In his previous life, Uchiha Gin, living alone, developed excellent cooking skills. Now, in this world, he finally had a chance to showcase them.
As he brought out his signature dishes—braised fish and sweet and sour pork—the two quarreling kids immediately stopped their argument, sniffing the air as if searching for the source of the aroma.
"Cousin, what's that smell? What did you bring out?"
Noticing that the aroma came from the food Uchiha Gin was holding, the impatient Uchiha Izuna couldn't help but ask. Even Senju Itama, who was tied up nearby, curiously lifted his head to look.
"Here, try your cousin's cooking. Hurry up and give it a taste."
Uchiha Gin raised an eyebrow, placed the dishes on the table, and turned to bring out the rest of the food.
Hearing his invitation, Uchiha Izuna stopped bickering with Senju Itama and quickly sat at the table. His eyes gleamed as he stared at the delicious dishes, his mouth watering. Unable to resist, he reached out to grab the glossy sweet and sour pork.
"Wash your hands first!"
Uchiha Gin, now holding a stack of bowls and a plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, scolded him for his impatience.
"Got it," Izuna mumbled quietly, pulling back his hand.
After washing his hands, Izuna, too hungry to care about manners, immediately grabbed a bowl and began devouring the food, exhausted from the earlier fight.
"This meat is sweet and sour, so delicious!"
With his mouth full of sweet and sour pork, Izuna's eyes sparkled, and he seemed ready to swallow the entire bowl.
"Gulp, gulp..."
Watching Izuna eat with oil dripping from his mouth, the tied-up Senju Itama couldn't help but swallow hungrily. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything for days, and the delicious aroma from the table made his stomach growl, his head drooping in defeat.
"Hey, cousin, whose bowls and chopsticks are those? Are we expecting someone else?"
After managing to swallow his overstuffed mouthful, Uchiha Izuna noticed the extra set of tableware on the table and asked curiously.
Finishing the cooking, Uchiha Gin, now wearing an apron, walked out of the kitchen and headed straight toward the seated Senju Itama.
With a swift tearing sound, the ropes binding Itama's hands broke.
Freed, Itama looked in disbelief at the domestic version of Uchiha Gin, who gently patted his head and said, "What are you standing there for? Go eat."
"Why?"
Not understanding the situation, Itama moved his stiff hands, asking cautiously.
"When I say eat, just eat. Why so many questions?"
Uchiha Gin knocked Itama lightly on the head, then lifted him to the table and handed him chopsticks.
Still tearing up from the knock, Itama stared at the food, hesitant to move. Gin picked up a piece of tender fish and put it into Itama's mouth.
As the fish's flavor spread across his taste buds, tears streamed down Itama's cheeks.
He buried his head in the bowl, shoveling food into his mouth and muttering, "You hateful Uchiha, stop hitting me on the head!" His tears seemed to suggest that the knock on the head was the cause.
From then on, the two kids started competing over the food.
Naturally, the older and stronger Uchiha Izuna emerged victorious, grabbing the last piece of sweet and sour pork with a smug, villainous grin, taunting the defeated Itama, "Is that all you've got?"
After the food battle ended, Uchiha Izuna lay contentedly on the sofa, rubbing his full belly.
Meanwhile, Senju Itama, being sensible, helped Uchiha Gin clean up the dishes.
"You're quite the sharp one! Your brother must be proud to have a little sibling like you."
Seeing Itama voluntarily help clean up, Gin praised him.
Flattered by Gin's compliment, Itama gave a mischievous smile, squinting provocatively at Izuna, who was sprawled on the sofa.
Seeing Itama's cheeky behavior, Uchiha Izuna was furious, gritting his teeth.
"This brat!"
"Brother, who exactly is this kid?"
Feeling provoked, Uchiha Izuna loudly asserted his authority and deliberately asked Gin.
Hearing Izuna's question, Itama's body stiffened, and his expression darkened.
Gin patted him on the shoulder, signaling not to worry, and calmly explained, "I found this kid during a mission. He's an orphan with a bad temper but has potential. I brought him back to train as a trusted aide."
In the chaotic Warring States period, many orphans were displaced, with only a lucky few being taken in by clans as laborers.
Most were either left to starve or used as cannon fodder in wars. The unluckiest were subjected to cruel human experiments.
"Oh."
Satisfied with the explanation, Izuna didn't question further, since this orphan from another clan didn't matter to someone of his status as the clan leader's son.
Gin's answer put Itama at ease—his identity hadn't been exposed.
But he still couldn't help but wonder why Gin was protecting him.
After dinner, Gin sat on the sofa and asked Izuna, who was still picking his teeth, "Anything new happening in the clan lately?"
"Not really. Everyone's been training hard. Father says the fighting will start again soon."
Unconcerned about the deeper meaning of war, Izuna casually replied.
"Are we preparing for the final battle?"
Gin stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"But there is something strange."
Izuna suddenly spoke, his expression turning serious.
"What is it?"
Curious, Gin asked, seeing his grim look.
"Recently, big brother has been acting all secretive."
Izuna spoke with uncertainty.
"It's like he's in love. He sneaks out every day and comes back looking really happy."
Cough cough cough
Gin almost choked on his water, barely able to contain his laughter.
"How do you know it's love?"
"Well, there's this girl, Uchiha Hitomi, who used to sneak out with Uchiha Tanaka from the patrol squad to the woods at night. They'd stay there for ages, and she'd come back with a big smile. Then they got married."
Izuna explained seriously.
"I've seen that smile—it's the same as my brother's!"
Pffft
Gin spit out the water he had just sipped, hitting poor Senju Itama in the face. Wiping his mouth, he playfully knocked Izuna on the head.
"Mind your own business, spying on people's dates. Does anyone else know about this?"
"I reported it to Father. He told me to keep an eye on brother and see who he's secretly meeting."
Rubbing his sore head, Izuna proudly declared his "mission."
It seemed that Hashirama and Madara had already crossed paths, meaning the founding of Konoha wasn't far off.
Soon, Gin's peaceful days might come to an end.
Just as Gin was imagining his future, a sudden knock on the door broke his thoughts.
Gin cautiously got up, motioning for Itama to hide in the back room before opening the door.
Standing there was a stranger from the Uchiha clan, his cold gaze and gaunt face resembling a lifeless corpse.
"Uchiha Gin, the clan leader has orders."
The voice was raspy, like sandpaper.
Gin frowned, puzzled by his uncle's strange behavior, but he nodded.
"You are to report to the dungeon."
A chill ran down Gin's spine, his pupils dilating in shock.
"For duty. You're to report tomorrow."
Could this guy not take a breath between sentences?
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