"It's been nearly eight years since graduation, and you're the only one who still calls me that. Are you nostalgic for the good times at the Ninja Academy?" Hyuga Mirai slowly walked up to Nohara Rin, asking. 18 followed closely behind him, maintaining a half-step distance while making sure to block Ayaka Uzumaki from following too closely, preventing her from getting in the way.
"Mirai-kun, why are you here?" The surprise Nohara Rin felt when she first saw him had faded, and after composing herself, she began to analyze her current situation.
When Mirai entered, he didn't seem to be in a state of captivity, and the look in that red-haired woman's eyes when she looked at him was all too clear.
"Did you bring me here, Mirai-kun?"
"You're not completely foolish, so we can continue this conversation. Rin, do you know why I had you brought here?"
Rin's face turned pale as she placed her hand over her abdomen. "Is it because of the Three-Tails inside me?"
"That's part of it. The other reason is that you've been targeted," Mirai responded, taking a nano display screen from 18 and pulling up a recording of the scene from when Rin fell unconscious. It showed what happened when Ayaka Uzumaki returned to the battlefield and recorded everything that transpired.
Rin was confused as she took the screen from Mirai and saw a scene where Kakashi was battling with Mist ninjas. When Kakashi charged the enemy with his jutsu, 'she' suddenly appeared, using her body to take the full brunt of Kakashi's Chidori. One of his hands pierced her chest. Later, Kakashi, exhausted and emotionally charged, fainted after using too much chakra with his Mangekyō Sharingan. Then, a figure wearing a Uzumaki mask appeared from the forest, killing all the Mist ninjas present. But before this person showed up, 'her' body was destroyed by an explosive tag, sending Kakashi flying far away.
"What's going on? Mirai-sama, who is the person in the video?" Rin asked, her mind full of confusion and doubt. Why did she see herself being killed by Kakashi? And who was that person wearing the Uzumaki mask? They seemed to be using the First Hokage's Wood Style.
Mirai turned serious as he said, "I'll explain this in detail, but you'll need to make a choice after hearing it." He paused and then continued, "Simply put, Obito has been targeted by someone. To make Obito activate his Mangekyō Sharingan, they need you to die in front of him. You've probably realized by now why Mist Village has been after you, and the cursed seal on your chest. Mist Village doesn't have such advanced control techniques."
"Is it because of Obito? Have I become his weakness?" Rin murmured quietly.
Tak! Tak!
Mirai gave Rin two sharp taps on the head, snapping her out of her self-blame. Such overbearing kindness, taking all the blame upon oneself, was a kind of illness. If left untreated, it would eventually cause major problems.
"Back to the point. 'Nohara Rin' is dead. Even if you're still alive, I won't allow you to be seen. Although the future has changed a lot, without Obito as the instigator, more unpredictable events will occur." Mirai paused and looked directly at Rin. "You have two choices now. First, work under me for ten years. After that, I will grant you your freedom. Second, I'll extract the Three-Tails and send your corpse back to Konoha's cemetery."
When Rin heard that she would die, her body trembled. If it were earlier, Rin might not have feared death, but after hearing about the plot to target Obito, she was desperate to understand what was really going on, and wanted to know the fate of Obito and Kakashi.
"Your unique physique should make you a perfect Jinchūriki," Mirai continued. "Although I defected from Konoha, everything I've done has been for the peace of the ninja world. Rin, you shouldn't have lived this long, but because of the Three-Tails, I'm giving you a chance. For the next ten years, I won't ask you to do anything except medical work. If, after ten years, you still want to leave, I'll keep my promise."
"Think it over," Mirai said, giving Rin one last tap on the head before turning to leave the room.
"Mirai-sama," Ayaka Uzumaki called out after they left the room where Rin was being held.
"I could seal the Three-Tails inside me," she suggested.
"No need. The Three-Tails isn't suited for you, Ayaka. I have other plans for you," Mirai replied without hesitation. Ayaka's chakra was already high, and with the Adamantine Chains awakened, combined with the T1 armor, she would be enough to hold a position for Mirai. Sealing the Three-Tails inside her would only grant her a small boost in chakra, the effect being minimal—just a slight improvement.
"If Rin agrees to work for me, then I'll free Ayaka from the medical system. Rin's medical talent isn't weak, and with the help of the Three-Tails' chakra, she could take over Ayaka's medical role."
Mirai then turned to the other person beside him. "18, how's the development of the Hyakusa Trade Association going?"
18 pulled up some data and reported to Mirai.
"The Hyakusa Trade Association has now opened nineteen branches across seven countries. Ever since Konoha first used their medicine on the battlefield with great success, word spread quickly. This led to an influx of buyers traveling to the Land of Fire. After conducting investigations, Nineteen selected six other countries and established fourteen additional branches."
Hyuga Mirai nodded in satisfaction. "Sounds promising."
18 continued, "However, we are facing shortages. The production of raw materials is slow."
"This issue, huh…" Mirai pondered for a moment before deciding to summon Senju Hashirama through Edo Tensei. However, White Zetsu was a product of the God Tree, and without a sample, he'd have to resort to other sacrificial sources.
"18, gather some bandits and outlaws—alive. I'll use them to resolve the material shortage."
"Understood. Additionally, the second satellite is now complete and is scheduled for launch in two months."
"Good work, 18."
"Kado is facing significant resistance from nobles and local factions. He's requesting greater authority; otherwise, he claims it will be difficult to expand the association's influence. However, he might be exaggerating. His personal indulgence time has increased by 13% compared to last month."
"Teach him a lesson. Make it clear there won't be a next time."
After carefully reviewing 18's report, Mirai gained a clearer understanding of their progress.
When it came to the expansion of the trade association, relying solely on biomechanical assistants wasn't the best approach. Recruiting talented individuals from the shinobi world would ensure that connections between the various trade associations remained inconspicuous.
At the same time, he was considering involvement in the underground black-market exchange network—a massive and highly influential dark organization. There were quite a few rogue ninja in the world. While most weren't Kage-level, a well-organized mercenary group composed of Jonin would still be formidable.
However, rogue ninja were unpredictable. He needed to find those with a reliable reputation to form a mercenary team.
"Sir, regarding the matter you previously instructed—I've found traces of Sasori of the Red Sand."
Mirai was surprised. "That quickly? Not bad. 18, send me his information. I'll personally go and speak with him."
"Understood, sir."
Shortly after, Mirai received the intelligence file on Sasori. It contained not only a detailed record of his movements but also covertly taken photographs.
At this point in time, Sasori had yet to join the Akatsuki. Perhaps Mirai could get to him first and convince him to join his side.
The Akatsuki only valued Sasori for his strength. But Mirai and Orochimaru? They were the ones who truly shared Sasori's passion for research.
Just as he was considering his next move, Mirai suddenly felt the pull of a Summoning Jutsu.
He had only signed a contract with Ryūchi Cave, and this chakra signature undoubtedly belonged to Kohaku. But that little guy should still be digesting its meal—why would it summon him now?
Boom!
A puff of smoke erupted, and Mirai vanished from his location. Before leaving, he had already sent messages to 18 and Ayaka Uzumaki, so responding to Kohaku's Reverse Summoning wouldn't cause any disruptions.
Ryūchi Cave – A Dark, Damp Cavern with a Lake Below
"Mirai-sama."
Kohaku felt Mirai's presence and immediately looked up at him, who was now standing on its head.
"Kohaku, you summoned me. What's the matter?" Mirai glanced around and remarked in surprise, "Is this where you live? I didn't expect it to be this spacious."
"This is a place I seized, Mirai-sama. It originally belonged to a large red snake. While I was out hunting, we had a conflict. So, I drove that wretched snake out and took over."
In Ryūchi Cave, strength determined everything. It wasn't uncommon for serpents to devour their own kind. However, such acts were usually limited to non-intelligent snakes—far beneath Kohaku's level.
"Mirai-sama, the reason I summoned you is because the White Snake Sage wishes to meet with you."
"The White Snake Sage?" Mirai frowned slightly. Though he was contracted with Ryūchi Cave, he had always kept his distance from the intelligent elder serpents that resided there.
"Kohaku, do you know why the White Snake Sage wants to see me?"
Kohaku hesitated, looking a little guilty. After a brief pause, it confessed, "It… might have something to do with me. Mirai-sama, when I went to meet the White Snake Sage, I saw that red snake I drove out—it actually went and tattled! What a disgrace to snakes everywhere!"
"All this… just over a place to live?"
Mirai's expression twitched slightly. He highly doubted the White Snake Sage would summon him just for something so trivial.
Well, he'd find out soon enough.
"Take me to see the White Snake Sage, Kohaku."
(End of Chapter)
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