Turning reluctantly, Gin faced Wangliang, the old jailer, standing atop his shadow. The ghastly figure's gray-white form loomed in the dark, black glints in its eyes chilling.
"Now?" Gin sighed inwardly. He'd nearly forgotten the old man, yet here he was, summoned at the worst time.
Wangliang nodded expressionlessly, morphing into black sludge that engulfed Gin, vanishing into the corridor's shadows.
Wrapped in the muck, Gin rubbed his chin, exasperated. He wanted nothing to do with the creepy Wangliang or the deranged Uchiha Yao.
He'd assumed six years of no contact meant Yao had kicked the bucket. Apparently not.
Contemplating an Amaterasu on Wangliang, Gin hesitated as the scene shifted. He was back in the abandoned dungeon holding Yao.
The once-sturdy old man was now hunched, face creased deeply, his single eye clouded gray, exuding death. He seemed one breath from the grave.
"Gin, I'm done for," Yao rasped, lifting his head with effort, voice devoid of emotion. "I sense my death, but I'm not ready. I haven't seen Tajima's downfall."
"I can't help. I'm no match for Tajima," Gin said, shrugging, playing helpless.
"The mission's started, hasn't it?" Yao ignored Gin's dodge, shifting to the task.
"What mission?" Gin's heart skipped, but he feigned confusion.
"Heh, don't play dumb. Wangliang told me Tajima shared the mission with you today," Yao said, unconcerned by Gin's slipperiness, focused on progress.
Wangliang? Gin glanced at the silent jailer in the corner, wary. The creature had spied on his talk with Tajima undetected.
"Yeah, Tajima told me about it," Gin admitted, unable to bluff, then casually added, "Your clone's been lurking around Tajima, feeding you intel?"
"No need to pry. Wangliang's my will's extension, telling me everything. I know all that happens outside," Yao boasted, as if in control.
Everything? Gin shot a subtle look at the statue-like jailer, scoffing inwardly. This thing's playing you, old man.
"This is our last shot. I'll send Wangliang with you. His stealth is flawless. Control the freed Nameless, and the three of you can crush Tajima," Yao said.
Team up with Wangliang's disguised mastermind? Gin inwardly recoiled. He had no counter for the Yin-Yang Release creature. If only he were a basic ninja, he'd slice through it.
"Fine, I'll try," Gin said, half-hearted, plotting to snap Yao out of Wangliang's manipulation. The old man, obsessed with revenge, was being strung along.
Yao slumped back, closing his eyes, signaling dismissal. Wangliang enveloped Gin again, ejecting him from the dungeon.
"What a hassle!" Gin muttered. Just when he'd hacked immortality, trouble piled up.
Sometimes, he fantasized about hiding with Tobirama in obscurity, but having transmigrated, he wanted to meet the manga's iconic characters.
Squashing the escapist urge, Gin scratched his curly hair, strolling the Uchiha grounds. Spotting two familiar figures, he paused.
Tobirama and a purple-haired girl crouched at a stall, browsing.
Curious, Gin crept closer.
"Tsume-nee, isn't this doll cute?" Tobirama, thrilled, clutched a green plush, hyping it to the girl. The caterpillar design wasn't exactly girl-friendly.
"It's adorable. This bug'll become a beautiful butterfly," the purple-haired girl said, gently taking the plush, studying it fondly, no trace of rejection.
Surprisingly, she liked it too. Gin marveled at like attracting like.
"Boss, two!" Tobirama, seeing her share his taste, bought both, flaunting his cash.
"Right away, 14,000 ryo!" The vendor, thrilled, packed the caterpillars. Tobirama paid briskly.
"Come again!" The red-haired vendor grinned, counting cash, standing out in the crowd.
"Tsume-nee, this one's for you," Tobirama said, stuffing a plush into her arms, cutting off protests. "It's not my money. Spend that guy's cash guilt-free."
"You little punk, using my money to flirt and badmouth me? Taste my righteous knuckle!" Hearing Tobirama's audacity, Gin stepped out, ready to discipline the cheeky kid.
"Huh?" Tobirama wilted at Gin's appearance, but Senju pride kept his mouth defiant. "You curly baboon, skipping work to stalk underage girls? Pervert!"
"Stalk who?" Gin blinked, baffled.
"I-I meant, stalking Tsume-nee! No wonder you're thirty and single, with that fetish!" Tobirama, realizing his slip, pivoted, shoving the stunned purple-haired girl forward, condemning Gin's "behavior."
"So, Mr. Gin's that kind of person!"
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