Naruto froze at the edge of the pit. Hearing Gin's voice, his small body trembled.

The clear blue of his eyes bled into bestial crimson. His frame was swallowed by a cloak of burning red chakra.

In moments, the sunny boy was gone—replaced by a beast. Ears twitched atop his head, four tails lashed behind him, his eyes void of humanity, and his maw split wide, teeth glinting like knives.

"Grrr…"

The low growl made Gin frown from the pit.

"Oi. Don't you dare drool on me."

"ROAR!!"

Triggered, the four-tailed Naruto reared back. A black sphere of terrifying chakra condensed in his gaping jaws.

"Tch… so it's not Naruto—it's Kurama."

Gin sighed. Raising his hand, a blue sphere tinged with violet swirled to life. Compressing it until it was no bigger than a marble, he flicked it upward.

"Whoosh."

Kurama grinned from Naruto's mouth. Finally—the chance to crush this curly-haired brat!

But then—pain. A razor of wind tore his throat open. The Bijūdama unraveled instantly. Above, the sky rippled with a sealing screen of light.

"…Eh?"

Kurama's jaw went slack. His attack gone, his strength smothered, he collapsed in despair. A single miserable tear slid from his eye. Never again will I grind levels for this brat. Never!

A crisp system chime rang:

"Backyard refresh skill: [Kyūbi Chakra]. Acquired Kyūbi Chakra Fragment ×5."

[Kyūbi Chakra Fragments (100/100). 100 combine into a full Kyūbi Chakra.]

"…Already complete?"

Gin, who had been examining the soil for planting, looked up in surprise. He flicked the system menu open and tapped.

"Kyūbi Chakra successfully synthesized. Equip now?"

"…No."

No way he'd risk housing something with its own will. He wasn't about to livestream his insides to a fox.

He pulled the roiling red chakra from his inventory. It squirmed like angry jelly in his hand. With a sly grin, he plopped it into the amber bottle he used as his shinobi Pokéball.

Far away, the real Kurama jerked awake in its den. A familiar, ripping ache gnawed at its body.

"…No way. I haven't been split! Why does it feel like I have?"

Panic.

"This land hates me. I'm leaving Fire Country."

The beast bolted. Better to hide in Lightning Country—loud, but safer. The meat there was tough and chewy anyway.

Back in the yard, Gin looked up. At the pit's edge, another short figure appeared.

Then came a crisp, cocky voice he knew all too well:

"Curly-haired baboon! So this is where you've been—digging your own grave, huh?"

"…What?"

Gin froze. His jaw dropped open.

There, squatting, was a little twin-tailed girl version of Senju Itama.

"If you beg me nicely, maybe I'll lend you a hand."

Gin vanished from the pit and reappeared behind her, staring at her black-and-white twin tails. His eyes narrowed.

"You brat. Playing with Yin Seals already?"

"I do what I want! None of your business!"

The pint-sized Itama puffed her cheeks, tugging at clothes too big for her, glaring with watery eyes.

The sight stabbed Gin's memories. It was just like the old days—when he'd first captured this little brat, when they'd bicker daily like clockwork.

"…It's all come back," Gin murmured, a dazed smile tugging at his lips.

Seeing his look, Itama smirked inwardly. He's weak to this form. With this skin, I'm invincible!

But then Gin cracked his knuckles, expression odd. "You know… looking like that makes me really itchy to hit you."

Itama stiffened. "W-what are you planning?"

He stared at her bobbing twin tails, fought the urge, and lowered his hands. He couldn't treat her like before. What if the little tomboy really grew into… well, not what he expected?

"…Oi, curly-haired baboon. Scared?"

Hands on her hips, she leaned in, triumphant.

Whack!

"Ow! What was that for?!"

Gin rubbed his knuckles with satisfaction. "Habit. Over ten years of practice. Can't quit overnight. Expect more."

"You bastard! I'll bite you to death!"

Minutes later, Gin sat on his knees, his head clamped between Itama's tiny jaws, his face covered in bite marks.

From the window, Uchiha Hikari yawned—only to freeze at the scene. Her eyes twitched.

"Gin… why are you role-playing with a ten-year-old?!"

She vaulted down, grabbed both by their collars like dolls.

"It's not me! She transformed herself! Look at my face—I'm the victim here!" Gin protested.

"Is that true?" Hikari asked coldly.

Caught in the spotlight, little-Itama stammered, "He said… 'small is cute'!"

Gin almost fainted. One casual complaint about her sassiness had become evidence against him.

"Silence. Did you say it or not?" Hikari pressed.

"…I did."

"Good. No trial needed. Execute the pervert."

Uchiha An flickered into being, a mad grin twisting her face, a cleaver in hand.

"Mercy, Lord Judge!" Gin fell to his knees.

"Judgment unnecessary!"

"…Ow, my back!"

Later, Gin dragged his aching body through Konoha's streets.

Peaceful crowds bustled. Merchants from every land thrived thanks to the truce. Caravans poured in, missions for shinobi skyrocketed.

"…If only it stayed this peaceful forever." Gin sighed.

Without realizing, his steps brought him to a towering building near the Hokage's office—the Mission Hall.

"Eh? Gin-san? What are you doing here? Taking missions?"

Yamanaka Minako emerged with a scroll in hand.

"Oh, just wandering. Surprised to see you here too." Gin straightened his back, hiding the limp.

"Even our clan's dogs are taking sheep-herding missions. How could I sit idle?" Minako's smile strained. She still remembered this man tanking her clan's finances. But she bit her tongue.

"Don't overwork. If you struggle, come to me tonight. I'll ease your burden."

Gin's eyes glimmered as he looked at her waistline. His voice was utterly sincere: "Thank you."

"Sorry. I refuse."

She walked off briskly, no interest in being linked to Gin's rumors—especially those about mother-daughter threesomes.

"Tch. They act like I bite people…" Gin muttered, and stepped inside.

The Mission Hall was quiet, orderly. Shinobi filed in, selected missions, and left.

Gin's eyes caught a boy of ten hugging a scroll, face flushed with excitement.

"Oi, kid. What mission did you get?"

"You trying to steal it?!" the boy snapped, clutching the scroll to his chest.

Gin smiled. "Relax, I'm not after it."

The boy peeked around, then grinned slyly, opening the scroll just a crack.

"See? I camped here forever for this one."

[Escort at the Women's Bathhouse]

Gin's eyes bulged. "…There are missions like THAT?!"

He lunged to see more, but the boy snapped it shut, smirking.

"Cough… Little brother, what's the pay like?"

"Not bad. A thousand ryō per day. Five days."

"I'll give you ten thousand. Hand it over."

"…No."

"Don't misunderstand! I just want to… experience escort duty!" Gin said earnestly.

"Never!" the boy scoffed, making faces and bolting out.

"Kids these days. No respect." Gin shook his head.

"Big cousin? What are you doing here?"

Madara appeared, arms full of mission lists.

Gin's eyes lit up. "You're in charge here?!"

"Sort of. Hashirama asked me to help organize." Madara frowned.

"Quick! Show me the list! I'll find that brat and teach him manners."

Despite Madara's protests, Gin dug through the lists until he found it.

Accepted by: Maruboshi Kosuke.

"…That name sounds familiar…" Gin muttered, then shrugged. Probably a side character.

Stuffing the scroll back, he grinned. "Don't worry, cousin, I'll help you tidy up."

Madara's eye twitched. "Please… just stay home, big cousin. Don't cause trouble."

"…Trouble? Me? I raised you with one hand and wiped your ass with the other, and now you call me trouble?" Gin's dead-fish eyes narrowed.

Madara winced, realizing he'd slipped. "Sorry. I spoke wrongly. Forgive me."

Gin waved it off. "It's fine. But remember—Tobirama's not your obstacle anymore. Only Hashirama stands in your way."

Madara lowered his head. "…I still lack the capacity. Even in strength."

"Then give him a gift. Something so grand he'll bow to you." Gin smirked.

(End of Chapter)

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