Chapter 66: New Skin, Same Old Routine

A familiar voice called out as Gin walked away from the dungeon. He turned and saw the two boys standing not far away, already thinking up a response.

"Izuna, Madara… do you know what qualities a true leader must possess?"

"???"

Izuna, who'd been ready to tease Gin, froze, completely unprepared for the question.

"Unstoppable strength?"

Madara, already a little more mature than his brother, stroked his chin thoughtfully before answering.

"Not bad," Gin said, nodding, then shook his head with a look of mock disappointment that made the boys grit their teeth.

"Then tell us!"

Izuna, unable to hold back, waved his little fists angrily.

"Hmph. Let me educate you kids on what a real leader needs."

Gin glanced around to make sure no one else was near, then beckoned the brothers closer.

Curious, they leaned in to listen.

"Besides strength, the most important thing is…"

"Is…?"

The boys' eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"This."

Gin held up one hand, palm up, forming a circle with his thumb and forefinger — the universal money gesture.

[ヘ?][_?]

The two boys stared at him blankly.

"Tch. If you don't have gold in your hands, no one's going to follow you wholeheartedly," Gin said, shaking his head like a disappointed teacher.

"That's so shallow!"

Impatient Izuna immediately complained.

"Calm down. That's only part of it. But the most important thing — something most people don't have — is…"

Gin raised a finger dramatically, striking a pose he thought was cool.

"Good looks! Like me. With charm alone, I get my colleagues to work for me while I head home early."

(_)Σ(゜゜)

Leaving the two boys stunned, Gin didn't bother explaining further and turned away with a smug flourish.

"I've never seen someone so shameless!"

Izuna finally recovered, his face red with anger.

Beside him, Madara was lost in thought.

Gin strolled home, whistling happily. Pushing open the door, he saw Senju Itama lounging lazily on the couch, scratching his exposed little belly and yawning, the very picture of a useless slacker.

"You little brat, living the good life, huh?"

Thinking about how he'd worked hard all morning while the boy lay around, Gin felt deeply wronged."Do you even know who's paying the bills here?"

"Huh? You're back early again?"

Itama finally noticed him and immediately sat up, scooting back warily.

"All you do is eat and sleep, useless at everything except scarfing down my food," Gin scolded, poking at the boy's chubby cheek.

"Ow ow ow ow, let go!"

Caught off guard, Itama latched onto his finger with a fierce bite. Gin winced as the pain shot through his whole body, but the little brat refused to let go no matter how hard he tried.

Since brute force didn't work, he tried another tactic.

"I got you a gift. Let go and I'll show you!"

"Gift?"

Itama's eyes lit up, his jaw relaxing slightly.

"Really, really. It's in the cabinet. Go check for yourself!"

Gin coaxed him, afraid his finger would end up swallowed.

"If you lied, I'll bite you to death!"

Still pouting, Itama finally released him and stomped over to the cabinet.

"Stupid brat. We Uchiha are nothing if not honest — my word is as good as gold," Gin muttered, looking at the red, sticky bite mark on his finger with disgust.

He washed his hand thoroughly in the bathroom, scrubbing until it turned white and raw before finally stopping.

"Wow! What a cute little turtle!"

Itama's delighted squeal rang out as he found the three-tails Isobu plushie.

"Hmph. A kid's still a kid," Gin said under his breath, glancing at the boy spinning around in excitement with the plush in his arms.

The gift worked wonders — Itama left him alone for the rest of the day, giving Gin some rare peace and quiet.

That evening, Gin cooked a proper dinner himself. Itama, clinging to his plush, devoured three full bowls and even volunteered to clean up afterward.

The power of the Isobu plushie was truly terrifying.

When night fell, and Itama finally passed out clutching his new toy, Gin slipped out to the backyard as usual. The newly renovated yard brightened his mood, and he sprawled out on his wooden lounger to wait for the next skill refresh.

"Now this is the life," he said contentedly, stretching with a grin."Laziness is the true path."

Then, he felt the air still — it was coming.

A rippling screen of light appeared, and a figure slowly emerged.

"New skin, huh?"

Gin raised an eyebrow at the familiar old friend in front of him.

It was still his usual visitor — the moonlit mentor and tormentor — Uchiha Itachi's one-on-seven form. But unlike before, he no longer wore his Akatsuki cloak.

Instead, he appeared disheveled, clad only in a tight mesh shirt, his face pale and weary.

Even so, Gin didn't lower his guard — his heightened senses told him this version of Itachi was far stronger than any he'd fought before.

Without waiting for Itachi to act, Gin activated his three-tomoe Sharingan and launched his most powerful technique.

Amaterasu flared to life, black flames engulfing the stunned Itachi in an instant.

He actually hit him? Gin could feel through his right eye that the flames had landed.

But then, as the black fire blazed brighter and brighter, a massive orange hand reached through and crushed the flames into nothingness.

A translucent skeletal figure rose, ghostly and terrifying.

"Susano'o…" Gin muttered, retreating a few steps and narrowing his eyes at the giant warrior that now loomed before him.

His strongest card — Amaterasu — had been so easily snuffed out. A hollow helplessness gnawed at him. Unless he could summon his own Gundam, he had no way to fight this.

He kept his gaze locked on the figure, tense and ready for Itachi to strike.

Then, their eyes met — his three-tomoe and Itachi's eerie Mangekyō — and a familiar sensation overwhelmed him.

The world went black, and he found himself once again in his personal hell.

"%+@.＊"…~&"

Cursing bitterly, Gin realized he'd been dragged into another round of Tsukuyomi.

(End of Chapter)

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