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

Chapter 997? Wasn't this supposed to be an academic exchange group?

"Amatilas!"

A black flame suddenly appeared, igniting the slender cigarette that Uchiha Hikaru had been holding between her fingers. "Whoosh~"

Her rosy lips parted slightly, exhaling a wisp of white smoke carrying the refreshing scent of strawberry popping boba. Uchiha's smooth, oily face was filled with contentment and satisfaction. "Gintoki, you can't do that again next time, okay?"

She reached out and touched the burnt-out dregs of medicine beside her, a mocking smile on her face.

Curled up in bed, Uchiha Gin trembled at her ambiguous gesture. Two dried tear tracks hung on his skull-like face. Waaah, little Gin really had no backup energy left.

He didn't expect Xiao Guang to be so down-to-earth and capable, forcing himself to finish all the work he owed for half a year, with interest, in one night.

If he had connections down there, he would have crossed the Sanzu River in the first half of the night to visit acquaintances in the Pure Land.

"Don't worry, the score between you two has been settled."

"Phew~"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Gin's expression relaxed; he had finally escaped her den of iniquity.

"It's that brat's turn tomorrow."

As a result, Uchiha Hikaru's next words made him tremble with fear.

"ha?"

"Don't rush to cry, Lady Yongmei is still here. By the way, I sent a message to that red-haired female diver yesterday, and she said the ship will dock today."

"I think I need to go into seclusion for a while."

Uchiha Gin shakily straightened up and looked earnestly at Hikaru, who was all smiles.

"Then it's perfect to go to the moon. It's peaceful there and ideal for seclusion."

You're absolutely right.

Without hesitation, Uchiha Gin quickly put on his tattered clothes and prepared to run away to seek refuge with his sister-in-law.

"Remember to bring back a souvenir; Biluo misses you terribly."

cc

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Upon hearing the name Biluo, a dashing face instantly popped into Uchiha Gin's mind, forcing him to stop in his tracks. His withered, handsome face shifted between anger and uncertainty.

Don't underestimate the power of Mini Otsutsuki. When Biluo gets angry, he's much more ferocious than Xiaoguang. No matter how upright and incorruptible he is, he might not be a match for the opponent. Going to the moon would be a complete waste of his life.

"What, weren't you going into seclusion?"

Seeing Uchiha Gin stop, Hikaru, who was smoking on the bed, asked with a smile, "I suddenly remembered that Mikoto is about to give birth. How can I, as her grandfather, leave so abruptly?"

Uchiha Gin's gaze sharpened, and he turned back to sit on the sweaty bed, nodding righteously in reply.

"Huh? You've been gone for half a year. Where did you hear about Misaka's pregnancy?"

Uchiha Hikaru frowned, her eyes filled with suspicion. Was Gintoki lying to her again? Had he actually secretly returned, but instead claimed to be upholding justice in another timeline?

That's right. Last night, Lao Yin was so exploited that he had no choice but to tell Xiao Guang about his time travel.

"Don't you know I can predict the future?"

"Tell the truth, or I'll punish you again."

"I don't know if Mikoto is pregnant or not, but I know Fugaku. Last time I saw him dragging Mikoto into a suspicious little hotel..."

'

For his own safety, Uchiha Gin had no choice but to betray his cousin and pin the blame on Fugaku.

"They are already engaged."

Uchiha Hikaru rolled his eyes. They were childhood sweethearts, and now they're engaged and betrothed. What's wrong with them spending time together?

"Engagement is not the same as marriage. No, even if you get married, you can't do whatever you want."

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"And what about us?"

"How can that be the same?"

Looking at Hikaru's questioning expression, Uchiha Gin waved his hand seriously.

This is the current trend in major updates, where women are in charge of such matters. How could a mere ninja dare to say no to version 0?

"Fugaku and Mikoto have been waiting for you. If you don't come soon, they'll have no choice but to get married because of the pregnancy."

Glancing at Gin Uchiha with a fierce glare, Hikari Uchiha tossed the burnt-out cigarette butt into the ashtray beside her, then straightened her pretty face with a slightly lazy air.

"At least that kid has some filial piety."

Uchiha Gin's expression softened upon hearing this; his elder was indeed very prestigious.

"No, he's just afraid of not receiving any red envelopes."

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'

"By the way, what's the situation with that kid Nawaki?"

"What hope does he have for the rest of his life, being an unmarried bachelor with a child?"

This whole mess is Orochimaru's fault. How did he manage to give Nawaki a biological son, ruthlessly crushing his last shred of hope of pursuing Mikoto?

"It's getting light, I'm leaving now."

After finishing another cigarette, Xiao Guang, who was finally able to get out of bed and walk around, put on his clothes, gave Uchiha Gin a strange look, and went back to his room to catch up on sleep.

"Wait, what's with that look?"

Uchiha Gin couldn't understand what message Hikaru's eyes had conveyed as he left, and couldn't help but ask, creaking—

But Hikaru ignored him, reached out and opened the door to the room with a soundproof barrier, turned to look at Senju Itama who was squatting in the corridor with an expectant look on his face, and said, "It's your turn."

"You're finally done!"

She shook her long legs, which had gone numb from squatting, and eagerly rubbed her small hands together before squeezing into the doorway.

"Huh? What are you doing here?"

When Uchiha Gin saw Senju Itama's "fierce eyes" in the room, his kidneys instinctively hurt. Wasn't it supposed to be tomorrow?

Wait, today is tomorrow.

Thinking of this, Uchiha Gin's face turned pale, and his hands and feet began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Hehehe~ Curly-haired baboon, I'll have a good chat with you..."

"A tonic!"

"Don't want it? I didn't expect you to be turned into this type now, but don't worry, no matter what you become, I will communicate with you properly."

Seeing Senju Itama closing in step by step, Uchiha Gin, his face ashen, knew he had no way to escape, so he simply lay down on the bed and gently swayed his waist.

"Climb up here, and you shall do it yourself."

"Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking."

"Oops, am I too early?"

As the sun and moon revolved, another new morning arrived. Madam Yongmei, her pretty face still trembling, looked at Senju Itama, who was walking out of the room with a shivering expression. "No, Madam Yongmei, you've come at just the right time. I've already spoken to him for you."

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With a radiant smile, Senju Itama gave a thumbs-up to the beautiful woman licking her lips and stepped aside to make way for her.

"Then I won't be polite, I'll treat you to ice cream next time."

Swaying gracefully, Lady Yongmei's exquisitely beautiful face was full of smiles.

"Gintoki, I've been missing you so much~"

After closing the door, the two, who had been separated for a long time, began a pleasant conversation.

"Oh? Am I late?"

Upon entering, the travel-worn Mito Uzumaki immediately downed a large pot of tea. Looking at Uchiha Hikaru and Senju Itama, who were clearly thoroughly refreshed in the living room, her eyes were filled with regret. If she hadn't run into the Land of Water's troop transport ship on the way and been taken for a quick meal by the Tornado sisters who were personally leading the expedition, she would have already come to settle the score with Uchiha Gin.

"You're not late, there are others who are later than you."

Uchiha Hikaru, who was trimming his nails, glanced up at her, shook his head with a smile, and said, "You didn't tell that guy upstairs about this, did you?"

Senju Itama, carrying a freshly poured cup of tea, frowned slightly. Of all the women Uchiha Gin had been with, Otsutsuki Hikari was the one she was least comfortable dealing with.

"Bang Bang Bang!"

Just then, the door that had just been closed was suddenly knocked on. Uchiha Hikaru raised an eyebrow when he heard it. The efficiency of the moon people was too high. He had only sent the message a few minutes ago.

"Hijin? What are you doing here?"

The ever-present door-opening girl, Senju Itama, continued to perform her duties, but when she saw that the person outside the door was not the lunar person she had imagined, but her white-haired niece with a solemn expression, a look of doubt immediately appeared on her face.

"What about curly hair?"

Senju Hisa, who was working on a new project in the research lab, overheard the news that Uchiha Gin had returned. She immediately rushed over, wanting to discuss the vast amount of academic questions she had accumulated over the past six months with him all night long.

"Are you here to queue up too?"

Holding the teapot and taking a hearty sip, Mito Uzumaki wiped her mouth to ensure she wouldn't run out of water during the war. She looked at the impatient Hisa Senju with curiosity in her eyes. When did Gin get involved with this woman? How come she didn't know?

"queue?"

Senju Hisa's expression froze. Could it be that this curly-haired guy had gone on a study tour for half a year and his value had skyrocketed, so that people had to wait in line to see him?

"Yes, you have to wait in line to get what you want."

"Please give me a number."

Nodding thoughtfully, Senju Hisa turned to her younger sister, whose expression was strange, and held out her small hand, "Does your father know about this?"

Senju Itama pursed her lips, her face full of struggle. If her second brother found out that Hisana and Curly were having an affair, how would she address him in the future?

That's right, all she cares about now is how future generations will be determined.

"Everything I did was authorized by him."

Senju Hisa, bewildered, frowned. It was just asking Curly a few questions; why did it involve another version of herself?

"All right."

Since her father had agreed, Senju Itama placed Senju Hisa behind Uzumaki Mito.

"Hey~ how long are you going to prepare?"

Uchiha Hikaru, equally curious, also came over, his eyes filled with obvious mockery, "It'll take at least two days and two nights."

"Your niece has quite an appetite!"

Looking at Senju Hisama, who confidently raised two fingers in a peace sign, and Senju Itama beside him, Uchiha Hikaru's smile widened even more. Two days and two nights?

Haha, there's always a time when you give a thumbs-up.

The long wait has finally come to an end.

The next morning, Mito Uzumaki, still feeling the afterglow of the previous night, leaned against the wall as she walked downstairs. Hisana Senju, impatient, rushed into the pitch-black room. "Maki... uh?"

The moment she opened her mouth, a strong odor assaulted her senses, instantly filling her fair and delicate face with a look of bewilderment.

"Climb...climb here, you...think...how could it be you?"

Before she could figure out where the smell was coming from, Uchiha Gin, whose face was numb on the bed, lowered his eyelids and his intermittent voice suddenly stopped, "No, why do you, white-haired guy, insist on getting involved in every situation!"

The brief silence ended quickly, and even if Senju Hisa was naive, she could understand the current situation.

So this is what I've been waiting in line for?

With her thin skin and eyes the same color, she gritted her teeth and raised her equally red fingers, scolding in a delicate voice while subconsciously clenching her slightly burning legs, "You curly-haired thing, do you have any shame?"

"I was forced into it."

"Bullshit! You're a grown man..."

"It's precisely because I'm a man that I don't have the right to refuse."

Looking at the furious Senju Hishima, Uchiha Gin shook his head blankly. This white-haired guy is really clever, switching genders and getting all the benefits.

"Snapped!"

"Huh? It's over so quickly? Weren't you going to fight non-stop for two days and two nights?"

Mito, who was drinking tea to replenish her water, made a teasing remark with a smile on her face. She never expected that the daughter of the man she hated the most would become her brother-in-law.

"You bunch of bastards!"

Thinking that everyone present, including her younger sister, was deliberately messing with her, Senju Hisama cursed loudly and disappeared in a streak of blue light.

"Hmph! The Flying Thunder God Technique is really fast at everything~"

Watergate: ?

A few days later, the emaciated Uchiha Gin pushed open the door. He had finished all his rations and was finally seeing the light of day again.

"What doesn't kill me makes me stronger..."

Bathed in the sunlight streaming through the skylight, he spread his arms wide with a resolute expression. "He looks so irritating."

As Yueji waited for someone while drinking tea in the living room on the first floor, she looked up at the curly-haired man bathed in golden sunlight, a mischievous smile suddenly appearing on her lips. "Hey, can I still queue up now?"

Pfft!

Upon hearing this, Lao Yin's legs went weak, and he fell straight down from the second floor. "Moon...Moon Princess, we don't need to queue like this."

Uchiha Gin got up, looked up at his sister-in-law who exuded a queen-like aura, and waved his hand with an awkward smile, "I was just kidding."

Princess Tsukihime of the Otsutsuki always strives to be number one, so she must be the first to participate in any similar events in the future.

"Curly-haired baboon, there's a post about you."

Having just paid off his debts and feeling much better, Uchiha Gin hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath when an invitation arrived in front of him. The person in charge was none other than Fugaku, who was after him and wanted a red envelope.

"Such a big matter, and that kid didn't even come in person?"

Uchiha Gin curled his lip and sighed at the coldness of the world and the decline of human nature.

"He's come several times, but you haven't had time."

"Uh...then forgive his rudeness this time."

Uchiha Gin, forcibly suppressing the tragic memories, turned pale. "Right, what's the date today? I need to prepare in advance."

Everyone says that a lack of that substance can affect memory. Uchiha Gin used to scoff at it, but now he truly believes it. "Don't bring it up earlier, it's today."

"ha?"

At the Wave Country Style Hotel, "The banquet is almost starting, where is Uncle?"

Dressed in a sharp suit, Fugaku paced back and forth in front of the table outside the hotel where guests collected monetary gifts, glancing at the main entrance every few seconds.

"Fugaku, it's almost time. You should go wait in the waiting area."

The person in charge of recording the gift money was his older brother, Fuyu. Looking at his younger brother who was pacing around anxiously, he rolled his eyes helplessly. Others might not know Fugaku, but how could he not know his younger brother?

Isn't it just that they're worried about their eldest cousin's gift money not being enough?

Snapped!

Upon hearing this, Fugaku slammed his fist on the table, his eyes red with anxiety and filled with a thirst for wealth. "How can this be? If my eldest uncle doesn't come, what's the point of this marriage?"