Senju Kyogawa never expected even Senju Butsuma, the head of the Senju clan, to believe that shinobi were tools of the daimyo.
Having grown up in his previous life beneath the red glow of socialism, Jingchuan couldn't relate.
Jingchuan simply couldn't understand Senju Butsuma and the other shinobi's way of thinking.
The idea that "shinobi are tools" had no basis at all, did it?
Shinobi had such incredible abilities, yet they saw themselves as nothing more than tools for the nobility?
Jingchuan was stunned.
[Host, you don't need to take it too seriously. This world is derived from a manga, so it's only natural that its worldbuilding is incomplete.] The system explained this after hearing Jingchuan's confused thoughts.
But this wasn't just incomplete worldbuilding. It was downright bizarre!
Senju Kyogawa had struggled so hard just to survive in this world. He had no intention of giving his life for this bullshit "duty of a shinobi."
Senju Kyogawa went to vent to a few of his older brothers about it, but found that only Hashirama and Tobirama could relate to him.
Senju Hashirama said he hated this system too, but he didn't know what he could do to change it.
Jingchuan's stomach began growling again.
However, when mealtime came, Senju Kyogawa sat down at the table and looked at the white radish rice in his bowl. The sight of all that white food instantly killed his appetite.
In his previous life, Senju Kyogawa had hated radishes more than any other food, whether white radishes or carrots.
Senju Kyogawa picked the white radish out of his bowl and dumped it all into Senju Hashirama's.
Senju Hashirama swallowed his mouthful of rice, then asked in confusion,
"Little Jingchuan, didn't you say you were hungry? Why are you giving me so much?"
Senju Kyogawa smiled gently and said, "Big Brother Hashirama, you have training tomorrow. You should eat more."
"Waaah, Jingchuan, you're so nice! You really are my little brother, Senju Hashirama!" Senju Hashirama threw his arms around Senju Kyogawa, sobbing and sniffling.
"Hey, Big Brother, Jingchuan's just a picky eater," Senju Tobirama said, unceremoniously exposing Jingchuan's act.
As for why Jingchuan had chosen to give Senju Hashirama the white radish, it was obviously because Senju Hashirama was sitting closest to him!
Having eaten only a little rice, Jingchuan was hungry again before long.
Four-year-old Senju Kyogawa didn't have much power to change the Ninja World's system, either. For now, the four-year-old brat Senju Kyogawa only wanted to fill his stomach!
Senju Kyogawa sneaked out to the edge of the Senju Clan Territory again, hoping to hunt something in the forest.
As it turned out, there were no animals to be found in the winter forest.
The bare trees offered no sign of life.
The forest before him was a vast expanse of white, and Senju Kyogawa gave up on hunting.
He sat down by the riverbank, staring absently at the frozen surface.
Suddenly, Senju Kyogawa punched the ice with lightning speed, smashing through it and revealing the flowing river water and several fish swimming beneath.
Quick as a flash, Senju Kyogawa caught the fish.
Their tails weakly slapped against the cold ground, making sharp smacking sounds. With no water, the fish gradually lost their strength and lay still on the bank.
Senju Kyogawa found some dry branches and set them up as a simple barbecue rack. He took off his gloves and tried to make a little fire, but it didn't work.
Jingchuan strained until his face turned red, but all he managed was a tiny spark.
Disheartened, Jingchuan was about to look for more materials and put the "friction fire-making" method to the test.
Suddenly, Senju Kyogawa heard a little boy laughing at him from the opposite bank.
Senju Kyogawa turned to look. The boy had black hair, black eyes, and fair skin.
"Haha, you're terrible! You can't even control your chakra properly," the black-haired, black-eyed boy across the river mocked.
Jingchuan had just been admiring the boy's delicate features and handsome face. He hadn't expected the seemingly well-behaved boy to mock him.
Jingchuan was instantly riled up. His childish side got the better of his adult mind, and he shouted,
"Then why don't you give it a try!"
The boy across the river smiled confidently. "Watch this!"
As soon as he spoke, he began forming Hand Seals and called out, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
The next second, he spat a massive fireball from his mouth, and it blazed above the river.
In an instant, the ice melted and the river began to boil. Steam billowed upward, replacing the fireball.
Jingchuan could no longer see the little boy through the thick cloud of steam, and could only marvel in astonishment.
The Senju Clan had never had any shinobi who used Fire Release. This was the first time Senju Kyogawa had seen its power up close, and the massive fireball was even more spectacular than he'd imagined.
"Hmph, convinced now? My Uchiha—my Fire Release has never lost!"
Senju Kyogawa was convinced. He wasn't the sort of person who couldn't accept defeat.
Judging by the boy's skilled ninjutsu and fine clothes, he was probably from some major shinobi clan.
Senju Kyogawa said to the boy, "Impressive, impressive! I'm Jingchuan. Want to be friends?"
"Izuna." The boy, Izuna, folded his arms and turned his head slightly.
Seeing Izuna's haughty manner, Jingchuan immediately realized how to get along with someone like him.
Izuna was a shinobi, after all. If Jingchuan could get close to him, he'd probably earn more Cuddle Points than he would from wild chickens or rabbits. And maybe he could secretly learn a thing or two from him.
Children made friends quickly, especially when a thin-skinned, haughty boy like Izuna met a shameless, persistent brat like Senju Kyogawa.
After Senju Kyogawa's tireless pestering, he and Izuna managed to become friends.
The sun sank toward the horizon. A few faint rays filtered through the treetops and fell to the ground, creating broken patches of light like fish scales.
The crackling of the fire was accompanied by the fragrant smell of grilled fish.
Senju Kyogawa watched the fire, skewered the fish on branches, sprinkled them with his homemade seasoning, and handed one to Izuna.
"I'm great at grilling fish. Take a whiff. Doesn't it smell amazing?" Jingchuan asked with a smile.
Izuna was already dying to try it, but he still put on a haughty air and said,
"I'll deign to give it a taste."
He bit into the crisp skin, and the tender, smooth flesh melted in his mouth. There weren't many bones, and paired with Jingchuan's homemade seasoning, it was a feast for the senses.
Izuna's eyes lit up, and he began chewing faster without even realizing it.
Senju Kyogawa really was good at grilling fish. Even Izuna, who preferred sweeter flavors, couldn't help eating several more bites.
"Your ninjutsu may be awful, but you're pretty good at grilling fish! Though it might taste even better with some honey..."
Izuna praised Senju Kyogawa's grilling skills, then took a jab at his abilities as a shinobi.
Jingchuan couldn't help grumbling to himself. He wanted to learn ninjutsu, but he couldn't circulate chakra at all.
And what was with putting honey on grilled fish?!
"Izuna, you're so good at ninjutsu. Could you teach me?" Jingchuan asked, leaning closer.
"You seem to have a bit of talent for learning Fire Release..." Izuna looked Jingchuan up and down.
Jingchuan gazed at Izuna with shining eyes. "So, will you teach me?"
"You're so stupid. I'm not teaching you!" Izuna refused without hesitation.
For shinobi, every jutsu was a secret to be kept. Naturally, Izuna couldn't teach Fire Release to Jingchuan, whom he'd only just met.
"Huh? You really can't? Then could I look at your hands, Izuna? I want to see how the hands of a Fire Release shinobi can be so nimble. Those Hand Seals look really complicated!"
Jingchuan settled for the next best thing. Izuna, who couldn't bring himself to refuse this time, agreed. Jingchuan successfully heard the notification, [Cuddle Points +6].
[That's as many Cuddle Points as Big Brother Hashirama gave me! Izuna must be an important character in the manga too!]
As Jingchuan stroked Izuna's hand and praised him, Izuna grew so giddy he could hardly think straight.
Before you continue