[Reward distribution in progress...]
When the system's electronic voice sounded, Senju Kyogawa was deep in a dream. Hearing the electronic voice echo through his mind, so grating in the stillness of the night, he couldn't help rolling over and frowning. He waved a hand, trying to shoo the sound away.
Unexpectedly, that wave landed a slap right across Senju Hashirama's face as he slept beside him.
"Smack!"
The crisp, loud slap woke Senju Hashirama right up.
He opened his bleary eyes, confused, but even after a moment he still couldn't figure out what had happened. So he gently rubbed his stinging cheek, then wrapped his arms around Senju Kyogawa again and drifted back to sleep.
Ever since returning, Senju Kyogawa had clung to Senju Hashirama and insisted on sleeping with him every day. His excuse was that he missed his big brother, Senju Hashirama, but really, he just wanted to earn back his Cuddle Points as quickly as possible.
And so Senju Hashirama had become the direct victim of that slap.
Meanwhile, Senju Kyogawa, who had just slapped Senju Hashirama without realizing it, sank into an even deeper dream as the system distributed his reward.
This time, Senju Kyogawa had a strange dream.
He dreamed of a man wearing a red haori. The man had long, dark-red hair tied back in a ponytail, reddish-brown eyes, and exceptionally handsome features. A pair of earrings shaped like red suns dangled from his ears.
But what made the strongest impression on Senju Kyogawa was the large birthmark covering the man's face. It was red and stretched from his forehead to below his left ear. The flame-shaped markings writhed like they could come to life at any moment.
His right hand gripped a sword that looked just like the Nichirin Sword Senju Kyogawa had bought before. Its long blade was black and red.
Standing before the red-marked man was a black-haired young man, tall and pale as paper, with plum-colored eyes.
Though both men had reddish eyes, Senju Kyogawa couldn't help feeling that the black-haired young man's plum-colored eyes carried an ominous air.
Those rose-colored eyes seemed sticky and clammy, full of a cold, damp feeling. They looked like the eyes of a cold-blooded creature that had spent its whole life hidden from the sun.
Senju Kyogawa watched for only a few seconds before shivering.
Those eyes were terrifying. They made Senju Kyogawa feel as if a poisonous snake had fixed its gaze on him, ready to bite off a chunk of flesh.
The two men seemed to be facing off.
In the next instant, the red-marked man suddenly raised his Nichirin Sword and slashed at the young man with plum-colored eyes.
[Sun Breathing: First Form: Waltz]
[Sun Breathing: Second Form: Clear Blue Sky]
[Sun Breathing: Third Form: Raging Sun]
[Sun Breathing: Fourth Form: Phantom Rainbow]
[Sun Breathing: Fifth Form: Fire Wheel]
[Sun Breathing: Sixth Form: Burning Bones, Summer Sun]
[Sun Breathing: Seventh Form: Beneficent Radiance]
[Sun Breathing: Twelfth Form: Flame Dance]
[Sun Breathing: Thirteenth Form...]
The red-marked man was like a heavenly god come to earth. Every move and gesture of his was exquisitely graceful, like a dancer performing—or a singer lamenting.
He performed all thirteen forms of Sun Breathing naturally and fluidly. The Nichirin Sword was as obedient in his hands as a child, and every movement seemed effortless. Flames danced around him, leaping along the blade.
As the man swung his Nichirin Sword, even the sun in the sky seemed to become his backdrop.
He was the most dazzling morning sun in the world!
Through the dazzling sunlight, Senju Kyogawa was mesmerized. He held his breath, his pupils dilated slightly, his fingertips trembled, and his blood surged through his veins as a growing heat rose in his chest.
The man was strong. Incredibly strong!
That was the only thought in Senju Kyogawa's mind.
Senju Kyogawa was so absorbed in the man's movements that he didn't snap out of it until the young man with plum-colored eyes let out a scream. He took a closer look and realized that the young man wasn't human.
Under the red-marked man's relentless assault, the young man with plum-colored eyes split himself into countless tiny pieces.
The red-marked man didn't panic. He continued to fight with ease, using his sword to swiftly and accurately pierce each chunk of flesh, giving the Evil Demon no chance to escape.
Then Senju Kyogawa's vision blurred.
He woke up.
Even after waking, Senju Kyogawa was still reluctant to let go of the dream. He kept replaying those thirteen Sun Breathing techniques in his mind, his heart full of excitement.
Whenever he thought of the red-marked man, who was like a heavenly god, Senju Kyogawa felt his blood rush through his whole body.
He was just too strong.
So strong that Senju Kyogawa wouldn't even dare to resist if he stood before him. He knew he couldn't beat someone like that—not yet.
Senju Kyogawa couldn't help imagining that if one day he learned all thirteen Sun Breathing techniques, maybe he could become as strong as that man.
Senju Kyogawa was still staring blankly when Senju Hashirama shook him back to his senses.
"Kyogawa, Kyogawa, why are you spacing out?" Senju Hashirama shook him and leaned his face right up to Kyogawa's.
When Senju Kyogawa came to and saw an enormous, watermelon-shaped head right in front of him, he jumped in fright. Acting on reflex, he drew back his fist and punched forward.
"Thud!"
Senju Kyogawa had put quite a bit of strength into that punch. It instantly left Senju Hashirama's face red, and two streams of bright-red blood spilled from his nose.
The handprint on Senju Hashirama's face was still red, and now he had taken another heavy blow from Senju Kyogawa.
Senju Hashirama covered his injured nose and complained tearfully that he was going to be disfigured.
"Waaah... Kyogawa, why are you so cruel? You hit me so hard..." Senju Hashirama felt terribly wronged. He was sure his nose was broken.
"Waaah... I'm not sleeping with you next time, Kyogawa..."
Once he came to his senses, Senju Kyogawa immediately covered Senju Hashirama's nose with his hand and cast Healing Jutsu.
In less than a second, Senju Hashirama's nose stopped bleeding.
Senju Kyogawa wiped away the blood with a tissue and repeatedly shouted, "Sumimasen!" as he apologized to Senju Hashirama.
"Big brother Hashirama, why did you suddenly pop up? You scared me..."
"I've been here the whole time... You're the one who just woke up and looked completely dazed, Kyogawa. I got so close because I was worried about you. Who knew you'd..." The more Senju Hashirama thought about it, the more wronged he felt.
Senju Kyogawa comforted Senju Hashirama for quite a while before he finally calmed down.
Senju Hashirama stopped sniffling and pointed at something on the table beside them.
"Kyogawa, what's this? Is it yours?"
Senju Kyogawa glanced at the table in confusion...
A Nichirin Sword!
Before you continue