As if answering Uchiha Gin's call, the Heart of Steel Orb erupted in a dazzling glow unlike any before.
A flash of gold revealed a gray-brown, grotesque armor on the board, its surface bristling with sharp thorns, looking ferocious.
This dropped? Gin's eyes twitched at the oddly familiar gear.
[Thornmail]: Grants 5% max health, reduces incoming attack damage by 8%. When hit, deals 100 damage to nearby enemies.
With a thought, the armor's stats appeared in Gin's mind. Straight out of a game, huh?
Not bad, not bad—anything but gold bars was a win.
Tearing his gaze from the armor, Gin turned to the three remaining orbs. Having secured a decent pull, he was fearless, waving his hand to open them.
[Gold Bars 10]
[Gold Bars 10]
[Gold Bars 10]
Classic pattern—padding the pulls again. Gin nodded, satisfied. Next time, something good was bound to drop.
Eyeing his sole prize, Gin decided to test it somewhere private later.
In reality, Izuna, kneading Gin's legs, looked up, dead serious. "I won't lose to that white-haired brat either! Next time, I'll teach him a lesson."
Ambitious, but futile. If history held, that white-haired kid would take Izuna out with a kidney shot.
"I believe in you, little cousin. You'll crush that sneaky Senju brat," Gin said, encouraging. Support was the best shield for a kid's growth.
Buoyed by Gin's backing, Izuna massaged with renewed vigor.
Staring at Izuna's scrawny frame, Gin had an idea. "Izuna, when you're grown, I'll get you a gift—guaranteed to keep you safe."
"???" Izuna's face was a question mark.
As the cousins bantered, the hospital door swung open, revealing an unexpected visitor.
"Elder Miao, what brings you here?" Gin asked.
Uchiha Miao, carrying a fruit basket, wore his usual cold expression. Scanning the room, his eyes settled on Izuna, handing him the basket.
"Young master, wash these fruits," Miao said, his flat tone carrying an undeniable command.
Izuna frowned, glancing at Gin, who nodded. Taking the basket, Izuna left.
"Izuna, take your time, wash them thoroughly," Gin called, sensing Miao wanted a private word.
Once Izuna was gone, Miao spoke slowly. "Your eye test results are in."
"Oh! What's up with my eyes?" Gin feigned surprise. He'd already learned their origin from Uchiha Yao, but couldn't act too aloof.
"In your eye cells, I detected multiple distinct chakra signatures," Miao said, studying Gin's dark pupils. "Your eyes came from the Kaguya clan—meant as mere replacements to restore your sight."
"Kaguya clan!" Gin gasped, feigning shock, his face showing a hint of resistance.
"That's not all. I also found Hyuga clan genes in them," Miao added.
Gin, "stunned," grabbed a mirror from the table, inspecting his eyes dramatically before asking, "But they're not white?"
"Thin blood, not enough for Byakugan. Still, it's curious—such complex eyes awakening Sharingan. I'm intrigued," Miao said, marveling. He'd never seen this before.
"I suspect the massive Yin chakra you once held reshaped these eyes, causing a mutation," Miao theorized, differing from Yao's view.
Yao believed Gin's bloodline assimilated the eyes; Miao thought Gin's Yin chakra transformed them. Massive Yin chakra? Gin nodded inwardly. The original host had awakened Mangekyo, so abundant Yin chakra made sense.
"No rejection issues?" Gin asked, curious.
"Your stats are stable, as if these eyes were born yours," Miao said, amazed. The compatibility was uncanny for a transplant.
"Can I awaken Mangekyo?" Gin asked, eyes narrowed, staring intently at the reflective Miao.
"…"
"That's… ask the clan head. I have matters to attend," Miao said, giving Gin a deep look, dodging the question by passing it to Tajima, then leaving.
"Hey, why'd Elder Miao leave? These oranges are sour!" Izuna returned, holding washed fruit, finding only Gin.
"He had business. Let me try—how sour are they?" Gin, back to his lazy self, opened his mouth for Izuna to feed him.
"Idiot, that's a lemon!" Izuna snapped.
A week later, Gin was discharged, tearfully parting with his cousins, heading home.
Picturing Senju Banma, he pushed open the old house's door, finding it empty, coated in dust, as if abandoned.
Oh no! Did someone snatch the kid? Gin's first thought was Banma's capture. His heart sank—they were soul-linked; if Banma died, he'd go down too.
"Hello, your delivery!" A voice called as Gin, frantic, prepared to search for Banma.
Outside, a sweet-looking purple-haired Uchiha girl with a wooden basket on her back shouted, checking if anyone was home.
"Your grilled fish is here. Please sign!" Seeing Gin, she hurried over, pulling a steaming fish from her basket.
"I've got another order. Check and sign," she added.
Staring at the fish, Gin's brow twitched with irritation. Taking a deep breath, he asked calmly, "Who ordered it?"
"Let me check—Mr. Uchiha Gin," the cheerful girl said, reading from an order slip.
"They've got delivery services now?" Gin asked, curiosity overriding his anger, intrigued by her job.
"It's a long-term gig. Pays well and trains agility," the rookie Uchiha girl said, beaming.
"Nice. Earning cash young, unlike some deadbeat…" Gin gritted his teeth, taking the fish and signing the order. Spotting a string of sloppy "Uchiha Gin" signatures before his, he nearly snapped the pen.
Calming himself, he smiled at the hardworking girl. "Five-star review!"
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If you want to read more than 20 chapters early feel free to visit pa tre on . com /Archus