บท 112: 112. I'll Sacrifice Myself
As the two entered the clan leader's residence, they encountered Uchiha Madara, who was carrying a wooden sword. With a stern face, Madara grabbed Izuna by the neck, ignoring his resistance, and forcefully dragged him away.
"Father is waiting for you."
Leaving these words behind, Uchiha Madara continued his daily interactions with his younger brother. Uchiha Gin and Uchiha Hikari looked at their cousin with sympathetic gazes, unable to do anything but offer a helpless glance.
Uchiha Gin and Hikari walked side by side along the wooden corridor. It was the height of summer, and the incessant chirping of cicadas filled the air in the courtyard.
Under the scorching sunlight, the petite girl wore a heavy cloak. A few beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her breathing became slightly irregular.
"If it's too hot, you should take off the cloak. When you're not fighting, the dark personality won't awaken."
Noticing that the girl was struggling, Gin suggested. It was indeed stifling to wear such a thick cloak during the dog days of summer. Since she was now by his side, there shouldn't be any mishaps, so the cloak could be removed.
"Besides, you just bought so many new clothes. It's a shame to hide them under the cloak."
"Hmm, let me get used to it for a bit longer."
Recalling the dark personality she communicated with last night, the girl tightened her cloak around herself, pondering for a moment before slowly responding.
"No worries, I'll find a way to completely eliminate that dark personality."
Ever since Uchiha Gin returned, he had been contemplating how to eradicate the dark personalities from his uncle and Hikari.
Although there was no solution for now, who knew if the system might offer a skill in the future that could solve this problem.
"Thank you, Gin~"
The girl looked up at him with watery eyes, but due to the difference in their height, from Gin's perspective, she seemed more like a little sister begging for affection.
"No need to thank me, we're family."
Gin patted the girl on the head. Ever since she had been rescued, it seemed that the words "thank you" were the most frequent ones she said to him.
It felt a bit distant.
In contrast, Senju Itama was more like family—he had no reservations and would even kiss Gin at times.
As they exchanged casual conversation, they soon arrived at Uchiha Tajima's study. Gin knocked loudly on the door, causing the entire frame to shake and dust to fall from the beams above.
"Come in!"
A helpless voice came from within.
Gin smiled, pushing the door open and walking in with Hikari.
"How many times have I told you to knock lightly? Do you have any idea how strong you are?"
Sitting behind his desk, Uchiha Tajima looked pained as he stared at the door. It had been crafted by a renowned master from the Land of Fire, and it hadn't come cheap.
"Why are you so stingy? Can't you show some grace as the clan leader?"
Gin rolled his eyes, casually wiping some fresh snot on one of the study's pillars, making Tajima's hand holding the pen tighten in anger.
"Calm down, calm down..." Tajima forced himself to recall his nephew's filial moments, exhaling deeply. His expression then shifted to one of seriousness as he looked at Gin and Hikari.
"There's something important I need to discuss with you."
Even before unlocking Hikari's power, there was a matter Uchiha Tajima had on hand that required someone clever, capable, and above all, trustworthy to handle.
"?"
Gin was puzzled. Wasn't he supposed to just bide his time in the dungeons until the founding of Konoha? Now they were asking him to work overtime?
With so many talented people in the clan—Madara with his wisdom and courage, Izuna being decent enough, and promising young men like Uchiha Ryuei and Uchiha Fūka—why was he being picked for this? He didn't exactly stand out.
Just as he was wondering what made him so special, a thought struck Gin, making his body tense. Could it be...
Gin's eyes suddenly sharpened, his brow furrowing deeply. He took a deep breath and looked intensely at his beloved uncle, his expression mixed with reluctance, satisfaction, and a hint of pride as he spoke:
"It's finally here, isn't it?"
"Huh? You figured it out?" Tajima, who was about to speak, was surprised. How did his nephew know?
"Sigh, being so naturally handsome, I understand, Uncle. Just tell me which clan's princess it is. For the sake of the family, I'm willing to sacrifice my good looks."
Gin leaned against the wall, feigning sorrow, lifting the strands of hair covering his face to reveal what he thought was a dazzlingly handsome smile. His sparkling teeth nearly blinded the others in the room.
"Pffft!!!"
Uchiha Tajima, who had just taken a sip of tea, spat it all out as if performing a Water Release jutsu. Meanwhile, Hikari stood there dumbfounded, her mouth agape, unable to close it. At the same time, the patterns in her eyes unconsciously shifted to a bewitching Mangekyō Sharingan.
Cough, cough!
"You brat! What nonsense are you spouting!"
Tajima threw a teacup at Gin, who skillfully dodged. The cup flew past and embedded itself deeply into the intricately carved door.
Indeed, the Uchiha clan leader's shuriken skills were masterful.
"Wait, isn't this about a marriage alliance?"
Gin looked at his uncle in confusion, running a hand through his hair. Hadn't they called him here for his stunning appearance?
"When did I ever mention a marriage alliance! Remember, the Uchiha clan never marries outside the clan!"
Tajima massaged his temples, trying to calm the veins bulging on his forehead. Finally, he exhaled a heavy breath, gritting his teeth.
"!!!"
Hikari, who had been on the verge of a dark transformation, suddenly lit up at these words. The ominous aura between her brows began to dissipate.
That's right!
The Uchiha clan forbids marriages with outsiders. Gin and that loathsome brat will never end up together! Gin was just toying with that person and would ultimately return to her side.
With this realization, the worry on Hikari's face was replaced by a relieved smile. From now on, her position would be unshakable!
"You should've said so earlier! You had me worrying over nothing."
Gin sighed in relief, though he seemed to be hiding some gladness beneath his regret.
"When did I ever say that?!"
Tajima clenched his fists. This kid was becoming more infuriating by the day. His fists itched for action, and perhaps he would take it out on Izuna later.
In the back courtyard, Izuna, who was currently being beaten by his brother, suddenly felt a chill. He nervously looked around but found nothing.
"Izuna! Focus during battle!"
Madara's large sword came down, striking Izuna's head and causing him to cry out in pain.
"The Hagoromo clan, do you remember them?"
After regaining his composure, Tajima looked up at Gin.
"The Hagoromo clan?"
Gin's dormant memories began to resurface. After thinking for a moment, Gin touched his chin and replied in a complex tone:
"Weren't they a clan we once worked with? I haven't heard anything about them in years."
The Hagoromo clan—Gin remembered them from his second go-around. They had some merit but were eventually crushed by the Senju clan. It seemed their backers were about to abandon them.
"That's right. The Hagoromo clan was once a prominent family in the Land of Fire, but after several defeats by the Senju, they're now on the brink of extinction."
The world was harsh. Only the strong survived, while the weak were erased by time.
"Why bring them up?"
Gin remembered being tricked by someone from the Hagoromo clan, but it was thanks to that person that he had been able to start his second life.
"A while back, the clan leader of the Hagoromo was killed in battle. Most of their strong men have been slaughtered, and the remaining elderly, women, and children are struggling to keep the clan alive."
Though Uchiha Tajima looked down on the Hagoromo clan, their plight still moved him somewhat. He sighed and spoke, his gaze complicated.
"Now, the remaining members of the Hagoromo clan have come to us with a request."
"A request?"
Gin raised an eyebrow. All their fighters were dead. Did they want the Uchiha to seek revenge for them?
"It's not exactly a task, more like a plea."
Recalling the humble posture of the Hagoromo representative, Tajima sighed deeply before continuing.
"What's the reward?"
Gin was more curious about what this beaten-down clan could offer to persuade the Uchiha to help.
"You're not curious about the task?"
Tajima raised an eyebrow. His nephew's unpredictability was puzzling. He then fixed Gin with a deep stare, making the latter uncomfortable.
"You're the clan leader, you call the shots."
Gin quickly gave in. He wasn't in the mood for more guessing games.
"The Hagoromo clan has asked us to escort their elderly and children to the Land of Lightning."
Uchiha Tajima nodded in satisfaction, spread out a map, and tossed it to Uchiha Gin.
"The Land of Lightning? That country filled with blacksmiths?"
Uchiha Gin caught the map and began carefully examining the current state of the ninja world. In the center was the Land of Fire, and the mission's destination was the Land of Lightning, located in the northeastern corner of the Land of Fire.
It was said that the place was covered with towering peaks that pierced the clouds, shrouded in mist all year round, with deafening thunder frequently echoing in the sky.
"Why go to such a remote country?"
Even if the Hagoromo clan was in decline, there was no need to go to such a godforsaken place. The Land of Fire was fertile and had a pleasant climate.
They could easily lie low, bide their time for a decade or so, and when Konoha was founded, sneak in and turn the situation around effortlessly.
"The Land of Fire no longer has a place for them."
Seeing Uchiha Gin's confusion, Uchiha Tajima shook his head and didn't hide the truth from his nephew.
"Do you know how Senju Butsuma really died?"
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