Chapter 24: Isn't It Normal to Have a Competitive Streak When You're Young?

Side-stepping the shuriken aimed directly at his face, Uchiha Gin looked helplessly at the panting boy before him.

Just moments ago, the brat crouching in front of his house had whipped out a shuriken without a word and hurled it at him. Relying on his taijutsu stat of 10, Gin had easily dodged the attack. Seeing his sneak attack fail, the boy—who bore a striking resemblance to Uchiha Sasuke—refused to accept it and pulled out another shuriken, tossing it at him with a flurry of motion.

"Izuna, is this how you welcome your dear older cousin?" Gin recalled the boy’s identity from his memories. Uchiha Izuna, the second son of Uchiha Tajima and the younger brother of the future mastermind Uchiha Madara. He was exceptionally gifted but far too arrogant, ultimately having his eyes stolen by a cunning white-haired shinobi, leaving behind a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan and meeting an early death. It could be said that Izuna’s death was the catalyst for the subsequent plot; otherwise, Madara would never have awakened the Rinnegan. But for now, he was just a brother-obsessed kid who had only just awakened his chakra.

"Damn it! Since when did you become so strong?" seeing all his moves miss, Izuna, who had checked his empty ninja tool pouch, asked with a frown.

"Strong? I’ve been at this level for years. Don't talk nonsense; maybe look for your own shortcomings. Has your chakra level increased over the years? Have you been training seriously?" Gin said with a sarcastic, mocking tone.

"Damn you!" Provoked to the point of a blood rush, Izuna ignored the gap in their strength, pulled a katana from his back, and charged at Gin.

Gin dodged nimbly, taunting him as he moved, "Is that all you've got, little brother?"

Hearing the mocking tone, Izuna’s eyes turned red with fury.

"Don't tell me... you're actually awakening the Sharingan right now?" Gin teased, causing Izuna to see stars and nearly pass out from anger.

Four years ago, a ten-year-old Uchiha Madara had easily defeated his ten-year-older cousin, a scene that left a deep impression on young Izuna. Now, four years later, Izuna, believing himself well-prepared, had chosen his own tenth birthday to challenge his cousin, Gin, in hopes of keeping pace with his brother. He never expected that this cousin, who usually seemed like a bootlicking weakling, would have such skills. Even if he wasn't an elite combatant, Izuna was already at the top of the standard rank—a Chunin-level ability by future standards.

Realizing his opponent wasn't as simple as he imagined, Izuna hardened his resolve and began weaving hand signs frantically: Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.

The classic Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.

As the boy puffed out his cheeks, a searing surge of chakra erupted from his mouth, sending a fireball several meters in diameter hurtling toward Gin. Having released such a powerful technique, the boy panted heavily, watching to see how his opponent would handle his trump card.

The incoming fireball made Gin’s already curly hair frizz even more. Glancing at the groceries he had just purchased and his "pendant," Senju Itama, Gin had no choice but to extend his hands and prepare to face the fireball head-on. As chakra gathered in his palms, Gin struck the fireball with his fists. Under the reinforcement of his superhuman strength, the searing flames were actually blocked by the sheer force of his punch.

Seeing his opponent meeting his fireball head-on without flinching, Izuna shouted anxiously, "Are you stupid? Get out of the way!"

Sparring was one thing, but killing each other within the clan was the ultimate taboo. Besides, Gin was his cousin, and their relationship wasn't as bad as one might think.

Feeling the intense heat on his fists, Gin decided the timing was right. He unleashed a burst of superhuman strength against the fireball. With a muffled thud, the fireball was dispersed by the force of his blow. Gin then strategically flew backward, rolling on the ground a few times in a "disheveled" manner before lying still.

Seeing this, Izuna rushed over to the "unconscious" Gin. Looking at the burn marks on his clothes, the boy was filled with regret. How could he have done this to his own relative? Under the immense stress, tears welled up in the boy’s dark eyes and streamed down his face.

"Cousin, don't die! I'm going to get a doctor!" Izuna, seeing no reaction despite his shaking, prepared to run for help.

"Cough, cough... as expected of my little brother, this Fireball Jutsu has the touch of the Clan Head himself... cough."

Seeing the moment was right, Gin "struggled" to open his eyes. His weak voice made Izuna stop and quickly lift his upper body.

"Cousin, you're not dead!"

*...You'd be dead before I am, you little brat.*

"Izuna, your strength is no longer below mine. Seeing your growth, I am very gratified." Gin praised him, then added, "I lost this time, but next time it won't be the same. Izuna, wait for my challenge!"

"Hmph, anytime!"

"Host failed, obtained Heart Essence *10. After three more battles, the Heartsteel Treasure Chest reward will be unlocked. (Current cumulative Heart Essence: 10)"

The system’s pleasant notification chimed. Seeing the naive "leek" easily fall into his trap, Gin smiled with satisfaction. This was a high-quality leek; he couldn't let him wither away.

After Gin stood up, Izuna wanted to take him to the clan for a check-up, but Gin refused. "Small injuries like this are nothing to a brave Uchiha man. I've suffered much worse on missions."

Hearing this, Izuna looked at his usually lazy cousin with newfound respect.

"Izuna, why did you come to challenge me today?" Gin asked while helping pick up the scattered shuriken.

"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.

"It's your birthday today?" Gin asked, looking up in surprise.

"What of it? It's just a day." During the Warring States period, there were no special birthday celebrations; most families didn't even keep track, as just staying alive was difficult enough.

"That won't do! Come, come, help me carry the ingredients inside. I'll cook you something good!" Gin beckoned his cousin to carry the groceries inside. As he picked up the food, 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 worry about it, just get inside."

Finding it too troublesome to explain, Gin hoisted Senju Itama up and urged Izuna into the house.

In the kitchen, Gin put his past-life culinary skills to work, cooking up a storm. In the living room, Izuna poked the unconscious Senju Itama. Finding no reaction, he playfully pinched the boy's nose. As Itama’s face turned redder and redder, the boy finally stirred from his long unconsciousness, waking up in a daze from oxygen deprivation.

"Ahhh, who are you!" Senju Itama gasped, eyeing the strange boy defensively.

"That's what I want to ask," Izuna said, standing up and looking down at him.

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

"Heh, my brother said that too!" the Uchiha boy retorted.

"My brother dares to..."

"My brother dares to too..."

Childish one-upmanship filled the air. Pulling back the curtain, Gin walked out with two plates of food.

"Stop arguing. What are the benefits of having an older brother? Whoever guesses correctly gets the food."