Chapter 364

364. Chapter 357: Affairs in the Land of Wind Concluded, Kaguya's Worry

"Mr. Gin, are you really not staying for a few more days? It would allow me to fulfill my duties as a host."

Inside the Hidden Sand Village, Shamon, with bandages wrapped around his face, spoke with great reluctance to persuade Uchiha Gin and his two companions to stay.

"Shamon Laodi, why are you being so polite with me? If it weren't for other pressing matters, I would definitely stay to taste the local specialties of your home."

Uchiha Gin, who had already packed his belongings, wore a look of deep regret. He hadn't eaten enough of the melons produced in Loulan, but he had to make a trip to see the Jin Jiaoyin brothers, so he had to tearfully bid farewell to the wonderful Loulan.

"Oh! Why didn't you say so earlier!"

Upon hearing this, Shamon slapped his thigh, then turned around with a look of annoyance and ordered Ebizo behind him,

"Ebizo, go quickly and purchase a batch of premium melons to bring for Mr. Gin!"

"Heh~ how could I be so bold as to accept?"

Uchiha Gin's eyes lit up at these words. While his mouth said no, his hands were very dishonest as he pulled open the backpack behind him, waiting for the storage scroll filled with melons.

"Ah? I'm going right now!"

Ebizo hurried off at a trot, but just as he reached the entrance, he bumped into Chiyo, who was coming the other way.

"The guest hasn't left yet, why are you running, you brat?"

Chiyo held a scroll in her hand with a joyful smile on her face. Her gaze passed over her hurrying younger brother to see Uchiha Gin and the others who had not yet left. She immediately straightened her small face and asked with a hint of reproach,

"The Master told me to..."

Forced by his sister's overwhelming authority, Ebizo immediately recounted everything Shamon had arranged.

"Hmph~ you lot really have no sense at all; at critical moments, I'm the only one I can rely on!"

Shaking the storage scroll in her hand, Chiyo rolled her eyes in a charming way, pushed her bewildered brother aside, and walked gracefully toward Uchiha Gin.

"Uncle Gin, I saw that you really liked the melons from Loulan yesterday, so I specially selected a batch for you. I hope you won't mind."

"My dear niece is very thoughtful~"

Whoever says that big breasts mean no brains, Uchiha Gin will absolutely fight them!

Smiling, he took the scroll Chiyo handed over with both hands, and Uchiha Gin backhanded it into his backpack.

In his eyes, these top-quality melons were far more pleasing than the gold and silver rewarded for missions.

However, a shadow quietly tore open inside the backpack, whisking the storage scroll Uchiha Gin had just acquired into it.

"If Uncle Gin wants to eat them in the future, just send a letter~"

Seeing the genuine joy in Uchiha Gin's eyes, Chiyo felt wonderful inside. She then patted her melon-like chest and promised solemnly,

"Really?"

Uchiha Gin, blinded by the sight, licked his lips.

"I never cheat the young or the old~"

This niece truly understood Uchiha Gin's heart. He looked down at the two useless sticks she had tucked at her waist, pondered for a moment, and reached out his hand.

"My dear niece, give me those sticks, and Uncle will perform a magic trick for you~"

"Huh?"

Although very confused, Chiyo was still very obedient. Without hesitation, she untied the two sticks from her waist and handed them to Uchiha Gin.

"Looking at your fighting style, you must be a puppet master. Always holding two staves must make it hard to perform, right?"

Rubbing the useless sticks that still held some warmth, Uchiha Gin keenly discovered that the tip of one stick had been polished to a sheen, and a faint, refreshing scent was escaping from it.

But that didn't matter. Regardless of whether his niece used them for daily or nightly purposes, she definitely couldn't use them smoothly in a real fight.

"That is indeed the case."

Uchiha Gin hit the nail on the head, and Chiyo nodded in agreement.

"Then let Uncle free your hands!"

Uchiha Gin held one useless stick in each hand, pressed the synthesis button in his mind, and then clapped his hands together. A dazzling red light flashed, drawing everyone's gaze over.

"Huh? Where are my treasures?"

Chiyo blinked her eyes in confusion, looking at the gorgeous wizard's hat in Uchiha Gin's hand, and cried out in surprise.

【Rabadon's Deathcap】: Chakra limit +50%, Ninjutsu effect increased by 200%, attacks carry 20% true damage.

"This is your treasure~"

Ignoring the shocked Chiyo, Uchiha Gin stepped forward and placed the wizard's hat on her purple head.

"Ah!"

Chiyo, wearing the hat, hadn't even processed it when she felt the chakra within her body growing rapidly at an incredible speed.

Her fair, delicate face flushed red from the sudden sense of satisfaction. Her large eyes seemed to overflow with water as she looked at Uchiha Gin, the culprit, with joy mixed with confusion.

"Uncle Gin, what is this?"

"As you know, although Uncle's strength is average, I am good at development and research. The sticks you held before were actually a new type of ninja tool I've researched for many years. They can be synthesized in pairs, doubling the effect."

Because the equipment produced by the system was unique in the whole world, Uchiha Gin felt no pressure at all as he spouted nonsense, leaving the confused crowd of the Hidden Sand Village completely bewildered.

"Chiyo, why aren't you thanking Mr. Gin!"

Even though Shamon hadn't worn it himself, he could feel the terrifying aura emanating from the wizard's hat. Uchiha Gin had actually gifted Chiyo such a divine artifact; he truly was a great friend. He immediately reminded the stunned Chiyo to express her gratitude.

"Thank you, Uncle Gin!"

Upon hearing this, Chiyo hurriedly bent her slender waist. The soul-stirring scar exerted its power again, and Uchiha Gin immediately turned his head away, too embarrassed to continue staring directly.

Of course, this had nothing to do with the two small hands pinching his soft flesh at his waist.

"This is what Uncle should do~"

"Ah? Then mine..."

Ebizo, huddled to the side, raised his hand with excitement upon hearing this, but he was selectively ignored by everyone and finally had to retract his hand sheepishly.

However, the next moment, a small, round object was tossed toward him. The dejected Ebizo hurriedly caught it and discovered it was an exquisitely crafted pocket watch, with a mysterious blue light emanating from the dial.

【Stopwatch】: Single-use, grants immunity to damage and untargetability for two and a half minutes.

"I remember you were just short of a watch, so Uncle is giving you one. Remember to hold onto it tight~"

"Ah? I wanted to wear a hat too..."

Although the watch Uchiha Gin gave was very exquisite and clearly valuable, Ebizo still wanted a hat to wear.

Thump!

Shamon, frowning, struck in anger, giving the muttering Ebizo a heavy blow. The young man instantly became obedient.

"Idiot, why aren't you thanking Mr. Gin!"

"Thank you, Uncle Gin!"

Holding the large bump on his head, Ebizo bowed to Uchiha Gin with a look of grievance.

"Alright, alright, let's part ways here. Let's eat grilled meat together next time~"

Having finished exchanging pleasantries with them, Uchiha Gin was also ready to set off and leave the passionate Hidden Sand Village.

"Wait! Chiyo, go and see Mr. Gin and his group off."

Feeling that his hospitality over the past two days had been inadequate, Shamon arranged for Chiyo to see them off.

"Received!"

Chiyo, who was happily admiring her new equipment, immediately nodded in agreement.

"Er, alright~"

Uchiha Gin scratched his head; it wouldn't be too late to change his route once they reached the border of the Land of Fire.

After the four of them left, Shamon walked up to Ebizo, who was fiddling with the pocket watch. His eyes flashed with an inexplicable light, and he said with a serious face,

"Ebizo, since Mr. Gin told you to hold onto it, you must carry it on your person. Don't even take it off when you bathe."

As the guardian of the Dragon Vein, Shamon was more sensitive to fluctuations in space-time techniques. He could perceive a trace of ethereal space power in the pocket watch Uchiha Gin gave, so he judged that this watch definitely had some magical effect.

Four figures ran across the soft, sandy ground. At the front of the group, Uchiha Hikari and Hyuga Tsukuyomi were competing in speed as if they were rivals, while Uchiha Gin and Chiyo trailed behind, chatting idly.

"Uncle Gin, there is something I've always wanted to ask you."

Chiyo followed beside Uchiha Gin, her gaze looking intentionally or unintentionally at his young, handsome face. Finally, she couldn't hold it in anymore.

"What is it?"

Uchiha Gin, who was thinking about which route to take to the Land of Lightning, turned his head in confusion and asked, looking at Chiyo, who wore a hesitant expression.

"Why haven't you, or that big sister who sells cold drinks, aged at all?"

This question had been weighing on Chiyo's heart for a long time. Could it be that someone could really escape the judgment of time?

"Oh? You're asking about this~"

Sure enough, as long as they were women, they would be interested in this matter. The few who had learned the Yin Seal were often harassed by female ninjas, but because this technique had been listed as a forbidden technique by his cousin, others had no way to learn it.

"Do you know about Medical Ninjutsu?"

"I do!"

Chiyo herself was a highly talented medical ninja.

"It's actually very simple. By using chakra to regulate the body's functions, one can achieve the effect of eternal youth."

"Just that?"

After hearing Uchiha Gin's one-sentence summary, Chiyo couldn't help but roll her eyes.

What you say is simple, but where would ordinary ninjas get so much chakra to maintain bodily functions? Not to mention that the process of regulation requires extremely precise operation, involving issues like the conversion of chakra and life force; it's simply not a realm that ordinary people can achieve.

"Where there's a will, there's a way. With your talent, you will definitely be able to research it. I believe in you~"

Uchiha Gin shook his head and offered some encouragement.

"Uncle Gin thinks too highly of me. I am just an ordinary person praying for world peace."

Chiyo pouted, displaying the unique cuteness of a young girl. It was just unexpected that her small body actually held such a big dream.

"It's wrapped, my dear niece~"

"Remember to write to me!"

Standing at the boundary between the Gobi Desert and the oasis, Chiyo held her hat with one hand and raised the other high, bidding farewell to Uchiha Gin and his group. Her pretty face was full of reluctance.

"Definitely, definitely. Give my regards to Shamon Laodi for me~"

Uchiha Gin and the others waved at the beautiful figure in the desert, then turned and disappeared into the small path in the woods.

"Whew... Uncle... Gin..."

Chiyo, standing alone in the Gobi, saw her gaze become blurred as Uchiha Gin's back disappeared. Why was this man, who seemed to have a free-spirited personality but gave people an inexplicable sense of security, her uncle?

"Hey! What are you daydreaming about? Can't bear to part with your 'big' niece?"

In the speed battle just now, Hyuga Tsukuyomi was one step slower than Uchiha Hikari, but she had won the competition by relying on the advantage of her cup size, thus entering the territory of the Land of Fire first. Having been proud for not long, she found Uchiha Gin behind her looking absent-minded, and immediately mocked him.

"Tsukuyomi... no, Tsukihime, aren't you going back yet? Biluo must be getting anxious, right?"

Since the mission was completed, Otsutsuki Tsukihime no longer needed to use the pseudonym Hyuga Tsukuyomi.

"Tsk... although I won this time, this guy seems a bit unconvinced."

Hearing Uchiha Gin call her that, Otsutsuki Tsukihime curled her lips. Her black hair was turning white at a speed visible to the naked eye, and in the blink of an eye, she returned to the peak of the moon, high and aloof as before.

"A bet is a bet. We said we'd compete in speed, so we competed in speed. Losing was my own carelessness."

This time, she had lost thoroughly in every aspect, and Uchiha Hikari's face was very ugly.

The battle between Uchiha Hikari and Otsutsuki Tsukihime, after many adjustments by Uchiha Gin, had a set of rules established by the two.

Every time they fought, whether it was competing in taijutsu, ninjutsu bombardment, or a contest between dojutsu, etc., it was all fine, but they could only choose one item to proceed with, and they could not get angry after the winner was decided.

If these two were allowed to fight freely, wouldn't the Ninja World be filled with Valleys of the End everywhere? That scene was too beautiful; Uchiha Gin didn't dare to imagine it.

"It's rare that you didn't cause a big scene. Your performance this time was good. I'll treat you to grilled meat when we get back. For now, just eat a candy~"

Uchiha Gin naturally supported such peaceful competition items with both hands. He immediately took out two lollipops from the bag behind him and stuffed them into the two women's mouths with quick hands.

"Yuck! So sour~" (д) (д)

"Huh? Who changed all the candies in my bag to lemon flavor?"

Looking at the bright yellow packaging bag in his hand, Uchiha Gin fell into deep thought. He remembered that when he bought them, he had chosen many flavors. How did they all turn into lemon now?

Realm of Shadows

"Pop! I quite like this flavor~"

Sucking on a lemon-flavored lollipop, the dark-skinned Kaguya, leaning lazily on a lounge chair, looked with great interest at the strange fruits of orange, yellow, and green scattered before her. This was the first time she had seen such fruits that emitted a cloying sweetness.

"Cut one for me."

"Yes, Master."

Zuo Ling and You Ling, waiting to the side, turned one hand into a sharp blade, instantly cutting a plump melon into shapes suitable for eating.

"Yuck! So sweet~" (д)

After taking a bite, the dark-skinned Kaguya frowned. Compared to pure sweetness, she preferred fruits that were primarily sour.

"But that descendant seems to like eating them quite a bit."

The dark-skinned Kaguya, with a face full of displeasure, was about to order her two followers to humanely destroy these melons, but remembering Uchiha Gin, who was addicted to sweetness, a hint of hesitation flashed across her cold face.

"Keep them for now. It wouldn't be a bad idea to use them as bargaining chips for trading with him."

It's over, the ancestor has actually learned the art of war. If she could have studied by Uchiha Gin's side for a few years back then, she wouldn't have ended up being locked in a small black ball.

"Received!"

Zuo Ling and You Ling, who had long been turned, did not think at all of the kindness of Uchiha Gin changing their oil with his own hands, and nodded decisively.

"Crunch!"

After the two puppets left with the melons, the dark-skinned Kaguya, sitting alone on the lounge chair, bit and swallowed the lollipop in her mouth. For the first time, a look of worry appeared on her expressionless, pretty face.

"Why does he want to collect the chakra of the God Tree? Those guys... are coming soon!" (End of chapter)