Chapter 189: Curiosity about the unknown is a man's nature

"How is that possible! Big Brother isn't that kind of person!"

Upon hearing Uchiha Gin's slander, Uchiha Izuna immediately defended him loudly.

"I was just joking, why are you so worked up? Did you actually do it?"

Uchiha Gin raised an eyebrow and said in a teasing tone.

"H-how is that possible, I don't even know what that means!"

Hearing this, the little cousin's face flushed red, his eyes darted around, and his speech became stuttering.

Huh? I was just joking, you aren't actually doing it, are you?

Uchiha Gin was deeply shocked. If his little cousin was addicted to that kind of activity at this age, how could he ever be a match for that abstinent little white-haired guy? No, this bad habit must be nipped in the bud.

"Who did you learn that from?"

A light of justice erupted in Uchiha Gin's eyes, making Uchiha Izuna, who had a guilty conscience, feel incredibly uneasy until he finally crumbled.

"I really didn't do it, I just looked at them."

The little cousin began to confess for leniency.

"Ah? You watch people do it???"

Damn it, it must be nipped in the bud. Even if I have to borrow Uncle's Kotoamatsukami, I must erase this bad habit!

"What are you talking about? I just looked at those kinds of magazines."

Realizing Uchiha Gin's misunderstanding, the little cousin immediately turned red with anxiety and raised his voice to protest loudly.

"Clatter~"

Senju Itama, who had just brought breakfast out from the kitchen, slipped and dropped the bowl of porridge in his hands onto the floor, making a crisp sound.

"Thump~"

Uchiha Hikari, who had just woken up, was coming downstairs while yawning. Just as she reached the last few steps, she heard Uchiha Izuna's self-destructing statement, stumbled, missed her footing, and nearly tumbled down.

(_) Senju Itama

(*ΦωΦ) Uchiha Hikari

The air at this moment was terrifyingly quiet.

After a brief silence, Uchiha Izuna felt blood rush to his head; his eyes involuntarily turned scarlet, and his breathing became rapid.

Uchiha Gin raised an eyebrow, seeing a black aura rising from his little cousin.

He, who had been hanging his head in shame, lifted it with an unnaturally calm expression. His eyes were terrifyingly hollow, his scarlet pupils staring straight at the people present, muttering under his breath,

"Hehe, if I kill them all, no one will know~"

"Thump!"

Hearing this all-too-familiar line, Uchiha Gin didn't coddle him; he reached out and gave his little cousin a flick to the forehead, pulling him back from the brink of corruption.

Be a good boy. If you open your Mangekyo Sharingan for a reason like this, it's just too foul; let's not have it!

"You're so old now, and you're still playing at 'going dark' for me?"

"Wuu wuu..."

Awakened by Uchiha Gin's physical intervention, Uchiha Izuna was on the verge of tears. Having said such things just now, how could he ever hold his head up in front of everyone again?

It would be better to just die. He immediately drew the short sword at his waist, preparing to leave this world with his purity intact.

"Don't go looking for death. When I was your age... *cough cough*... I was also a bit curious about such things. It's a man's nature."

Seeing his little cousin about to commit seppuku at any moment, Uchiha Gin hurriedly stopped him, while using his status as someone who had been there to offer guidance.

!!! *2

"Really?"

The little cousin, eyes brimming with tears, looked up in surprise. He hadn't expected his big cousin to be an experienced veteran too!

"Absolutely true!"

Feeling the piercing gaze from behind, Uchiha Gin had no choice but to bite the bullet to soothe his little cousin's emotions.

"I love those magazines the most. There's nothing wrong with a man looking at those magazines; the men who don't look at them are the ones with problems!"

Since it had come to this, Uchiha Gin simply threw caution to the wind, staring righteously at his little cousin to instill "correct" values in him.

"Then... I actually don't have a problem! Hiuchi doesn't have a problem either!"

After hearing Uchiha Gin's heartfelt words, the gray, hollow look in Uchiha Izuna's eyes lit up, and he said loudly.

Tsk! It was actually that kid. Back in the dungeon, he still looked like a well-behaved baby; I didn't expect him to turn into this kind of person now, and he even corrupted my little cousin!

"That's only natural~"

But now was not the time to assign blame; stabilizing emotions was the most important thing. The big cousin was already EMO; if the little cousin also went dark or "yellow," the Uchiha clan would truly be finished.

"Then, Cousin, what do you like..."

It was clear the little cousin was already somewhat obsessed.

"Hehe, of course I'm a fan of that~"

Even though the two scorching gazes behind him made him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles, he still bit the bullet and chatted about the magazines with Izuna as if no one else were around.

... fter a heated exchange...

"Phew! I didn't expect Cousin to be so well-versed in this. Little brother admires you; let's exchange and learn when we have time!"

At the end of the chat, Uchiha Izuna suddenly remembered the purpose of his visit and finally pulled the handbrake, stopping the speeding car.

"Next time for sure! Next time for sure!"

Uchiha Gin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and finally got off the "car." He hadn't expected his little cousin to be so young yet so profoundly experienced.

If not for the 100TB hard drive from his past life backing him up, he might have been exposed.

"Tell me about Big Cousin, what exactly is going on?"

During the post-nut clarity, the two took a moment to talk about business. Uchiha Gin remembered Uchiha Madara and asked curiously.

"You know about Big Brother being defeated and captured, right?"

Izuna straightened his expression, helplessness showing in his eyes, and spoke slowly.

"I know, Uncle told me everything."

Uchiha Gin nodded, signaling that he knew the whole process of how Uchiha Madara was defeated and then humiliated by the Senju.

"Although Father arrived in time to save Big Brother, after he came back, he was like a different person. He locked himself in his room, refusing to eat or drink, and wouldn't communicate with anyone."

The little cousin's eyes were filled with worry; he didn't want to see the Big Brother he respected turn into a broken man.

"Not a sound at all?"

Uchiha Gin asked curiously. He could accept not eating or drinking, and he could understand not communicating—after all, Big Cousin usually had a "strangers keep out" vibe anyway.

"Uh, there is some, but it's just some messy footsteps. Maybe Big Brother is pacing and thinking."

Uchiha Izuna's eyes shifted slightly, and after pondering for a moment, he said.

"Footsteps?"

Uchiha Gin was also a bit puzzled. Big Cousin, you got beaten to a pulp by Hashirama, why aren't you training harder instead of hiding in your room? Don't tell me you're thinking of a career change?

"So, you came to find me to ask me to go persuade Big Cousin?"

Uchiha Gin stroked his chin and asked his little cousin in an inquiring tone.

"That's right! In the whole clan, you are the closest to Big Brother. You will definitely be able to get him back on his feet!"

The little cousin clenched his fists, determination in his eyes. It was clear he was set on this trip and absolutely needed Uchiha Gin to step in and help.

Heh, it's precisely because we're the closest that your old man asked me to sacrifice myself to help you two losers open the Mangekyo Sharingan.

I should have known better than to be so good to you when you were kids; it really costs both money and life.

Uchiha Gin ranted wildly in his heart, then finally reached out and nodded at the expectant Uchiha Izuna.

"Alright, since I'm your big cousin, let's go~"

"Go now? Isn't it a bit early?"

Seeing Uchiha Gin preparing to leave immediately, Uchiha Izuna suddenly hesitated.

Has Big Cousin prepared what to say? If we go so hastily and he hasn't organized his words, what if he provokes Big Brother? Wouldn't that be counterproductive?

"There's no time to lose. I also want to help Big Cousin escape his sea of suffering as soon as possible!"

Uchiha Gin put on a grand, righteous air and walked ahead without looking back. If he didn't leave now, Hikari's eyes were going to change color.

"Ah?"

Uchiha Izuna, left behind, was completely bewildered. After a brief moment of shock, he chased after him.

"Phew~ Gin is too much. Just wait until I see how I deal with him when he gets back!"

Uchiha Hikari glared with her beautiful eyes, watching Uchiha Gin's retreating back, and said viciously, while feeling a pang of pain in her heart.

It's all because I was sealed, leaving Gin lonely and unable to sleep, to the point where he got addicted to that kind of thing.

"Uh... what is that... magazine thing?"

Senju Itama was shallow in her experience. She was completely confused by the high-level discussion between Uchiha Gin and the others just now. Now that both of them had run off, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask her rival.

"Hehe, a brat is a brat. That kind of thing isn't for your age to understand. Unlike me, I'm already at the age where I can drive~ Hahahaha."

Uchiha Hikari's lips curled up in a haughty expression. She mocked Senju Itama, who had rarely lowered her head, and finally deliberately puffed out her budding figure, letting out a victor's laugh.

Senju Itama looked at the smug Uchiha Hikari and was instantly choked with anger. Veins bulged on her fair fists, her super strength ready to be unleashed.

"Hmph~ If you won't tell me, there are others who will. I'll go ask Sister Jiri and Aunt Yongmei!"

Immediately, she remembered Uchiha Gin's instructions, slowly loosened her fists, took a deep breath to calm her restless heart, and remembered her good friend's family. After dropping that line, she turned and left.

Having escaped the house, Uchiha Gin hurried for several hundred meters. Only after seeing that only Uchiha Izuna had chased after him did he slowly let out a sigh of relief and stand in place to wait for his little cousin.

"Let's go, let's go check on your big brother."

After Uchiha Gin waited for his little cousin, he reached out and patted his shoulder, saying with a smile, though his eyes were full of awkwardness.

This was major dirt on Madara Uchiha; he absolutely had to record it properly.

"Alright!"

Izuna Uchiha did not decline, and immediately returned to his home with Gin Uchiha.

Arriving at the clan leader's residence once again, Gin Uchiha was led by his little cousin through many twists and turns, finally arriving at Madara Uchiha's private courtyard.

Looking at the beautiful, spacious, and luxurious courtyard, Gin Uchiha felt incredibly envious.

Is this the perk of being the clan leader? I'm so jealous.

Uncle~ If the big cousin and little cousin aren't up to the task, I can give it a try too.

I! Gin Uchiha, a man who wants to be the clan leader!

"Swish~ swish~ swish~"

Before the two had even walked close, Gin Uchiha, whose sensory perception was exceptional, heard sounds coming from Madara Uchiha's bedroom; the rhythmic footsteps made him more and more confused the longer he listened.

What on earth was his big cousin doing locked in his bedroom? Secretly practicing movement techniques?

"Bang bang bang!!! Big brother, open the door!"

Izuna Uchiha walked up impatiently and pounded hard on Madara Uchiha's bedroom door. As the knocking started, the sound of his big cousin's footsteps inside suddenly vanished; it seemed he didn't want anyone to know what he was doing.

"I have already said, do not come to disturb me."

Madara Uchiha's cold voice came from inside the room; it seemed that even toward his most beloved younger brother, he chose to keep the door closed.

Hearing his big brother's heartless refusal, Izuna Uchiha turned his head and looked at the pensive-looking Gin Uchiha with a pleading gaze, hoping he could step in and help his dear big brother break through his mental block.

Seeing this, Gin Uchiha did not hesitate; for a child with this kind of ailment, one must certainly not indulge them.

Having made up his mind, he stepped forward quickly, secretly channeling his monstrous strength into his hand, and slammed it against the door of Madara Uchiha's bedroom, shouting aloud,

"Big cousin, I'm coming in~"

(End of chapter)