Chapter 7: 7. Chapter 7: The First Battle After Transmigration

Chapter 7: The First Battle After Transmigration

Senju Itama, running for his life with everything he had, found a member of the Uchiha clan standing in his only path of escape. A look of despair appeared on his face.

At only five years old, no matter how much of a prodigy he might be, he had little power to fight back against an adult Uchiha.

The Uchiha before him had a bandage wrapped around his curly hair, and his dead-fish eyes were dull and listless. He didn't seem particularly excited about the prey that had walked right into his trap; instead, a conflicted expression was plastered across his somewhat handsome face.

Without time to overthink, Senju Itama, clutching a kunai, resolutely charged toward the dazed Uchiha Gin. Seeing Senju Itama’s "death-defying" look, Uchiha Gin had no choice but to draw the katana at his waist to prepare for the fight.

"Clang!"

Their weapons collided with a dull thud. Feeling a heavy impact on his arm, Uchiha Gin flew back several meters, landing face-first. He scrambled up with a look of astonishment.

"This kid is this strong?"

"This guy is this weak?"

A stunned Senju Itama looked at the kunai in his hand in disbelief. He couldn't believe he had actually managed to knock back an adult Uchiha.

Uchiha Gin swore that he hadn't held back. Because this was his first battle after transmigrating, he had subconsciously used his full strength, yet the result was being sent flying by a five-year-old child.

Watching Uchiha Gin scramble up in such a sorry state, a spark of hope for survival ignited in Senju Itama’s eyes. He swung his kunai with even more vigor as he charged at the Uchiha again.

Just then, a system notification rang in Uchiha Gin’s mind.

"System detected that the host has entered combat. Heartsteel chest accumulating..."

The Heartsteel chest in his sea of consciousness began to tremble, and then, like a speaker, it started playing an intense BGM.

Listening to the familiar BGM in his head, Uchiha Gin’s brain twitched. Could the products of this outdated system be any less reliable?

Returning to the fight, Senju Itama, limited by his height, was about to stab at Uchiha Gin’s lower regions. Blocking out the demonic BGM in his head, Uchiha Gin barely managed to dodge the strike that would have cost him his "little brother."

He followed up with a classic Uchiha sword technique, slashing toward Senju Itama, only for the boy to block it with his kunai. Speechless, watching his full-force strike be easily neutralized by a five-year-old, Uchiha Gin finally confirmed that the original owner of this body was a complete and utter scrub.

Twenty-plus years of life had all gone to waste. His combat power was probably only at the level of a background-character genin from later generations, not one of the "Twelve Rookie" genin.

Even so, he couldn't afford to admit defeat now. Uchiha Fuka, Uchiha Ryoichi, and the others would likely finish their battles soon. Even if he let Senju Itama go now, the boy would just die at their hands a moment later.

Furthermore, his mission was to save Senju Itama from Uchiha Fuka and the others. With only himself on the scene, he wasn't sure if letting the boy go would count as completing the mission. If it counted as a failure, he would have no choice but to delete his account and restart.

The two traded blows for a few more rounds, a pathetic display of mutual incompetence.

"As expected of the genius young master of the Senju clan, I, Uchiha Gin, am willing to call you the strongest in taijutsu."

Uchiha Gin said to the slightly panting Senju Itama.

"Uchiha Gin, is it? You're not bad yourself. I, Senju Itama, acknowledge you."

His voice was soft and sweet—a fine seedling for a future heartthrob.

Senju Itama, also in his first battle, had his own "chuunibyou" soul ignited, and the natural airheadedness unique to the Senju clan was on full display.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, Uchiha Fuka and the others had already finished their fight. Senju Koji had been hit head-on by Uchiha Fuka’s Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, his fate unknown.

Good heavens, did the Great Fireball actually kill someone?

The three Senju guards were also defeated by the combined efforts of Uchiha Ryoichi and the others, lying on the ground covered in blood.

Seeing that Uchiha Gin still hadn't killed Senju Itama, they all surrounded them.

Senju Itama and Uchiha Gin were in the middle of a "fierce battle," the two even developing a sense of mutual admiration.

But Senju Itama was only five, after all; his stamina was clearly no match for the adult Uchiha Gin.

During a clash, his limbs went weak, and he was knocked flying by Uchiha Gin, hitting a protruding rock behind him and unable to get up for a long time.

"Host victorious. Obtained Heart Energy *1. The Heartsteel chest reward can be unlocked after three more battles. (Current accumulated Heart Energy: 1)"

Exhausted and unable to rise, Senju Itama was judged by the system to have lost to Uchiha Gin.

As the battle ended, Uchiha Fuka and the others arrived at Uchiha Gin’s side. The five of them surrounded the slowly rising Senju Itama, completing the iconic scene from the original work.

Looking in despair as five adult Uchihas surrounded him, Senju Itama, clutching his kunai with trembling hands, felt only hopelessness. He realized he might be following his third brother today.

Uchiha Ryoichi flicked a shuriken with a cat-and-mouse playfulness, grazing Senju Itama’s cheek and embedding it in the rock behind him.

This action shattered Senju Itama’s final psychological defense. At only five years old, his whole body began to tremble, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Alright, our mission is finally complete. Finish him quickly; reinforcements from the Senju clan should be here soon."

Uchiha Fuka, having taken a desperate final strike from Senju Koji before he died, wasn't in great shape. His eyes were very sore—a result of overusing the Sharingan.

The others heard this and simultaneously looked at the silent Uchiha Gin.

Because Uchiha Gin had been the most desperate during this mission—he had even dared to enter Senju territory alone to complete it.

Although his strength was lacking, the others, having heard his "Uchiha Manifesto," subconsciously felt that this mission should be concluded by him.

Stared at by the others, Uchiha Gin guessed what they were thinking. Without hesitation, his expression shifting between light and shadow, he slowly drew his sword and walked toward the Senju Itama who had given up resistance.

With a swift motion, under the surprised gazes of the others, he used the back of his blade to knock Senju Itama unconscious.

"???"

"Uchiha Gin, what is the meaning of this?"

The others questioned Uchiha Gin’s behavior for showing mercy.

"A living young master of the Senju clan is more useful than a dead one."

Uchiha Gin said expressionlessly as he sheathed his katana, then crouched down to hoist the unconscious Senju Itama onto his shoulder.

"Our mission was merely to clear out the Senju seedlings. Don't cause trouble; kill him quickly so we can withdraw."

Uchiha Fuka was somewhat angry at Uchiha Gin’s insubordination. As the captain, he couldn't accept his subordinate defying orders.

"I said, a living Senju is more useful than a corpse."

Just as the tension between the two sides grew, Uchiha Hishikaku’s expression changed.

"The traps I set have been triggered! Senju reinforcements are almost here!"

It turned out that Uchiha Hishikaku had set several traps in the surrounding area before the battle, and he could sense them the moment they were triggered.

"Withdraw first!"

Hearing that enemy reinforcements were approaching, the injured Uchiha Fuka didn't dare linger. If they kept arguing, the outcome would only be worse.

"Yes!"

Receiving the order, the group rose and quickly retreated away from the Senju territory. Uchiha Gin breathed a temporary sigh of relief.

But he didn't dare let Senju Itama go just like that, so he had to carry the unconscious brat and follow the team.

The group pushed themselves to the limit, sprinting until they could no longer sense any pursuit behind them before stopping.

Having escaped the pursuit, the group rested in a cave. Uchiha Gin tied up the unconscious Senju Itama with iron chains.

He didn't know how to seal chakra yet, so he could only crudely wrap Senju Itama in circles like a rice dumpling.

"Uchiha Gin, I hope you give me a reasonable explanation."

Uchiha Fuka, sitting before the campfire, looked at the tightly bound Senju Itama and questioned Uchiha Gin, who was wiping sweat after finishing his work.

Sensing that he would be questioned sooner or later, Uchiha Gin brought out the excuse he had prepared.

"I left him alive because of the Clan Head."

Uchiha Gin explained.

The others looked at each other in confusion, as the mission they received from the Clan Head was only to eliminate the Senju, with no orders to capture anyone alive.

Uchiha Gin’s bullshitting began.

"This all started from that time I was standing guard in front of the Clan Head's door..."