226. Unemployed

“Itama, make sure to come home often when you're free~”

As the doors of the Uchiha residence swung open, Senju Itama escorted her two elder brothers to the entrance. Senju Hashirama, filled with brotherly concern, gazed earnestly at his resurrected younger sister and said sincerely,

“If you ever feel wronged, let us know. Big Brother may not be eloquent, but I know a thing or two about settling disputes with my fists.”

“Don’t underestimate me; I can handle things myself,” Itama retorted.

“Itama, were you just trying to kill me?”

Compared to the reluctant Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, who had escaped unscathed but carried a mental scar, asked in a peculiar tone.

Earlier, due to misinterpreting Hashirama’s words, Tobirama had almost received a full-power monstrous punch aimed straight at his chest. Thankfully, Hashirama reacted quickly and intercepted the blow, or Tobirama might have gone to meet their father in the afterlife.

“Hmph! Serves you right for talking nonsense. If I hear another inappropriate word from you, I’ll smash your head!”

Recalling Tobirama’s earlier remarks, Itama's face turned crimson. Hands on her hips, she bared her adorable little fangs in a huff, her tone filled with feigned anger. Despite her fierce words, her embarrassed expression made her brothers feel a tinge of bitterness.

“All right, we’ll stick to the agreement and pretend not to know you in public,” Hashirama sighed helplessly. He couldn’t understand why their once-cuddly sister insisted they act like strangers. Was there some unspeakable reason behind it? However, as long as she was alive, nothing else mattered.

“Good, good. Now hurry up and leave! I’ve got plans to go shopping with my girlfriends later,” Itama said, glancing at the time. She needed to calm her chaotic thoughts and confide in a trusted friend.

“Itama, I’ve heard some things about that Uchiha Gin—his personal life is... questionable. Not only does he live with younger girls, but he also flirts with widows. Keep your eyes wide open!” Tobirama couldn’t resist trying one last time to discredit Itama's crush based on dubious gossip.

“It’s none of your business!”

...

Meanwhile, Uchiha Gin resumed his exploration of the village, which had grown noticeably busier in recent days. The streets were bustling with unfamiliar faces, and new temporary stalls displayed wares showcasing various clans' specialties.

At one stall, Gin noticed a familiar family selling dog food—Inuzuka, of course. “I’ll get some for my cousin; he’ll love it.”

Nearby, the Akimichi clan displayed a unique elixir with the slogan:
“For greater size, strength, and endurance—good for you, good for her!”

“Ah, I have a friend who might need this. I’ll come back later when it’s less crowded.”

“Boss, how much for this antler?” Gin asked, picking up a fine deer antler from a Nara clan stall.

“Special opening discount—10,000 ryō for this premium, wild-raised deer antler! It’s great for circulation and, uh… particularly effective for enhancing vitality and kidney health!”

The young Nara shopkeeper perked up at the sight of a customer, his spirits lifting as he pitched the product enthusiastically.

“What’s that supposed to mean? You think I need it?” Gin glared, clutching his waist dramatically, his imposing aura making the young Nara falter.

“Hmph! Pack it all up. I have a friend who could use a boost…” Gin tossed a gold bar onto the counter, cutting off further discussion.

...

Elsewhere, in the temporary Senju office:

“So, Itama did give you the Iron Fist of Justice, huh?”

Hashirama looked up from his pile of paperwork, his expression a mix of amusement and pity as he observed Tobirama nursing his swollen forehead.

“Sigh, I don’t know what kind of upbringing she’s had, but she’s changed so much from the sweet, obedient child we knew,” Tobirama grumbled while healing his injuries with a faint green glow around his hands.

“Well, I think she’s becoming more like our mother,” Hashirama mused, flexing his slightly sore wrist, recalling the punch he had intercepted earlier.

“Whatever. Now that we know she’s alive, you should have more motivation to finish this work, right?” Tobirama said dryly, noting his brother’s buoyant mood.

“Of course! Speaking of which, you mentioned the Sarutobi clan agreed to join us. Is that true?”

“Yes, Sarutobi Sasuke personally pledged his support. With his position as the head envoy, the other clans in the ninja coalition should follow soon,” Hashirama confirmed.

“Good. If they’re on board, we’ll need to honor the terms we promised during negotiations,” Tobirama said, pulling out the agreement details.

“Let’s hope we can get through this without dealing with those spiky-haired troublemakers too much,” he muttered, clearly not looking forward to interacting with certain individuals.

...

Back at the village, Gin strolled into a newly opened barbecue restaurant, spotting some familiar faces.

“Hey, you’re all gathering here without inviting me? What’s the deal—am I an outsider now?” Gin teased, plopping into a seat and tossing the deer antlers onto the table.

“Of course not! We just didn’t want to disturb you, Gin-sama,” replied one of his clansmen, grinning.

Gin smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief as he joined in the festivities.



The first to speak was Uchiha Mitsu, Uchiha Gin's most loyal tool and the man known as the "Overtime King." Over the years, the once cautious prison guard had developed a demeanor befitting someone in a higher position. However, in front of his benefactor, he still habitually lowered his posture, his eyes carrying a trace of respect.

“Mitsu, how many times have I told you? Outside the dungeon gates, we’re just brothers. Why are you acting so formal?” Uchiha Gin chided with mock annoyance at Mitsu's respectful attitude.

“Exactly! Brother Lücha, you know what kind of person Brother Gin is,” chimed in Uchiha Jiro, poking at a piece of venison on the table with curiosity before continuing, “By the way, Gin, where’s your brother?”

“Oh, he’s in the kitchen right now. A round-bellied customer just ordered enough grilled meat for twenty people. He’s probably preparing it as we speak.”

“Looks like business has been booming since he moved to Konoha,” Uchiha Gin remarked, genuinely happy for his friend. If the Akimichi clan became a regular customer, Taro's profits would skyrocket.

“Lord Gin, I apologize for not being much help today,” said Uchiha Tanaka, sitting next to Jiro. He lowered his head with a hint of guilt.

“It’s fine. You’ve done well. These are tumultuous times—our clan should keep a low profile for now,” Gin reassured him, though he couldn’t help recalling the shady boy who often lingered around Tanaka and couldn’t resist asking, “By the way, that loudmouthed brat who’s always with you—who is he?”

“Uh… Lord Gin, don’t you remember? That’s Shana.”

“Shana? Oh, right, that’s Ryuei’s youngest son, isn’t it?” Gin suddenly recalled the boy’s gloomy gaze, so reminiscent of Uchiha Ryuei’s. He was none other than the little troublemaker Gin had interrogated years ago.

Mentioning Shana brought a wave of nostalgia. Gin reminisced about his time in the dungeon, where Ryuei often brought his youngest son to work.

Back then, Gin had taken it upon himself to teach the naive and cocky Shana some life lessons, which left the boy crying and eventually sent off for more rigorous training. Yet after all these years, that brat hadn’t changed—his narrow-minded Uchiha ways still needed reform.

“By the way, what made you all decide to gather today?” Gin asked, cracking open a melon seed as he spoke.

“Gin, you don’t know?” Mitsu asked in surprise.

“Well… I’ve been taking some time off work. Fill me in,” Gin replied awkwardly, scratching his head.

The trio exchanged knowing glances. “Alright, stop playing coy. Dinner’s on me—now spill it!” Gin declared, waving his hand generously.

“Great! Big Brother, add ten more servings of premium beef!” Jiro shouted toward the kitchen.

“And ten dozen oysters for me!” Mitsu added without missing a beat.

Gin looked at the pair in disbelief, turning to Tanaka, who had yet to join in.

Just as he was about to praise him for his restraint, Tanaka calmly added, “I’ll take ten servings of tuna and some caviar, thanks.”

“Pfft!” Gin nearly spat out his drink. He had misjudged them all.

“Lord Gin, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Tanaka said hesitantly after ordering his extravagant dish.

“What is it? Some earth-shattering secret?” Gin’s curiosity was piqued.

“I have a very close cousin—his name is Uchiha Ryōichi.”

“What?!” Gin froze, realizing everything. Tanaka's subtle acts of revenge were all for his cousin Ryōichi, whom Gin had wronged in the past.

“How’s Ryōichi doing in the dungeon?” Gin asked with a hint of nostalgia.

“Ryōichi was promoted to an instructor after the war. He’s teaching throwing techniques now.”

"And Tsuruhiko?"

"Teaching swordmanship."

Tanaka replied.

“What about Fuka?”

“He’s the principal of the academy now.”

Gin let out a heartfelt sigh. Everyone had found their place, whether at sea or ashore. It was truly the best of times.

“Hey, grilled meat is ready!” Taro arrived with a sizzling grill, the meat’s aroma tantalizing everyone.

“Taro, why don’t you join us?” Gin asked, noticing the lines of age on Dailang’s face.

“I have more orders to prepare. Tonight’s a big night. As the pinnacle of Uchiha cuisine, I must make outsiders bow to the wonders of my secret recipes!” Taro declared with fiery determination before disappearing back into the kitchen.

“Well, ambition keeps people young. Look at Taro—he’s practically a teenager,” Gin quipped, earning simultaneous eye-rolls from his companions.

“By the way, you still haven’t told me why you’re here,” Gin pressed.

“Oh, right! The clan head issued an amnesty recently. We just finished cross-checking the files, so we came to celebrate,” Lücha explained.

“Amnesty? What kind?” Gin asked, though he already had an inkling.

“Senju Hashirama promised to release prisoners from the dungeon to win over other ninja clans,” Lücha said with a scowl.

“What?! That’s outrageous!” Gin exclaimed, thinking of the countless prisoners who had been his steady source of... fun.

“It’s inevitable,” Tanaka said bitterly. “The Senju are doing this to secure alliances. We have no choice but to comply.”

“Well, at least with the dungeon empty, we’ll get some time off, right?” Gin tried to find a silver lining.

“Ha! Lord Gin, you haven’t heard? The Uchiha dungeon is shutting down. You’re officially unemployed.”