Uchiha Gin's trembling finger hovered under Senju Banma's foam-covered mouth and nose. Air in, no air out—his heart plummeted.
He yanked off Banma's shirt, pressing an ear to the boy's pale chest. A faint heartbeat steadied him. Just passed out. Relieved, Gin redressed the kid, wiped the foam, and carried him to bed, leaving him to recover.
"Senju have strong vitality, don't they?" Gin muttered, shutting the door with a twinge of guilt.
Glancing at the Three-Tails plush in his hand, he sighed. Good thing he got a gift—hopefully Banma wouldn't wake up too traumatized.
Stashing the plush, drained, Gin bathed, lit incense, and offered a prayer to Indra, the Uchiha's ancestor.
Everything was set for the draw. In the system space, he eyed the Heart of Steel orb earned earlier. Hands rubbing, heart pounding, he muttered, "Here we go, lucky streak!"
Feeling the moment, Gin slapped the left orb. A dazzling golden light engulfed it, his pulse spiking. Is this my big break?
[Gold Bricks 5] Universal currency, usable in reality.
What?! The light faded, revealing five heavy gold bricks. Gin nearly choked, eyes bloodshot, forcing down his frustration.
Turning to the second orb, he thought, One's a bust, but this has to be it!
Hands clasped, he bowed deeply to the orb. Come on, deliver!
"Open!" Bracing himself, Gin pressed it. Blue light flooded the space, splitting into two orbs. He opened the first.
[Hyuga Clan Physique 1] Grants a trace of Hyuga bloodline, slightly boosting attributes.
Hyuga? Gin blinked, stunned. He'd never met a Hyuga—how'd he pull their physique? Didn't that need Byakugan? His Sharingan were pure Uchiha, barely related anymore.
Shoving the odd reward aside, he opened the second orb. As the light dimmed, "Wood Release" appeared. Gin's heart leapt, hands shaking.
He envisioned clapping hands, Susanoo-wrapped Wood Golem dominating the battlefield.
But as his breath quickened, the full text emerged:
[Wood Release: Four-Pillar House] Instantly creates a complex wooden residence. Very convenient.
What the—?! Gin rubbed his stinging eyes, double-checking. No error.
It was Yamato's Wood Release jutsu—primary use: housing construction.
Pinching between his eyes, Gin reasoned, "It's still Wood Release, right? No need to hire anyone for the yard's fence."
Convincing himself, he absorbed the rewards. A warm surge hit his eyes, boosting his unawakened Sharingan's vision—Uchiha or Hyuga, both enhanced eyesight.
The Four-Pillar House jutsu imprinted in his mind, no restrictions, no Senju bloodline required.
Muttering curses, Gin exited the system, "loaded" with rewards, and headed to the backyard to test it.
"Wood Release: Four-Pillar House!" Chakra surged, wooden beams burst from the ground, aligning to his mental blueprint. They encircled the yard, forming a neat, sturdy fence.
Inspecting the spot-on design, Gin nodded. Less detailed than Kakashi's Earth Wall dog carving, but sleek and practical.
Dusting his hands, humming, Gin checked Banma. The kid was fine, drooling in deep sleep.
"Kids have it easy—no cares," Gin mused, collapsing on the couch, out like a light.
Next morning, Gin woke early, cooked breakfast, wolfed down his share, left some for Banma, and headed to work.
On the clan's main road, clansmen hustled to their tasks. Yesterday's revelations—Fuka's account, Yao's bombshells—muddled Gin's thoughts.
He'd only wanted to dig into the clan grounds disaster six years ago. Instead, he found his jailed grandfather, who spilled: the original host had Mangekyo, stolen by a scheming uncle who killed his parents for the clan head role; his eyes were out there, reclaimable to rule the clan.
Before processing, Fuka, his dad's old teammate, gave a firsthand account, undermining Yao's credibility.
"Enough grimdark tropes—where's the fun comedy?" Gin grumbled, ruffling his curly hair.
"Cousin! Up so early?" Izuna's loud voice snapped him back.
"Work, what else? I'm a pathetic adult now. Enjoy your freedom, Izuna," Gin sighed, patting Izuna's spiky head. Are spiky Uchiha always this goofy as kids?
"No clue what you mean. I won't work—family's rich!" Izuna swatted Gin's hand, chest puffed proudly.
Thwack! Gin's signature forehead flick landed.
"Cocky brats are the worst," Gin said, ignoring Izuna's sulky squat, heading to his desk.
"Lord Uchiha Gin, did you see the old jailer?" Uchiha Ryusa's head poked through the office door before Gin could pour tea, asking warily.
"Yep, thanks for the assist, Ryusa," Gin said, praising the sharp aide. "A talent like you, stuck guarding? Join me, and you'll soar!"
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