269. The Mizukage

For some reason, ever since Uchiha Haruka awakened a new ocular technique, she had been avoiding Uchiha Gin, either intentionally or unintentionally. Even when they ran into each other, she would lower her head and leave in a hurry, leaving the curly-haired man rather puzzled.

"Hey, you and Haruka are close. Do you know if anything has happened to her recently?"

Early in the morning, Uchiha Gin, holding a steaming cup of milk, looked up at Senju Itama, who was wearing an apron, and asked in confusion.

"Huh? Haruka seems to be doing great, glowing with happiness," Itama replied, tilting her head adorably as she set breakfast in front of Gin. After thinking for a moment, she added, "That’s strange, though. Why does it feel like she’s avoiding you?"



" By the way, why didn’t you add sugar to the milk?"

Gin frowned as he took a sip of the plain milk and asked with a dissatisfied expression. Strawberry milk was already off-limits, and now he couldn’t even have sugar in plain milk. How was he supposed to drink this?

"Fine, fine, I’ll add two spoonfuls, but no more!" Itama softened at Gin’s pitiful look and extended her delicate fingers to make her point.

"Alright, alright!" Gin eagerly nodded, quickly opening the sugar jar, scooping two generous spoonfuls into his half-full cup, and mixing them. But as he glanced at his empty spoon, a trace of struggle flashed in his eyes. After a brief inner conflict, he reluctantly sighed and put the spoon back. Two spoonfuls meant two spoonfuls.

As Gin savored his overly sweetened milk in small sips, the sound of someone knocking loudly on the door interrupted the morning peace.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"I’m coming!" Itama, with the demeanor of a perfect hostess, naturally walked to the door without needing Gin's cue.

Opening the door, she saw a group of young children standing there, led by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Hello, we’re Gin-sensei’s students!" Hiruzen announced cheerfully.

Itama blinked at the group of little ones, her tall figure towering over them.

"Students?" she echoed.

The mention of Gin’s students reminded her of the strawberry milk that had been piling up at home lately, most likely gifts from these children as offerings to their teacher.

"Hey, Gin, your students are here," Itama called out, deliberately using his nickname “Gin” instead of the teasing “curly-haired ape” she usually used with close friends.

Meanwhile, Koharu Utatane, one of the children, whispered to Uchiha Kagami, "Who is this woman?"

"Shh! Don’t let her hear you!" Kagami, who had once suffered at the hands of Itama’s infamous spinning technique, quickly hushed Koharu, glancing nervously at Itama.

"This woman is terrifying. She’ll pick you up and spin you like a toy if you’re not careful!" Kagami warned.

Koharu, skeptical, looked at Itama’s slender arms and couldn’t believe someone like her could be so violent.

"Looks can be deceiving," Kagami muttered.

Mito Homura adjusted his glasses and pointed at Itama. "The truth is clear. This woman must be Gin-sensei’s wife!"

"What?! That sly Gin actually found someone to marry him? This world really is too forgiving," Danzo Shimura muttered, clearly annoyed.

"You’ll regret saying that," Akimichi Torifu, munching on his snacks, warned Danzo from behind.

Despite overhearing their chatter, Itama chose to let it slide, deciding to show them what her "childhood spinning technique" was like another day. However, she smiled brightly at Homura’s words.

"Not bad, glasses kid. You’ve got sharp eyes," she said warmly before turning to Danzo with a chilly look. "As for you, with hips that wide, you might have some health issues. I know a great surgeon—might be worth considering."

Danzo nearly exploded in frustration, but Hiruzen quickly restrained him.

Just then, Gin appeared, holding his half-empty cup of milk, and asked, "Why are you kids here instead of studying with Hashirama?"

"Sensei’s been busy lately, and we’ve been left on our own," Hiruzen explained as the group looked at Gin with pleading eyes.

"That’s tough luck for you," Gin said, rolling his eyes. "Who told those two brothers to scare off their cousin, leaving all the work to themselves?"

Itama interjected, "Why don’t you help them out, Gin? Staying cooped up at home isn’t good for you either."

Gin gave her an incredulous look, muttering about ungrateful freeloaders.

Before Gin could refuse again, Koharu looked at him and Itama with curiosity. "Gin-sensei, who is she?"

"She’s Uchiha Itama—my long-term tenant," Gin replied nonchalantly.

To avoid awkward questions about Itama’s presence in his home, Gin had long since nicknamed her "Uchiha Itama" for convenience.


Only a select few who knew Senju Itama's true identity called her by her real name. To everyone else, she was affectionately known as "Sister Itama" among the Uchiha clan members.

"Good morning, Sister Itama!" *5
"How sweet! Here, have some candy," she said with a beaming smile.

Itama retrieved a jar of candies from the cupboard and handed them out to the polite children.

"Thank you, Sister Itama!" *6
Even little Danzo, who tried to resist, ultimately gave in to temptation and joined the group with a resigned expression.

"Fine, fine. I'll humor you all for another day," Uchiha Gin sighed as he observed how well the kids were getting along with Itama. With a soft, indulgent look in his eyes, he ruffled his curly hair before taking on the responsibility of mentoring them.

"Itama, don't bother making lunch for me today. I'll take these little rascals to Taro's place for a meal," Gin instructed before leaving the house, dressed and prepared.

"Understood!" Itama replied with a cheerful nod as she waved goodbye to the group.

"Hey, Gin-san, what exactly is your relationship with Sister Itama?"

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Koharu sneaked up beside Gin and whispered her question.

"Didn't I already tell you? Itama is just my tenant. I have this big house sitting empty, so why not rent out a room to someone in need? Besides, she cooks for me sometimes, which is a bonus," Gin explained casually, lacing his hands behind his head. He was determined to protect his image as a pure-hearted Uchiha.

"But..." Koharu started, but Gin quickly interrupted her.

"No buts! Let's take a stroll around the village first. After that, I'll treat you all to some all-you-can-eat grilled meat!"

If explanations wouldn't work, then food would surely do the trick.

"Grilled meat? Hooray!"

The promise of a feast immediately lifted the children's spirits, and they bounced with excitement.


---

Taking the future Konoha F6 with him, Gin decided that today’s lesson would be a test of their observation skills.

As they wandered the village, Gin handed each child a piece of candy to keep them quiet.

"All of this is my domain," Gin joked as he surveyed Konoha's bustling streets, marveling at its rapid development.

But his musings were interrupted when his gaze landed on two figures standing at a distant stall. Sensing something unusual, Gin furrowed his brow and turned to the children, who were still savoring their candy.

"Stop eating for a moment. Look at those two over there."

"Huh? Aren't they just ordinary passersby?" Koharu asked, puzzled as she examined the unfamiliar figures.

"Are you sure?" Gin's voice carried a hint of amusement as he prompted them to observe more carefully.

"Their clothing—it's not from the Land of Fire," answered Mitokado Homura after scrutinizing the duo for a moment.

"Well done, Homura. Next time, you can choose a ninja tool to add to your scroll," Gin praised, rewarding the boy for his keen eye.

"Really? Then can I have that vibrating tool I saw last time—"

"Are you sure?" Gin interrupted with a skeptical look.

"Please, Gin-san!"

"Fine... I'll dig it up for you later," Gin relented.

After all, promises made by an Uchiha are as solid as iron.


---

"Judging by their attire, they seem to be from the Land of Water," Homura deduced, earning another nod of approval from Gin.

"Correct. Consider your ninja tool as good as yours."

But Gin’s attention lingered on the pair. The older man radiated a chakra level comparable to Tobirama's, making him a formidable warrior despite his age. The younger man beside him, however, sparked a faint but inexplicable sense of familiarity in Gin’s mind.

"Is that... you, Byakuren?" Gin muttered to himself.


---

At the stall, the elderly man stared intently at the vendor, his comical, downturned eyes filled with suspicion. His brows furrowed deeply, and his chakra began to rise subtly.

"Lord Byakuren, this is Konoha," the younger man reminded him softly, trying to calm him down.

"I know," the elder replied gruffly, "but this vendor—he's from the Uzumaki Clan, isn't he?"

The elderly man, referred to as Su, dispersed the chakra he had gathered but continued to glare intently at the vendor before him.

“Dear customer, I may be of the Uzumaki clan, but I’m really just an ordinary businessman!”

The vendor, Uzumaki Su, an old friend of Uchiha Gin, was drenched in sweat. Paralyzed by the oppressive aura of Byakuren, he nervously darted his eyes around, searching for the security patrol. Hearing Byakuren's words, Su hastily explained himself.

"Hmph!"

Although ninja laws forbade attacking civilians, the sight of the vendor's bright red hair made Byakuren's head throb. Memories of a certain fiery red-haired woman who haunted his nightmares stirred in his mind.

“Hey, Su, got any new goods lately?”

Just when Su was despairing, a lazy voice cut through the tense atmosphere, dispelling the suffocating tension in an instant.

“Gin, it’s you! Yes, I do! I’ve got some miracle medicine imported from the Land of Grass. You asked about it last time, right?”

Relieved, Su wiped the sweat from his brow and pulled out a suspiciously packaged box of pills from an alleyway behind his stall.

“From the Land of Grass? Is it authentic?”

Gin hesitated to accept the so-called miracle medicine. It wasn’t that he doubted Su's honesty but rather his skepticism about the Land of Grass—a nation infamous for counterfeiting and stealing techniques.

Even Su's confidence wavered at the mention of the Land of Grass’s reputation.

“Maybe I’ll sell a few boxes first and see the user feedback,” he said, reluctantly withdrawing the pills, guided by a rare pang of conscience.


---

Both Byakuren and the younger man beside him were taken aback by Gin’s sudden appearance. The casual comment that broke Byakuren oppressive aura left a strong impression.

“Lord Byakuren, who is this man?”

“Judging by his attire, he must be from the Uchiha clan. We have important matters to attend to, so let’s avoid unnecessary conflict,” the elder cautioned the younger man in a low voice. This was Konoha, and the Uchiha were one of its founding clans. Without first meeting the Hokage, it was best to avoid making waves.

“Why are you staring at me, old man?” Gin snapped, feeling uncomfortable under Byakuren's persistent gaze. His tone was sharp and arrogant, fitting for a textbook Uchiha.

“Aminos!”

Byakuren, who prided himself on his calm demeanor, nearly lost his composure at Gin’s provocative words. His hands came together, ready to teach the disrespectful young man a lesson.

“Lord Byakuren! Please, no!”

The younger man quickly intervened, stopping the elder before he could act. He then turned to Gin with an apologetic smile, pointing to his own head.

“Apologies. My lord has been under some mental stress recently,” he explained.

Gin squinted at the young man, the familiarity in his demeanor growing stronger by the moment. Unable to hold back, Gin finally voiced his suspicion:

“Alright, Wig, got it, Wig.”

The younger man’s apologetic expression froze, his face turning cold as an icy aura radiated from him, making everyone nearby shiver instinctively.

“Hey, Hiruzen, do you feel like it suddenly got cold?”

Not far away, the kids who were watching their teacher’s interaction with the foreign duo noticed the sudden chill. Sensitive as ever, Danzo frowned and pointed out the abrupt temperature drop.

“Yeah, it’s strange. It’s August, but it’s freezing!” Sarutobi Hiruzen tightened his coat in confusion.

“Wait, look! That guy’s giving off snowflakes!”

Akimichi Torifu, taller than the others, rubbed his eyes to confirm he wasn’t dreaming. He pointed at the young man from the Land of Water, his shock evident.

“Wig, are you hiding a refrigerator on you?”

Standing directly in the cold zone, Gin seemed unaffected by the biting chill. Instead, he confirmed the young man’s identity in his mind.

So, the Third Mizukage, who barely had any presence in the original series, was from the Snow Clan. His appearance screamed the need for a white duck summoning beast.

“Disrespectful brat!”

The young man, whose sleek black hair was his pride, couldn’t bear the insult. Calling him a wig was the last straw.

“Calm down!”

Now it was Byakuren's turn to restrain the younger man. Roles reversed, he reminded him of their precarious position. With Hozuki Gengetsu bedridden, any conflict here could jeopardize the leadership of Kirigakure.

“Lord Byakuren, don’t stop me. I’m going to freeze this curly-haired brat into an ice sculpture!”

Grinding his teeth, the young man couldn’t let the insult slide. Gin, meanwhile, scratched his curly hair, puzzled by the overreaction.

“Wig, wig, calm down. How about I treat you to some strawberry milk?” Gin said, reluctantly pulling a treasured bottle from his bag as a peace offering.

“It’s not a wig. It’s Katsura!” the young man growled, his icy aura intensifying.