Northern Fire Country.
The City of Fire.
A monsoon wind blew from the south, bringing torrential rain that flooded the forests and valleys, leading to severe flooding across the northern region.
In the aftermath, under skies slowly clearing, two figures in green combat uniforms navigated the drenched wilderness with caution.
The woman leading the pair had sharp features—high nose, thin lips, elegantly arched brows, and flowing powdered-black hair. Her dark eyes shimmered with worry as she scanned the surroundings.
This was Uchiha Mikoto, the wife of the head of one of Konoha's most powerful clans. But Mikoto was far more than just a housewife. At home, she managed everything with quiet precision. On the battlefield, she was a highly capable jōnin of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Though not as renowned as Tsunade of the Sannin, Mikoto was idolized by many young kunoichi in the Uchiha clan.
"Mikoto, there's a ninja from the village here. He's still alive."
The call drew Mikoto's gaze. She turned to the source of the voice—a dark-haired woman in a Konoha green vest, her black eyes alert despite her disheveled state.
This was Nara Yoshino, wife of Nara Shikaku, current head of the Nara Clan and another high-standing kunoichi.
Though her status was noble, Yoshino was covered in mud and far from the dignified image of a clan matriarch.
"Yoshino, be careful."
"It's okay. He's just a boy—and unconscious," Yoshino replied, kneeling down beside the motionless figure.
"Better to stay cautious."
Mikoto stepped over slowly, standing beside her companion to observe the boy.
He looked like he didn't belong in this world—porcelain skin, delicate features, and a perfectly handsome face. His beauty was unblemished even in unconsciousness.
Mikoto stared intently at the boy's peaceful expression. There was something eerily familiar about him, even though she was certain she had never seen him before. Her memory had always been sharp.
"Wow, what a pretty boy. His skin's even better than yours," Yoshino teased, poking the boy's cheek gently and leaving a smudge from her fingertip.
"Yoshino... I've never seen this person before," Mikoto said, narrowing her eyes.
"Neither have I," Yoshino shrugged casually. "Shame we didn't meet him before getting married. Hahaha."
"Be serious. We need to stay alert."
Mikoto gripped her kunai tightly and activated her three-tomoe Sharingan, locking her gaze on the boy.
"We're the only two left from the escort team. We can't afford to take unnecessary risks. Our families are waiting for us to come home."
She missed her husband. She missed her children. She longed for the warmth of home.
And to return safely, every possible threat had to be eliminated.
Yoshino waved off the concern.
"If I have to go home just to hear that grumpy husband complain about how boring I am... I'd rather die in the rain."
"Don't joke about that!" Mikoto snapped. "You're alive because of Rihui's sacrifice!"
Yoshino's expression darkened, and she nodded slightly.
"You're right. I'll listen to you."
She had no right to throw away the life that was spared for her.
Though the boy wore a Konoha forehead protector tied around his arm, there were no guarantees. A well-placed spy could kill a whole squad.
Seeing Yoshino back down, Mikoto's eyes softened. She looked down at the boy again, her voice lowering to a murmur:
"I'm sorry. If it were peacetime, I would have helped you... but right now, in this situation, we can't take chances. We have to leave you here."
The wind blew sharply, tossing Mikoto's black hair as the sky once again gathered thick clouds.
A cruel, wet July.
Mikoto turned to walk away, and Yoshino followed close behind.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
Thunder cracked overhead, and raindrops the size of beans pelted the earth.
July's greenery was thick, and the rain hit leaves and branches with sharp "patter patter" sounds.
After just a few steps, Mikoto suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" Yoshino asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing. I'll go drag him somewhere out of the rain."
Mikoto's voice carried a hint of irritation as she briskly walked back toward the boy.
"Pfft," Yoshino chuckled. "I thought you had a cold heart."
"Don't read into it," Mikoto replied. "If he really is from Konoha, I'd hate to see him die in a ditch."
"You're such a tsundere," Yoshino smirked.
"I'm not."
"Oh? You know what 'tsundere' means? I didn't think our gentle, elegant Lady Mikoto kept up with slang."
"Enough."
The only shelter nearby was a cave they had used earlier to avoid the floods. It seemed fate had brought them right back to it—only this time, they weren't alone.
The dampness clung to his mouth and nose. Naruto Uzumaki opened his eyes with a grimace. His head throbbed violently, splitting pain racing through his skull.
After a moment, he could finally see.
Everything was dark.
"Huh... am I still in the passage? Did I not escape?"
He was weak. Hungry. Exhausted.
Naruto tried to access his storage space—but nothing happened.
Worse: he couldn't move. Not even a twitch of chakra.
He couldn't even speak properly.
His pupils shrank with alarm.
The perfected Eight Gates technique didn't kill him, true—but the aftereffects were serious. He needed time to recover.
If he couldn't circulate chakra, he couldn't open the storage space.
Which meant—
He was completely helpless.
"Lucky I didn't escape the passage. Otherwise, even a three-year-old could've finished me off right now."
"A normal person can survive days without food or water."
"I'm an Uzumaki. I can hold on for ten days—maybe two weeks."
"As long as I survive long enough for my meridians to repair and refine chakra again, I can open the space. I can release Izumi."
But just then, a shadow appeared in his vision.
Despite the mud and mess, Naruto saw a stunningly beautiful face.
"Oh! You're awake!" the woman said cheerfully.
Naruto's heart raced in panic.
At a moment of total weakness, encountering anyone—especially strangers—was terrifying.
Even a child could kill him right now, let alone an adult.
Worse—there seemed to be more than one person.
Tap, tap, tap.
Footsteps approached.
"Mikoto! He's awake!" the woman called.
"I see him," came a second, calm voice.
Another beautiful face appeared before Naruto.
He froze.
This face—he'd seen it many times.
It looked just like a female Sasuke.
Wait... she was a female Sasuke.
Or rather—Uchiha Mikoto.
"No way. Did I die?"
"Am I seeing ghosts?"
But that made no sense. The Eight Gates technique was perfected. It wasn't supposed to be fatal.
"Stupid selector..."
Mikoto frowned, her hand on her kunai pouch. Her body radiated alertness.
"Dead man? Who are you calling dead?" she asked coldly.
Naruto snapped back to attention.
Her expression was displeased. He swallowed hard. Now was not the time to act tough.
Best to win favor.
"Auntie, I'm Sasuke's best friend," he said with a hopeful grin.
"Who are you calling auntie?!"
A furious voice erupted.
Yoshino scowled, grinding her teeth.
"I'm only 22 and you call me auntie?!"
Naruto blinked.
"No, no! I meant you, my beautiful sister," he corrected, emphasizing the word beautiful.
Yoshino nodded, appeased—until she realized something.
She turned to see Mikoto's face darkening.
"Aunt Mikoto, I'm Sasuke's best friend," Naruto repeated sincerely.
"Stop."
Her voice was ice.
"Don't mention Sasuke. I don't know him. Don't try to use him to get close to me."
She drew her kunai.
Yoshino burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
"Haha! That's the first time someone thought I was younger than Mikoto!"
"I am four years younger than you," Yoshino added smugly.
Mikoto didn't respond, but her Sharingan flared red.
Naruto was stunned.
Wait—Yoshino was 22, and Mikoto was four years older—so she was only 26?
But Mikoto had died when Sasuke was eight. Back then, she had seemed to be about 35.
Which would make her in her forties now, right?
But the woman in front of him looked younger than Hazuki, who was just over 30.
This wasn't a rejuvenation technique...
This was a younger Uchiha Mikoto.
Had he time-traveled again?
"Selector... come out and explain."
"I finally got powerful, rich, and surrounded by beautiful women—and now I'm in the past again?!"
"At least tell me who I've become!"
But there was no response.
Naruto froze.
Mikoto spoke again.
"Who are you? I've never seen you in the village."
I wish I knew, Naruto thought.
He hesitated. The silence dragged on.
Mikoto's eyes turned deadly cold. One wrong move, and she would strike.
Yoshino shifted forward, positioning to flank.
Naruto broke into a sweat.
"Selector... please be here. I need active choices."
[Manual Selection Triggered!]
[You've triggered hostility from Uchiha Mikoto and Nara Yoshino. You are defenseless and at their mercy. Choose your action:]
Option 1 – Stay honest: Admit you're a time traveler so they don't see you as a threat. Reward: Rinnegan.
Option 2 – Be clever: Make up a convincing lie to deceive them. Reward: Peak Condition Experience Card.
Option 3 – Act shamelessly: Bind them up, torment them for a month, then let them go. Reward: Rinnegan.
Option 4 – Go full villain: Kill them. Reward: 100% Control over all Tailed Beasts.
...
Was Option 3 or 4 even possible right now?
BOOM!
Lightning flashed again, illuminating Mikoto's chilling expression.
"Well?" she asked coldly.
"If you can't explain... then die."
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