Uchiha Gin had a strange dream, like a moving picture book flipping through itself.
The first scene: a boy holding the hand of a crying girl, saying something.
The second scene: the boy kneeling in despair amidst a sea of fire, surrounded by the corpses of the old, the weak, women and children.
The third scene: shadows with hideous faces surrounding the kneeling boy, as a crimson moon slowly rose behind them.
The fourth scene: the flames around the boy, dyed an eerie black by the crimson moonlight.
The fifth scene: the boy's eyes had become two bloody holes, blood streaming down endlessly, yet his mouth curved into a brilliant smile.
Just as he was about to see the next page, Gin felt a sharp pain in his head, and the dream was cut short.
With difficulty he opened his eyes; the moon still hung in the sky, the campsite unchanged, and inside the tent he could hear the muttered sleep-talking of Senju Tobirama, making everything feel oddly real.
He tried to sit up but found his body feeling like it had fallen apart, especially his back and head, as if he'd been hit head-on by a train. It felt just like the day he'd first transmigrated.
Gin raised his arm to check for injuries, only to find that his right arm — which had been broken by that woman before he passed out — was already fully healed.
"Looks like I survived this round of skills."
Since his injuries were healed, it meant tonight's refreshed skill had already been released.
"Backyard daily random skill: Strange Strength acquired, *1."
The system's voice sounded.
"!!!"
Forgetting his pain, Gin flipped up into a standing position and examined his pale, thin hands.
He clenched his fist and felt a peculiar warm current flow from his heart into his hands, a surging strength that felt ready to burst out.
Fixing his gaze on a large nearby boulder, Gin raised his fist and smashed down.
The moment they connected, the solid rock shattered under what seemed like a weak punch, a massive crater appearing where his fist struck. Cracks like a spiderweb spread across the whole boulder. Staring in disbelief at his handiwork, Gin's throat went dry.
"So this is the legendary strange strength…"
"Strange Strength: a power of the Senju clan, precise chakra control, concentrating chakra in any part of the body and releasing it explosively, easily able to smash walls."
The system helpfully explained.
After moving around a bit, the soreness in his body faded away. Injuries from the backyard skill always healed once the skill ended, though the memory of being beaten remained.
Excited, Gin sat cross-legged again and recalled the figure of the woman who had descended from the sky.
It had only been a fleeting moment, but as a die-hard fan of the original story, he'd recognized her immediately.
"Tsunade, huh? She really wasn't here to avenge Mito?"
Thinking back on his earlier farewell with Mito during the day, and his "intimate encounter" with her granddaughter at night, Gin couldn't help but chuckle bitterly.
"Doesn't even leave grudges overnight, huh!"
But he was satisfied to finally get a useful skill. With this strange strength, his power had climbed another level. He figured he could even go toe-to-toe with Uchiha Homura now.
Still, he frowned thinking about the mission with Tobirama. For a starter mission, it sure was troublesome.
Unable to figure it out, he gave up and went back into the tent, looking at the snoring Tobirama.
Anger bubbled up as he saw the peacefully sleeping kid. On impulse, he grabbed the boy and tossed him outside, then flopped onto the still-warm mat himself.
Feeling the warmth beneath him, Gin finally smiled and fell asleep, leaving Tobirama to shiver in the cold night air outside.
"Achoo! Achoo!"
Hearing the sneezes outside, Gin stretched lazily and walked out to see the boy curled up pitifully next to the tent. Ignoring the boy's resentful gaze, Gin quickly packed up the tent.
By his calculations, they'd reach the clan grounds today. Looking at the boy he'd been "taking care of" all this way, Gin felt a pang of worry.
"Should I… bring him to the Senju?"
A bold idea popped into his head, but he quickly dismissed it.
The two clans were at each other's throats, killing on sight. If he defected now, he'd probably just be executed as a spy on the spot. And even if he succeeded, the Uchiha would mark him a traitor and probably have him "vanished" in his sleep by Homura.
No good options. Shaking his head, Gin sighed. He'd just have to take it one step at a time.
He packed up his things, grabbed Tobirama, and headed to meet the others, who were already waiting ahead.
Seeing Gin arriving last, the others didn't say anything, but watched him warily.
That confused him — did someone hear his earlier thoughts and guess he was planning to run? Gin's mind raced.
"We're not sparring with you," Uchiha Ryoichi spoke up first.
"That's right," agreed Uchiha Tsuru and Uchiha Darou, nodding in unison.
Oh, that's what they meant.
Gin let out a breath. They were still spooked from him constantly challenging them to spar just to farm the Steel of Heart chest. So he grinned and said, "Don't worry. We're almost home. I won't bother you guys anymore. We can spar later."
"No thanks, uncle. We'll pass," the three replied in unison.
"…"
"Alright. If everyone's ready, let's move."
Homura's calm voice came from behind.
"Yes!"
The rest of the journey was uneventful. As they pushed on, the Uchiha clan grounds grew closer.
When the smoke rising from chimneys came into view, everyone relaxed — except Gin.
"Who goes there?!"
As they neared the entrance, two figures stepped out of the shadows. Black hair and crimson eyes immediately marked them as Uchiha.
"We're a returning mission team," Homura said, showing his Sharingan. "I'm Captain Uchiha Homura. We've completed our task and are reporting back."
"Ah, so it's 'Silent Homura.' You're fast — the first team back. Please, go rest," one of the guards said respectfully. They were just low-ranked patrol members, and Homura was already a renowned name.
One of them glanced over the others and frowned when his eyes landed on Gin carrying a boy.
"Who's that? Why is he carrying a kid?"
Before he could say more, his partner quickly clamped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide with fear.
As the team walked past, the first guard struggled free and demanded, "Why'd you stop me?!"
"You should be thanking me. I just saved your life," the second one said, shaking the saliva off his hand and sighing in relief.
"???"
"That guy… is Uchiha Gin."
(End of Chapter)
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