Chapter 15: The Trust of Uzumaki Mito

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Sunlight filtered through the lush branches, casting mottled shadows on the ground. In the distance, the occasional chirping of cicadas and birds could be heard, while a faintly salty sea breeze brushed against the face. Everything was so peaceful and pleasant.

Far away, a man and a woman were nestled close together. The older man’s left hand rested on the girl’s back, while his right reached toward her waistband.

The girl offered no resistance; her beautiful eyes glimmered with springtime allure, submissively leaning against the man as he took control. The air between them was thick with a tender, ambiguous intimacy.

This was the scene witnessed by Naruto Hanamichi.

“Beast, what do you intend to do?” Hanamichi’s fury boiled like a volcano on the verge of eruption, molten anger surging wildly through his veins, causing his whole body to tremble slightly.

Startled by the sudden thunderous roar, the pair looked up to see a strikingly handsome, muscular man with fiery red hair, his physique like forged steel. Upon seeing him, Uchiha Gin’s mind involuntarily thought:

“Broad shoulders, sturdy build, yet delicate features.”

Only after hearing the man speak did Gin realize belatedly that his own actions were highly inappropriate. The little girl in his arms, Naruto Mito, was blushing deeply—steam practically rising from her head—before her eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Quick as lightning, Gin caught the fainting Mito, but his sudden movement tore her already damaged clothing further apart.

With a few tearing sounds, her protective outerwear was shredded to scraps, leaving her fair, tender skin exposed, shining like flawless jade under the sunlight.

Feeling the soft, warm touch in his arms, Gin fell silent.

After a moment, he looked up with clear, sage-like eyes.

“If I told you this was all a misunderstanding, would you refuse to believe me?”

Hearing the Uchiha clan member, caught red-handed, still attempting to deny everything, Naruto Hanamichi cracked his knuckles until the bones popped.

Bright crimson chakra surged from him like roaring flames, his eyes radiating a fierce, devouring light.

Feeling the overwhelming pressure from afar, Gin’s heart shouted alarm. Even the dullest could tell this opponent rivaled Uchiha Fuuho in strength—perhaps even surpassed him in sheer intimidation.

“For now, only your blood can cleanse Mito’s shame,” Hanamichi declared, stepping closer.

In desperation, Gin shook the limp Mito, who showed no sign of waking, then struck a heavy blow between her twin buns.

“Wake up! Explain yourself, or I’ll be done for by your clan!”

The heavy blow roused the unconscious Mito, who groggily looked at the anxious Gin beside her.

Just as she parted her lips to speak, her gaze caught sight of the approaching muscular man. Terror flooded her eyes, and without regard for propriety, she pulled down Gin’s head and whispered urgently in his ear:

“Hold me hostage! You must not let Hanamichi take me back!”

Her head rested against his cheek, a delicate feminine fragrance tickling Gin’s nose, nearly causing him to sneeze.

The soft breath near his ear sent tingles down his spine, but recalling her youth, Gin immediately suppressed the stirring in his heart.

“Buddha, Buddha, I am not a lolicon, I am not a lolicon…”

Prioritizing survival, Gin clamped one hand around Mito’s neck, while the other produced a sharp kunai from behind his back. Wearing a sinister expression, he pressed the blade against her front and whispered coldly,

“Heh heh heh, you wouldn’t want this guy to get hurt, would you?”

Seeing the Uchiha clan’s “true colors” revealed, Hanamichi halted, struggling as he spoke in a low voice,

“Despicable Uchiha! What must you do to release my sister?”

His fists clenched tightly, nails digging into his palms.

Naruto Hanamichi, eldest son of the Naruto clan’s head, had perfectly inherited the clan’s talents.

Mastering all four ninja arts to their limits, he was hailed as the strongest prodigy of the Naruto clan in a century. Though still in his teens, his strength rivaled that of the clan elders.

Not long ago, the Naruto clan’s little princess, Mito, went missing. Her loving brother Hanamichi immediately led his men to search.

“What should I say?” Uchiha Gin whispered, shrinking behind Mito.

Feeling a strong masculine aura, the girl felt dizzy but bit her lip and said to the man behind her,

“Aren’t you a professional kidnapper? Do I need to teach you?”

“When did I ever say I’m a kidnapper?” Gin replied, still unclear about his own identity.

“Ah?”

Seeing the insolent Uchiha daring to get close to his precious sister’s neck, Hanamichi’s heart felt as if torn apart; he wished to tear the man limb from limb.

As the standoff reached a deadlock, sounds of fighting erupted from the woods. Several figures stumbled into Gin’s sight.

It was Uchiha Fuuho and his group, who had just separated earlier. Their faces were dusty and bruised, especially Uchiha Ryoichi, whose arm was bent uselessly at his side, tossing kunai helplessly with the other.

Upon seeing Gin, Fuuho shouted urgently,

“Uchiha Gin, take that brat and run! The Naruto clan’s target is that kid!”

Brat? Looking at the unconscious Senju Banma, whom he'd earlier kicked dozens of meters away, and at the temporarily allied Naruto Mito, Gin’s head ached. Now, there was no way out.

Hearing Fuuho’s words, Hanamichi’s tiger-like eyes widened,

“You still call it a misunderstanding? You despicable Uchiha!”

“Is there no peaceful solution?” Gin asked Mito.

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“Run now!” Mito urged, unwilling to go home.

Easier said than done; the Naruto clan members opposing them were formidable.

Before Hanamichi, the strongest, had acted, Fuuho and the others were already overwhelmed. With Gin’s limited strength, escape seemed impossible.

“Or you can tell your brother this is a misunderstanding, and we’ll turn swords into plowshares. Wouldn’t that be a fine story?”

Gin tried to reason with the girl.

“No! If you don’t take me away, I’ll tell my brother you’re bullying me.”

Seeing Gin falter, Mito pouted and threatened him.

“How can such cold words come from your sweet mouth?”

Only the petty and women are hard to tame.

At this point, simply handing Mito over would not resolve matters.

Senju Banma’s presence was bound to be discovered by the Naruto clan. As a senior member, Hanamichi likely knew Banma.

As loyal allies to the Senju clan, the Naruto clan would not ignore this. Banma’s fate was tied to Gin’s mission; until success, he could not let the boy out of his sight.

Separating from the Naruto clan a little, Uchiha Fuuho dashed to Gin’s side. Seeing Mito tied up in his arms, he hesitated but, sensing urgency, did not ask.

“Where’s the Senju brat?”

Gin nodded toward the unconscious Banma beside him.

“I’ll cover you; take them and retreat.”

Without further thought, Fuuho instructed.

Why the weakest himself was ordered to retreat first puzzled Gin—was it only because he was the clan leader’s nephew?

No time to ponder, Fuuho hoisted Banma onto Gin’s back. Now Gin bore a small child on his back and carried Mito in front—like a nanny.

After the instructions, Fuuho glanced deeply at Gin before plunging back into battle against two Naruto clan members, buying time for Gin’s escape.

Watching the captain’s retreating figure, Gin felt unexpectedly moved. Though Fuuho usually treated him coldly, in this moment he chose to protect his withdrawal without pretense. Gin turned westward and fled.

“Kin, your child has grown so big,” Fuuho mused quietly upon Gin’s departure.

“Just too weak—nothing like you at all.”

“Don’t even think about escaping!” Hanamichi cried, seeing Gin flee with his sister.

He pushed off fiercely, ready to pursue, but as he rose, cold Sharingan eyes met his—three tomoe whirling, radiating an alluring glow.

“To pass, you must get past me first.”

Without notice, Fuuho had knocked down his two subordinates, blocking Hanamichi’s path.

“Seeking death!” Hanamichi exploded with tremendous force; his punch struck Fuuho’s face painfully.

“You’ve already met my gaze.”

“?”

[Illusionary Iron Chain Technique]—one of the Uchiha clan’s signature genjutsu, later often used by Uchiha Itachi to intimidate.

With the Sharingan, the user traps the opponent in an illusionary space, where massive iron spikes pierce their body, immobilizing them.

Caught off guard, Hanamichi was struck. The scene shifted; he found himself in a sea of blood, several giant steel spikes pinning him immobile.

In reality, Fuuho, somewhat exhausted, covered his eyes from the intense strain, then closed his Sharingan.

“Indeed, dealing with an opponent of this caliber still taxes me.”

Watching Hanamichi trapped, Fuuho turned to aid Uchiha Ryoichi and others. The three were attacking a long-haired Naruto clan member, while the weaker Naruto members lay defeated.

Suddenly, Hanamichi’s voice rang in Fuuho’s ear,

“Almost fell for your trick.”

Turning, Fuuho stared incredulously at the now-clear-headed man. That genjutsu had taken long preparation; a single glance had drained much of his ocular power.

“Good thing my father prepared a sealing technique for me, allowing me to resist a mental attack once.”

Hanamichi revealed a tadpole-like symbol on his chest, the markings fading.

Remembering his father’s sealing before departure, Hanamichi felt relieved.

“Tch, what a hassle.”

Thinking of the Naruto clan’s mastery in sealing techniques, Fuuho reluctantly reopened his Sharingan. Round two began.

Meanwhile, Gin, running with Mito, suddenly stopped. Mito looked confused as he set both down and checked his ninja tool pouch.

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“What are you doing?” the girl tugged at Gin’s sleeve.

“You’re free now. If I don’t return, help me send this brat back to the Senju clan,” Gin said quietly.

“You’re going to die if you go back! My brother’s strong—there’s no way you can take a punch from him.”

Seeing his resolve to sacrifice himself, Mito hastened to stop him.

“I want to live—I want to see Konoha…”

Gin sighed, thinking of the proud Uchiha Ryoichi, cool-hearted Uchiha Tsuru, honest Uchiha Dairo, and the special care from Uchiha Fuuho.

Though he’d only crossed over a few days ago, his bonds with them were already deep.

“I really can’t bring myself to do it.”

His eyes hardened. He tore off Mito’s hand and rose to leave.

“Wait!” Mito hesitated.

“What, afraid I’ll beat your brother?”

Gin teased.

“No, you’re no match for him. No one but father can defeat him head-on.”

Mito spoke with lingering fear.

Then, after much hesitation, she took a black bead from her bag and handed it to Gin.

Curious, Gin examined the object—a pearl with swirling ink-black patterns on its surface.

“Be careful. My father gave me this for protection. It contains a sealing technique. When activated with chakra, it can temporarily trap my brother. Use it to escape.”

“Are you not afraid I’ll trap your brother and kill him after?”

Holding the bead, Gin asked cautiously.

“You wouldn’t,” the girl said earnestly, her bright eyes full of trust.

“Why are you so sure?”

Gin was puzzled by her unwavering confidence.

“I’m born with a gift to sense the good and evil in people,” she explained. “From the first moment I saw you, I sensed no malice.”

“You’re a good person,” she concluded.

“Uh…” Gin, bewildered by the ‘good person’ label, smirked and accepted the pearl, patting her twin buns.

“What a convenient ability. Thanks.”

The Otsutsuki descendant’s talents were indeed strange and varied. No wonder she trusted him so completely—it was like having the future prince mode of Kurama, sensing good and evil.

After expressing gratitude, Gin ran toward the recent battle site.

“System, is there any way to get through this?”

Feeling outmatched, Gin asked the system for help.

After a pause,

“System not fully activated; unable to assist host…”

“Flying system, what good are you then!”

Disgusted, Gin cursed inwardly. He had hoped that activating the system would let him soar, to live a glorious life beating both Kaguya and aliens.

Instead, this half-finished archaic system not only had a suppression mechanism but granted rewards as slowly as squeezing toothpaste.

The newbie gift pack only gave a transcript for a skill, which had to be assembled from fragments. Just surviving these days had been a struggle.

Had he known, Gin wouldn’t have activated the archaic system. With his knowledge of the plot, he could have survived until Konoha’s founding, then slipped away to a remote country for a peaceful retirement during the Uchiha clan's honeymoon period with Konoha.

“What a rigged system.”

Gin vented his frustration.

“Ding! Strong dissatisfaction detected. System issues challenge task: ‘Rescue the Uchiha.’”

“Rescue the stranded Uchiha Fuuho squad. Completion rewards: 50 points, 4 random magic orbs. Failure if any task target dies.”

“???” Surprised by the sudden mission, Gin guessed,

“Does the system only respond to complaints? So I can…”

“Detecting ill intent. Difficulty increased. Must defeat Naruto Hanamichi to proceed.”

“Thanks a lot!!!”