Chapter 65: Chapter 64 - Self Rivalry
Later in the day, Gin sat Genji's a decently popular cafe that served food and drinks but were best known for their cold tea. Gin liked coming here, during this time of day there were not that many people in the cafe so he could easily relax.
Sitting by the window, Gin had a book in his hand while his glass cup was on the table half full.
As he flipped to the next page of his book, he noticed someone sit down at his table. Glancing up, he saw black wavy haired female whose hair was parted to the side as it covered her right eye. She had a fair complexion and dark black eyes, but wore little makeup.
She tapped her slender finger on the table as to draw Gin's attention.
Gin sighed inwardly as he shut the book he was reading.
The young woman saw Gin put the book on the table and turned it around.
"Tales of the first. You sure love your history."
She told him as she leaned back in her seat.
"What do you want Izumi? You didn't travel all this way just to see what I was reading."
Gin said as he glared at her.
"What makes you think I want something? Can't I see an old friend once in a while?"
Izumi asked him.
Gin got up from his seat as he grabbed his book.
Izumi reached across the table and grabbed his hand, preventing him from leaving.
"I'm in town for a while, let's catch up when you're less moody."
Gin calmly removed her hand.
"I'm not moody."
Gin responded to her in a somewhat cold tone.
Izumi raised her hands showing she meant no harm.
"Just saying, you used to be friendlier before you lost your mother is all."
"That's human nature, we change after a tragedy."
"You're not the only one who lost family members you know. I lost both my parents and had to look after my two kid brothers. But, as you said we change after a tragedy, however, we also learn to move on and overcome."
Gin didn't respond back to her, afterall her words were true. Her clan was ruined just like his in the third great shinobi war.
Sometimes, he still thought about it. All the fighting and fallen comrades.
It's the same war Gin gained his fame, but also where he started to slightly distance himself from everyone. Mostly everyone dear to him died or went missing during that war, and the few that remained Gin wanted to avoid.
To think, over a slight bit of power countries went wild.
Each country wanted their own tailed beast once they learned what they were capable of, and the village shrouded in ice had one they worshipped.
Gin disliked the fact they wanted to weaponize the beasts, but he couldn't blame them. Afterall, it was one of the tailed beasts that started the third great shinobi war. It alone almost ruined one of the six great shinobi villages, so seeing the power it held everyone craved to have one of their own. And once they started finding the locations of the creatures, they did whatever they could to obtain them.
"Maybe i'm not ready to move on yet."
Gin said before he walked away.
He had his fair share of memories and moving on made him feel as if they would vanish.
Watching Gin leave, Izumi sighed.
Soon, she noticed Gin's unfinished drink and her eye twitched.
"That bastard…"
Early the next morning, Haruto met up with Karin and Chibi.
Karin looked like she was in a rush as she did not have her hair in a ponytail and had it free flowing. Chibi was yawning as he covered his mouth.
It was still early in the morning, he wished he had more time to sleep.
"Are you sure about this?"
Chibi asked Haruto as he ended his yawn.
Haruto nodded.
"Gin says one thing, but he usually means something else. You think he'd break tradition?"
Karin grabbed her long red hair and started to tie it up.
"Yes, he took us to see the first and that temple is off-limits. If he did that, why wouldn't he break tradition?"
Haruto rolled his eyes.
"This and that are two different things. The first is family, you can't stop family from seeing each other so us tagging along doesn't count as breaking any rule. Gin might not seem like it, but he's a real shinobi he follows the rules."
"If you say so, but if I got up on this Saturday morning for nothing, you owe me big time."
Chibi mentioned.
The three members of team 1 went back to the temple where the first was. There, they spotted Gin leaning against the temple walls with a book in hand.
Gin closed the book as he sensed them approach.
His eyes glanced over all three of them before stopping on Haruto.
"He made you come didn't he?"
Gin asked the other two.
Neither of Karin or Chibi said a word.
"Whatever the case may be, this can be considered passing the first portion."
Gin told them.
Karin raised her hand and Gin looked at her.
"Sensei, what would have happened if we didn't come today?"
Gin grinned as he tapped her head with his book.
"Guess you'll never find out."
Gin told her.
Honestly, he wanted to test them to see what sort of ninja they were. If he told them to meet up two days later, would they follow suit or would they come the next day?
Gin didn't plan on failing anyone as one showed they were doing as they were told, while the other signified they were willing to go the extra mile. He already figured Haruto would show up, but he did not count on him inviting the other three.
Haruto always seemed a bit too proud to Gin, thus he might not want to share any glory with his teammates. Afterall, Haruto wanted to outshine everyone else.
Now that all three of them were here, Gin was forced to improvise.
"Today's test is simple."
Gin said as he made hand signs and placed his hand on the ground.
A pure white bird appeared as it flapped its wings and soared around Gin.
"Capture this swallow before noon."
The white swallow sensing Gin's intentions flew off into the distance.
Haruto looked at Gin.
"Isn't this too easy?"
Gin shrugged and opened his book.
"Depends on your definition of easy."
"Yesterday I heard Izumi visited, did she mention Sasuke?"
Haruto questioned Gin.
Gin leaned against the temple wall again and opened his book.
"Time is ticking, don't you have a bird to catch?"
Gin didn't want to get involved in Haruto's rivalry with a foe he hasn't even met yet. He only heard the name and achievements, but in his mind Sasuke was already someone he was determined to beat.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
FishThatsBlue
FishThatsBlue Has a slower start, but will pick up in pace.
Probably slower release right now cause Holiday coming up.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone