"Huh?"
Senju Banma, eavesdropping on Uchiha Gin and Uchiha Izuna, ducked back into his room. The mention of dinner lit up his eyes, his mouth twitching upward. Then, remembering his Senju pride, he shouted, "You vile curly-haired gorilla, your Uchiha bribes won't sway me!"
Hearing his new nickname, Gin's fist clenched, vowing to "treat" this brat later.
"Not eating? I'm making sweet-and-sour fish," Gin teased, voice dripping with mischief.
"I, Senju Banma, would rather starve or jump off a cliff than eat your food!" Banma declared, swallowing hard as he recalled sweet-and-sour pork. Fish was his favorite—his brothers often took him fishing, grilling fresh, fragrant catches.
"Oh, this sweet-and-sour fish is divine!" Gin said, eyeing Banma, who was now face-deep in a bowl, devouring it. Sure you're not Senju Tobirama?
A five-year-old kid, easily tamed by food.
"Slow down, watch the bones," Gin warned, worried the kid might choke. The mission wasn't done—if Banma died on a fishbone, Gin would be screwed.
"Uh…" Banma froze mid-bite, lifting his head, confused. When had he sat at the table? Why was his mouth full of tangy fish? "Despicable curly gorilla, you used genjutsu on me!"
Swallowing, Banma shot Gin a "I-see-through-you" look, convinced he'd fallen for an Uchiha illusion—otherwise, he'd never touch this guy's food.
"Stop imagining things. Finish eating and clean up. I've got business," Gin said, smacking Banma out of his daydream, assigning chores before heading to the backyard.
Surveying the barren yard, Gin rubbed his chin. "Wonder what skill'll spawn today. Anything but that one-on-seven."
As he hoped, the air around him thickened.
Here it comes!
The sky shifted, a crimson moon rising. In the empty yard, a shimmering gray-white wall appeared, and a familiar figure stepped through.
"I—%~＊[-＃@＃O｝＊!" A string of unprintable curses burst from Gin's mouth.
His eyes snapped to combat mode, three black tomoe spinning in his crimson Sharingan. Since reaching three-tomoe, Gin's strength neared jonin level.
If the original host's body weren't so frail, his right eye's Amaterasu could've matched future elite teachers.
[Amaterasu]
Gin struck first—hesitating was for fools. Against enemies, you hit with a finisher.
Black flames erupted on Uchiha Itachi's form. Seeing the easy hit, Gin's heart leapt. Did I get him?
But the next second, the flaming Itachi dissolved into scattering crows. The Amaterasu, targetless, flickered out in midair.
[Crow Clone Jutsu]
Dozens of crows regrouped before Gin, reforming into Itachi—one of his signature moves.
"Tsukuyomi."
Before Gin could react, his eyes met Itachi's cold Mangekyo Sharingan. Oddly, the supposedly emotionless NPC's gaze held a playful glint Gin missed.
No surprise—he was dragged into Itachi's genjutsu space.
"Guess I can't escape," Gin sighed, bound to the familiar cross. It felt like coming home.
Without his Mangekyo, he was no match for Itachi.
"Come on, don't hold back just 'cause I'm delicate!" Gin taunted, giving up. Tsukuyomi? He'd endure. Unlike Kakashi, who moped for ages after one hit, Gin wasn't petty.
Seventy-two hours passed. Gin knelt, exhausted, as the system's debuff cleanse hadn't kicked in. Yet, he felt minimal trauma—almost immune to Tsukuyomi now.
A cool wave in his mind swept away the fatigue.
The long-silent system chimed: "Backyard Daily Random Skill Refresh: [Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi]. Obtained Tsukuyomi Fragment 10…"
[Tsukuyomi Fragment (20/40). Collect 40 to synthesize Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi. Requires Mangekyo Sharingan.]
Ten fragments at once! Gin gaped at the system log.
"Congratulations, host. Tsukuyomi fragments over halfway. Awarded Tsukuyomi Experience Card (Single Use) 1."
[Tsukuyomi Experience Card: Use to cast Tsukuyomi once, cost-free, unaffected by enemy strength.]
An extra reward! Gin eyed the card in his system inventory, grinning. The system finally did something right.
This card gave him confidence—next overpowered foe could eat a Tsukuyomi and crumble.
Humming, Gin dusted his knees and strolled home, nudging open the door Izuna had expertly fixed. No creaks—kid had skills.
He spotted a small butt wiggling in the air. Banma was scrubbing the floor, food scraps scattered—clearly his mess.
Eyeing the swaying target, Gin's hand itched. Sneaking up, he landed a solid smack on Banma's rear.
"Aaah!" Banma leapt, clutching his butt, glaring at the culprit, face red with fury.
"Nice padding there, kid," Gin teased, chuckling at the surprising bounce.
"You perverted Uchiha, I'll fight you!" Banma, crimson from head to toe, ditched the rag and charged, baring his teeth.
"Detected host in combat. Heart of Steel Chest accumulating…"
A Heart of Steel trigger with this kid? Gin smirked. Free points!
With a plan, Gin didn't dodge. Banma leapt, tackling him to the floor with surprising force.
Straddling Gin, Banma, blinded by rage, punched and scratched wildly. Still fuming, he chomped hard on Gin's face.
Gin, enjoying the "massage," was stunned by the bite. A gentleman fights, not bites!
"I surrender, you win! Gross, get off!" Gin wailed, wiping Banma's drool, raising the white flag.
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If you want to read more than 20 chapters early feel free to visit pa tre on . com /Archus