Ding! "Detected that the host has encountered a plot character. System task issuing."
"Mission started: Defeat the idealistic 'hero girl' Uzumaki Mito, let her understand the dangers of the world and the darkness of human hearts. Reward: Points \*10, Random Orb \*1. If host is defeated, mission fails."
Before him stood a delicate and charming young girl with a fair, round face, sparkling big eyes, cherry-like lips, and playful, fiery red hair tied into two buns. She bared little tiger teeth like a cub, her eyes full of displeasure, her stance like that of a small but fierce kitten.
Just as Mito prepared to hurl a sharp line, she swallowed the last bite of flatbread in her mouth but choked. She started pounding her chest in a panic, trying to dislodge it. Uchiha Gin sighed, uncapped his canteen and passed it over. She snatched it and gulped, finally catching her breath.
She glanced at him as if to thank him, then noticed his teasing grin and jumped back several meters, eyes full of suspicion.
"Is that how you treat your savior?" Uchiha Gin teased.
"Thanks… but surrender quietly, evil kidnapper!" Mito declared, frowning as she put down her snack, did a few stretches, and took up a cute little fighting stance. "Please show me your moves!"
Uchiha Gin kicked aside the unconscious Senju Itama, who rolled away making a strange sound.
"Come at me," Gin said, crooking his finger. "I won't even use my blade."
Mito's brows twitched as flames of anger rose behind her. She charged at him like a cannonball, and Gin barely crossed his arms in time to block. The impact made his arms go numb and he flipped backwards to land on his feet.
He shook out his trembling hands. "As expected of the future Kyuubi jinchūriki. Even at this age she's this strong…"
Mito looked at her own little fist in shock before determination replaced her surprise. With a soft glow of chakra on her hands, she rushed at him again. Gin cursed inwardly. "This is Tsunade's monstrous strength, isn't it?"
He activated his newly awakened Sharingan. The single tomoe gave him just enough insight to barely dodge her strikes. He refused to draw his blade—he wasn't heartless enough to cut down a child who clearly wasn't trying to kill him.
He devised a plan. While baiting her with taunts and dodging, he subtly worked a transparent wire onto the hilt of his sword. Then he lured her into circling him, and when she overextended herself he yanked the wire. A net of wire snapped up and bound her.
Mito struggled, but the more she fought the tighter the wires bit into her fair skin. Red welts formed, and her face flushed crimson in embarrassment. She looked at him tearfully.
"Let me go, you villain!"
"Admit defeat first."
"Do you swear you'll release me?" she whimpered.
"On the honor of Uchiha ancestors," Gin promised.
("Achoo!" far away, a certain spiky-haired boy sneezed suddenly. "Madara, are you alright?" asked his bowl-cut companion.)
Mito finally whispered, "I admit defeat…"
Ding! "Host has defeated Uzumaki Mito. Mission complete. Points +10. Obtained Blue Orb \*1."
Gin was nearly moved to tears. After all this time, he'd finally cleared a mission. In his mindscape he opened the reward: the Steel Heart Chest popped open and dropped two colorful orbs.
The first was a gold brick. \[Gold Brick \*1] Usable as currency.
Gin whistled. "It even drops cash?"
The second orb glowed: \[Uzumaki Clan Physique \*1] Grants minor Uzumaki bloodline, improves attributes.
He quickly used it. Warm energy flooded his body; his chakra now flowed like a swift river.
He opened his attribute panel:
Host: Uchiha Gin
Ninjutsu: 7
Taijutsu: 8
Intelligence: 9
Spirit: 6
Charisma: 1
Dōjutsu: 5
Skills: Basic Taijutsu, Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fireball), Uchiha Sword Arts (Beginner), Intermediate Shurikenjutsu.
Evaluation: A slightly clever, single-tomoe, punchable-type Uchiha chūnin.
He clicked his tongue. "Why is my Charisma still 1?"
Then he noticed a strange arcade machine labeled "Mall Machine: Accumulate points to unlock big prizes." He fiddled with it but left it alone for now.
"Why did all this appear now?" he asked.
"Because host completed a prerequisite mission. System load +10%."
His confidence in surviving long enough to see the founding of Konoha—and maybe even Boruto's era—soared.
Meanwhile, outside, only a moment had passed. Mito struggled. "You said you'd let me go!"
Gin grinned ear-to-ear. "Alright, alright, I'll untie you."
He began carefully searching her body for the end of the wire, totally focused on the task. Mito shivered at his hands brushing her. "Why does he… feel familiar?"
His hand brushed a charm on her chest. "Interesting talisman."
Mito blushed but mumbled, "It hides chakra. My father gave it to me so I could sneak away."
Gin whistled appreciatively and finally found the end of the wire near her waist.
But before he could tug it free, a voice roared from above: "Beast! What are you trying to do?!"
A figure wreathed in red light dropped from the sky.
(To be continued)