System Warning

Uchiha Ryoichi left cursing under his breath, leaving Uchiha Gin with a face full of reluctance.

To Uchiha Gin, the people around him now looked like lush green leeks waiting to be harvested one by one.

"Looks like I can't count on Uchiha Ryoichi tomorrow."

Uchiha Gin inwardly lamented, but even so, he could not help calling out.

"Ryoichi, my cellmate, let's spar again another day."

Without even turning his head, Uchiha Ryoichi raised one hand and gave him a friendly middle finger. It was clear just how much he looked forward to Uchiha Gin's challenge.

"Tsk, the local Uchiha Clan really has no manners." Uchiha Gin looked like he hated to see iron fail to become steel.

He had already used up today's battle attempts. According to the system's description, even if he entered another battle, the Heartsteel Chest would not trigger again.

He began carefully examining the chest in his mind. Its appearance was just as gaudy and flashy as the ones he had seen in his previous life.

During the fight earlier, the same intense BGM from yesterday's battle with Senju Itama had played. Fortunately, he had been prepared today and had actively muted it.

Uchiha Gin tried clicking the chest, but nothing happened. He silently wondered,

"Is there no item description?"

"The system is an Advance Server. Ninety percent of its content has not yet been loaded. Please wait patiently, Host."

The long-silent system finally deigned to appear and patiently explained things to Uchiha Gin.

But when Uchiha Gin opened his mouth to ask a question, the system vanished without a trace again. No matter how he called out, it gave no response.

"Looks like I'll have to gather four attempts before I can find out what rewards this chest contains."

After getting nowhere with his probing, Uchiha Gin might as well give up on researching it. He had only activated the system for one day, after all. Its functions would have to be uncovered slowly in the future.

He then turned his gaze toward the other Uchiha. Malicious intent showed through his Dead Fish Eyes, making Uchiha Feihe, who was wiping his Wakizashi, and Uchiha Dairou, who was meditating to refine Chakra, shudder involuntarily.

The next day, Uchiha Gin rose early and sought out the usually quiet Uchiha Feihe first.

"Brother Feihe, I have long heard that your swordsmanship is divine. By chance, Clan Leader Tajima once taught me a sword technique, so I would like to take this opportunity to spar with you and improve together."

Uchiha Feihe was stunned for a moment before saying,

"We're about to set out. There probably isn't enough time to spar now. Let's talk during our next rest stop."

But how could Uchiha Gin let a cooked duck fly away? He said, "It won't delay anything. We'll settle it in one move."

Seeing Uchiha Feihe show signs of refusing again, he added,

"Or is it that Brother Feihe is afraid of losing to me? That would be understandable. After all, it's swordsmanship personally taught by the Clan Leader. Ordinary Uchiha truly would have no way to withstand it."

After saying that, he once again wore a sighing expression that made people's teeth itch.

Uchiha Feihe looked at him in surprise. When did this kid become so inflated? He immediately drew the Wakizashi at his waist and the Tachi on his back, holding them horizontally before him as he took his stance.

"Please Teach Me!"

He was actually a dual-wielder. Seeing Uchiha Feihe's opening stance, Uchiha Gin steeled himself and drew the Samurai Sword from his back as well.

He gripped the Tachi tightly with both hands and stared coldly at his opponent, as though searching for Uchiha Feihe's weakness.

The two remained locked in place for quite some time, neither making a move. Uchiha Feihe was looking for an opening, but he found that Uchiha Gin was full of openings from head to toe.

Uchiha Gin, however, was waiting for the system prompt. The lack of one left him somewhat uncertain.

"Brother Feihe, please make the first move."

Recalling the previous two battles, it seemed that the other side had made the first move both times. After a long silence, he finally spoke first.

Uchiha Feihe was not having an easy time either. Uchiha Gin's movements were ordinary, even riddled with openings, yet his expression remained calm, as though victory was already in hand.

That series of actions made him imagine all sorts of things, until sweat soaked his entire body. The instant Uchiha Gin finished speaking, Uchiha Feihe darted forward and tentatively unleashed his first strike.

Seeing Uchiha Feihe suddenly attack, Uchiha Gin's nerves instinctively tensed. At the same time, the system's voice sounded in his mind.

"Host has been detected entering battle. The Heartsteel Chest has begun accumulating."

Just as he had expected, the system only judged a battle to have begun when the other party attacked first.

But did that mean every future battle would require him to talk trash first, taunt his opponent, and draw aggro? Assassinations and sneak attacks would not trigger the Heartsteel Chest at all.

Wouldn't that turn him from an assassin lurking in the shadows into a warrior who had to max out his Taunt?

Before he had time to think further, Uchiha Feihe had already closed in. Uchiha Gin tossed away the Samurai Sword in his hand, then raised both hands and said righteously,

"I surrender!"

Uchiha Feihe's blade stopped in front of his nose. His usually stern face turned red, as though he had suffered a tremendous insult.

He hesitated for three seconds and was about to sheathe his sword and say something when Uchiha Gin suddenly rolled forward, scooped up the Samurai Sword from the ground, and slashed upward at the Uchiha Feihe who had lowered his guard.

Fortunately, Uchiha Feihe was an Uchiha who had immersed himself in swordsmanship for years. With reflexes far beyond ordinary people, he thrust the Wakizashi in his Left Hand forward, knocking Uchiha Gin's Samurai Sword aside. Then, borrowing the force, he leaped backward and adjusted his position.

"You actually used such tactics. Is this also part of swordsmanship? Feigning weakness, then attacking when I lower my guard... This kind of conduct damages the Uchiha Clan's reputation. Clan Leader Tajima definitely did not teach you this."

Uchiha Feihe looked at the Uchiha Gin who had failed to land his strike and spoke in a deep voice, his tone full of disdain.

"Sir, did you eat shit?"

Uchiha Gin explained with a serious expression while silently thinking, The system actually warned me for voluntarily surrendering.

At the instant Uchiha Gin threw down his Samurai Sword and surrendered, he did not hear the Heart Energy reward prompt he had expected. Instead, a system warning sounded.

"Host has been detected engaging in match-fixing. 10 Heart Energy will be deducted. The system has zero tolerance for match-fixing. If the Host engages in match-fixing again, the system will reclaim the Heartsteel Chest. The battle will now continue."

The instant he heard the warning, Uchiha Gin understood in only 0.01 seconds. He immediately followed through with a counterattack.

He had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to bait it. The loss of 10 Heart Energy made Uchiha Gin's heart ache, and his thoughts of exploiting bugs were extinguished. Looks like I have to take the proper path in everything. Bugs can't be touched.

Since he could not easily obtain Heart Power Points this way, Uchiha Gin stopped putting on an act.

Once he seriously entered battle mode, he was unsurprisingly knocked to the ground by Uchiha Feihe within three moves. The Samurai Sword in his hand nearly flew from his grip as well.

"That's it?"

Uchiha Feihe looked at the easily defeated Uchiha Gin and asked in disbelief, "Didn't you look like victory was already yours just now? How did you fall apart so quickly?"

"Host has failed. Heart Energy x12 obtained. The Heartsteel Chest reward can be unlocked after one more battle. (Current accumulated Heart Energy: 13)"

It was actually two points more than last time.

"Cough, cough, cough. What a thoroughly satisfying battle. I, Uchiha Gin, acknowledge you as the strongest in swordsmanship!"

Uchiha Gin knelt on one knee, supporting himself on the ground with one hand while giving a thumbs-up with the other. He smiled with one gleaming tooth showing at the corner of his mouth.

Uchiha Feihe was rendered speechless by the sight. He immediately sheathed his swords and walked away without looking back, as though he had suffered an immense humiliation.

"I have benefited greatly from this battle. I hope we can fight again tomorrow after today's rest!"

Cast a wide net, catch more fish. Uchiha Feihe was also a high-quality leek, so he absolutely could not be let go.

"Idiot."

The usually taciturn Uchiha Feihe tossed those two words back from afar.

Their battle had been brief, and everyone else in the camp had finished packing as well. After clearing away their traces, the group set off on their return journey once more.

The unconscious Senju Itama was still carried by Uchiha Gin. After traveling for an entire day yesterday, he had basically adapted to moving while carrying someone, and today's stretch of road was much easier.

Fortunately, they encountered no enemies along the way. As night approached, Uchiha FengHuo, who was leading the way, stopped and ordered everyone to set up camp and rest.

Everyone pitched their tents on the spot. Uchiha Gin had just finished setting up his and was preparing to get some proper rest.

"Brother... Brother..."

At that moment, Senju Itama, who had been unconscious for a full day and night, slowly woke up and muttered for his Brother.

"Your brother's gone." Uchiha Gin crouched by his ear and spoke like a demon whispering.

"Ahhh??? Wuwuwu..."

"Oh, right. Your little brother's gone too. Congratulations, you've become a cute girl who pees while squatting~"

Huh? Wasn't he already gone...

The repeated blows fully woke Senju Itama. When he saw the Curly-haired Dead Fish Eyes before him, he remembered that he had been captured. But after only calling out twice, he felt something stuffed into his mouth, choking him until tears streamed down his face.