Konoha: The Thirty-Year-Old Uchiha Can’t Be Bothered

Chapter 324: Gin Walks Right Into the Trap

Gin toyed with the new card in his hand, glancing at the pair bowing their heads like chickens pecking rice. His eyes lingered on the delicate-looking girl before he asked:

"What's your full name?"

"Eh?"

Still nestled in Kamibi's arms, Jinako wiped her tears, blinking in surprise. But facing the question of her savior, she answered honestly.

"Jinako. For as long as I can remember, that's all I've been called."

"No surname?"

Sensing something unusual in her life force, Gin pressed further with interest.

"No… I don't know who my real parents are. Jinako is the name given to me by the couple who raised me."

She lowered her gaze and explained. She had been found abandoned on a roadside by a pair of commoners from Grass, and raised until the age of six or seven. Then, when war swept through, she was separated from them and became a wandering orphan.

If not for meeting Kamibi, she might have starved to death.

"…I see. That explains it."

Gin nodded thoughtfully. From Jinako's body, he sensed the faint yet undeniable blood of the Senju clan. Not pure, but still a descendant of the Sage's line.

"Y-you know her origins?"

Kamibi, startled, rose shakily, eyes full of tension.

Gin waved it off. "Nothing much. Just checking her registry. After all, not just anyone can be a Rider."

He didn't care about family trees—he wasn't going to pull out a clan scroll to investigate. Instead, to Kakuzu's astonishment, he casually tossed the dark mist-wreathed card into Jinako's hands.

"What!?"

Kakuzu nearly fell off his stool. He knew exactly what that meant. But why give it to the fragile girl and not Kamibi, the hardened man?

Hah. Gender bias much?

"This is…?"

Jinako tilted her head, confused. She had no memory of the sealing earlier. To her, it just looked like a beautiful drawing of a flaming, chain-bound piranha. Something about it… appealed to her.

"Here. You too."

Gin rolled his eyes at Kamibi's fussing, and from his dimensional storage pulled out a gray box. He handed it to Jinako.

"What… is this?"

She held it like a sacred treasure, unfamiliar with such a strange item.

"A belt. Driver, henshin device, whatever you want to call it."

"…!"

Kamibi's gaze flicked to Kakuzu's waist, recognizing the resemblance. He forced his battered body upright, and in desperation dropped to his knees before Gin.

"Please—let me take her place! Jinako is too weak for this!"

Jinako panicked, worried Kamibi was about to strip down or worse.

But Gin only scoffed. "Kid, you don't have the stamina. She does."

Kamibi's face stiffened, pain flaring in his chest. His body had reached its limit. He collapsed, coughing in agony.

"Kamibi!"

Jinako ran to him, clutching the belt. Helpless, she looked up at Gin.

"Tch. Can't even scream without choking."

Gin raised a hand, channeling green chakra into Kamibi's chest. Slowly, the youth's breathing steadied.

"Thank you!" Jinako bowed low, forehead touching the ground.

"Enough. What will you two do now?" Gin crossed his arms, tapping his armored forearm rhythmically.

"We'll keep our promise. We'll live here, guard this town, protect its peace."

Kamibi forced himself upright, Jinako nodding beside him.

"And Grass? They'll notice their shinobi missing."

Gin's words were like blades. Kamibi grimaced, but clenched his teeth. "We'll handle it."

"Fine. I'll be watching. If you mess up, you know what happens."

The pressure in his tone left no doubt. Kamibi's resolve hardened. He would silence those in Grass who wanted Jinako back at any cost.

"…The night's ending. Ghost stories always need their conclusion."

Gin looked toward the dawn, voice calm.

"Yes. It's time." Kamibi exhaled, glancing at Jinako with relief.

Gin turned, picking up a filthy mask from the ground, already planning punishment for his nephew.

"Wait! How do I use this?"

Jinako ran forward, clutching the belt and card nervously.

Gin clicked his tongue. Teaching her the whole code of Riders would take till sunrise. Instead, he beckoned Kakuzu.

"Oi."

"Yes, Decade Rider-sama!"

Kakuzu rushed up, bowing, eager to please.

"Teach her the Rider's code. And the henshin basics. I've got business."

"…Eh?" Kakuzu froze. He was barely a few years into this Rider gig himself.

Gin's crimson glare shut him up. "Y-yes sir! I'll do it!"

Satisfied, Gin snapped his fingers. A black rift swallowed him.

"Safe travels, Decade Rider!" Kakuzu waved cheerfully. Then he elbowed Kamibi.

"Quick, bow!"

Both Kamibi and Jinako bent at a sharp ninety degrees, sending him off properly.

"…Finally gone!" Kakuzu slumped in relief, tension draining.

"Uh… Ken-senpai?" Jinako asked timidly.

"Call me senpai," Kakuzu corrected proudly, chest swelling. For once, he had a junior to lecture.

"Yes, Ken-senpai!"

"Good. Now listen carefully. As a Rider, first you must follow—"

Meanwhile, far above, Madara crouched on a rooftop, having watched it all. The casual Rider Kick that erased Go's existence weighed on his mind. That simple step held destruction beyond comprehension.

"…Hmph."

But instead of fear, his blood burned hotter.

"Once I deal with Hashirama… you're next."

He told himself that, giving an excuse for not having intervened. In truth, he wanted the perfect entrance later.

Just then—

"Oh? So you like hiding and peeping?"

A voice cut through his thoughts.

"Shhhk!"

Madara reacted instantly, kunai flashing toward the intruder.

Clang!

The blades bounced harmlessly from armor. From the shadows stepped Gin, deflecting them with ease.

"Decade Rider?"

Madara's Sharingan spun, his voice wary.

Gin tilted his head, disappointed. "Oi, that's not how the script goes. You're ruining my big line."

"What do you want?"

Madara's guard was high. He'd fought another Rider before—the boy with the Five-Tails had nearly forced him into using his Mangekyō. This Decade Rider's power was leagues beyond.

"…I was just curious. You, so proud, watching quietly from the sidelines? That's not like you."

Gin's crimson eyes gleamed. Was Madara sick? Why pass up a perfect chance to pose dramatically?

"Tch. You dare lecture me?"

Madara sneered, unwilling to admit he had simply been saving his entrance for later.

Gin chuckled, secretly relieved. His cousin hadn't changed. Still arrogant, still sharp.

"…Tell me. Do you even have a Bijuu?" Gin asked casually.

"I do."

Gin's eyebrow twitched. Really? He wasn't bluffing?

Madara smirked. "Of course. The strongest—the Kyūbi!"

"Not bad." Gin reached behind him, rummaging through his dimensional storage. With a flourish, he tossed a gleaming card toward Madara.

"This…! A Nine-Tails card?"

Madara caught it, shocked. The chakra radiating from it was unmistakable. How had Decade Rider crafted such a thing?

"Trade secret," Gin said simply.

Madara's focus locked onto the card, eyes shining with hunger.

"Bye-bye."

Gin snapped his fingers again, a rift opening.

"Wait! Where's the belt?!"

Madara's shout echoed.

From above, a rabbit-eared helmet popped back out of the rift.

"Ah, my bad. Out of stock. My apprentice can make one—look him up."

Before Madara could retort, Gin disappeared for real this time.

"…Tch."

Madara glared at the card in his hand. He had the Nine-Tails, and now this. But without a Driver…

"Next time, Decade Rider…"

—

Back in Konoha, Gin reappeared in his dark room. Tossing the filthy mask aside, he muttered, "No way I'm using that again."

"…Gin. Where were you?"

A soft, chilling voice drifted from behind him. He froze, cold sweat breaking out.

Slowly, he turned. A pair of scarlet eyes glowed in the dark.

"…Mitsuko?"

Only then did he realize—he'd teleported into the wrong room.

His cousin's sister stood there, clutching his pillow, cheeks flushed, a strange gleam in her eyes.

"…Mitsuko, why are you holding my pillow?"

She smiled faintly, licking her lips. "Why do you think?"

Gin's stomach dropped. The pillow hit the bed with a wet sound that made his face pale.

"M-Mitsuko… I can scream for help!"

"Go ahead. No one will come~"

The room filled with the sound of tearing fabric.

"Creak… creak…"

Slap slap slap slap!

(End of Chapter)

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