In his past life, Uchiha Gin, living alone, had honed his cooking skills. Now, in this world, he finally had a chance to shine.
Carrying out his signature braised fish and sweet-and-sour pork, he interrupted the bickering boys, who stopped, noses twitching as they sniffed the air.
"Cousin, what's that smell? What're you holding?" Uchiha Izuna asked eagerly, eyeing the dishes. Even the bound Senju Itama craned his neck curiously.
"My culinary masterpiece. Come try it," Uchiha Gin said, raising an eyebrow as he set the dishes on the table and returned for more.
At his call, Izuna abandoned his spat with Itama, scrambling to the table.
His eyes gleamed at the fragrant, colorful spread, drool pooling. Unable to resist, he reached for the glossy pork.
"Wash your hands first!" Uchiha Gin barked, emerging with chopsticks, bowls, and a plate of tomato-egg stir-fry.
"Fine…" Izuna muttered, retracting his hand with a pout.
Back from washing, Izuna, drained from their earlier fight, ignored manners, digging in voraciously.
"This meat's sweet and sour—so good!" he mumbled, cheeks stuffed, nearly swallowing the bowl.
Gulp. Watching Izuna eat messily, Itama, bound and unfed for days, swallowed hard. The table's aroma made his stomach growl, and he hung his head in embarrassment.
"Hey, cousin, whose bowl and chopsticks are these? You invite someone else?" Izuna asked, swallowing a mouthful and noticing the extra set.
Finished cooking, Uchiha Gin, still in his apron, approached the dejected Itama. With a rip, he cut the boy's ropes.
Itama, stunned, stared at the homely Uchiha Gin, who patted his head. "What're you waiting for? Eat."
"Why?" Itama asked warily, flexing his stiff hands.
"Eat when I tell you to. No questions," Uchiha Gin snapped, flicking Itama's forehead and plopping him at the table, shoving chopsticks into his hand.
Tearing up from the flick, Itama eyed the food but hesitated. Uchiha Gin clipped a piece of tender fish and stuffed it into his mouth.
As saliva mixed with the braised fish's flavor, Itama's taste buds lit up. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Burying his face in a bowl, he shoveled rice, muttering, "You rotten Uchiha, stop hitting my head!" as if the tears were from the flick.
What followed was a food-grabbing contest. Izuna, older and stronger, won handily.
Snatching the last piece of pork, he smirked at the defeated Itama. "That's it? That's all you got?"
The chaos ended. Izuna, belly full, lounged on the sofa, while Itama, tactfully, helped Uchiha Gin clear the dishes.
"Not bad, kid. You've got a good eye. Your brother must be thrilled to have you," Uchiha Gin praised.
Itama's face lit up with a sly grin, squinting provocatively at the lounging Izuna.
(???)! Izuna glared, itching to snap at the cheeky kid.
"Cousin, who is this kid?" Izuna demanded, staking his claim loudly.
Itama froze, his face falling as he washed dishes.
Uchiha Gin patted his shoulder, signaling him to relax, then said, "Found this orphan on my mission. He's got a bad temper but good potential. I brought him back to train as a loyal aide."
In the chaotic Warring States, orphans were common. Lucky ones became clan servants; most starved, became war fodder, or, worst, ended up as experiment subjects.
"Oh," Izuna said, losing interest. A mere orphan wasn't worth the clan leader's son's attention.
Uchiha Gin's explanation eased Itama, who was relieved his identity stayed hidden. But why was this guy protecting him?
During post-dinner chatter, Uchiha Gin sat on the sofa, asking Izuna, picking his teeth, "Anything new in the clan lately?"
"Not much. Everyone's training hard. Father says fighting's about to start again," Izuna said casually, not grasping war's weight.
"Could it be the final battle?" Uchiha Gin mused, stroking his chin.
"But there's one weird thing," Izuna added, his face souring.
"What's that?" Uchiha Gin asked, curious.
"Big Brother's been acting secretive," Izuna said uncertainly. "I think he's in love. He sneaks out daily and comes back grinning like crazy."
"Cough, cough! How do you know it's love?" Uchiha Gin choked on his water, laughing.
"Uchiha Greenflower from the village sneaks to the woods with Patrolman Uchiha Ironball at night. She comes back all smiles, and they got married," Izuna said seriously. "I've seen that smile—it's the same as Big Brother's!"
"Pfft!" Uchiha Gin sprayed his water, hitting the eavesdropping Itama, who shot him a resentful look. Wiping his mouth, Gin smacked Izuna's head. "You little sneak, spying on dates! Who else knows?"
"Hmph, I told Father. He said to keep an eye on Big Brother and see who he's meeting," Izuna said, rubbing his head, proud of his mission.
So, Hashirama and Madara have met. The Hidden Leaf's founding is near, and my days of laying low are coming! Uchiha Gin thought, dreaming of a peaceful future.
A sharp knock interrupted him. Wary, he signaled Itama to hide in the back room and opened the door.
A strange Uchiha stood there, eyes cold, face gaunt, like a lifeless corpse. "Uchiha Gin, the Clan Leader summons you," he rasped, voice like sandpaper.
Uchiha Gin frowned, unsure what his cousin was playing at, but nodded.
"You'll be assigned to the dungeon…" the man continued, sending a chill through Uchiha Gin, his pupils shrinking.
"…starting tomorrow. Report then."
Can you not pause like that?
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