In the world of Tsukuyomi.
After being stabbed who knows how many times, Gin's nerves no longer even registered the pain. He stared blankly at the endless Uchiha Itachis stabbing into his body, one blade at a time.
"Feels like they're mincing meat."
Unable to escape, Gin even began to crack jokes to himself. "Did you guys skip dinner or something? Put some strength into it, will you?"
"Don't just stab the front either, come on—flip me over and make it even. Can't favor one side."
The orderly Itachis, hearing his endless chatter, seemed to pick up their pace as if they'd been wound up tighter.
[Speed x2]
"Hey hey hey, don't stab me in my ju-hua! I'm still pure, 24 years old, a student!"
Rambling incoherently, Gin had completely lost his senses.
Who knows how long passed, but at some point the Itachis all suddenly stopped. Released from the ropes of the cross, Gin dropped to one knee, gasping, and slowly opened his eyes to the sight of the pale crescent moon overhead. Tears welled up uncontrollably.
"Damn it… finally over," Gin cursed through gritted teeth.
"What's wrong with you?"
Tied to the post nearby, Senju Itama looked at Gin with a strange expression.
After tying him up, Gin had walked a few steps before suddenly kneeling and crying, muttering something about "making it through." Truly bizarre.
"Nothing, just… remembered something sad," Gin replied, standing and wiping his tears.
"You? Sad? Shouldn't that be me?" Itama started to retort, but then his eyes widened.
"Why'd you activate your Sharingan? You gonna hypnotize and interrogate me? Typical evil Uchiha. But…"
Gin froze. Only then did he notice his vision was sharper, and chakra flowed smoothly into his eyes, cool and clear.
"But what?"
Gin didn't even get mad at the boy's insults, he was too happy.
"With one tomoe? You can't hypnotize me with that," Itama scoffed.
Smack—a solid flick on Itama's forehead left a large bump.
"That's called physical hypnosis!"
"Ahhh!" Itama wailed, his big watery eyes filling with tears.
Gin then checked the area. Everything seemed normal, no traces left behind. Confused, he returned to his tent and pulled out a small mirror to check his eyes. Sure enough, a single tomoe glowed faintly.
"Took a full Tsukuyomi to awaken just one tomoe? This body's talent is tragic…"
But then a familiar voice sounded in his mind.
"Backyard daily random skill: [Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi]. Tsukuyomi fragment x1 obtained."
So that was it. The system treated the fenced-off area behind his tent as his "backyard" and refreshed a random skill. He recalled the description:
[Backyard Daily Random Skill: Each day, a random skill will be refreshed in the host's backyard, manifested by an NPC. The host cannot control it, it cannot kill the host, and after it ends, there is a chance of obtaining the skill or fragments. Collect enough fragments to learn it.]
"Can't kill me, but damn does it hurt!"
Gin grumbled internally. Still, at least he wasn't physically injured, unlike when Kakashi had taken it in the series. In a way, he was lucky.
"Tch, I'm kind of an 'Ouhuang' (lucky bastard) aren't I? First refresh and it gives me a Mangekyō skill."
He tapped the fragment:
[Tsukuyomi Fragment (1/40). Collect 40 to synthesize Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi. Requires Mangekyō Sharingan to learn.]
"40? Are you kidding me?!" Gin groaned. "You want me to endure Tsukuyomi 39 more times? I quit. Refund my money!"
Resigned, he lay down and went to sleep.
The next morning.
Just as dawn broke, Uchiha Tarō, who'd been on watch all night, yawned as he returned to camp. But halfway back he was intercepted.
"Gin? What's up? My shift's over." Tarō tilted his head in confusion.
Gin hadn't slept well at all. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw seven Itachis stabbing him in sensitive places. His spirit was still a wreck.
Eyes ringed like Gaara's, Gin smiled faintly.
"Tarō-aniki, I heard from Captain Fenghuo that your Katon is godlike, even dabbling in A-rank already. Truly admirable."
As usual, he opened with some flattery.
Apparently neither Ryouichi nor Hikaru had mentioned Gin's previous antics to Tarō, who scratched his head shyly.
"Aw, no, I just practice while others rest. Nothing much."
"Back when I trained under the clan head, he gave me some pointers on Katon. Now that the mission is over, I just have one wish left — to spar with the clan's genius, 'Bonfire Tarō.'"
Tarō, as he was called in the clan, was nicknamed "Bonfire Tarō." Ryouichi was "Wicked Blade Ryouichi," and Hikaru "Twin Blades Hikaru."
"But… we're about to set out. Why don't we spar tonight after we rest?" Tarō was flattered but cautious. He didn't want to waste energy before a long march.
"No problem, it'll just be—"
Gin was about to recycle his usual spiel when a cold voice came from behind.
"What are you two dawdling for? We're moving out."
Fenghuo's sudden appearance made them both break into a cold sweat. Neither had sensed him approach. They both nodded hurriedly.
As they set out, Gin followed behind, sighing.
"Guess I'll have to wait till tonight to find another chance. But Fenghuo's stealth is insane. Not even a trace of chakra…"
He then remembered something. Fenghuo also had a nickname, not just in the clan but famous across the Warring States:
[Silent Flame]
The man who perfected stealth to the extreme, once infiltrating a mid-sized clan, bypassing over a hundred guards to assassinate his target — and wasn't discovered until the next morning.
(End of Chapter)
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