Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha is not motivated.

Glug~ Glug~ Glug~
The scalding red oil, as hot as lava, churned wildly in a huge copper pot. The pungent aroma made the people sitting around it squint and straighten their bodies instinctively.

Seated in the head of the family's seat, Uchiha Gin pulled his gaze from the hot pot he had personally prepared on the table and instead focused on the marbled, tender snowflake beef in front of him, its surface texture clearly indicating its high price.

"This meat."

He remembered that the Uchiha meat processing plant shouldn't raise such high-grade Wagyu beef, and similarly, the Shimura clan didn't either.

"This was given to us by a kind aunt!"

Staring at the hot pot, Little Maitreya, his mouth watering, excitedly raised his hand upon hearing this. Although he didn't get to eat dog meat hot pot, beef hot pot wouldn't be out of the question.
"A kind auntie?"

Uchiha Gin blinked, looking at Uchiha Shigeaki, who had gone out to buy supplies, with a puzzled expression. Were the people of Konoha all this powerful now? Giving away such high-grade A5 Wagyu beef so easily!
Who's so generous?

"It's Inuzuka Yuzu."

Uchiha Rinne, who was instructing Reimu on how to prepare the dipping sauce for her first attempt at hot pot, felt the gaze from her teacher and calmly nodded.

"Oh, it's Xiaoyou."

Yuzuka Inuzuka, the owner of Inuzuka Kennel, is also the daughter of the Inuzuka clan head. She's a child that Gin Uchiha has watched grow up.
Back when he was still a street urchin, that little girl would often follow him around begging for candy, and she especially loved to ruffle his hair.
She now has a daughter named Inuzuka Tsurugi, who is the mother of Kiba Inuzuka, who relied on his "Fang-Fang" move to fight his way to the end.

"A New Year's gift?"

I didn't expect this little girl to be so sensible, knowing to bring him things for the New Year.

"It's ransom for the hostages."

"what?"

Uchiha Gin's hand, which had just reached for his chopsticks, trembled. He looked at his disciple, who had just made such a startling statement, with utter astonishment.

"Mr. Yin, you don't actually believe that, do you?"

Upon noticing that Uchiha Gin was staring intently at him, Uchiha Osamu shook his head expressionlessly.
"We paid the money properly in the end."

Did they not deny the hostage situation?
Uchiha Gin scratched his head helplessly, hoping that next time he went to Inuzuka Kennel to pet dogs for free with his membership card, he wouldn't be kicked out by Yuzu.

Inuzuka Kennel

"woooooo"

"Wow~"

Inuzuka Tsurugi and Kuromaru, who had been redeemed by their mother after being purchased, embraced and wept. If it had been any later, they might have lost their most precious possession.

"Alright, stop crying. Go check if Shimura's butcher shop has any left."

A beautiful woman leading a teddy bear looked at her crying daughter with a look of deep sorrow. She had only been gone for an hour, and her shop had almost been emptied out.

"Yes Yes."

Upon hearing this, Inuzuka Tsuru immediately jumped up, grabbed the money Uchiha had left on the counter for buying meat, and ran off. Kuro, worried about being scolded if he stayed behind, followed closely behind.
Watching the disheveled figures of the person and dog disappear into the distance, Inuzuka Yuzu thoughtfully stroked the curly-furred teddy bear beside her, feeling the texture similar to that of a certain Gin from her memory. An inexplicable expression surfaced on her beautiful face.

"Never mind, anyway, that meat was originally prepared for him."

When can we put the meat in the pot?!

Reimu, driven by her craving, was so anxious that her eyes almost turned red. She had only ever eaten such high-quality beef in her entire life, back in her hometown.

"What's the rush? There are still people who haven't arrived yet."

Uchiha Gin slapped Reimu's hand away with his chopsticks as she tried to sneak a bite, and shook his head as he explained.

"Bang Bang Bang~"

No sooner had the words been spoken than there was a knock on the door.

"I'll go open the door!"

Reimu turned and dashed towards the door. Once all the guests arrived, she could feast on the meat to her heart's content.

Creak~
"you are?"

Gazing at the aloof, white-haired, red-eyed girl outside the door, his gaze inadvertently drifted to Reimu's imposing breasts, and the excitement on his face faded like a receding tide.
Who is it?

Seeing Reimu standing there with a strange expression, Gin Uchiha curiously craned his neck.
"Are you the one who was seduced and then abandoned by Curly-haired guy?"

The uninvited white-haired man scrutinized the unfamiliar black-haired girl before him with great interest, a meaningful smile creeping onto his lips.

"Nothing special, it was just a rumor after all."

"you!"

Sensing the sarcasm in the other person's tone, Reimu was so angry that her nose almost crooked. Just because you're big doesn't mean you're so great.

Why are you here?

Uchiha Gin then realized that the person who had arrived was not Lady Yongmei as he had imagined. He immediately got up and walked to the door. When he saw Senju Hishiko's empty hands, his face immediately fell.
"Still empty-handed."

"Didn't I already give you the red envelope?"

Senju Hisa, quite naturally sitting down in the entryway and taking off her shoes, couldn't help but roll her eyes as she stretched her stiff toes.

"Can those be the same?"

Uchiha Gin pursed his lips, reached out and took the coat the other person had taken off, then casually hung it aside.
Normally, he would have definitely asked this impolite white-haired man to leave, but it was the New Year, and turning away a guest seemed a bit unreasonable.
"Hijin!"

As Senju Itama emerged from the kitchen carrying ingredients, a bright smile instantly bloomed on her face upon seeing the visitor.

People from my wife's family have come!
"We had hot pot. I guess I came at just the right time!"

After greeting Senju Itama, who was nominally her aunt but actually her younger sister, Senju Hisa turned to look at the bubbling hot pot on the table, a faint smile on her fair face.

"Sit down! Sit down!"

Senju Itama specially pulled up a chair for her and placed it next to his own seat.

Uchiha Hikaru and Uchiha Osamu didn't react much to Senju Hisama's arrival, after all, given their connection with Senju Itama, the other party could indeed be considered one of their own.
"Then I'll be sorry to bother you."

Senju Hisana, who had taken her seat, acted without any hesitation and immediately took the bowl of condiments that Reimu had prepared under the guidance of the Uchiha clan.

"Warden, who is she? She's so arrogant. Should I predict when she'll die?"

Seeing the other party's behavior, Reimu, who had been defeated by Senju Hisama with just a few words at their first meeting, moved closer to Uchiha Gin and whispered in a sinister tone,
"You'd better not test her. She's the person in power behind Konoha right now. You can't afford to offend her."

Reimu's loyalty deeply moved Gin Uchiha, but Hisami Senju was no pushover. If the Red and White Shrine Maidens wanted to establish themselves in Konoha, they'd better not provoke this petty white-haired girl.
"what?"

Reimu's eyes widened in shock at Senju Hisama's identity. This woman looked to be the same age as her, yet she had already become the head of Konoha.
Of course, we're talking about age here.

"Hmph~ What's so special about that? If I went back to my hometown, I'd be no different from her."

Of course, one must remain stubborn; after all, who isn't the one in charge?
If she were to return to the Land of Demons now, the position of High Priestess would undoubtedly be hers, and her power would be comparable to that of the Village Shadow.

"Alright, just don't talk nonsense in front of her. She's incredibly petty. If you offend her, you won't be able to go to the toilet alone in the middle of the night."

Reaching out, Gin Uchiha patted Reimu's stubborn little head and earnestly advised her.
"Wow, it's so lively today!"

Just then, Uchiha Eimi, dressed in a tight purple dress, made her grand entrance, her voluptuous pear-shaped figure leaving Reimu staring wide-eyed.

This was the body type she had always dreamed of; it was unbelievable that someone could actually possess such a stunning figure. "Is this the one who traveled a thousand miles to find her husband?"

"what?"

Hearing Lady Eimi's teasing voice, Reimu, who had just woken up from her shock, fell silent. Why was everyone bringing her up?
"Madam Yongmei, please stop joking. This misunderstanding has already become big enough."

With a helpless expression, Uchiha Gin helped Uchiha Eimi remove her outer garment, then turned to introduce the ashen-faced Reimu beside her.

"This is Reimu, a shrine maiden who will move into the Nakagawa Shrine after the New Year."

"I am Uchiha Eimi, the mother of Little Zhiji."

Lady Eimi, with one hand supporting her face, radiated a maternal glow with a smile that made Reimu feel incredibly at ease.

"Little Maitreya's master is also a lovely child."

"Hello, Madam Yongmei, I look forward to your guidance in the future."

Upon hearing that the other person was actually Uchiha Rinpoche's mother, Reimu's eyes were instantly filled with astonishment—this was no mother and daughter, they were clearly sisters.

"Alright, everyone's here, let's eat!"

With the final piece of the Uchiha Gin family puzzle completed, the family banquet officially began.
Little Maitreya, eating such a huge hot pot for the first time, almost had to stand on a stool. Even stretching his chopsticks as far as he could, he couldn't reach the bubbling ingredients in the pot.

"Thank you, Sister Yongmei!"

Fortunately, Lady Yongmei was very considerate and served her a dish of food, so Little Maitreya was able to taste the delicacies from another world.
Wow~ Hoho!

The moment the beef coated in sesame sauce entered her mouth, the rich, aromatic flavor of sesame instantly filled her taste buds.
Next comes the scorching bomb hidden within. After being washed by the chili oil, the butter, besides its inherent umami, gains an extra layer of explosive spiciness. It felt like my mouth was on fire, and I instantly felt a burning sensation.
"So spicy! So spicy!"

"Now you know how powerful I am? I just suggested having a hot pot with two broths, and you didn't even raise your hand."

Watching the little Miroku frantically slap his tongue, Uchiha Gin handed him a strawberry milk with a straw, his face full of a helpless smile.

The Uchiha Gin family has always been democratic; they even held a vote before dinner to decide what kind of hot pot they would have for dinner.

As someone with a sweet tooth, he would definitely choose the inner pot of the hot pot, so he could enjoy his meal to his heart's content in the cream cheese broth in the middle.
Unfortunately, no one supported his proposal. Even Miroku, on whom Uchiha Gin had placed high hopes, betrayed him and chose the red oil hot pot instead.

"Whew! That feels so good! Again!"

"You!"

Watching Komiroku, after a brief respite, enthusiastically pick up spicy ingredients again, Uchiha Gin could only shake his head with a sigh.

People who love spicy food are like this: the spicier they eat, the more they want to eat.

On the other side of the table, Senju Itama leaned closer to Senju Hisa, who was eating shabu-shabu, and whispered, "..."
Why didn't Second Brother come?

"Father is currently entertaining the Hokage and the others, and cannot leave."

Gasping for breath from the spiciness, Senju Hisa turned her head and looked at her younger sister, whose eyes were full of worry. Her steely heart softened slightly, and she softly explained why her clone was absent from this family feast, which was in a sense a family affair.

"It's good to be busy."

Senju Itama nodded slightly, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. His second brother was now shouldering the important task of maintaining village discipline, working twelve hours a day straight.
"How has his health been lately?"

She worried that if things continued like this, her second brother's health would collapse before her eldest brother even returned.

"Father is in good health; he could even go to the battlefield without any problem."

"Heh, if you go up there, you'll probably get taken down like a Gundam."

Hearing Senju Hishima's ignorant and presumptuous words, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but curl his lips. It seems that this white-haired guy's wicked intention to interfere in the war has not died. Could it be that he is thinking of using clones to fill the hole?

"Curly-haired baboon, can't you say something nice during the New Year?"

She rolled her eyes, slightly annoyed, at the outspoken Uchiha Gin. "Second brother is your brother-in-law, how could you curse him like that?"
"I haven't even said the harsh things yet."

The words that need to be censored before they can be broadcast are something Uchiha Gin plans to deliver to the white-haired man after the fifteenth.
"Then why don't you say it and see?"

Senju Hisami narrowed her eyes. How dare she speak to her little sister in such a nonchalant tone? This curly-haired girl must have forgotten just how sharp her Flying Thunder God Sword is.

"Hijin, stop talking~ stop talking~ eat your vegetables! Eat your vegetables!"

Seeing the atmosphere between the two becoming tense, Senju Itama frowned and pondered for a second before finally deciding to use the food to shut up his eldest niece.

Fortunately, Senbutama mediated, and the conversation returned to normal.

The group of people who weren't very familiar with Reimu learned all about the background of this red and white shrine maiden through this meal, and expressed great appreciation and admiration for her for taking her disciples out to explore at such a young age.
"Thank you for the hospitality~ I still have work to do, so I won't bother you any longer."

After an unknown amount of time, Senju Hisa, who had almost finished eating, was the first to get up.
Her purpose in coming here was simply to have a meal with her sister and, incidentally, to tease Gin Uchiha about Reimu's blunder. Now that she had achieved her goal, she could pack up and leave.
"Aren't you staying a little longer?"

Senju Itama pursed his lips, his eyes filled with disappointment. Ever since his second brother became an advisor, the group had seen each other less and less, and even a simple conversation was difficult.

"Then..."

Senju Hishima, who was melted by her sister's gaze, tensed up and stopped in her tracks.
Bang bang bang~
"Who is it now? We've finished our meal, are we here for some soup?"

As he picked his teeth, Uchiha Gin blinked in confusion. Who would be so kind as to come here at this hour to freeload?

"I'll go open the door!"

Maitreya patted his round little belly and volunteered to go.
Creak~
"Hello?"

"Little Maitreya, who is he?"

Seeing that the little rascal tilted his head after the door opened, Uchiha Gin asked curiously,
"It's a masked young man with his bangs sticking up."

"Kazama, what happened?"

Senju Hisa frowned slightly as she looked at the young ANBU member standing at the door. Hadn't she been told not to disturb her before she came?

"Lord Hisa, urgent report from the front lines."

Sarutobi Toru hesitated for a moment, then walked to the entryway to change shoes and said anxiously to Senju Hisama, whose face showed displeasure.

Urgent report?

"Give it to me."

Ignoring the presence of so many people, Senju Hisami appeared in front of Sarutobi Tetsu in a flash, extending her fair hand.
"Yes!"

As Senju Hisama deciphered and opened a scroll containing a sealing technique, the brow of the de facto leader of Konoha, which had just relaxed, instantly furrowed into a deep frown.

"What happened? Let me see."

"Grandpa Yin, you can't!"

Seeing Uchiha Gin, sipping strawberry milk, approach Senju Hisama, Sarutobi Toru, worried about the village's secrets being leaked, instinctively stopped him.

"Curly, look."

Unexpectedly, Senju Hisana tilted the scroll slightly, sharing its contents with the jobless Uchiha Gin standing nearby. To Sarutobi Toru, the action seemed quite intimate.
Ignoring Sarutobi Toru's strange gaze, Uchiha Gin quickly glanced at the intelligence report, and his face immediately donned the same pained mask as a forced overtime worker.

"Sigh~ It seems my human modification course won't be able to be postponed beyond the fifteenth." (End of Chapter)