—T-Takeshi!— the black-haired woman yelled with a look of betrayal, panic, and fury.
She approached the young man with heavy steps and landed a punch on his head.
—Stop talking nonsense! How dare you propose to another wo- Ahem!-I mean, how in the hell do you propose to a woman you just met!?
—Hehe, relax, Mom. At least let the young lady answer— the boy said while calming his strange mother, all while rubbing his head.
Yumi didn't know what to think about it. She decided to address the most important topic now, as the one called Takeshi seemed like someone she could deal with, apparently.
—Uh, excuse me... What happens to us now?
Takeshi and his outraged mother turned back to Yumi. He gave her a kind smile and knelt in front of her, extending his hand.
—Now, no one will use you again, and your daughter won't have to take your place when those bastards take your life— he spoke in a soft voice, but his words sent a chill down Yumi's spine.
—D-Do you know?— the Uzumaki whispered faintly. Takeshi nodded, his palm still outstretched toward her.
—I know about your ability. I know a little about what you've had to endure in Kusagakure. I know you want the best for your daughter, even if it means sacrificing your life in the process— the young man said, and Yumi noticed the change in his mother's expression after that last part, but Takeshi continued speaking.
—Miss Uzumaki, I do not belong to any village, nor any shinobi group. I didn't take you out of Kusagakure because I'm interested in your ability, nor do I ever plan to use it. Everything I did was because I wanted to.
Yumi looked closely at the hand offered to her with a complicated expression. She was no longer naive enough to believe the words of a stranger, but even if she refused to listen to the boy, there was nothing she could do.
The weak have no voice in this world. And if the confrontation with that terrifying man, during which the boy showed no fear, was a starting point, then Yumi did not doubt that the one called Takeshi must be someone strong.
So she took his hand anyway. If it turned out he was telling the truth, then she would accept this change in her destiny wholeheartedly.
But if it was a deception, then she needed to behave obediently and secure a better future for Karin.
Takeshi gently lifted her from the floor, stepping back to give her space. Yumi noticed he made no move to approach Karin, which relieved her a little.
—By the way, you haven't told me your name or your daughter's, Miss Uzumaki. And you also haven't answered my proposal— the boy commented with a mischievous smile, which made Yumi and the black-haired woman blush, though for different reasons.
—I am Uzumaki Yumi, and she— the woman began, lifting her daughter from the ground. —She is Uzumaki Karin. We will be in your care, Master Takeshi.
Yumi bowed and Karin awkwardly followed her, her childlike mind still unable to process everything that had happened since she woke up tied in her own bed that night.
—Uh, a-about your marriage proposal... I... I need to think about it— the redhead added at the end.
**********************************
The fire crackled audibly, sending a comforting warmth to Takeshi's body.
The young man with brown hair and brown eyes gazed at the dancing flames, his mind lost in reflection.
After the introductions with the Uzumaki mother and daughter, the group moved to another section of the immense rural area, stopping at the base of a rock formation that could almost pass for a small mountain range.
One of the advantages of this world was its uncivilized nature. There was a lot, a whole lot of unpopulated land everywhere, in every nation. Perhaps that's how Orochimaru was never caught.
Thinking about the snake, Takeshi seriously considered whether it was worth poking the hornet's nest and notifying Akatsuki of his location in a few years.
Not because he had anything personal against Orochimaru, yet, but he definitely wouldn't want him on his heels searching for Karin.
Takeshi was confident in his personal strength to defend himself against the Sannin, but protecting his mother and two non-combatants was an entirely different matter.
However, perhaps his intervention might not make Orochimaru aware of Karin's existence. But he might become interested in him.
—Ugh, I would have preferred going to a generic isekai with big-breasted elves, demon kings, and beast women— Takeshi muttered with a grimace.
He sighed. There was nothing he could do now after almost fifteen years in this world.
But he still held his resolve firm... He would live his life!
He would do what he wanted, go and explore this vast world, and maybe even get a Harem.
Obito? Akatsuki? Ninja Villages? Madara, Zetsu, Kaguya, the Otsutsuki? Screw all of them. There was no reason to get too involved in those problems.
He would only do it when he wanted to mess with the canon a little and see what happens, more out of curiosity than anything else. Just like he did with Karin and her mother.
Honestly, had he been born much earlier, he would have gone to look for Kabuto, but seeing Karin's age, he was probably more or less the same age as Takeshi. It was already too late.
Takeshi only did this for Karin and Yumi because he genuinely felt the woman's fate was too cruel. She wasn't even a shinobi.
Just a poor wretch who lost her land, wandered the world alone, and ended up being devoured in a crappy village by crappy Ninjas until her vitality was gone.
Whose heart wouldn't shrink? That's why, as soon as there was an opportunity, he shelled out a ridiculous amount of money and managed to arrange a meeting with Kakuzu.
The rest is history. He didn't consider himself a saint or a vigilante, nor would he do this shit for every tragic character in the original work.
He would only act when he wanted to, as he wanted to.
Besides, there was another very important reason that made him choose this route: information.
It is so damn ironic that a reincarnated person who watched the anime multiple times suffers from a lack of information. In the fanfics from his past life, the protagonists usually remembered many plot details by heart.
That was not the case for Takeshi.
For starters, there was the problem with the dates.
How many can truly remember each and every event and put them into a coherent timeline? Not to mention every damn country has its own calendar.
Getting the most updated information on the movements and events occurring in the shinobi world is not as simple as just walking around and casually asking.
They are not called "Hidden Villages" for nothing.
He could only be sure of things like Naruto having already been born, due to the gossip about the Fox's attack on Konoha, or about the disaster Obito causes in Kirigakure since Yagura's death has not been announced.
Karin was important for that reason. Now he could be more attentive to the plot's progress without having to get caught up in all that crap.
He just needed to keep Karin's age in mind. Nothing more, nothing less.
Without interfering in the imminent Uchiha massacre, without participating in the war that Terumi Mei is surely waging, or is going to wage, against Yagura, without getting involved in the invasion of Konoha by Otogakure and Sunagakure.
Takeshi became so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the figure who wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.
A little weight and two significant assets pressed against his back, a breath caressing his ear and thin lips whispering a question to him.
—Why don't you rest for a while? I doubt anyone will ambush us here.
Takeshi smiled, affectionately rubbing his cheek against the woman's.
—I know, Mom. I was just thinking about our next route— the young man replied, his gaze softened by the presence of the only person he can truly trust in this world.
—Hm, you can think about that tomorrow. You need to sleep well, or you won't grow anymore— she warned with a serious tone.
Takeshi chuckled, but didn't argue. His body was still fully developing, and he already had one life with a short stature. He knew that in this world, people weren't very tall on average, and he really wanted to surpass his 1.68 from his other life.
—You're right. I'll go to sleep now— he said as he stood up.
—Good!— she nodded in approval, walking behind him.
They both entered their shared tent and fell into a deep sleep, with Takeshi buried in the chest of his loving mother.
Previously, he had tried to convince her that it was time to sleep alone, but the woman threw so many tantrums that Takeshi gave up.