A vein pulsed visibly at Uchiha Yuan's temple as he stared at the Nature-Release clone, Gintoki, his eyes filled with barely restrained fury.
"Do you really think I wouldn't dismiss you on the spot?!"
He had already absorbed the clone's memories.
Being lazy.
Wasting time all day.
Obsessed with food.
Playing with little Karin daily.
None of that bothered him.
What did bother him—
—was that not only had this bastard been reading R-18 material, he had actually written one and submitted it to a publisher.
Worse still…
It was a revised version of a "classic" erotic novella Yuan had once encountered—rewritten into The Tale of Hinata Baijie.
Silver-haired Gintoki from Gintama might be shameless, but when did he gain the talent to write yellow literature?!
Uchiha Yuan stared at the clone, deeply troubled.
The reason was simple.
This clone was born from Yuan's own intent.
Whatever image of Sakata Gintoki existed in Yuan's consciousness—
—that was exactly how this clone manifested.
Facing the original's dark gaze, the clone replied lazily, dead-fish eyes rolling.
"If you don't form hand seals yourself, I can just undo myself, you know."
"That's enough!" Yuan snapped. "Grass Village still needs you in charge."
He shot the clone a vicious glare.
Just then—
A cry rang out.
Little Karin puckered her tiny lips, watery eyes fixed on Yuan as she stretched out both hands, asking to be held.
Yuan froze.
When he still didn't move, her crying grew louder, tears tumbling down her cheeks.
Earlier, when Yuan and the clone reverted to their true appearances, Karin had gone completely blank—her small eyes darting back and forth between them.
Though the clone's appearance had changed, his chakra signature hadn't.
And as the original, Yuan's chakra felt the same to her.
After a moment of confusion, Karin reached toward Yuan.
"Ka—rin, be good… don't cry…"
Kanae hurriedly picked up her daughter, apologizing anxiously.
"Lord Yuan, please forgive us.
Karin has been cared for by Lord Gintoki all this time… she mistook you for him."
Yuan stared coldly at the struggling infant in Kanae's arms—still gazing at him pitifully.
Then—
To Kanae's astonishment, he reached out and took Karin into his arms.
The moment Karin was held, her tears vanished, replaced by a radiant smile.
Seeing Kanae staring in shock, Yuan sighed faintly.
"The clone is part of me.
His will… is also mine."
Kanae smiled and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Lord Yuan."
Over the following days, Uchiha Yuan devoted himself to managing Grass Village's internal and external affairs.
Leader's Office
Yuan sat behind the desk.
The clone stood on one side, Kazewada Ōno on the other.
A group of Grass ninja respectfully reported updates.
The former Grass officers—those secretly replaced by Yuan's clones—were gone.
Under his arrangements, they had either died or vanished during battles against Rain and Stone ninja on the western front.
The current officials were all newly promoted.
"Lord Yuan, five more wandering shinobi joined today.
So far, the village has accepted 127 refugees."
Yuan nodded.
"Screen them carefully.
No spies from other villages are to slip in."
"Lord Yuan, all Taki ninja have been expelled.
Some brothers suggest we retaliate… and invade the Land of Takigakure."
Yuan's gaze turned sharp as lightning.
"Foolish!"
He continued coldly:
"First—Taki ninja are backed by Iwagakure.
Second—Konoha will never allow an invasion of the Land of Waterfalls.
"Konoha and Iwa are in a tense stalemate right now.
One reckless move could drag both sides into open war.
"Grass Village has already lost too many shinobi.
What we need now is peace… and recovery."
The excitement on the Grass ninja's faces vanished instantly.
They lowered their heads.
"We understand."
Yuan asked calmly:
"What about Iwa's movements within our borders?"
"Their remaining squads have withdrawn.
Surveillance reports say they're heading toward the Rain–Earth border."
Yuan fell into thought.
Rain had sealed its borders.
Sunagakure had suffered heavy losses and could only retreat.
Iwagakure, however, had not suffered such losses.
They wouldn't accept being driven out so easily.
Most likely, confrontation—or even war—had broken out at the Rain–Earth border.
If Nagato intervened, massive chakra fluctuations would follow.
"Keep monitoring the Rain–Earth border.
Report immediately if anything happens."
A few days later, a report arrived.
Huge chakra disturbances had erupted at the Rain–Earth border.
Shortly afterward, Iwa forces were observed retreating en masse.
After reading it, Yuan ignited the document and reduced it to ash.
"It seems Nagato forced Iwa back.
"Next, they'll vent their rage on Grass Village.
"When that happens, you'll lead the interception—with Kazewada Ōno.
"Most of our current officers are loyal to us now.
It's time for Kazewada Ōno to die."
Leaning by the window, the clone flipped through his manga lazily.
"Relax. I'll make his death… gloriously heroic."
"Hehe~"
A childish laugh rang out.
Little Karin toddled across the desk, stumbled forward, and threw herself into Yuan's arms.
Yuan's expression softened as he gently rubbed her chubby cheeks.
"Grass Village must continue absorbing refugees.
They need to integrate quickly.
"There's still one faction we don't fully control—be careful."
The clone nodded casually.
"I know. The offshore Gōtō Citadel, right?
Those Grass ninja only return once every few years.
Kazewada already gave me the details."
Yuan placed Karin gently on the couch, stroked her head once more, then turned solemn.
"Gintoki… I leave everything here to you."
The clone smiled calmly.
"Relax, original.
Silver-san is extremely reliable."
Yuan smiled faintly.
Then—
Flash.
He vanished.
Little Karin sensed something wrong.
Her lips trembled as she looked toward the window—
—and burst into tears.
Some people die…
but never entirely.
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