Chapter 150 – Wrap Party and Unexpected Windfall

"Ugh!"

Uchiha Izuna stared at the sharp wooden spike hovering above his head and reflexively closed his eyes. Like a movie reel spinning in reverse, the memories of his short life began to flash before him—faces of his father, elder brother, comrades… until it all settled on a pile of unspeakable magazines.

Sigh… when I die, what's going to happen to those treasured collections? If someone finds them while cleaning out my things, won't my legacy be completely ruined?

"Aniki!"

Just as Izuna braced himself for death, the wooden spike didn't come down. Instead, he heard his older brother's shocked voice.

Confused, he opened his eyes and saw a sight he would never forget.

Uchiha Gin stood before him, his face dull but eyes regaining light. Like an unmovable mountain, he had stepped in front of Izuna, using his bare hands to stop the incoming spike from Senju Hashirama. Even though it had pierced through his palms, Gin didn't budge an inch. Blood flowed freely down his arms and pooled at his feet.

"Yo, lil' cousin. Did you see how cool your big bro looked just now?"

Gin turned slightly, the three tomoe in his eyes spinning gently. With a pained but cocky smile, he tried to play it off with casual flair.

"I… I had my eyes closed just now…"

Izuna stammered, tears welling up in his dark eyes. He hadn't followed the emotional rhythm and told the truth.

"Tch! That was one of my rare shining moments and you missed it!"

Gin puffed with frustration. If Izuna had watched carefully, maybe he would've awakened his Sharingan right there!

"You should run, Gin-nii!"

Bound tightly to the side, Madara shouted after seeing Gin shield his brother with his body. His eyes scanned Gin's bloodied hands in alarm.

But Gin just raised an eyebrow and yanked upward with his hands.

Crack!

With a crisp sound, the wooden spike grown from Hashirama's hand was snapped clean in half.

Wiping the blood off his palms, Gin brought his hands together into a classic opening stance and locked eyes with a surprised Hashirama.

"Heh… What kind of big brother would leave his little bros behind and run?"

"Gin-nii, you're no match for him!"

Madara and Izuna both panicked as they realized Gin had no intention of fleeing.

They knew exactly how powerful Gin was—and even if he was going all-out, fighting Senju Hashirama was still like an insect trying to topple a tree.

But Gin wasn't listening anymore. His dead-fish eyes now radiated fierce battle intent. Smirking, he stared down Hashirama and his brother, and uttered:

"Prison brothers! Watch closely—this is your big bro's 青春!"

A powerful surge of chakra burst from Gin's body, and blue energy became visible around him. Even Hashirama's expression tensed.

"Didn't expect this from you. Still hiding cards up your sleeve?"

"Bring it on."

Gin taunted, beckoning with a hand.

"Bold words. You'll just become nourishment for my Mokuton."

Hashirama sneered and clapped his hands. Countless wooden spikes shot up from the ground, rushing toward Gin like a tidal wave.

"Don't think you're the only one who can use that."

Gin narrowed his eyes and mirrored the hand seal. Identical wooden spikes erupted from the ground to clash against Hashirama's assault.

Boom!

When the twin forests collided, the impact sent debris flying. The battlefield fell into a deadlock.

"Mokuton: Mokuryū no Jutsu!" (Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique!)

Hashirama, not one to waste time, summoned a ferocious wooden dragon and stood atop its head, then lunged at the struggling Gin.

"Watch out!"

The captured brothers stared intently as their always-carefree big bro clashed with Hashirama. They never imagined Gin could fight the First Hokage on even footing.

They began to feel a sliver of hope.

"Hmph! Mokuton: Mokuryū no Jutsu!"

Gin sneered as the opposing dragon loomed large. Without fear, he refined his chakra and summoned a dragon of equal size.

Crash!

The two dragons slammed into each other, coiling and biting like beasts in a death match.

"Interesting… To think someone other than Madara could be this fun."

Hashirama grinned widely, hands pressed together in delight.

Gin only smirked and said nothing, brimming with confidence.

"Gin-nii..."

Though the fight looked balanced, Madara and Izuna could see the tremble in Gin's legs and the sweat soaking his back. He was clearly on the brink—but enduring it all just to protect them.

"Big bro, stop playing around! Finish him!"

Tobirama, arms crossed, shouted from the sidelines.

"Alright."

Hashirama took a few steps back and gave Gin a firm look.

"Madara, I never wanted things to end like this."

"Hashi-ramaaaa!"

Madara, wrapped in wooden bindings, kept his mouth sharp.

"Mokuton: Mokujin no Jutsu!" (Wood Style: Wood Golem Technique!)

A massive golem burst into existence again. Madara's eyelids twitched at the PTSD flashbacks.

"Run, Gin! You're no match for that thing!"

Madara's voice finally cracked with urgency.

Gin, however, clasped his hands and summoned a strange green glow. He looked at his cousins with unwavering resolve.

"The only way to defeat fear is to face it head-on!"

"Don't do it, Gin-nii!"

Izuna cried out as Gin charged the giant golem.

"Mr. Gin, no!"

Even the captured young girl in the corner, bound in thorns, shouted in worry.

A strange flashlight emerged from Gin's hands. Holding it tight, his chakra surged, and he lifted the device.

"ULTRA… MAN!"

A blinding green light enveloped Gin. Smoke billowed—and from the ground, a giant green hand reached up, grabbing Gin.

A bizarrely shaped figure rose into the sky, planting its feet and standing tall with hands on its hips.

"What the...?"

Madara and Izuna stared at the newly emerged green giant in utter shock.

"Did Gin-nii have this all along? Why didn't he let us play too?!"

"Wash socks!"

The green giant struck a strange pose and glared at the wooden golem, extending one hand in a provocative gesture.

[Ultra Taunt]

"Ah! Get him!"

Hashirama lost his cool and charged with the golem.

BOOM!

The two giants clashed, fists flying. Since they both absorbed chakra, they could only settle things with brute force—no flashy ninjutsu, just raw punches and kicks.

"Can Gin-nii win?"

Izuna watched the battle with growing worry.

"Believe in him. He's still a Uchiha."

Madara tried to reassure him, equally captivated by the titanic fight.

"Yeah! Gin-nii still has the Sharingan!"

As the giants locked fists, the battlefield entered a deadlock.

"Hey hey, are we almost done?"

Hashirama, standing atop the golem, secretly sent a message via [Ninpō: Tōshin no Jutsu] (Ninja Art: Telepathic Communication), a minor jutsu Gin had unlocked for secure comms.

"Tch, your big battle triggered something. Who could resist a giant brawl like this?"

"Wrap it up! I don't wanna play White-Hair any longer~"

Tobirama chimed in.

"Ahem. Good work everyone, no retakes needed! Especially you, Hashirama, your ad-libbing was natural and added depth. Well done!"

Gin (Director) joined the chat.

"What about me?!"

Tobirama eagerly pinged the director.

"You were steady, no errors, but also no highlights. Try adding more flair next time."

"Hmph. Then I—"

Gin tried to praise himself, but was cut off.

"You, as the male lead, only entered halfway into the story. You could've milked more scenes with the original four-man crew, and during that speech earlier, your face was deadpan! You could've emoted with your eyes!"

"That was method acting! My hollow gaze captured the pain of a man broken by life!"

"Method shmethod. It looked like a corpse cosplay. If you show up like this again, don't even bother coming!"

"...#$%&!"

Gin ranted, then rage-quit the group and blocked the director.

Back on the battlefield, the two wooden titans were still locked in a standoff.

Hashirama gave a subtle signal with his eyes.

Gin understood.

The audience's palms were sweaty, anticipation peaking.

Suddenly, Gin leapt from the giant's chest, charging at Hashirama with a fist.

"Ha! My strategy was right!"

Madara cheered.

"Time for my ultimate genjutsu!"

Gin screamed mid-air, hoping everyone heard.

"Go, Gin-nii!"

All the Uchiha spectators were hyped, eyes shining with clan pride.

"Big bro, dodge!"

Tobirama added some bonus drama from below.

Hashirama focused on Gin's lower half, gathering power to counterattack.

"Where are you looking?"

A mocking voice whispered in his ear. He turned slightly—

WHAM!

A chakra-infused punch landed square on his face.

"YES!!"

Izuna shouted in joy.

"Ah?!"

Madara looked worried—both were family, after all.

Thud~

Hashirama went flying like a cannonball into the distance, leaving a crater.

Gin's airborne body turned into a log.

The real Gin landed near Hashirama's unconscious form.

"Pant… pant… I did it! The scene's complete!"

Rumble—

The golem crumbled. Gin staggered down beside the fallen Hashirama, eyes sparkling.

"Gin-nii is amazing! Finish him off!"

Izuna screamed with glee.

"Wait, Gin—"

Madara hesitated, unsure.

Gin slowly drew his decorative sword, ready to end the scene.

"Haha!"

Izuna laughed in joy.

"Mr. Gin actually won!"

Even the girl, bleeding and battered, sighed in relief—until she realized her bindings hadn't lifted.

"Mr. Gin, watch out!"

She cried out, rising despite the pain.

"Huh? What's she saying?"

Gin turned his head with a puzzled look.

And then—

Shhk—

Cold steel pierced his chest. A blade emerged from the front, gleaming.

Poof~

The "Hashirama" in the crater vanished into wood.

"Urgh—"

Gin vomited blood as the real Hashirama, now behind him, held the sword. His eyes were shut, hiding all emotion.

"I got stabbed… from behind…?"

"Sorry. My dream isn't complete yet."

Even at the end, Hashirama stuck to the script.

Gin collapsed, blood flowing across the earth like a tragic oil painting.

BOOM!

Three immense chakra signatures burst into the sky. The sheer malice of the Uchiha energy made everyone shudder.

"Hehe… big bro… stop joking. Get up..."

Izuna laughed hoarsely, hoping Gin would pop up with some dumb line like always.

Tears streaked down his cheeks. His eyes turned scarlet, spinning with a new, intricate pattern—the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Hashiramaaaa!!"

Madara roared, blood covering his eyes, regret burning in his chest. His Sharingan evolved with his grief.

"This… this is all fake..."

The girl, soaked in blood and sweat, mumbled to herself. Her eyes turned red, spinning rapidly. Then—

Two trails of blood streamed down, and her Mangekyō bloomed like a crimson clover.

Meanwhile, Gin peeked an eye open and checked the chakra levels.

He blinked.

"…Three Mangekyōs?! What is this? Buy one, get two free?!"

"Director! Wrap it up! NOW!"

Gin rejoined the group chat, unblocking the director.

You see this?! Izuna's about to go full Gundam, and Rika's cooking some unknown skill—this is getting out of hand!

"Roger that!"

The director nudged Tajima beside him.

"Uncle, it worked!"

"Mhm… But wait—three Mangekyōs? Did you awaken one too?"

Tajima, whose vision had gotten blurry from watching too long, rubbed his eyes.

"No! That was Rika!"

Gin waved his hands in panic.

"Oooh, seems like your little disciple really cares about you~"

Tajima teased.

"Don't speak nonsense! She and I are completely pure! Her mother and I were like brothers!"

And with that... the Warring States Arc is just about done (probably).

Still a few plot threads to wrap up. Also wanna take a look at the moon~

So what do you think? Should we move into Konoha's founding—or stay in the Warring States era a bit longer?

(End of Chapter)

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