First Battle After Crossing Over

Senju Itama, who had fled with all his might, discovered that an Uchiha Clan Member was standing in the path he had to take. Despair appeared on his face.

Though he was only five years old, no matter how gifted he was, he had little ability to fight back against an adult Uchiha Clan Member.

The Uchiha Clan Member before him had bandages wrapped around his curly hair. His Dead Fish Eyes were dim and lifeless, as if he was not particularly excited by Senju Itama walking into his trap. Instead, his somewhat handsome face wore a conflicted expression.

Without time to think, Senju Itama charged decisively at the distracted Uchiha Gin with a kunai in hand. Seeing Senju Itama's expression of utter resolve, Uchiha Gin had no choice but to draw the samurai sword at his waist and prepare for battle.

Bang!

Their weapons collided with a dull thud. Feeling the heavy impact strike his arm, Uchiha Gin was sent flying several meters away face-first. He climbed back up with an astonished look on his face.

This kid is so strong?

This guy is so weak?

Senju Itama stood there blankly, staring at the kunai in his hand in disbelief. He could not believe that he had actually knocked back an adult Uchiha Clan Member.

Uchiha Gin swore that he had not held back just now. Since it was his first battle after crossing over, he had instinctively used his full strength. Yet he had been sent flying by a five-year-old child.

Seeing Uchiha Gin scramble to his feet, hope for survival burst forth in Senju Itama's eyes. He swung his kunai even harder as he charged at the Uchiha before him.

Just then, a system notification sounded in Uchiha Gin's mind.

Detected that the host has encountered combat. The Heartsteel Chest has begun accumulating.

The Heartsteel Chest in his consciousness began to tremble, then started blasting intense background music like a speaker.

Listening to the familiar music in his head, Uchiha Gin's brain twitched. Could the stuff produced by this outdated system be any more reliable?

Back in the fight, the kunai in Senju Itama's hand was about to stab Uchiha Gin in the groin, limited by the boy's height. Blocking out the demonic music in his head, Uchiha Gin barely twisted aside and dodged the attack aimed at his little brother.

He then opened with a classic Uchiha sword technique and slashed at Senju Itama, only for the latter to block it with his kunai. Uchiha Gin stared speechlessly as his full-powered strike was easily neutralized by a five-year-old child.

Only then did Uchiha Gin truly confirm that the original owner of this body had been a complete loser.

More than twenty years of life had gone to the dogs. His combat ability was probably only at the level of a Genin from later generations—not one of the Konoha 12, but the kind of background Genin nobody noticed.

Even so, he could not admit defeat so easily. Uchiha FengHuo, Uchiha Ryoichi, and the others might finish their battle at any moment. Even if he let Senju Itama go now, the boy would die at their hands the next instant.

Besides, his mission was to save Senju Itama from Uchiha FengHuo and the others. With only himself here, he was not sure whether letting him go would complete the mission. If it counted as a failure, he would have no choice but to delete his account and start over.

The two exchanged several more rounds, two weaklings pecking at each other without a clear winner.

"As expected of the genius young master of the Senju Clan. I, Uchiha Gin, acknowledge you as the strongest in taijutsu."

Uchiha Gin spoke to the slightly panting Senju Itama.

"Uchiha Gin, right? You're not bad either. I, Senju Itama, acknowledge you."

His voice was soft and sweet. He had the makings of a fine Xiao Nanliang~

Senju Itama was also facing an enemy for the first time, and his chuunibyou spirit had erupted. The Senju Clan's unique airheaded temperament was on full display.

Just as the two were locked in a standoff, Uchiha FengHuo and the others had already finished their battle. Senju Koji had taken Uchiha FengHuo's Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique head-on, and it was unknown whether he was alive or dead.

Holy crap, the Great Fireball Technique actually killed someone?

The three Senju Clan Members of the guard squad had also been defeated by Uchiha Ryoichi and the other two working together, lying on the ground covered in blood.

When they saw that Uchiha Gin had yet to kill Senju Itama, they all surrounded them.

Senju Itama and Uchiha Gin were in the midst of a fierce "battle," and the two had even developed a mutual appreciation for each other.

But Senju Itama was only five years old, after all. His stamina was clearly inferior to that of the adult Uchiha Gin.

During one clash, his limbs went weak. Uchiha Gin knocked him flying, and he slammed into a protruding rock behind him, unable to get back up for a long time.

Host victory. Obtained Heart Power Points ×1. The Heartsteel Chest reward can be unlocked after three more battles. (Current accumulated Heart Energy: 1)

After collapsing from exhaustion and being unable to rise, Senju Itama was judged by the system to have lost to Uchiha Gin.

As the battle ended, Uchiha FengHuo and the others arrived at Uchiha Gin's side. The five formed an encirclement around Senju Itama as he slowly struggled to his feet. The iconic scene from the original work had been achieved.

Desperately watching five adult Uchiha Clan Members surround him, Senju Itama gripped his kunai with trembling hands. Only despair remained in his eyes. He understood that today, he might be going to join his third brother.

Uchiha Ryoichi casually flicked out a shuriken as though toying with a mouse. It grazed Senju Itama's face and embedded itself in the rock behind him.

That action shattered Senju Itama's final psychological defense. The five-year-old began trembling all over, and tears started welling up in his eyes.

"Alright, our mission is finally complete. Hurry up and finish him. Senju Clan reinforcements should be arriving soon."

Uchiha FengHuo, who had taken a final desperate attack from Senju Koji before his death, was not in very good condition. His eyes were extremely sore now, the result of overusing his Sharingan.

Upon hearing this, the others all turned their eyes toward the silent Uchiha Gin.

Uchiha Gin had worked the hardest on this mission. He had even dared to enter the Senju Clan Land alone in order to complete it.

Though he was not very strong, after hearing his Uchiha Declaration, the others instinctively felt that he should be the one to bring this mission to an end.

Under their gazes, Uchiha Gin guessed what they were thinking. Without hesitation, his expression shifting uncertainly, he slowly drew his sword and walked toward Senju Itama, who had already given up resisting.

His sword rose and fell. Under everyone's astonished gazes, he used the flat of his blade to knock Senju Itama unconscious.

???

"Uchiha Gin, what do you mean by this?"

The others questioned Uchiha Gin's actions after he showed mercy.

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

Uchiha Gin spoke expressionlessly as he sheathed his samurai sword. Then he crouched down and hoisted the unconscious Senju Itama onto his shoulder.

"Our mission is only to eliminate the Senju seedlings. Don't cause trouble. Kill him now, and we'll withdraw."

Uchiha FengHuo looked somewhat angry at Uchiha Gin's defiance. As the Captain, he could not accept a team member disobeying his orders.

"I said it already. A living Senju is more useful than a corpse."

Just as the tension between both sides grew increasingly intense, Uchiha Feihe's expression changed.

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

Before the battle, Uchiha Feihe had set several traps around the area. Once triggered, he could sense them immediately.

"Withdraw first!"

Hearing that enemy reinforcements were approaching, the injured Uchiha FengHuo did not dare linger any longer. If they kept arguing, things would only get worse.

"Yes!"

Upon receiving the order, everyone got up and swiftly retreated away from the Senju Clan Land. Uchiha Gin temporarily breathed a sigh of relief.

But he did not dare put Senju Itama down just like that. He could only carry the unconscious kid on his shoulder and follow the group as they retreated.

The group sprinted at full speed until they could no longer sense pursuit behind them, then stopped.

After escaping their pursuers, they rested in a cave. Uchiha Gin tied up the unconscious Senju Itama with an iron chain.

He did not yet know techniques like sealing chakra, so he could only crudely wrap Senju Itama layer by layer in iron chains like a rice dumpling.

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

Sitting before the campfire, Uchiha FengHuo looked at the tightly bound Senju Itama and questioned Uchiha Gin, who had just finished up and was wiping away sweat.

Knowing that he would be pressed for answers sooner or later, Uchiha Gin brought out the explanation he had prepared beforehand.

"I kept him alive because of the Clan Leader."

Uchiha Gin explained.

The others looked at one another upon hearing this answer, because the mission they had received from the Clan Leader had only been to eliminate the Senju, with no order to capture anyone alive.

Uchiha Gin's nonsense began.

"It all started when I was standing guard outside the Clan Leader's door."