225. Scolded

Although Uchiha Gin and Senju Tobirama didn't exactly get along, seeing the sinister white-haired man stuck headfirst into the ground in a humiliating pose stirred a sense of shared misfortune in Gin’s heart.

He glanced at the battle-ready Senju Itama and quietly asked:
"Didn't I tell you to keep a low profile in public? How did you end up here? And that's your brother you're fighting—did you really go all out on him?"

“Quit nagging. If I wasn’t here to save you, I wouldn’t have bothered!”

Itama, fists clenched and poised to strike, didn’t even glance back. Her voice betrayed a slight panic that Gin, being oblivious, completely missed.

“Cough, cough... Who's the scoundrel that dared ambush me? I’ll kill you!”

Senju Tobirama, still pure in his bloodline despite his misfortune, quickly regained his senses thanks to the Senju vitality.

Pulling his head out of the ground, he rubbed the massive lump on his forehead, his crimson eyes filled with fury.

But when he saw the person responsible for his plight, his curses stopped abruptly. His eyes turned blank as if struck by lightning, and his gaze fixated on the poised Senju Itama. A storm of confusion roared through his mind.

"I can explain! She is—"

Noticing Tobirama's odd expression and suspecting Itama's identity had been exposed, Uchiha Gin quickly stepped in front of her and addressed the scowling Tobirama with a loud voice.

“She’s who? Uchiha Gin, control your clansmen.”

Unexpectedly, before Gin could concoct a lie, Tobirama regained his usual cold demeanor. He dusted himself off and gave Itama a piercing glance as if committing her face to memory. Then, in a frosty tone, he gave a warning:

“Forget it. The village was just established; we can’t let outsiders laugh at us. Let’s consider this matter closed. But you’d better be more careful from now on.”

Gin froze, unsure if Tobirama’s head was damaged. But Tobirama’s intense gaze remained fixed on Itama’s face, studying her features deeply.

Behind Gin, Itama mouthed threatening words with deadly precision, her subtle lip movements making Tobirama's face twitch.

"Understood."

Tobirama turned his gaze back to Gin, his demeanor entirely composed. His formal voice echoed:
“Since Sarutobi Sasuke clarified the misunderstanding between us, I won’t pursue this matter further. As for the attack, I’ll let it slide this time—since we’re all part of Konoha.”

Thunderous applause erupted from the onlookers, especially the proud Senju clansmen. They showered Tobirama with praises for his magnanimity.

"Tobirama-sama is so kind, even forgiving an attack from the Uchiha!"

This display left the observing ninja clans impressed, many developing newfound admiration for Konoha’s ideals. Tobirama raised an eyebrow, surprised at how his words boosted his reputation and earned goodwill among the visiting clans. He even shot a faintly approving glance toward Gin, who was still beside Itama.

As the event concluded, the crowd dispersed reluctantly, leaving only the key individuals in the clearing. Gin, wary of lingering complications, quickly prepared to leave with the two girls, only to be stopped by Sarutobi Sasuke.

“Uchiha Gin, right? Thank you so much!”

Sasuke, having learned Gin’s name from others, pulled his son forward and eagerly expressed his gratitude.

“Huh?”

“Hiruzen, kneel and thank the savior!”

Before Gin could react, Sarutobi Hiruzen knelt solemnly before him, shocking Gin.

“When did I become a ‘savior’?” Gin asked in confusion.

“Please, no need to be modest! My son was born with... an issue. His, uh, size was that of a peanut. We sought countless doctors, all helpless to resolve it. Without a solution, our lineage was at risk.”

Sasuke spoke candidly, his tone filled with gratitude. He pointed to Hiruzen’s private area, his face brimming with joy.
“But after your treatment earlier, everything has changed. I inspected him, and the problem is gone—his size has reached normal levels! I don’t know how to thank you for saving our clan’s future!”

“Oh, that? Just a small procedure, nothing worth mentioning.”

Gin breathed a sigh of relief as Sasuke explained. It turned out that while healing the two kids, Gin had subconsciously infused a bit of life energy, inadvertently correcting Hiruzen’s issue. What he considered an insignificant act turned out to be a monumental relief for the Sarutobi clan.

“Gin-sama, there’s a highly recommended barbecue restaurant nearby. How about—”

“No need, no need! I’ve got matters to attend to. Maybe next time.”

Gin politely declined Sasuke’s offer and swiftly left with the girls, leaving the Sarutobi father-son duo lamenting his departure.

Elsewhere, Danzo sulked, rubbing his bruised bottom. Watching him, Akimichi Torifu teased:
“Danzo, your butt’s gotten huge—did you use some secret jutsu?”

“Not a jutsu! That darn curly-haired idiot hit me!”

Holding his rear, Danzo declared angrily, “But one day, I’ll get my revenge!”

“You got beaten up, and you want me to jump in next time?” Torifu retorted with a snort, clearly uninterested in joining Danzo’s escapades.

Danzo suddenly had a revelation. “Father! I’ve decided—I’ll create a taijutsu technique focused entirely on... butts!”

His father sighed heavily, while Sasuke, standing nearby, placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder and solemnly remarked:
“Your son... might just be a genius.”


On the other side of the street, Uchiha Gin strolled with two women, and couldn’t help but complain to Senju Itama, who was walking beside him with her head down.

“Hmph! A kind act seen as an insult. If I had known, I wouldn’t have saved you. I should’ve let your second brother skewer you into a sieve!”

Hearing Uchiha Gin’s words, Senju Itama immediately became annoyed. I came to back you up, and you’re blaming me? Without hesitation, she retorted,

“Tch! Do you think I won’t hit a woman or something?”

Gin was taken aback by her sharp response. He raised his hand instinctively, intending to "discipline" this disobedient individual. However, his gaze landed on the purple mark on her forehead, and he deflated like a punctured balloon. With a defeated sigh, he let his hand drop and muttered reluctantly,

“Hmph. Go ahead, hit me if you dare.”

Seeing Gin’s frustrated expression, Itama’s confidence soared. Puffing out her chest defiantly, she leaned in close, her tone dripping with provocation,

“Fine, fine. Thank you, dear savior, for rescuing me from that despicable white-haired Senju.”

As her delicate fragrance wafted over, Gin felt a tickle in his nose.

The sight of her ample assets swaying in front of him made him quickly avert his eyes. Yet, his upward gaze met her youthful, fair face, adorned with anxious black eyes and slightly upturned cherry-red lips that revealed two adorable fangs. Her aura was a blend of innocence and allure, leaving even the seasoned Gin momentarily parched.

“Hmph. Now that’s more like it. Let’s leave him be, Sister Haruka. Let’s continue shopping!”

Satisfied with her victory, Itama laughed heartily and pulled the contemplative Uchiha Haruka along, heading in another direction.


---

“Is there something you’re hiding from us?”

Far from Gin, Haruka asked her good friend Itama, her sharp black eyes carrying an indescribable intensity. Haruka, known for her meticulous nature, had observed Itama’s unusually bold actions earlier. Despite being warned not to intervene, Itama not only appeared dramatically but also landed a heavy punch on Senju Tobirama. Strangely, the usually vengeful white-haired ninja forgave her—a highly suspicious situation.

“Uh…what could I possibly hide? I was just worried that curly-haired ape might do something irrational, so I rushed out without thinking. And look, that idiot of a brother didn’t even recognize me! Hahaha.”

Caught off guard by the question, Itama stumbled briefly before offering a seemingly reasonable explanation, her gaze flickering with guilt.

“Really?”

Haruka narrowed her eyes, exuding an aura of oppressive dominance.

“Hahaha, oh, look at the time! I just remembered I have something urgent to do. Let’s reschedule!”

Unable to meet Haruka’s piercing gaze, a flustered Itama tapped her forehead, stuck out her tongue, and laughed nervously, quickly finding an excuse to leave.

Before Haruka could say anything, Itama sprinted away, leaving her behind to analyze the situation, her eyes glinting with a shrewd light.

“Phew, that was close. Sister Haruka’s instincts are as sharp as ever.”

Hiding in a corner, Itama patted her chest with relief, which resulted in an impressive ripple.

She let out a long sigh, her face filled with lingering fear.


---

Before she could gather herself, a large hand reached out from the shadows, pulling her in.

“Ah! Who—”

“Shh! Quiet.”

“Second Brother? What are you doing here?”

Recognizing the familiar voice, Itama froze mid-punch. She turned to see Tobirama standing there, his head still sporting a swollen lump from earlier.

“You really went all out on me, didn’t you?”

Tobirama crossed his arms and began scolding her. Feeling a twinge of guilt, Itama lowered her head, silently enduring the reprimand.

“You’re telling one story to us and a completely different one to that curly-haired guy. That so-called ‘adopted five-year-old child’ he mentioned is actually you, isn’t it? And after all he’s done, you’re still sticking by him?”

Recalling Gin’s words, Tobirama’s temper flared. He clenched his teeth so hard it sounded like grinding bones, itching to tear Gin apart.

“Huh? Don’t listen to his nonsense. That curly-haired ape just likes to brag. When it comes to real action, he’s nothing but a coward.”

Seeing her brother on the verge of losing control, Itama quickly explained, her gaze carrying mixed emotions and a touch of indignation.


---

This heated confrontation and exchange reveal the complex relationships and emotions intertwined between the characters, filled with familial bonds, romantic tensions, and the ever-present shadow of clan rivalries.