Chapter 24: It is quite normal to have a competitive streak when you are a child

Leaning aside to dodge a shuriken aimed straight at his face, Uchiha Gin looked helplessly at the panting youth before him.

Just a moment ago, the brat crouching in front of his house had, without a word, pulled out a shuriken and hurled it at him.

Relying on his physical enhancement bonus of 10 points, Uchiha Gin easily evaded the attack.

Seeing his sneak attack fail, the brat—who bore a striking resemblance to Uchiha Sasuke—refused to accept defeat and pulled out another shuriken, throwing it at him with a series of rapid *swish-swish* sounds.

"Izuna, is this how you welcome your dear older cousin?"

Uchiha Gin recognized the boy's identity from his memories.

Uchiha Izuna: the second son of Uchiha Tajima, the younger brother of the future mastermind Uchiha Madara. He was exceptionally talented but too arrogant, resulting in his kidneys being stolen by a cunning white-haired man, leaving him to die young with a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan.

It could be said that Izuna's death was the catalyst for the subsequent plot; otherwise, Uchiha Madara would never have awakened the Rinnegan. However, at this moment, he was merely a newly awakened brother-complex enthusiast.

"Damn it, when did you become so strong?"

Seeing all his moves fail, Uchiha Izuna, who was currently rummaging through his empty ninja tool pouch, furrowed his small brow and shouted loudly.

"Strong? I've been at this level for years. Don't lie through your teeth. Sometimes you should look inward—has your chakra volume increased over the years? Have you been training seriously?"

Uchiha Gin looked at the somewhat indignant Izuna and spoke with a sarcastic, mocking tone.

"Curse you!"

Overheated by the sarcasm, Uchiha Izuna ignored the gap in their strength. He pulled a katana from his back and charged at Uchiha Gin.

But the agile Uchiha Gin easily dodged him, shouting as he moved, "Can you even handle this, little brother?"

Hearing that cheeky voice, Izuna's eyes turned red with rage.

"No way, no way... are you activating the Sharingan already?"

He was so angry his vision went dark, nearly fainting on the spot.

Four years ago, the ten-year-old Uchiha Madara had easily defeated his cousin who was ten years older. That scene had left a deep impression on the young Izuna.

Four years later, believing himself fully prepared and wanting to keep up with his brother Madara, Izuna chose to challenge his cousin Uchiha Gin on his tenth birthday.

But what he never expected was that this cousin, who usually looked like a useless hanger-on, actually possessed such skill.

One must realize that even if his current strength wasn't at the level of an elite combatant, he was at the top of ordinary combatants—equivalent to a Chunin by future standards.

Realizing his opponent was not as simple as he had imagined, Izuna steeled his resolve and began weaving hand signs frantically.

*Snake – Goat – Monkey – Pig – Horse – Tiger.*

The classic Great Fireball Technique.

As the boy's cheeks puffed out, a surge of scorching chakra was released from his mouth, sending a fireball several meters in diameter crashing toward Uchiha Gin.

Having released such a powerful technique, the boy panted heavily, watching to see how the other would deal with his trump card.

The oncoming fireball caused his already curly hair to curl even more. Glancing at the groceries he had just purchased behind him and his "accessory," Senju Itama, Uchiha Gin had no choice but to extend both hands, preparing to take the Great Fireball head-on.

As chakra gathered in his hands, Uchiha Gin delivered a hammer strike against the fireball. Bolstered by his monstrous strength, the wind from his punch actually managed to part the scorching flames.

Seeing that the opponent was facing his Great Fireball head-on without flinching, Izuna cried out in panic, "Are you stupid? Dodge it, quick!"

Sparring was one thing, but killing members of one's own clan was the ultimate taboo—not to mention Uchiha Gin was his cousin, and their relationship wasn't as bad as one might imagine.

Feeling the heat radiating from his fists, Uchiha Gin decided the timing was right. He unleashed his monstrous strength once more, striking the fireball in front of him.

With a muffled boom, the Great Fireball was dispersed by the wind of his punch. Uchiha Gin was sent flying backward, "clumsily" rolling several times on the ground before falling still.

Seeing this, Izuna rushed to the side of the "unconscious" Uchiha Gin. Looking at the burn marks on the man's body, the boy was filled with regret.

How could he treat his own kin like this? Under the immense shock, the boy's dark eyes slowly welled with tears, which began to stream down his face.

"Cousin, don't die! I'll go find a doctor right now!"

Seeing that Izuna's shaking did nothing to move him, the boy prepared to stand up and seek help from the clan.

"Cough, cough, cough... as expected of my brother. That Great Fireball had a bit of the Clan Head's flair... cough..."

Seeing that the timing was right, Uchiha Gin "struggled" to open his eyes. His weak voice made Izuna stop in his tracks, and he quickly leaned down to support his cousin's upper body.

"Cousin, you're not dead!"

"...If you died, I wouldn't be dead either, you little brat."

"Izuna, your current strength is no longer below mine. Seeing your growth makes me very proud."

Uchiha Gin offered praise first, then followed up with, "I lost this time, but next time might be different. Izuna, wait for my challenge!"

"*(╯^╰)*, I'll be waiting anytime!"

[Host failed. Obtained Heart Energy * 10. After three more battles, the Heart of Steel Treasure Chest will be unlocked. (Current accumulated Heart Energy: 10)]

The system's pleasant notification rang out.

Seeing the young, ignorant "leek" (easy target) enter the pot so easily, Uchiha Gin smiled with satisfaction. This was a high-quality leek; he couldn't let him die prematurely.

After Uchiha Gin stood up, Izuna tried to pull him to the clan for a check-up, but he was refused.

"A minor injury like this is nothing to a brave Uchiha boy. I've sustained much worse injuries during missions."

Hearing this, Izuna felt a surge of respect, beginning to re-evaluate this usually frivolous cousin.

"Izuna, why did you come to challenge me today?"

While helping Izuna pick up the scattered shuriken, Uchiha Gin asked.

"Today is my tenth birthday. Big brother defeated you on his tenth birthday, so I wanted to..."

Izuna scratched his spiky hair, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Today is your birthday?" Uchiha Gin looked up in surprise.

"What's the big deal? It's just a date."

In the Warring States Period, there were no special celebrations for birthdays. Ordinary families often didn't even bother to remember them; after all, in this era, simply staying alive was a struggle.

"That won't do! Come, come, help me carry the groceries inside, and I'll cook you a good meal!"

Uchiha Gin immediately beckoned his cousin to help carry the groceries that hadn't been caught in the blast into the house. Picking up the ingredients, he looked at the unconscious Senju Itama on the ground and asked curiously, "Who is this guy? His hair color is so strange!"

"Don't mind him, let's just get inside, get inside."

Finding an explanation too troublesome, Uchiha Gin hoisted Senju Itama up and urged Izuna to hurry indoors.

Once in the kitchen and having organized the ingredients, Uchiha Gin began a flurry of cooking, utilizing the skills from his previous life.

In the living room, Izuna crouched down and poked the unconscious Senju Itama. Finding no response, his playful side took over, and he pinched Itama's nose.

As Itama's face turned increasingly red, the long-unconscious boy woke up in a daze from the oxygen deprivation and dizziness.

"Ahhh! Who are you!"

Woken by the pinching, Itama gasped for air, looking warily at the strange youth before him.

"I was going to ask you the same thing."

To the impolite brat, Izuna stood up and looked down at him from a height.

"My brother said that when asking someone's name, you have to state your own first!" the restrained Senju brat said indignantly.

"Hehe, that's clearly something *my* brother said!" the Uchiha brat shot back.

"My brother dares to..."

"My brother also dares to..."

The childish competition was endless.

Pulling back the curtain, Uchiha Gin walked out carrying two plates of food.

"Stop arguing. What are the benefits of being the older brother? Whoever gets it right, I'll give it to them."

(End of Chapter)