The gray jailer stood lifeless, unresponsive to Yao's questions, heightening the old man's unease. Urging his lone Mangekyo, Yao barely stirred the jailer into motion.
Realizing his Mangekyo could only control, not communicate with, the jailer, a grim thought struck Yao.
"Why aren't you talking? Aren't you my will's clone?" Recalling how he "stumbled" upon his son's death, awakening his Mangekyo, and everything since, it felt like an invisible hand had guided him.
Irritation surged, and he bombarded the puppet-like jailer with questions.
"Geezer, he can't answer. He's got no self-awareness," Gin, munching seeds after idling, strolled over, warning the increasingly frantic Yao. "Still don't get it? That black sludge isn't your will's clone."
"Impossible! No way!" Yao's mind reeled. Known for logic, he floundered, unable to face the truth.
"If I'm right, your Mangekyo's true power is creating a shadow-manipulating clone for intel and assassinations, which you can possess to use its abilities," Gin deduced, piecing together Yao's fighting style.
The clone's powers resembled Nara clan secrets, mixed with shadow-traversing spatial skills and host-possession. The "self-aware" Wangliang was a fake, impersonated by the sludge, while the real jailer, a dumb puppet, wouldn't snitch.
"Then I've been…" Accepting reality, Yao's psyche cracked, visible black aura seeping out, forcing Gin to step back.
Gritting his teeth, Yao glared at the sludge-wrapped Tajima. "You—why lurk by my side?"
"Jie jie jie, why explain to a dead man? Embrace death!" A black head emerged from the sludge, mocking, ignoring Yao's plea.
"Hey, enough jawing. Can we fight for real?" Gin, thrilled by the master-servant betrayal, egged them on. Fight, fight!
With healing tricks up his sleeve, letting Tajima stretch under "Jue's" control seemed fine.
"Noisy brat, worry about yourself!" The black head turned to Gin, sneering cruelly. He wields Asura's power—a future threat. He must die.
"Heh."
"Wangliang, you're up!" Yao, like a Pokémon master, commanded the real jailer. The gray figure sank into shadows, hurling a dark mass at Tajima.
"I planned to end you quick, but you're begging for it. Don't blame me for ignoring our years together," the black head said, shaking its head, dripping with disdain, unfazed by the incoming shadows.
"Argh!" The jailer, aimed at Tajima and the deceiving head, froze mid-strike.
Yao clutched his head, shrieking in agony.
Seeing Yao's breakdown, Gin retreated strategically, his sensory radar detecting overwhelming malice from Yao.
This guy only knows mind control? Who here hasn't been puppeted? Sighing, Gin eyed the black-misted Yao, tossing his seed shells and clapping his hands.
Guess I've gotta fight the old man.
He drew the recently used odd kunai, blowing off dust. "Let's wrap this up quick. Soup's simmering at home."
"???" Koharu's face flashed confusion.
"Who's cooking at your place?" Unable to resist, she leaned in, curious.
"…" Weird focus, sis.
"Come drink later. Fish soup, fresh and sweet," Gin promised, sidestepping explanation.
Checking the sky, he turned to the eager Koharu. "Hold Uncle off, but don't hurt him. I'll deal with the geezer and join you."
Nodding happily at her beloved's orders, she moved to face the possessed Tajima but was stopped.
"Wear this. Your pupil techniques burn chakra," Gin said, handing her a blue swirl pendant from his bag.
[Blue Buff]: Boosts chakra cap, speeds recovery, and grants a chance to recast a skill on hit (once per use).
The cool pendant pulsed with sea-like chakra, reassuring. Slipping it on, Koharu's mind wandered. Gin's giving me a love token. I'm his true number one.
"Achoo!" At the Uchiha clan's BBQ joint, Tobirama, gorging on meat, sneezed hard. "Michi-nee, I'm not sick. Why's my back chilly?"
Wiping his nose, the confused kid turned to the purple-haired girl daintily eating beside him.
"Someone's thinking of you," she replied, eyes narrowing, savoring her meal casually.
"Whatever. While that guy's on a mission, I'm eating good. Wonder if Curly Gorilla brought me a souvenir," Tobirama muttered.
Wearing the Blue Buff, Koharu felt buoyant, giggling dreamily. Seconds later, she flashed before the possessed Tajima.
"Gin told me to stop you, so don't run around," she said, face stern, eyes wide, warning the sludge-bound Tajima.
"Jie jie jie, you couldn't even handle Gin, weakling, and you dare talk big?" The black head mocked the frail-looking girl.
In Tajima's body—the group's strongest—he'd crush her easily.
"This lady's not much for words, but I know a thing or two about fists."
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