourself!”

Only then did Uchiha Gin notice that the brat was actually holding a spatula.

“Oh my, the young master of the Senju clan actually knows how to cook?”

Uchiha Gin squeezed his way in curiously, only to see an indescribable mass of matter in the pot.

“Hey, hey, hey, what kind of 'clan cuisine' are you making?”

“Who are you looking down on? Try it, it's absolutely delicious!”

Sensing the doubt in the other's tone, Senju Itama immediately scooped a plate of the "pixelated" substance from the pot and handed it to Uchiha Gin.

“Forget it, forget it. I don't have the fortune to enjoy this. I'm afraid if I eat it, I'll see my Uchiha great-grandmother.”

Uchiha Gin refused adamantly; he wanted to live for a few more years.

“Don't come begging me for a bite later,” Senju Itama said with misplaced confidence, scooping a clump and stuffing it into his mouth.

A few seconds later...

“I beg you, don't die!”

As Senju Itama shook while foaming at the mouth, Uchiha Gin felt a profound sense of regret.

Had he known, he would have just finished the whole pot himself. At most, he would have had a few bouts of diarrhea; this brat actually had the guts to die.

Fortunately, it ended without tragedy. Senju Itama vomited uncontrollably until he had expelled everything he had just eaten, finally managing to save his life.

Looking at the extremely weak brat before him, Uchiha Gin felt a wave of lingering fear. Currently, this brat's life was tied to his own; if anything happened to him, Uchiha Gin would lose his life as well.

He picked up the boy. The small body was very light and felt soft as if it had no bones. Looking at the boy's sleeping face, Uchiha Gin realized the brat wasn't actually that unpleasant to look at; the small, round face was even a bit cute.

He shook his head to dispel the strange thought. He wasn't Uchiha Madara; how could he have any thoughts regarding a man from the Senju clan?

(End of Chapter)