Chapter Two: The Mask Behind the Eyes
3 weeks later
Gin POV
Gin perched in the shade of a tall tree, his silver hair glinting faintly in the slanted sunlight. The Hidden Leaf Village was teeming with the energy of daily life, seemingly unaware of ongoing war outside its walls. He smirked lazily, half-closing his eyes as his keen senses picked up the sound of footsteps approaching.
He didn't need to look up to know who it was. Her chakra had a distinctive pulse, strong yet volatile, like a storm barely contained within a bottle.
"Still sulking, Bambi-chan?" Gin teased, keeping his tone light.
Bambietta came into view, her red Uzumaki hair cascading in fiery waves over her shoulders. She paused for a moment, arms crossed, glaring at him with that signature mix of impatience and frustration. "You've been slacking off all day while I trained," she muttered. "What, too afraid to spar with me?"
Gin's smile widened, though his eyes stayed closed. "Now, now, no need to get feisty. Just enjoyin' the peace and quiet while it lasts. Besides, I know better than to ruin that pretty hair of yours."
A faint blush tinted Bambietta's cheeks, though she quickly masked it with an eye roll. "You always say the most ridiculous things."
"Ridiculous?" Gin feigned surprise, leaning back against the tree. "I was bein' perfectly honest. You know how sensitive I am to beauty."
Bambietta didn't respond directly, but he caught the way her fingers clenched, betraying the slight embarrassment. She was easy to rile up, especially when it came to comments that toed the line between sincere and mocking.
The moment passed, and she joined him under the tree, standing with her arms crossed but keeping her distance. Gin watched her from the corner of his eye. Despite her prickly demeanor, there was a spark in her movements—an energy that reminded him of a seasoned veteran, with a history of war.
It was odd seeing how she acted, as if she were an immature adult in a kid's body.
"We've got a mission soon," Bambietta broke the silence, glancing at him. "A big one. Kakashi's taking it seriously."
Gin's smile dimmed ever so slightly. He knew that tone. She wasn't worried for herself—Bambietta rarely worried about anything but her own satisfaction—but there was something in her voice that hinted at a deeper concern. What was it? he wondered.
"Well, well," Gin mused, "guess I'll have to start stretchin' my legs after all."
Bambietta POV
Training with Kakashi and Obito was straightforward—if irritating. Kakashi was ever the golden child, methodical and precise, never deviating from what he considered the perfect plan. Obito, on the other hand, was clumsy, his movements slow and sloppy in comparison. Watching how the pair argue about who had the better Jutsu, Bambietta, found herself growing annoyed.
But it was Gin that frustrated her the most.
She watched him from a distance as he sparred with Obito, effortlessly dodging the Uchiha's clumsy punches and kicks. His silver tinged hair moved with a deceptive grace, and though his eyes were mostly closed, she knew better than to underestimate him. Gin always had that infuriating air of confidence—like he knew a secret no one else did.
Well it was to be expected from a former Captain of the Gotei 13.
Who knew that he had been reincarnated alongside her into this world?
"You should take this seriously!" Obito grunted, his breath heavy as he lunged forward with a kunai in hand.
Gin sidestepped with an almost lazy movement, his smile never wavering. "Oh, I am, I am. Just tryin' not to embarrass ya in front of Bambi-chan."
Bambietta's brow twitched, and she felt a flicker of heat rise to her cheeks. She turned her gaze away, pretending she didn't hear that comment. But her heart betrayed her, skipping a beat despite her best efforts.
"Stop calling me that," she muttered under her breath, though no one was close enough to hear.
Gin caught Obito's wrist in mid-air, spinning him around and disarming him in one smooth motion. The fight was over before it even began, much to Obito's frustration.
"See? Told ya," Gin said, almost apologetically, though Bambietta knew there wasn't an ounce of sincerity in his voice.
Obito stormed off, muttering about how unfair it was, and Kakashi merely sighed in the background. Bambietta walked over to Gin, her frustration simmering beneath the surface.
"You're not helping," she muttered.
"Oh?" Gin turned his head toward her, the same playful smirk on his lips. "I thought I was doin' a mighty fine job."
Bambietta glared at him, but before she could say more, Kakashi called them over, his expression serious.
"We've received word about a key enemy bridge," Kakashi said, his voice calm but firm. "We'll be moving out tomorrow morning to destroy it. Make sure you're ready. Minato-sensei told me it would be a S-ranked one"
The announcement shifted the air between them. Bambietta straightened her posture, nodding curtly, but when she glanced at Gin, he still had that same careless expression.
"Guess tomorrow's gonna be fun," he said softly.
Gin POV
That night, as the stars shimmered above the Hidden Leaf, Gin found himself leaning against a window, watching the village bathed in moonlight. He sensed Bambietta's presence long before she spoke, but he didn't acknowledge her until she came to stand beside him.
"You don't seem concerned about tomorrow's mission," Bambietta said, her voice low.
Gin opened his eyes slightly, glancing at her. "No point in worryin'. We'll handle it like we always do."
She was quiet for a moment, her gaze fixed on the moonlit streets below. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer than usual. "Do you ever wonder… what comes next?"
Gin tilted his head, considering her words. There was a vulnerability in her question, one that she rarely showed. He shifted closer, though the movement was subtle, almost imperceptible.
"What comes next, huh?" he repeated, his voice light. "Dunno. Maybe I'll just keep followin' you around, Bambi-chan."
She flushed again, though this time she didn't hide it. Her hand twitched, as though she wanted to smack him for the teasing, but something held her back.
"Idiot," she muttered.
Gin chuckled, the sound barely more than a whisper. But in that moment, as they stood side by side under the silent night, the distance between them seemed to shrink just a little more.