"Host defeated. Gained Heart Energy 10. Heart of Steel Chest reward unlocked. (Current Heart Energy: 33)"
The system's pleasant chime rang in Gin's mind, his grin unstoppable. No losing streak this time, but still better than last.
Eyeing the Heart of Steel orb on the system's chessboard, Gin, plagued by bad luck, held off. He'd open it tonight after a bath, incense, and prayers.
"Kid, stop clinging. Go clean," Gin said, in high spirits, not stooping to Banma's level. He patted the boy's butt, urging him to get moving.
"Ah!" Banma yelped, jolting at the sneak attack.
"Ah, what? Move it, or no food tomorrow," Gin snapped, delivering a righteous forehead flick, silencing Banma's wail.
"Wah…" Banma clutched his head, cheeks puffed, glaring at Gin with deep resentment.
Ignoring the kid's murderous stare, Gin hummed a tune and strolled out.
His bare backyard felt too plain. He decided to spruce it up for comfort while waiting for skill refreshes.
Walking the Uchiha clan's main road, he passed neat wooden houses, recently built by their look. Some were shops selling daily goods and exotic items from trade caravans.
"Boss, how much for this?" Gin asked, picking up a bizarre mask from a stall.
"One hundred ryo!" The vendor greeted warmly, showing no disdain—a rarity that made Gin glance twice.
"You're not Uchiha, are you?" Gin asked, noting the familiar red hair.
"Ha, you got me! I'm a merchant from the Land of Whirlpools," the cheerful middle-aged man said, radiating business savvy.
"Uzumaki clan?" Gin probed.
"Land of Whirlpools, you know—mostly Uzumaki. But I'm no ninja, just a regular guy," the vendor explained smoothly, clearly used to the question.
In this world, chakra existed, but few could harness it. Ninjas were a minority; ordinary folk dominated. Even ninja clans had members unable to awaken chakra, who took up trade or production under clan protection to support the family.
"Got it. I'll take the mask," Gin said, satisfied, paying with coins exchanged from gold.
"Anything else you need?" the Uzumaki vendor asked, thrilled by the sale, pushing more wares.
"Got anything to make a kid happy?" Gin asked, pondering.
"You got kids? How old?" the vendor inquired.
"Not mine—a relative's kid, about five, bit of a handful," Gin said. Senju and Uchiha were distant kin, technically.
"This'll do," the vendor said, rummaging through his pack and pulling out a plush toy.
"This…" Gin stared, surprised.
"It's called a Tailed Beast, lives near our land. Looks cute as a toy, but the real thing's huge and ferocious," the vendor said, rattling off facts.
"I'll take it!" Gin decided instantly.
"Three thousand ryo!" The vendor's grin stretched wide. The toy had sat unsold forever—finally, a sucker.
"Money's no issue!" Gin tossed the cash, grabbing the plush to inspect.
Three-Tails Isobu, a lesser-seen Tailed Beast in the original story, dwelt in water. Hashirama Senju yanked it out, bundling it with the Six-Tails to the Land of Water. Later, it was sealed in Rin Nohara, sparking tragedy, then recycled into Yagura Karatachi. After Yagura's death, it roamed free until Akatsuki nabbed it.
The plush was well-crafted, a chibi Isobu, adorably ugly. By Gin's taste, it was a universal hit.
"Nice work, boss. I'm Uchiha Gin. If you get more Tailed Beast plushies, let me know," Gin said, his collector's itch flaring.
"Sure thing! I'm Uzumaki Shusen. I'll notify you first if I get more," the vendor said, regretting the low price, planning to charge by tail count next time.
Shusen? Weird name, Gin thought, waving goodbye. He slung the mask crookedly on his head, hugged the chibi Isobu, and headed to a familiar general store.
"Boss, this, that—everything. Deliver to my place," Gin said. The same shopkeeper from last time assisted. Gin picked a stone table, a wooden recliner, and a set of training targets and dummies from the ninja tools section, paid, and left his address for delivery.
"Need a carpenter. That handmade fence in the yard's a mess," Gin muttered. His shoddy backyard barrier collapsed in a breeze and looked awful. Time for a pro job.
"Too much work…"
"Twisted my back yesterday, can't do it."
"No way, try someone else!"
…
Several carpenters brushed him off with excuses. The last didn't bother, openly sneering, leaving Gin baffled. Hate him, fine—but turning down money? Idiots.
No choice—he'd fix the fence himself. Sighing, Gin headed home to surprise Banma, but a familiar face stopped him short.
"Captain Fuka!" Gin waved, spotting his old team leader.
On rare leave, Uchiha Fuka was browsing when a familiar voice called. Turning, he saw a curly-haired figure waving, and for a moment, time blurred, stirring old memories. He murmured, "Kin-nii…?"
Snapping back as Gin approached, Fuka's face cooled. "Uchiha Gin, aren't you at the dungeon? Why're you wandering?"
"Heh, got off work, picking up some stuff. You still on break, Captain?" Gin grinned, dodging the fact he'd skipped.
"Hm," Fuka nodded curtly, keeping his distance.
Used to the clan's hidden disdain buff, Gin didn't mind. Scratching his head, he smiled. "Captain, ever know an Uchiha Kin?"
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If you want to read more than 20 chapters early feel free to visit pa tre on . com /Archus