"Sigh..."
Jiraiya took another sip of sake, his face filled with gloom.
According to the intelligence he had gathered, that woman's female disciple was already on her way to Konoha.
But his own disciple still hadn't been found...
If she discovered he didn't actually have a disciple, this nearly-twenty-year-old vow would be nothing but a joke.
Jiraiya could barely bear to imagine how disappointed she would feel.
"Jiraiya, I can actually help you with this."
Mirai Uchiha spoke calmly.
Upon hearing this, Jiraiya froze for a moment. "You want to help me?"
"Yeah." Mirai Uchiha's face broke into an enthusiastic smile. "I can pretend to be your disciple. That way, you'll be able to fulfill your promise with her, right?"
"Huh?!"
Jiraiya made an exaggerated facial expression.
He never expected Mirai Uchiha to actually suggest such a thing.
After all, the other's identity held the Emperor status in the ninja world!
In fact, Mirai Uchiha was currently the most prestigious and powerful person in the entire ninja world.
And such a person was actually saying he wanted to become his disciple?
However, Jiraiya quickly understood Mirai's intentions.
"Mirai, I get what you're after—you probably want to bring her female disciple into your inner quarters, right?"
Mirai Uchiha nodded without any attempt to hide his thoughts.
Considering the number of women he already had, denying it wouldn't convince Jiraiya anyway.
"Tch!"
Jiraiya put on a righteous face and said, "I won't joke about something so serious—the vow concerns a woman's entire life!"
[Telescope Technique].
"But come to think of it..." Jiraiya cleared his throat seriously. "If the one fulfilling the vow is a remarkable man like you, Mirai, then I guess I've done something good too."
"I agree! From today on, you are officially my disciple!"
Mirai Uchiha and Jiraiya shared a knowing smile before Mirai pulled out a black card from inside his robe.
"This is a VIP Black Membership to Konoha's Hot Springs."
"Relax there anytime you have free time."
Looking at the black card, Jiraiya wore a shocked expression.
"This is the legendary unlimited-spending black card, usable at every Red Romance chain-hot spring across the ninja world?!"
Mirai Uchiha nodded confidently. "Exactly."
Carefully tucking the black card into his robe, Jiraiya impatiently rushed outside.
"Mirai, from now on we'll maintain separate identities—call me Master, and I'll call you Father-in-law..."
Watching Jiraiya disappear into the distance, Mirai Uchiha quirked the corner of his mouth.
How is this guy even more mysterious than him?
---
"So this is Konoha, huh..."
A good-looking woman with a high ponytail walked through Konoha's streets, glancing around curiously.
She followed the map she had bought. It took her quite a while, but she finally reached the location mentioned in the letter.
It was a secluded training ground—almost never visited by anyone for cultivation.
Choosing such a place as their battlefield allowed her to go all out without restraint.
After a quick glance, the woman stepped into the training area.
Inside the arena, a single man lay on the ground with his arms behind his head—his long white hair flowing behind him—as he casually held a senbon between his lips.
"Are you Jiraiya's apprentice?"
Hearing the woman's voice, Mirai Uchiha opened his eyes. "Who are you?"
"I am Ayame Shizuka, here to fulfill the deal our teachers made long ago."
Mirai Uchiha slowly stood up, brushing grass off his clothes. "Then that settles it—I've been waiting for you for quite some time."
Ayame Shizuka let out a cold snort. "Don't act so lazy. Take this seriously!"
"If you lose to me," she continued, "then obediently come back with me to Ayame Village and we'll get married and have children."
Mirai Uchiha replied calmly, "And if you lose, I'd appreciate it if you stayed obediently in Konoha and became my wife."
"I won't lose."
With that, Ayame Shizuka yanked off the cloak wrapped around her body and threw it onto the ground.
Mirai Uchiha's gaze was instantly drawn to what lay beneath.
Whoa…
Now *that* was a sight to behold!
The reason why Ayame Shizuka managed to stand out among numerous beauties in the original story despite having minimal screen time was now completely understandable.
[Ayame Style: Roaring Gale Palm!]
Ayame Shizuka coated her hands in wind chakra and immediately lunged forward, unleashing a palm strike straight at Mirai Uchiha.
Mirai Uchiha dodged sideways, eyes filled with surprise.
Not because of how strong Ayame Shizuka's attack was, but because of the absolutely jaw-dropping bounce showcased by those twin treasures when she attacked!
Unbelievable!
Originally planning to end the fight in an instant, Mirai Uchiha instantly abandoned his initial thought and instead engaged Ayame Shizuka in close combat.
However, after a brief exchange, Ayame Shizuka activated the Shifting Body Technique and created distance between them.
"Hmph!"
[Ayame Style: Vacuum Dance!]
Jumping into midair, Ayame Shizuka began spinning rapidly while hurling multiple kunai toward Mirai Uchiha.
Here come the flashy moves!
Mirai Uchiha felt himself getting worked up.
Unfortunately for him, his visual perception was just too strong...
Under intentional restraint from Mirai Uchiha, the battle lasted over ten minutes.
After a long battle, Ayame Shizuka was breathing heavily.
Seeing that her opponent was already exhausted, Mirai Uchiha didn't want to keep fighting.
He'd already had his fill of watching her—it was time to end the battle.
Mirai Uchiha disappeared in an instant and reappeared with a kunai already at Ayame Shizuka's neck.
"Shizuka, you lost."
Ayame Shizuka looked at the kunai at her neck in disbelief, her fists clenching unconsciously.
She... had actually lost!
"I'll honor the bet."
"I'll stay in Konoha from now on, marry you, and start a family as per our agreement."
Ayame Shizuka took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice.
Mirai lowered the kunai and smiled. "That was just a joke earlier. You may leave now."
Ayame froze. "What did you say?"
Mirai explained, "Even if fate binds us, don't let your heart get trapped by it. The bet between our masters has been fulfilled. What comes next is your choice—I won't interfere."
His words left Ayame Shizuka stunned into silence.
She had assumed that, after losing, he would make good on the bet.
After all, she had full confidence in her looks and physique.
But instead, he said he wouldn't force her into anything because of the bet...
This sudden change took her completely by surprise.
Just then, the ground cracked open and a massive robot burst from beneath the earth, immediately taking control of Ayame.
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