Chapter 115: You Think a Master and Disciple Can’t Be Something More?

"Mmm-mmm~~~"

The purple-haired woman groaned in pain as her own daughter choked her tightly.

With an eerie smile on her face, Uchiha Chiri's eyes turned crimson, two tomoe slowly spinning within. Her delicate lips parted, and from her 36-degree smile came a voice as cold as ice.

"My dearest mother, you seem to miss Father too much… how about I send you down to reunite with him?"

"Chiri, snap out of it! I'm Mama-chan, your loving mama~!"

Faced with such rebellious words from her daughter, the once-composed woman panicked, trying to awaken her daughter's rationality through maternal affection.

"I'm perfectly clear-headed! Or… could it be that you're the one who's sick, dear Mother?"

The spinning tomoe made the woman's teeth ache just from watching. She immediately shot a pleading glance toward Gin, who was still watching the scene like an amused spectator.

Having known these two for years, and fully aware of their antics, Gin shook his head helplessly and stood up to stop Chiri's sudden blackened state.

"Alright, alright, knock it off, you two."

Gin had never really considered taking a disciple. He was far too used to being lazy and carefree. But Chiri… he had watched her grow up. Her talent was obvious—definitely not inferior to his two cousins.

"If you don't want a hidden gem to go to waste, then let Chiri become my disciple."

"Hurry up, Chiri! Greet your new dad—I mean, master!"

Hearing Gin's words, the previously suffering purple-haired woman immediately bloomed into a smile. She effortlessly brushed away the small hand on her head and giggled, addressing her dumbfounded daughter.

"Gin-san, please don't feel pressured. Mother's words are…"

Chiri looked down at her hand in confusion. She had used real force—how did her mom break free so easily?

Not understanding, she turned to Gin and spoke apologetically.

"I'm being serious here, Chiri. Your talent is real. With proper guidance, you could become one of the elites in the clan."

Gone was Gin's usual lazy air. With his serious face, he seemed like a completely different person—reliable, with sharp, shining eyes. He rarely spoke so highly of anyone.

Chiri went quiet.

She had always wanted guidance. But her father had died early, leaving only some worn-out scrolls behind. Her mother was always working to support them. The clan's training grounds weren't freely accessible, and she never had the time or money to linger in them.

Now, there was an opportunity right in front of her. She looked at the man who held a special place in her heart… and hesitated. If she became his student, wouldn't that change everything?

"Are you thinking I'm not good enough?"

Noticing her hesitation, Gin rolled up his sleeve and flexed his bicep, giving her a thumbs-up with gleaming white teeth under the harsh sunlight.

"Uncle here is super strong!"

Uh… can I still say no?

Chiri glanced at Gin's beast-like pose and couldn't help but look a little disgusted. Was this really going to be her master?

"Big bro is really strong, you better not miss out!"

Uchiha Izuna, licking the spoon of his now-empty shaved ice, turned to Chiri and offered a reminder with a sideways glance.

If big bro took on a disciple, then maybe he'd stop showing up to bully him every other day. This was a win!

Uchiha Madara, who had been silent all this time, also added coolly, "Indeed. I can't see through Big Bro's strength."

Just like Izuna, he wanted Gin occupied elsewhere—away from him and his cursed weird chakra limb jutsu.

???

Gin blinked. Since when did these two start talking him up? They were always going against him—why were they helping now?

Ah, so this is what brotherly love feels like! Maybe he should drop by more often.

"…?!"

Just after speaking, both Izuna and Madara shivered. Thinking it was from the shaved ice, they looked up—only to meet Gin's deeply moved smile.

Big bro! That's not what we meant! Please don't get the wrong idea!

Eventually, under everyone's gaze, Chiri and Gin held a simple little apprentice ceremony.

"Gin-san… no, Sensei."

The girl looked up at Gin, her face filled with complex emotions, and changed the way she addressed him.

"No need to be so formal, Chiri. Just keep calling me the same way as before. I'm too used to it—'Sensei' just sounds weird."

The word "sensei" brought to mind some very questionable images, which Gin quickly forced out of his head. Best to keep things normal.

"Okay… Gin-san."

Since she was now his disciple, it made sense to obey such a "reasonable" request.

"This is my first time taking on a student—I don't really have experience."

Scratching his head, Gin realized that taking Chiri in had been more of a whim than a plan. Still, he remembered from novels that a master was supposed to give a gift upon accepting a student. He reached into his system's backpack and rummaged around.

"Since I'm your master now, I should give you something. I noticed you don't have a good weapon yet… here, take this short blade as your starter gift."

After some digging, he pulled out an old weapon he'd used before and handed it to Chiri, who looked utterly confused.

Where did Gin-san even pull that out from?

Before she could question his 4D inventory space, Chiri touched the blade and felt a surge of violent lightning chakra coursing through it—so intense it made her hand tingle.

[Static Electric Blade]

After three hits, deals bonus Raiton (Lightning Release) damage and breaks enemy defense.

"This one's kinda ugly, but it'll do for now. Once I get a better drop, I'll switch you to a proper set."

Gin didn't like how mismatched it looked in her hands. She deserved something that matched her elegance—not this bargain-bin looking knife.

"No, thank you, Gin-san. I like it very much."

Hugging the blade tightly, Chiri felt a sense of safety from the crackling lightning that coursed through it. A smile of genuine relief bloomed on her face.

"What's it called?"

"Eh… I always just called it 'electric knife.' Kinda lame, huh? Why don't you give it a new name?"

Nobody used this junk on the battlefield anyway—who needed a fancy name?

"Then… I'll call it 'Blade of Raijin.'"

As she held the blade high, golden lightning sparked around her. Her purple hair floated in the air as if charged, and her whole figure was enveloped in golden radiance—like a thunder goddess descending to earth.

With the blade crackling in her hands, the normally stoic girl showed an expression befitting her age—excitement and joy.

???

You little white-haired punk… so it was you who stole my idea!!

Gin ground his teeth, remembering a certain future bastard with a poorly-made sword also called "Blade of Raijin." If he ever met him…

Heh. I'll show you what real lightning is.

"Congratulations, big bro! You finally found a disciple after all these years!"

Izuna cheered appropriately, his eyes glued to the weapon in Chiri's hands, drool practically dripping.

Madara, while equally surprised by the unique weapon, wasn't tempted. As a future wielder of the Uchiha fan, he had no interest in swords.

"You won't get any use out of that. I'll bring you something else later."

Gin read his little cousin's face easily. That kind of weapon didn't suit Izuna anyway. What he really needed to focus on was keeping his kidneys intact.

"Ehehe~ Thanks, big bro!"

With his bright smile, Izuna looked like a cheerful young Sasuke.

"It's getting late. We should get back to training," Madara said, taking Izuna's arm.

"Oi, little cousin! You haven't paid yet!"

Gin grinned as he watched Madara trying to sneak away. After all, losing to Gin meant he owed them shaved ice.

"We're family now, why bother with the bill?"

Madara looked over at Chiri wielding her new blade and tried a half-baked excuse.

"Oh? But would the clan head of the great Uchiha clan really dine and dash?"

Gin raised an eyebrow, smiling slyly.

Knowing he'd lost the argument, Madara silently took out some cash and dropped it on the table before dragging Izuna away.

"Jeez, that guy…"

Gin chuckled, shaking his head. Madara wasn't being stingy—he just didn't think he really lost that match.

"Chiri, unfortunately I've got a mission coming up, so we'll have to start your training later."

Having watched his cousins disappear, Gin turned back to his new disciple, tossing a bucket of cold water on her enthusiasm.

"That's right. We're heading out on a mission," Hikari added from the side.

Now that Chiri was his student, she no longer felt like a threat. If anything, Hikari seemed… relieved.

Heh. Looks like I've regained the upper hand again.

(End of Chapter)

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