Chapter 31 - Naka and the Uchiha

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After the chaotic incident involving Uzumaki Kushina, Hatake Mi Blade found himself aimlessly lingering around the village once more.

Currently, he was perched at a small cold drink shop, a cup of milk tea resting on the table before him.

A colorful straw protruded from the drink, which he occasionally sipped, his gaze drifting lazily toward the bustling street outside.

As he sat there, lost in thought, he watched a group of students spilling out of the nearby school, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

Mi Blade seemed completely absorbed in his surroundings, a faraway look in his eyes, not even noticing when Naka Uchiha strolled past him on her way to practice.

Curiosity piqued, Naka took a seat on the bench beside Mi Blade and ordered a cold drink for herself. She glanced over to see what had captured his attention and turned to follow his gaze.

It landed on a girl from the Hyuga clan—a cute student with long hair cascading around her shoulders, her forehead partially obscured by bangs as she walked by, her head down, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

“So, you’re just peeping here?” Naka said, looking at him with a mix of disdain and disbelief. Her previous impressions of him weren’t great, and his current behavior only amplified her distaste.

“What? Spying? I’m simply appreciating beauty! Did you see how lovely she looks?” Mi Blade replied, a playful glint in his eyes.

“Hey, aren’t you pretty?” Naka shot back, raising an eyebrow at him.

Mi Blade turned his attention back to her with a smirk. “Your sister is very beautiful, but she can’t be my girlfriend.”

“Why not?” Naka pressed, intrigued.

“Because your brother is five or six years older than me, and I’m only six or seven years old. It’s way too early for me to be looking for a boyfriend,” he explained, his tone matter-of-fact.

“Besides, my feelings for Sister Yu are similar to your feelings for her; they’re just… sibling-like affection.”

“Really?” Naka replied, skepticism etched on her face.

“Really,” he affirmed, nodding earnestly. “If I were to find a boyfriend, he could be younger than me, but definitely not older. Ideally, he should be around my age.”

This mindset was part of why Mi Blade had come to the Ninja World without immediately giving Kaguya Ji maternity leave; he thought she was too old for that sort of thing.

Naka rolled her eyes. “Then don’t even think about it. The girl you just saw is called Hyuga Kaha. She’s a fourth-year student from the Hyuga branch. She should have graduated last year, but with the war over, the village didn’t need her to replenish the troops. That’s why she’s still attending Ninja School. She’s actually older than you—she’s nine this year.”

“That’s right, the female junior is holding a gold brick,” Mi Blade remarked disapprovingly, as if scolding himself.

“Didn’t you just say you don’t like anyone older than you, you hypocrite?”

“First of all, they belong to the Hyuga clan,” Naka shot back, arms crossed defiantly.

“Their family’s obsession with purity and eye protection is ridiculous. Do you think you have what it takes to join the Hyuga or marry into their family?”

Mi Blade, caught in a mix of admiration and self-deprecation, realized the daunting barrier that stood between him and the lovely Hyuga Kaha.

“Moreover, for a girl like her, the lives of servants in her master’s household have already been predetermined by their families. Do you truly think you can claim someone from the Hyuga clan?”

Mi Blade nodded thoughtfully. It was indeed difficult to navigate the intricacies of the Hyuga family. They were fiercely protective of their bloodlines, refusing to entertain the idea of marriages outside their clan.

Not only that, but they also forbade outsiders from joining their ranks.

Naruto’s marriage to Hinata was a unique exception—an outcome born from his heroics in saving the Ninja world and his rise to the position of Hokage, which provided a semblance of legitimacy.

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The Uchiha clan, despite their own strict rules, were comparatively more lenient. While they frowned upon marriages, they would occasionally accept sons-in-law, leading many to desire to marry into their prestigious family for the benefits it entailed!

Feeling a twinge of frustration, Mi Blade shook his head.

Naka observed him with a mix of exasperation and amusement, then chuckled, “Given the nature of the Hyuga clan, perhaps you should look at other ninja families.”

Turning to meet her gaze, Mi Blade smirked, “You might want to consider the Uchiha; after all, there are some who have already made it in.”

With a mischievous glint in her eye, Naka extended two fingers and said sternly, “Don’t play with my emotions, or you’ll find yourself in serious trouble!”

Mi Blade chuckled, unfazed by her warning. “Yo-yo-yo, let’s talk this through before you resort to threats. Right now, those kinds of warnings don’t hold much weight!”

“You!”

Naka shot him an irritated glare before spinning on her heel and storming off.

“Hey, don’t forget your cold drink!” he called after her, but she didn’t look back, throwing over her shoulder, “Just give it to him; he paid for it!”

Once she was out of sight, her cheeks flushed with irritation, and she ground her teeth in frustration, muttering, “How dare he treat me like that!”

Mi Blade chose not to pursue her. Instead, he settled comfortably back in his seat at the drink shop, leisurely sipping his milk tea while contemplating the scene.

Naka, with her frustration simmering, recognized the potential of the situation. Although it was within reach, it remained elusive.

She was still working on her grand plans. Even if she dreamt of uniting the heirs of various ninja clans, it was merely a fantasy.

Mi Blade wasn’t entirely certain about pursuing multiple girls at once; even if he did, he feared the emotional fallout that might ensue.

He lacked the confidence to maintain a harem that wouldn’t eventually disintegrate. Even someone as notorious as Kasanova, known for his cunning, would struggle in such a scenario.

In his past life, Mi Blade was an everyday person, far from being a charmer, and he had never studied the intricacies of romance. Even with a longer life ahead of him, he felt uncertain.

In his previous existence, Mi Blade had not been a heartthrob. He had engaged in a few relationships, but it was only after being unceremoniously dumped that he moved on to pursue the next one.

In the vibrant and chaotic world of ninjas, dating at the tender age of fourteen was no big deal. While back on Earth, parents might raise an eyebrow at such youthful romance, here, in the heart of the Ninja World, it was almost a rite of passage.

In fact, if someone felt particularly adventurous, they could settle down and start a family as early as twelve! It was a place where the art of throwing kunai took precedence over planning wedding ceremonies.

However, Mi Blade wasn’t merely lurking around to admire the graceful Hyuga girls or daydream about extravagant ninja love stories. He had a grander ambition: he sought to forge connections with the esteemed and serious-minded Hyuga clan.

Seated comfortably in a training ground that seemed to pulse with potential, Mi Blade took a leisurely sip of his milk tea, resembling a philosopher pondering life’s great mysteries. Yet, his mind was occupied with thoughts of the legendary Sunflower Acupuncture technique he had recently acquired.

In truth, he hadn’t dedicated a single moment to practicing it. Who needed training when you could simply envision the impressive image of yourself as a master acupuncturist, right?

The only catch? He needed the Hyuga clan to actually teach him how to utilize it. A minor inconvenience, surely.

He envisioned himself as Mi Blade, the acupuncture virtuoso, deftly subduing adversaries with a mere poke, becoming even more proficient than the Hyuga themselves.

Just as he was poised to reach unparalleled heights of greatness, the ominous figure of Danzo would inevitably emerge from the shadows, ready to disrupt his plans with all the grace of a bull in a china shop.

“Ah, yes, another prodigy,” Mi Blade could practically hear Danzo’s voice droning. “Better crush his dreams before they bloom.”

Danzo, the ultimate control freak of Konoha, had all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. The moment a ninja displayed even a flicker of potential, Danzo would swoop in like a vulture.

“Join my secretive, morally questionable organization, or face dire consequences!” He was the kind of figure that made overbearing parents seem like they were on an extended vacation.

In the grand scheme of things, Sarutobi Hiruzen might have held the title of Hokage, but it was clear to Mi Blade that Danzo was the true puppeteer, orchestrating the events of the village from behind the curtain.

He could already imagine the tense conversation should his acupuncture skills ever become too impressive.

Danzo would declare, “You possess too much power for this village! You shall bring about its ruin!” Mi Blade, bewildered, would respond,

“Dude, I just wanted to learn how to poke people’s pressure points. Calm down!” But Danzo would be relentless, “NO CALM! I WILL ERADICATE YOU!”

This was the mantra of Danzo’s existence: if something threatened his supremacy, he would obliterate it. He viewed potential the same way most people regard pesky mosquitoes—annoying nuisances that needed to be swatted away.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen would likely be lurking somewhere in the shadows, sipping tea from his ornate cup while peering into a crystal ball.

With a knowing gaze, he’d deliver a cryptic remark, “Ah, yes… such is the burden of leadership… You’ll regret this, Danzo.” Then he would return to his seemingly blissful state of inaction.

In essence, Mi Blade’s future loomed large with the prospect of mastering acupuncture while evading Danzo’s watchful eyes. What could possibly go awry in such a scenario?

Take Mi Blade’s father, for instance. Sakumo Hatake, known far and wide as "The White Fang," was a legendary ninja, a hero, and a combat master. Yet, what had that illustrious title earned him? A one-way ticket to Tragedy Town, all thanks to the treacherous world of ninja politics.

“Oh, you’ve saved the village again? How splendid… but we’re going to ruin your life now.” Classic ninja behavior.

Ninja missions were supposed to be top-secret operations—shrouded in mystery, like covert assassinations and other clandestine affairs that should remain out of the village gossip mill. Yet, somehow, everyone seemed to know about Sakumo’s failed mission.

It was akin to having your worst day broadcasted on social media for all to see. And if you thought Sarutobi Hiruzen was oblivious? Think again.

Mi Blade shook his head, aware that his path might involve mastering the art of acupuncture while deftly dodging not just enemy kunai but also the relentless scheming of Danzo. At least he still had his beloved milk tea.

Danzo was the quintessential villain in the shadows of Konoha, orchestrating events like he was vying for a lead role in a dramatic soap opera.

One of Danzo’s most notorious episodes involved Shisui Uchiha. Shisui boasted the most powerful Sharingan—a literal walking cheat code with mind-control abilities—and all he desired was peace in the world.

How noble, right? But did Danzo appreciate Shisui’s aspirations for harmony? Of course not. To Danzo, anyone not under his thumb was a threat, and he would eliminate them faster than a ninja could vanish in a puff of smoke.

Each day, Shisui likely awoke with the hope that perhaps today would be different; maybe Danzo would finally mellow out. Spoiler alert: Danzo was not made for calm. He was fundamentally allergic to it.

Even Fugaku Uchiha, who could have showcased his dazzling Sharingan like a ninja rock star, had to keep his powers hidden.

Why?

Because the instant Danzo caught wind of it, Fugaku would find himself firmly planted at the top of Danzo’s “people to ruin” list.

It was like having the coolest toy ever, but never being able to enjoy it because some shady kid in the neighborhood was just waiting for the opportunity to snatch it away.

This led Mi Blade to a moment of profound realization: Be brilliant, but not excessively so. You could be clever, but the moment you began to outshine others, Danzo would fixate on you with that infamous gaze—the one that silently communicated,

“You’re next.”

The strategy, then?

Stay below the radar. Allow the high-ranking officials, like Danzo and Hiruzen, to believe they were in control while Mi Blade honed his acupuncture skills in the background, quietly plotting his ascendance to power.

Because in the treacherous world of ninjas, sometimes the smartest move was to excel, but not to the extent that Danzo began haunting your dreams.

In a separate corner of the training ground, Naika found herself flat on her back yet again, scrambling to her feet with all the grace of a disgruntled cat. Dusting off her clothes, she glared at Mi Blade with fierce determination.

“When I awaken my Sharingan, you’re going to regret this! I’ll crush you so hard that you’ll long for the days of sipping milk tea and spying on girls!”