Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha lacks motivation.

Chapter 109 Two people who are too different

As lunchtime approached, the number of customers in the barbecue restaurant gradually increased. Uchiha Ayako stopped chatting with the two and got up to greet the customers.

Looking at the Uchiha clan members chatting and laughing, Uchiha Taro couldn't help but feel a little melancholy.

"We are in a rare period of peace now, and there are many more customers than before."

"Yes, the Senju guys are electing a new clan leader, the battlefield is a bit more stable for now, and everyone can come back and relax."

Uchiha Gin took a sip of Uchiha Taro's treasured wine, then frowned after swallowing it.

"This wine tastes off. It's bland, like it's been diluted with water."

"Impossible! I was perfectly fine when I drank it a few days ago."

Upon hearing Uchiha Gin's doubts, a blush crept across Uchiha Taro's honest face. Unconvinced, he poured himself a cup, savored it carefully, then frowned, a thoughtful look flashing across his eyes before a look of sudden realization dawned on him.

"Tsk, it must be that brat Erlang. I'll break his legs when he gets back!"

At this time, in the dungeon of the Uchiha clan

"Firecore, you've finally returned from the battlefield, as your brother, I definitely have to give you a welcome-back party."

With a mysterious expression, the mature-looking Uchiha Jiro carefully took out a storage scroll from his backpack, made a hand seal, and as the smoke dissipated, a jar of fine wine and a small mountain of spellcasting materials appeared on the ground.

"These are all from my collection, so you can pick one!"

With a look of struggle on his face, Uchiha Jiro waved his hand painfully and said,

Uchiha Fire Core:

"Hehe, I didn't expect that Jiro, that thick-browed, big-eyed kid, would also break the three ninja taboos."

Uchiha Gin recalled the seemingly honest but actually greasy-looking boy who worked in the dungeon, and laughed to show his support.

"I'm sorry you had to see this."

With a dark expression, Uchiha Taro put away the fine wine on the table and said somewhat embarrassedly,

"It's alright. After all, it's not good for your health to drink too much strong liquor right now. Erlang is probably just worried about you."

Thinking of Uchiha Taro's physical condition, Uchiha Gin decided to find an excuse for his colleague after a moment's thought. After all, he still had to make things convenient for Taro when he went to the dungeon to clean up the mess. If his leg was broken, he would have to walk all over again after the job was changed.

"Hmph! I hope so."

Uchiha Taro felt a warmth in his heart and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, but he still stubbornly replied.

While Uchiha Gin was chatting happily with his old teammates, the scene inside the private room was quite different for the three people.

Inside the private room

Uchiha Ayako brought tea and poured it for the three people in the private room. Her eyes swept over the silent group, and a thought began to linger in her mind.

"When did Ah Yin start attracting so many young girls?"

She was quite familiar with Senju Itama and Uchiha Kazumi, and the two of them would come to the store to shop every few days, but she had never seen the black-haired girl sitting alone to the side.

"Sister Yako, remember to bring me a fish!"

Senju Itama, who was whispering with Uchiha Kazuya, immediately made her request when she saw that the person receiving them was an acquaintance.

"Okay, small subdivided unit, how about you, Xiaozhi?"

Uchiha Ayako smiled and agreed, then turned to ask the purple-haired girl.

"Sister Yako, I'd like an order of chicken wings."

Uchiha Shigeaki smiled and ordered a plate of her favorite chicken wings.

"This lady?"

After noting down the two people's requests, Uchiha Ayako asked Uchiha Hikaru, who had been silent all along, "Judging from his hairstyle, he's definitely a pure Uchiha."

"I'll eat whatever A-Gin orders."

Judging from the behavior of the two people traveling together, Ah Yin is very familiar with the people in this store.

Having been sealed away for so many years, can he reintegrate into his life?

"Is A-Yin very familiar with the people in this shop?"

After Uchiha Ayako left, Uchiha Hikari broke the silence first. She couldn't let her remain ignorant; from now on, she would try her best to understand every little detail about Gintoki.

"The owner of this restaurant is Mr. Yin's former teammate. He opened this barbecue restaurant after retiring due to injury."

Senju Itama, not wanting to talk to Uchiha Hikaru, turned his head away as if to puff out his cheeks, pretending not to hear.

Sensing that the girl was not someone to be trifled with, Uchiha Osamu, in an attempt to ease the awkwardness, quietly explained to her...

"Thank you, may I have you manage it?"

Putting aside her grudges for the time being, Uchiha Hikaru decided to get to know Gintoki and started with the purple-haired Uchiha girl in front of her. The girl didn't seem to have any emotional entanglement with Gintoki, so she could befriend her without worry.

"You're too kind, senior. Just call me Xiao Zhili."

Although Uchiha Hikaru in front of her looked only a few years older than her, she could sense from her aura that he was definitely not as young as he appeared to the naked eye.

"Okay, little manager, I'd like to ask."

Hikaru Uchiha nodded in satisfaction, having successfully connected with the purple-haired girl; he had taken the first step towards success.

"Sister Zhili! How could you betray your best friend?"

Watching the two girls chatting happily, Senju Itama felt deeply betrayed. She felt she had been cheated on, and more than once.

"Little Zhi is of the same clan as me, so he should be closer to me."

Upon hearing Senju Itama's words, Uchiha Hikaru, a smile playing on his lips, turned to his defeated and abandoned subordinate and offered a "kind" explanation.

"That's not the case. Although Hikaru-senpai is of the same clan as me and we share the same blood, Itama and I have known each other for many years and are already like brothers."

The purple-haired girl was fair to both sides, speaking in a way that offended neither, demonstrating a deep understanding of the doctrine of the mean.

"By the way, I've had a question since the beginning that I'd like to ask Hikaru-senpai."

After exchanging most of their questions, Uchiha Zhili and Uchiha Guang finally found an opportunity to ask each other a question.

Uchiha looked puzzled.

"Since Hikaru-senpai and Gin-san are childhood friends who grew up together, why is Gin-san already thirty years old, while Hikaru-senpai still looks like he's in his late twenties?"

Hearing his own mouth ask the question he most wanted answered, Senju Itama, who had been silently drinking tea with his head down, pricked up his ears high, afraid of missing anything.

"Um, I'm sorry, this is a confidential matter. I cannot disclose it to anyone without permission."

Uchiha Tajima had previously instructed the two not to reveal what happened during the mission or Uchiha Hikari's experiences, so the girl could only refuse to answer Uchiha Rinpoche's questions.

"Oh, since it's confidential, I won't ask any more questions."

The sensible Uchiha leader immediately stated that he would not interfere again, while Senju Itama, standing to the side, curled his lip in disapproval.

"Hmph! What a pretentious old woman."

Uchiha Hikaru hardened her fist as she looked at the black-haired brat. The more she looked at him, the more she disliked him, as if they were born to be at odds.

Forcibly suppressing his anger, Uchiha Hikaru raised his head and smiled, about to continue asking about Gin, when he heard a commotion outside, followed by Gin's distinctive voice.

"What a coincidence! What a coincidence! My little cousins, you're back?"

……

"Let's go together!"

"Whoosh!"

The door to the private room was pushed open, and the three people inside looked up at the doorway. They saw that in addition to Uchiha Gin, there were two other men with cold and handsome auras standing outside. They were the brothers Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna.

"I didn't expect to run into you so soon after I got back."

Madara Uchiha's usually icy face was now filled with helplessness. He had just returned from inspecting the front lines and was preparing to treat himself and his younger brother Izuna to a good meal. However, as soon as he entered this famous barbecue restaurant in the clan, he was spotted by Gin Uchiha, who was sitting in the lobby.

"Big cousin, are you really going to throw a welcome-back party for us?"

Standing to the side, young Izuna, whose childish face had just shed its innocence, was all smiles. Originally, he was supposed to treat his older brother after losing the match, but now that he had met his generous cousin, he didn't have to pay.

"We're all brothers, why are you being so polite with me? Come in and have a seat!"

Uchiha Gin chuckled and patted Uchiha Madara on the shoulder, pushing the two of them into the private room. Having no other choice, they reluctantly entered.

Huh?

Upon entering the private room, Madara Uchiha instinctively felt a sense of threat. A cold and gloomy aura permeated the entire room, making him wary. One hand quietly reached for the sword at his waist.

"The knife is hanging here. It's inconvenient to wear it while eating; you might accidentally stab people."

Before he could react, Uchiha Gin's hand had already reached for his sword. Before he could refuse, the other man swiftly took the sword from him and hung it on the shelf in the private room.

A flash of surprise crossed Madara Uchiha's mind. This technique? This speed?

But before he could think any further, his younger brother had already quickly taken his seat.

Izuna's vigilance is too poor. He needs more practice in the future to avoid being ambushed on the battlefield.

"Big cousin, who is this girl?"

After Izuna hurriedly took his seat, he noticed that besides Senju Itama and Uchiha Osamu, whom he recognized, there was also a black-haired girl he had never seen before. She was staring at him thoughtfully, which made him feel uneasy. His restless younger cousin couldn't help but whisper in Uchiha Gin's ear to ask her something.

"Friends, friends I've known since childhood."

The girl's identity was not directly introduced; she was simply referred to as a childhood friend.

"Huh? You guys are way too different!"

After mentally comparing the sizes of the two, the straightforward Uchiha Izuna's eyes lit up as he spoke, as if he had discovered a shocking plot hole.

"You're old enough to be her father."

"Bang!!!"

"Can't you give me some face in public, bro?"

Having been struck by Uchiha Gin's ultimate taijutsu technique, the second style, Izuna clutched the large bump on his head and complained to the culprit, feeling wronged.

"You talk too much."

Blowing away the smoke from his fist, Uchiha Gin said with a look of exasperation, then secretly glanced at Uchiha Hikaru, whose face was full of displeasure. "Izuna, that kid is getting more and more out of control. Your cousin is doing this to save you!"

"Ah Yin, are these the younger brothers you mentioned?"

With her complexion restored to normal, Uchiha Hikaru smiled as she watched the three brothers interacting, asking in a gentle tone, appearing every bit the virtuous and kind person.

"That's right, I mentioned it to you before."

Recalling their time at the research institute, Uchiha Gin smiled as he introduced the two to the girl.

"This slightly eccentric kid is my younger cousin Izuna, and that guy over there who looks unapproachable is my older cousin Madara."

"My name is Uchiha Hikaru, and I am your sister-in-law's and cousin's childhood friend."

The girl, who had just managed to stop herself, quickly changed the subject, almost revealing her true feelings again.

Uchiha Hikaru?

Upon hearing the girl's self-introduction, Madara Uchiha's eyes flickered slightly. He seemed to recall the name from his childhood, but it shouldn't be like that; the girl looked much younger than him.

I must be going crazy thinking about wooden figures!

(End of this chapter)