Having a Competitive Streak as a Child Is Perfectly Normal

Having a Competitive Streak as a Child Is Perfectly Normal

Uchiha Gin sidestepped the shuriken flying straight at his face and looked helplessly at the panting boy before him.

Just moments ago, the brat squatting in front of his house had pulled out a handful of shuriken and hurled them at him without a word.

With his whopping 10-point taijutsu boost, Uchiha Gin easily dodged the attack.

Seeing his sneak attack miss, the brat who looked remarkably like Sasuke stubbornly pulled out another handful of shuriken and sent them flying at him.

"Izuna, is this how you welcome your dear Big Cousin?"

Uchiha Gin recognized who he was from his memories.

Uchiha Izuna, Uchiha Tajima's second son and the younger brother of Uchiha Madara, the future half-mastermind behind everything. He was exceptionally talented but far too arrogant, and in the end, that crafty White Hair stole one of his kidneys, leaving behind a pair of Mangekyo before dying young.

It could be said that Izuna's death was what set the later plot in motion. Otherwise, Uchiha Madara would never have awakened the Rinnegan. But for now, he was merely a newly awakened brother-con.

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

Seeing all his moves miss, Uchiha Izuna rummaged through his empty Ninja Tool pouch, frowned with his tiny brows, and shouted.

"How am I strong? I've been at this level for years. Don't make things up with your eyes wide open. Sometimes, you should look for the problem in yourself. Has your Chakra increased after all these years? Have you been training seriously?"

Uchiha Gin looked at the unconvinced Uchiha Izuna and spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"Damn it!"

So thoroughly provoked that the blood rushed to his head, Uchiha Izuna ignored the gap in their strength. He pulled out a Samurai Sword from behind his back and charged at Uchiha Gin.

But the nimble Uchiha Gin still dodged him with ease, speaking as he evaded, "Can you even do this, little bro?"

Hearing that smug voice, Uchiha Izuna was so furious that his eyes turned red.

"No way, no way. You're opening your Sharingan already?"

The anger made his vision go dark, and he nearly passed out.

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

Four years later, believing himself fully prepared, Izuna had chosen to challenge his cousin Uchiha Gin on the day he turned ten, hoping to keep up with his brother Uchiha Madara.

But he had never expected that this cousin of his, who usually looked like a useless weakling throwing his weight around, would possess such skill.

His current strength might not have reached that of an Elite Combatant, but he was among the best of the Ordinary Combatants. By future standards, he was at Chunin level.

Realizing his opponent was not as simple as he had imagined, Uchiha Izuna hardened his resolve and began frantically forming hand seals with both hands. Snake—Ram—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger.

The classic Great Fireball Technique.

The boy's cheeks puffed up as scorching Chakra erupted from his mouth, forming a fireball several meters wide that hurtled toward Uchiha Gin.

After unleashing such a powerful attack, the boy panted heavily as he watched to see how his opponent would handle his ultimate ninjutsu.

The oncoming fireball made Uchiha Gin's already curly hair curl up another layer. Glancing at the ingredients he had just bought behind him, along with his "accessory," Senju Itama, Uchiha Gin could only stretch out both hands and prepare to take the Great Fireball head-on.

As Chakra gathered in his hands, Uchiha Gin punched at the Great Fireball. Empowered by Strength of a Hundred, the fireball's scorching flames were actually blocked by the wind from his fist.

Seeing Uchiha Gin stand squarely before his Great Fireball, Uchiha Izuna immediately cried out anxiously, "Are you stupid? Get out of the way!"

A spar was one thing, but clan members killing one another was taboo among taboos. Besides, Uchiha Gin was his cousin. Their relationship was not nearly as bad as it seemed.

Feeling the scorching heat against his fists, Uchiha Gin decided the timing was right and once again used Strength of a Hundred to smash the Great Fireball before him.

With a muffled boom, the Great Fireball was scattered by the wind from his empowered fist right before his eyes. Uchiha Gin took advantage of the momentum to fly backward, then "miserably" rolled several times across the ground before falling still.

At the sight of this, Uchiha Izuna dashed to the side of the "unconscious" Uchiha Gin. Seeing the burn marks on his body, the boy was overwhelmed with regret.

How could he have treated his own family like this? Under the immense shock, tears slowly welled up in the boy's black eyes and streamed down his face.

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

No matter how he shook him, Izuna got no response. He was about to get up and seek help from the clan.

"Cough, cough, cough. As expected of my little brother. That Great Fireball had a bit of the Clan Leader's skill behind it. Cough, cough."

Seeing that the time was right, Uchiha Gin "struggled" to open his eyes. His weak voice stopped Uchiha Izuna in his tracks, and the boy hurriedly crouched down to prop up his Upper Body.

"Cousin, you're not dead!"

Even if you died, I still wouldn't be dead, you little punk.

"Izuna, your current strength is no longer beneath mine. Seeing how much you've grown, your cousin is very pleased."

Uchiha Gin praised him first, then immediately added, "I lost this time, but that may not be the case next time. Izuna, wait for my challenge!"

"╭(╯^╰)╮, I'll be waiting anytime!"

Host failed. Obtained Heart Energy ×10. The Heartsteel Chest reward can be unlocked after three more battles. (Current accumulated Heart Energy: 10)

The system's pleasant notification sounded.

Seeing the young and ignorant leek so easily fall into the pot, Uchiha Gin smiled with satisfaction. This was a fine leek; he absolutely could not let it die young.

After Uchiha Gin got up, Uchiha Izuna wanted to take him to the clan for a checkup, but he refused. "Such a minor injury is nothing to a valiant Uchiha man. The wounds I suffered on missions were far worse than this."

Hearing this, Uchiha Izuna was filled with respect and began to see this usually carefree cousin in a new light.

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

As he helped Uchiha Izuna pick up the scattered shuriken, Uchiha Gin asked.

"Today is my tenth birthday. Big Brother defeated you when he was ten, so I also wanted to..."

Uchiha Izuna scratched his Spiky Hair a little sheepishly.

"Today is your birthday?" Uchiha Gin raised his head and asked in surprise.

"What about it? It's just a day."

In the Warring States Period, birthdays had no special celebrations. Most families did not even deliberately remember the date of birth. After all, simply staying alive was already difficult in this era.

"How can that do? Come on, help me carry the ingredients inside. I'll make you a good meal!"

Uchiha Gin immediately called his cousin Izuna over to carry the ingredients that had not been affected into the house. Picking them up, Izuna looked at the unconscious Senju Itama on the ground and asked curiously, "Who's this guy? His hair color is so strange!"

"Don't worry about it. Get inside first, get inside."

Finding the explanation too troublesome, Uchiha Gin grabbed Senju Itama by the hand and urged Izuna into the house.

Once in the kitchen, Uchiha Gin sorted out the ingredients and, relying on the skills from his previous life, began a bustling round of cooking.

In the living room, Uchiha Izuna crouched down and poked the unconscious Senju Itama. When he found that there was no response, his mischievous side surfaced, and he pinched Senju Itama's nose shut.

As Senju Itama's face grew redder and redder, the brat who had been unconscious for so long gradually woke up in a daze from the dizzying lack of oxygen.

"Ah! Who are you?!"

Senju Itama gasped for breath after being suffocated awake, staring warily at the unfamiliar boy before him.

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

Faced with such an impolite brat, Uchiha Izuna stood up and looked down at him.

"My brother said that when asking someone else's name, you should introduce yourself first!"

The restrained Senju Brat said indignantly.

"Heh, my brother was the one who said that!"

The Uchiha brat retorted.

"My brother dares to."

"My brother does too."

Their childish comparisons went on without end.

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

"Stop arguing. What good things does Brother have? Whoever gets it right gets some."