I stand in front of the two-story building, a smile tugging at my lips as I read the writing on the building.
"Gin-chan Odd Jobs"
In my opinion, Gintama is the best anime ever made. It is a comedy at its core, yet capable of delivering raw, emotional moments when it chooses to take itself seriously. It has everything—laughter, sorrow, even romance if you dig deep enough.
Even in its most serious arcs, it never forgets how to make you laugh. That balance, that perfect blend of comedy, sadness, and wholesomeness, is what makes it the best anime of all time.
Shaking my head, I push forward toward the small snack house before me.
I need two days of preparation before I approach the main cast.
The reason? Money.
I need funds; the easiest way to get them is by selling some gold to the locals. Not only that, but I also want the Uzumakis to spread their influence across the Kabuki District before I meet one of the Four Devas.
Taking a breath, I slide open the wooden door.
The scent of tobacco greets me. Behind the counter, a familiar older woman sits, cigarette in hand, her sharp eyes already sizing me up.
Otose.
One of the Four Devas of the Kabuki District.
"Welcome. What do you want?" she asks, voice rough yet indifferent.
Straight to the point. It's a bit rude, but I don't mind.
Without hesitation, I place a few bills on the counter.
"Something smooth, not too strong. And a snack that pairs well with it."
She takes the money with a grunt, flicking her cigarette.
"Wait here."
As she begins preparing my order, I decide to start asking a few questions.
"By the way," I say casually, "does Gintoki live here?"
She pauses, her gaze flicking to me before she exhales a cloud of smoke.
"Maybe… Describe the person you are looking for."
"White hair. Eyes like dead fish."
She grunts again.
"Yeah, that idiot is upstairs. What do you want with him?"
She sets my drink down as she speaks, her hands moving to prepare the snack.
"Nothing much. Just looking for a job."
"A job, huh?" she muses. "What kind of job?"
"I heard he knows a shinobi. Thought maybe he could introduce my guard to them. She is a shinobi as well, you know? She wants to see the difference between the two schools of shinobi."
"Guard?"
A second later, Hinoko Uzumaki appears beside me, her presence instantaneous, like she had always been there.
She offers Otose a polite smile.
"Greetings."
"Shit!"
Otose nearly jumps out of her skin, hand flying to her chest. She stares at Hinoko, eyes narrowing as she takes her in—from head to toe—assessing her.
"She's really a shinobi," she mutters.
I nod. "That she is. I just want to know if Gintoki is willing to introduce us to the one he knows."
Otose exhales another puff of smoke, shaking her head. "Why? What's your interest?"
"As I said earlier, Hinoko wants to compare techniques—see the difference between the shinobi here and back home."
"…Fair enough," Otose shrugs. "Go talk to him once you're done."
I take my time, enjoying my drink and the snack she prepares. Once finished, I stand, stretching slightly before making my way upstairs.
Reaching the second floor, I press the doorbell.
A commotion erupts inside.
"Coming!"
A few seconds later, the door swings open, revealing a young man with black hair and glasses.
This is Shinpachi Shimura—the young man under Gintoki's wing and one of the three main cast members.
"Can I help you?" he asks.
"This is Gin-chan's Odd Jobs, right?"
"That's right! Are you here for a job request?"
I nod.
He opens the door wider.
"Then please, come in."
As I step inside, he turns his head and shouts into the house.
"Gin-san! There's a customer! Get out of the bathroom and come here!"
From inside, a muffled voice yells back:
"Wait a minute, Patsuan! The poop is on the edge! I can't get out until it gets out of me!"
Shinpachi grits his teeth and yells louder.
"Hold your breath and make one last push! Just dump it all at once, Gin-san!"
I pause.
What the hell am I listening to?
Shaking my head, I follow Shinpachi to the living room, where he serves me tea.
"Here you go. So, what kind of job are you offering?"
I take a sip before responding.
"Hmmm… More like a connection than a job, actually."
Shinpachi frowns. "What do you mean?"
"I know that Gintoki has connections to Kotarou Katsura."
Immediately, his expression stiffens, eyes narrowing.
I raise my hands. "Ah, don't worry—I'm not here for trouble."
His shoulders relax slightly.
"I just want to know if Katsura-san would be willing to sell me the goods he steals from the Amanto—in exchange for gold."
Shinpachi blinks. "Wait… you want to buy stolen goods?"
"Not military stuff," I clarify. "Only medical supplies or anything that helps in everyday life."
Before he can respond, a lazily bored voice chimes in.
"You don't need Zura for that."
I glance sideways.
A man with silver hair, slouched in the doorway, picking his nose with an air of complete disinterest.
Gintoki Sakata.
"What do you mean?" I ask. "Doesn't he sell his stolen goods to fund his operation?"
"He does," Gintoki admits, flicking his booger away, "but he won't sell to some random stranger like you."
"Then how do I—?"
He stretches, cracking his back. "Kaientai. That's where the goods go."
Kaientai?
"I know someone you can talk to," he says, yawning. "If you're serious, I can set you up."
"That would be perfect." I reach into my bag and place something heavy on the table.
A one-kilo bar of pure gold.
"This will be your payment for this."
Silence.
Then—
"OOOOOOHHHHH!"
Both Gintoki and Shinpachi's eyes bulge at the sheer weight of fortune before them.
After a few seconds of shouting and cheering, Gintoki coughs, composing himself.
"Ahem! We have a deal, my lord! No! My Emperor! I'll set you up with that idiot Sakamoto."
"Great. One more thing—I heard you know a shinobi."
At those words, Gintoki shudders and nods his head.
"Yeah, she's a crazy woman. What do you need from her? Besides something related to M-activity, she is rather useless, you know? She is a pervert, not a shinobi."
"Nothing bad. I just want her to exchange techniques with my guard. That is why I wonder if you can set us up to meet somewhere."
Before he can say something, I can hear Hinoko say something.
"Already found her, my lord."
"KYAAAH!"
Gintoki screams at the sudden voice.
In the blink of an eye, he's dressed as a priest, clutching a cross and an ofuda in both hands.
I sigh. "Hinoko, don't scare them."
She deactivates her jutsu, stepping beside me.
"Yes, my lord."
I shake my head and say.
"What do you mean she is already here, Hinoko?"
I ask that even though I already know the answer. I knew her presence here before I went to the second floor because of my Senjutsu. However, I cannot say that because I am playing a role.
"She is above us."
A second after she says that, a shadow drops from the ceiling, landing gracefully before us. She looks at us with eyes that show interest.
"Who are you? And what do you want with me?"