Chapter 78: The Sacrifice Technique! Come On, Give It to Me!

"Yeah yeah yeah, right there, harder! I'm not saying uncle yet!"

Gin lay on the bed, enjoying the massage service from Izuna while turning his head to bark another order at Madara."Big cousin, peel me an apple. Make it into those little bunny shapes."

(▼皿▼#)Madara, who had just tossed away Gin's banana peel, felt veins bulge on his forehead. But seeing Gin's hands wrapped in bandages, he forcibly swallowed his anger, picked up a fruit knife, and stabbed an apple with unusual vigor.

"Eh, if it's done with that kind of attitude I won't eat it. Messes with my recovery, y'know~"

Gin wore a grin that practically begged to be punched, making Madara grit his teeth as he brutally carved the apple as though it was his mortal enemy.

"Mhm, good knife skills. No wonder you can… dance."

Gin nodded approvingly, his tone full of mock praise.

"Cousin, how's my pressure?"

Izuna raised his flushed face from his work on Gin's legs, looking up expectantly.

"Not bad, not bad. At this rate, little cousin's taijutsu is bound to surpass everyone's. Makes me feel inferior."

Legs deliciously numb, Gin heaped on the compliments.

["Host defeated, gained 16 Heart Energy. Heart of Steel Chest reward unlocked. (Current total: 52)"]

The sweet voice of the system rang out in Gin's mind.

He grinned ear to ear at the sight of that number.

A few days ago, he'd been sent flying by Butsuma's iron fist, surviving by a hair and ending up being nursed back to health by his two cousins.

He woke up on the second day post-surgery, and the very first thing he did was send Izuna to tell his little "tenant" Senju Itama that he was laid up and not to run off or get into trouble.

"Huh? That curly-haired ape got hurt?"

Itama, seeing Izuna, asked in surprise."Was it serious?"

"Oh, real bad. Got blown clear across the field, both arms snapped, big dent in his chest."

Izuna didn't even embellish as he described Gin's injuries.

"Uuuh… doesn't that mean he's dying?!"

Itama's chest tightened inexplicably, and before he could stop himself he began to cry.

"H-hey now! Don't cry! Cousin already woke up! The doctor said he'll be fine after some rest. He asked me to give you this."

Seeing the kid bawling startled Izuna into fumbling out a scroll and handing it to him.

"He's really okay?"

Itama blinked through tears."Really really! Here, take it. I gotta go buy fruit for cousin."

Before the boy could react, Izuna stuffed the scroll into his hands and ran off.

Back at the old house, Itama calmed down and hesitantly unrolled the scroll.

It read:

Senju brat — This boss was heroically wounded and needs a few days in the hospital. Take care of yourself, don't go running around. If anyone gives you trouble just drop my name, they won't dare kill you. P.S.: Here's some money for food so you don't starve.

At the end of the scroll was a sealing tag. Curious, Itama tapped it — poof!

When the smoke cleared, the boy squinted against the gleam of gold bricks piled up in front of him.

Eh, that should be enough, Gin mused, lying in his hospital bed, wondering if he should've thrown in a couple more.

"Cousin, cousin, who owns that huge fancy house next to yours?"

Izuna finally asked, unable to contain his curiosity after seeing the extravagant new mansion next door.

"I built it. Not bad, huh?"

Gin smirked, crossing one leg over the other."Be good to me and maybe I'll set you up with one too."

"Gotcha. How's this pressure?"

Izuna instantly dialed up his massage technique, making Gin sigh in bliss.

"Good, good. Izuna, you should open a massage shop someday. Business would boom."

Having figured out some days ago that provoking Izuna into their little "duels" triggered Heart of Steel gains, Gin now happily "ate" a steady stream of points every day in the hospital.

Provoke — duel — concede.

The loop ran smooth as butter.

"Cousin, it's time. Father's waiting."

Madara handed over a plate of rabbit-shaped apple slices. Gin turned his head, impressed.

"Big cousin, when'd you get so good at this? Practicing in secret?"

"I, Uchiha Madara… have always wished to be an artist!"

Madara lifted his chin, dead serious.

"Nice! You've got dreams, and I support that!"

Gin weakly raised his thumb in approval. Who cared what the dream was — you had to respect it.

"Go on then, don't keep uncle waiting," Gin added. The clan's future depended on Madara, so now wasn't the time for artistic detours.

Though… if someday he really did want to chase his dream, Gin would have his back.

With a wave, Madara hurried off.

"Since brother awakened his eyes, father's gotten even stricter. Keeps him training late every night…"

Izuna's tone grew quiet as he worked Gin's legs.

"After breaking with that bowl-cut kid, your brother's gotten serious. He asked for the training. Doesn't want to lose to that Senju."

Gin explained while enjoying Izuna's massage.

In his system space, Gin rubbed his hands together and stared at the Heart of Steel chest glowing before him, surrounded by three leftover spheres from the last round. Clicking "settle," three more spheres popped out to the sound of a jaunty tune.

Another three!

Gin grinned at the six spheres on the board. He extended his divine right hand.

"Come on, gimme something good!"

[Gold Bricks ×10]

"Just a warm-up. Again!"

[Gold Bricks ×10]

"…Bamboo shoots?!?!"

After two more piles of gold bricks, Gin's hand trembled."Don't tell me my divine right hand's failing me…"

When did it ever work?

Out of options, Gin resorted to the ultimate sacrifice technique. Closing his eyes, he pictured Izuna's smiling face.

Sorry, little cousin. I'll make it up to you later.

"I offer up ten years of Izuna's lifespan — now gimme something good!"

(End of Chapter)

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