Itama ran with everything he had, only to see a lone Uchiha blocking his path. Despair filled his young eyes.
Even at five years old, a genius though he might be, there was no way he could take on an adult Uchiha.
The man before him, with bandaged curls and lifeless fish eyes, didn't even look excited at Itama's desperate charge. Instead, his handsome face seemed… conflicted.
With no time to think, Itama gripped his kunai and rushed at Gin, who sighed, drew his katana, and prepared himself.
Clang!
Their weapons met, and Gin was sent sprawling several meters, face first into the dirt, climbing back up with a look of shock.
"This kid's this strong?!"
"He's this weak?!"
Itama stared at his kunai in disbelief. He'd actually knocked back a grown Uchiha.
Gin swore he hadn't held back — it was his first battle in this world, and he'd gone all in. Yet a five-year-old sent him flying.
Seeing Gin rise so pathetically, a glimmer of hope flashed in Itama's eyes, and he charged again with renewed vigor.
At that moment, Gin's system chimed.
"Host engaged in combat. Steel Heart chest accumulating energy."
The chest in his mental space vibrated and even started blaring a hype BGM. Gin's eye twitched. Could this outdated system take things seriously for once?
Back in reality, Itama's kunai nearly struck Gin's lower regions. Shutting out the annoying music, Gin narrowly dodged and countered with a textbook Uchiha sword strike — which Itama blocked effortlessly.
At last, Gin had to admit it: his body's original owner really was a loser.
Two decades wasted, with strength barely on par with a generic Genin background character.
Still, he couldn't give up. If Fenghuo or Ryouichi caught up now, they'd kill Itama. And if the mission failed, he'd be erased.
The two of them traded blows, a pathetic clash of underwhelming skill.
"You're no joke, Senju prodigy. I, Uchiha Gin, acknowledge you," Gin panted.
"You're not bad either, Uchiha Gin. I, Senju Itama, acknowledge you," came the soft, childish reply — a hint of dorky pride shining through.
Just as the two locked eyes, Fenghuo's fireball finally downed Koji, and the remaining Senju fell under Ryouichi's group. The five Uchiha now circled Gin and Itama.
Itama's breath hitched. Surrounded, he clutched his kunai, tears welling as his last hope faded.
Ryouichi flicked a shuriken past his cheek into the rock behind him, making him flinch and shiver.
"Enough," Fenghuo barked hoarsely. "Kill him already. Senju reinforcements could arrive any second."
The others turned to Gin expectantly. After all, he'd risked so much and made that fiery speech — it was only fitting he finish the job.
Gin hesitated under their gaze, then stepped forward, drawing his blade. His expression darkened as he raised it — and brought the dull edge down, knocking Itama unconscious.
"???"
"Gin, what are you doing?!"
Fenghuo's voice was sharp with anger.
"An alive Senju heir is more valuable than a dead one," Gin replied coldly, sheathing his blade and hoisting Itama over his shoulder.
"Our mission was to remove the Senju seedlings. Don't overcomplicate it. Kill him and let's go," Fenghuo snapped.
"I said," Gin repeated, "a living Senju is worth more."
The tension thickened, but before things could explode, Hie paled.
"My traps went off. Reinforcements inbound!"
Fenghuo's eyes narrowed, then he barked, "Fall back!"
"Yes!"
The squad bolted, Gin following at the rear with the unconscious Itama slung over him. Only when they were sure no pursuit followed did they stop to catch their breath in a cave.
Gin tied Itama up with chains, wrapping him like a cocoon.
Fenghuo glared at him across the fire. "Gin. Explain."
Gin exhaled, already having prepared his excuse.
"I kept him alive… because of the clan head," he said solemnly.
The others exchanged confused looks — they'd never heard of such an order.
And thus, Gin began his bluff.
"It all started when I was on guard outside the clan head's door…"
(End of Chapter)
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