Inside Otsutsuki Tsukihime's chamber—

Two tall, voluptuous white-haired women stood with arms crossed, glaring indignantly at the man before them.

Uchiha Gin knelt on the floor, his handsome face swollen into a pig's head. His dead-fish eyes were purple from the beating, paper stuffed up his bloody nostrils. Under their murderous gazes, he forced three garbled words out of his sausage-swollen lips:

"Wo cuo la~ (I was wrong~)"

Gin felt more wronged than Dou E herself. It was clearly Tsukihime's own fault—messing around carelessly until she fell to the Shadow Realm's negative buff.

Honestly, that place was worse than a breeding sack.

He had fought with all his might to drag her out alive, only to be beaten like a dog once they returned. The posture at that moment really had been… too indecent, so no matter what, he couldn't explain it away.

After covering his crotch and being pounded for an hour, Tsukihime finally tired out and let him go. What stung more was that even Bìluò, who always favored him, actually sided with Tsukihime this time and refused to hear his explanation.

"Tsukihime, since Gin admitted fault, let him go this once~"

Seeing him dogeza, Bìluò couldn't help but pity him. Any jealousy she had felt earlier had long since vanished. She turned to plead with the disheveled Tsukihime.

"What… did you do to me?"

Tsukihime's face flushed red as fragmented memories returned. Just recalling that shameful posture made her ears burn. She looked at Gin, beaten into a pig head, and her heart tangled with conflicting emotions.

"It's… hard to explain."

Gin's swollen eyes widened. He couldn't possibly tell her she'd devolved into an obedient little dog, could he?

"You fell into my genjutsu space and, off guard, were hypnotized."

Having no better excuse, he used illusion as a cover.

"You didn't do anything?"

Tsukihime's pale eyes glinted dangerously.

"I swear! If I laid a finger on you, may my little brother's thing tie itself in knots!"

Gin raised three fingers, swearing loudly.

"You beast! So you actually did nothing?!"

"Hah?"

As she stormed off, Gin remained kneeling, utterly confused.

"Gin~ you always fail to see what's right in front of you."

They say outsiders see clearer. Watching from the side, Bìluò sighed, then helped Gin up.

"Tsukihime is your sworn sister, after all!"

Gin dusted his knees. His wounds were already healing, skin knitting in moments until his face returned to its usual lazy look.

"Precisely because she's family… that's why I said nothing happened."

Bìluò's eyes grew hazy as she stroked his cheek. Taking the chance, her long-suppressed longing flared as she leaned close.

"You know… I'm not that kind of woman."

Feeling her hot body pressed to him, Gin instantly "stood at attention." The fire sparked in the Shadow Realm blazed to life again.

"Then… what kind are you?"

Her beautiful face flushed crimson, tongue teasing the beauty mark at her lip—driving Gin wild.

"Turn off the lights and I'll show you~"

No need to ask. She was going to teach him how to be a man.

Sweeping her into his arms, Gin set his mark on the familiar floating island. Golden light flashed—and they vanished.

Moments later, Tsukihime pushed open her door. Cheeks red, she stood staring at the empty chamber, a strange mix of feelings in her pale eyes. An indescribable sense of loss welled up.

"He just left like that…"

Her memories of the Shadow Realm grew clearer. Realizing what happened, she wanted to crawl into a hole.

Her thighs rubbed together unconsciously, heat rising as she recalled that forbidden sensation.

"Am I really that unattractive…?"

—

Midnight, Konoha Village.

A golden flash appeared in an empty alley. Gin staggered out, holding his waist, pale lips trembling.

"Damn… even I barely survived…"

The Otsutsuki closest to pure blood truly weren't human. If not for his system-enhanced body, Bìluò would have drained him dry.

"Sigh… no dinner, either. I wonder if someone saved me leftovers."

He had fed Bìluò well, but he himself was starving. After two battles, he felt like he could eat a whole cow.

"Creak~"

He slipped into his house, trying to sneak in quietly. But waiting in the living room were two figures.

"You still remember to come home?"

Uchiha Hikari reclined on the sofa, eyes lazy but cold. Gin froze mid-step.

"I went drinking with Dàláng~"

He lied smoothly.

"Oh? Then why didn't I see you at yakiniku with Jìlǐ-nee?"

Senju Itama, sitting opposite, stared at him sharply.

"Maybe you left early, I came late~"

Gin wiped sweat, voice steady.

"Funny. We ate until closing."

Her brow arched mockingly.

Gin's face twitched, eyes darting nervously.

Hikari rose, circling him, sniffing lightly.

"Heh. This scent… better confess. Or else…"

She had caught a familiar yet foreign aroma—the scent of Otsutsuki Tsukihime.

"Confess for leniency! Resist and suffer!"

Itama rushed over, fists clenched, backing her up.

"…Since when are you two allies?"

"Handle external threats first. Then internal disputes."

Hikari's words were flawless.

"Fine, fine. I went up there, but she only wanted a spar."

Seeing the jig was up, Gin confessed, describing how Tsukihime pulled him to the moon for a match.

"She's stronger again…"

Hikari frowned, remembering her previous loss to the white-haired woman.

"Next time, I'll help you smash her!"

Gin had claimed he lost. Hikari immediately vowed revenge.

"Me too!" Itama declared, ready to fight for her beloved.

"You? Forget it~"

Gin rejected her instantly.

"What? Want a taste of my fist?"

Her small fist crackled with blue light.

"No no! I'm injured!"

Gin clutched his waist, retreating. Maybe he needed to find her something to occupy her energy.

"Enough. It's late. Time to rest."

Hikari pulled Itama back, eyes glinting with shadow, lips curling faintly.

"Fine~ but you're the only one who understands me."

Gin forced a stiff smile, skin crawling.

Later, wary, Gin slipped into bed—only to jolt. The bedding was warm, not cold.

"Didn't you say it was time to rest?"

A girl curled inside.

"Oh? You think I can't smell that scent?"

Scarlet eyes lit in the dark, locking onto him.

Not Hikari… Uchiha An. She had known all along—and now had him in her trap.

"Hehe~ you wouldn't want everyone knowing what you did up on the moon, would you?"

—

Days passed. Konoha's expansion continued, rumors of broken funds suppressed by a certain white-haired figure.

Meanwhile, Gin, armed with insider info, once more visited the Hokage office. Senju Tobirama tossed him a fresh scroll.

"Your payment. Count it."

"No need. I trust you."

Gin didn't bother. Money missing? Someone else would cover it anyway.

"…So that's where Kagami learned it."

Tobirama frowned. Trusting blindly wasn't a good habit. Even family should be guarded against.

"Kagami? What about him?"

"He's too gullible, nearly conned by kids calling him 'dad' to buy them sweets."

Gin smirked. "Eh, not a loss. Being the 'father' of a future Hokage is worth a few coins."

Tobirama sighed, but eyed him differently now.

"Where's Hashirama? Still gone? Don't tell me he found someone else…"

Madara's head snapped up, eyes sharp with paranoia.

"He'll be back today."

Tobirama was certain.

"Good. Look at my cousin—he's exhausted."

Gin clapped Madara's shoulder.

"Once Hashirama's back, you rest."

"No, I can still—"

"No buts! A Hokage can't look this sickly!"

Madara faltered, knowing Gin was right.

Bang!

Hashirama burst in, sand-covered, hair dry and yellowed. His robes bore long slashes.

"Big brother, were you attacked?" Tobirama asked.

"Maybe… someone threw kunai from afar. They only cut my clothes though."

He pouted at his ruined shirt.

"Where's that person now?" Gin asked, instantly intrigued.

"Didn't see. I tossed a Wood Dragon and kept going."

—

At the border of Fire and Taki—

A man staggered, coughing blood, lungs pierced by Hashirama's dragon. Step by step, he crawled toward Taki Village.

For money, for the fortune seized from him—he would crawl if he had to.

But waiting for him there wasn't gold—only betrayal.

"Tch. So it really was just bragging."

Gin smirked, recognizing the miser Kakuzu padding his résumé to join Akatsuki.

—

Later, Gin dragged a reluctant Madara out of the office.

"Wait! Let me chat with Hashi—"

"Later. You need rest."

Walking down the streets, Madara finally stopped struggling, confused why Gin was being so forceful.

"This isn't the way to the clan compound…"

Gin said nothing, leading him into a quiet market, to a small fruit shop.

"Why here? I don't even like fruit."

"Shh."

He pulled Madara into hiding.

Soon, a gentle girl with twin braids stepped out, wearing an apron too big for her slim frame. She looked plain but fresh, with a natural girl-next-door charm.

"Big brother… this is a crime."

Madara's eyes sharpened, stepping away. That girl was no older than fourteen. If Gin was targeting her—straight to jail.

"Shh."

Gin rolled his eyes and pointed.

Madara turned his head—and froze.

"…Izuna?"

Down the street came a young man who looked just like Uchiha Izuna.

Black tight t-shirt, cropped pants, shiny loafers, little black handbag tucked under his arm.

He strutted with a cocky swagger, heading straight for the fruit shop girl.

"See? Someone's committing a crime—but it's not me."

(End of Chapter)

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