"It was a dark, windy night. I was diligently guarding the clan head's office door, as always. Even late into the night, I didn't dare slack off. Clan Head Tajima was still tirelessly strategizing for the war. Suddenly, I heard him smash something, followed by his furious roar…"
Uchiha Gin paused, his gaze sweeping over the captivated Uchiha listeners.
"Come on, what did he roar?" Uchiha Ryoichi urged impatiently.
"Yeah, spill it!" Uchiha Hizuru and Uchiha Tarou chimed in. Even the usually silent Uchiha Fuka stared at him, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Feeling parched, Gin reached for his water pouch—empty. Before he could react, Ryoichi thrust his own pouch forward. Thirsty, Gin didn't hesitate, unscrewing it and chugging heartily.
Refreshed, he raised a hand to calm them, then leaned in with a mysterious air. "That damned Senju Butsuma—I'll grind your bones to dust and raise your wife myself!!!"
"What's that mean?" Ryoichi and the others blinked, confused.
Gin sighed, shaking his head with an exaggerated look of exasperation. "No wonder someone as weak as me could serve as Tajima's personal guard. What do you think I've relied on all these years?"
"Isn't it because he's your cousin?" Hizuru muttered, his quiet jab echoing in the cramped cave like it'd been blasted through a megaphone.
"Ahem, as the saying goes, 'Merit trumps kinship,'" Gin coughed awkwardly. "It's my unwavering loyalty to the clan head—and more importantly, my ability to read his every move."
"Read him?" they asked.
"A great ninja like the clan head—every casual gesture, every offhand word—carries deeper meaning. Some things he says mean nothing, while others he doesn't say hold truths only a few can grasp."
"Take this mission. On the surface, he ordered us to kill the Senju prodigies on sight. But the deeper intent? Capture them alive."
"Think about it—Senju Butsuma dotes on his youngest sons. Killing them only fuels the Senju's desperate resistance, costing our clan needlessly. But capturing one alive? The clan head could use him to pressure the Senju. It's all gain, no loss for us Uchiha."
"Brilliant! Did the clan head tell you this?" Fuka exclaimed after listening intently.
"Nope, all my guesswork," Gin replied.
"…"
Risky, but his spiel convinced Fuka and the rest. Once the mission settled, Banma's fate wouldn't be his problem.
After a night's rest, the team recovered somewhat and began the trek back to Uchiha territory with the bound Senju Banma.
Since they'd gone deep behind enemy lines, the journey home would take nearly half a month.
Gin had spared Banma's life on his own, so he was stuck hauling the kid—though mostly, he feared the others might accidentally kill him, failing his task and dooming him too.
The second day, after a full day's march, they camped by a small river. Banma woke once, but before he could react, Gin slapped him back unconscious.
He had no energy to chat with Banma. Lugging a captive was taxing enough.
Even after stripping Banma's bulky armor, the kid still weighed thirty or forty pounds. The original owner's frail body struggled under the load.
Idly sitting, Gin realized he hadn't triggered his Heart of Steel Chest today. He wasn't fully clear on its activation rules.
Pondering, he approached Ryoichi, who leaned against a tree.
Ryoichi frowned as Gin neared, unsure why he wasn't resting. Gin's dawdling had already halved their day's progress, irking Ryoichi, who wanted to report back early.
"Big bro Ryoichi," Gin started.
"Don't call me that—I'm younger than you," Ryoichi snapped. Gin was 24, Ryoichi 20. Despite the age gap, their skill difference was vast.
"Ryoichi, my man," Gin pivoted smoothly.
"…"
Seeing Ryoichi's speechless look, Gin cut to the chase. "Ryoichi, my man, how about a spar?"
"…" Ryoichi paused, silent.
No system chime. Gin mused, "Guess challenging someone doesn't trigger it."
"No time," Ryoichi dismissed, uninterested in wasting rest on a weakling.
"Scared? My shuriken skills were personally taught by the clan head. Never met my match," Gin sighed, shaking his head with mock loneliness.
"Damn it, I'll turn you into a pincushion or my name's Senju!" Ryoichi exploded, pride stung.
Poor ancient soul—never read The Art of War.
"Detected host in combat. Heart of Steel Chest accumulating…"
The chime thrilled Gin.
Now facing Ryoichi, it was a clan spar—no lethal moves.
Ryoichi launched five shuriken, arcing trickily toward Gin's limbs. Drawing on the original's memory, Gin deftly countered with five of his own.
As expected, the ten shuriken clashed precisely, scattering to the ground. Gin's opinion of the original rose slightly—maybe he wasn't just a pretty face.
"Interesting. Try this," Ryoichi said, getting serious after his shuriken were blocked.
He unslung his giant Fuma shuriken and hurled it at Gin. Watching it spin closer, Gin didn't dodge, standing calm as it neared.
Ryoichi panicked—did Gin want to die? He didn't want a clan-killing rap. He flickered forward to intercept it before it bisected Gin.
Ryoichi was fast, nearly grabbing it—when Gin dropped flat to the ground, narrowly evading. Ryoichi, off-balance, stumbled toward the river.
Lying prone, Gin raised both hands, grinning cheekily. "Worthy of the clan's top shuriken genius, Uchiha Ryoichi! I, Uchiha Gin, crown you the shuriken king! I yield!"
Splash!
Furious, Ryoichi lost control and plunged into the water. He'd never met such a shameless guy.
"Host defeated. Gained 10 heart energy points. Two more battles to unlock Heart of Steel Chest rewards. (Current total: 11)"
Eyes lighting up, Gin ignored his sprawled state, leapt up, and hauled the soaked Ryoichi ashore.
"Ryoichi, my man, let's call it here. What a thrilling fight—I've learned so much! After tonight's rest, let's go again tomorrow!"
His grandiose words made Ryoichi's veins bulge.
"Get lost!!!!"
---
If you want to read more than 20 chapters early feel free to visit pa tre on . com /Archus