"Wahahahaha…"
"Shizuka, just as I expected—you've lost to me again."
"Face it! I'm the only man worthy of being yours!"
A greasy, nasally voice echoed.
Next to a hulking mech, a sleazy middle-aged man with glasses manipulated the giant machine using chakra threads.
Shizuka Nadeshiko looked at him with pure disgust etched across her face.
"You again…"
This guy had been relentlessly pestering her—she'd already defeated him ninety-nine times.
She never expected he'd follow her all the way to Konoha.
"Shizuka, this time I've won! And according to our customs, that means you're mine!"
The creep maneuvered the mech, pulling Shizuka to his side with a mechanical arm.
She struggled with all her might, but it was no use.
Her battle with Mirai just moments ago had left her completely exhausted.
"Stop dreaming! Even if you've won using such lowly tactics, there's no way I'll become your woman."
The man licked his lips, his tongue sliding across the corner of his mouth.
"Whether you're willing or not doesn't matter. All I want is your body."
"You...!" Shizuka was so furious she could barely speak. She hadn't thought he could be this vile.
Mirai stepped forward, brows furrowed. "Tch. Of all people, it had to be scum like you…"
The man sneered, "Trying to play hero? I'll kill you on the spot!"
Shizuka called out urgently, "You're no match for him! You need to get out of here!"
Based on their earlier fight, she could tell Mirai was only slightly stronger than her. If he had won, it was likely just because she'd run out of stamina.
With his level of strength, there was no way he could beat this creep.
But Mirai only smiled calmly. "Shizuka, let me take care of this problem for good."
...
The moment the words left his mouth, the iron grip around Shizuka suddenly loosened.
She dropped from the air—straight into Uchiha Mirai's arms.
The next instant, the sound of groaning metal filled the air.
The towering steel mech—easily over ten meters tall—was being crushed and compressed into a dense metal ball.
"Die," Mirai murmured.
With a flick of his fingers, the metal sphere rocketed toward the creep.
Boom!
A thunderous crash exploded through the area. The man was flattened, reduced to a splatter of flesh and blood.
...
"No one will bother you again, Shizuka."
Mirai stood calmly, as if he hadn't just committed a brutal execution. Shizuka stood frozen, stunned speechless.
Everything had happened so fast—too absurd to be real.
That disgusting man… was just gone?
"H-How… how do you have that kind of power?" she stammered. "But just now when you were fighting me…"
Seeing the confusion on her face, Mirai gave a light smile.
"You saw it for yourself—I was holding back."
Shizuka blinked. "Why?"
"Because I knew you'd put your all into this match for the sake of your bet. I didn't want you to lose everything outright."
"A narrow defeat feels better than a total loss… right?"
His explanation stirred something in her chest.
How… kind.
From the moment they started fighting up until now, this man had made choices she never saw coming.
...
"Well," Mirai said with a shrug, "even though there was a bit of an interruption, everything's settled now."
He gently set her down. "You're free to pursue your own life from here on out."
Shizuka stared at him, her heart racing faster and faster.
She couldn't help but ask, "What's your name?"
"Mirai," he replied simply. "Uchiha Mirai."
"Uchiha… Mirai?"
Her eyes widened. "Wait, that's… the name of the Emperor!"
Mirai nodded and released his transformation jutsu.
"That's right. It's me."
"You… I… huh?!"
Shizuka was completely stunned.
She never imagined that the man she'd been sparring with—was none other than the Emperor of the Shinobi World himself!
T-This…
How could this possibly be real?!
After a moment of hesitation, Shizuka couldn't help but ask,
"Lord Emperor… are you really Jiraiya's student?"
Mirai smiled. "Otherwise, why else would someone like me show up just to fight you?"
Shizuka thought about it. It… actually made perfect sense.
She drifted into a daze, and Mirai gently patted her on the shoulder.
"Shizuka, don't let anyone or anything hold you back. From now on… live by your own choices."
His words made her eyes well up.
No one had ever said something like that to her.
It was as if from the moment she was born, her path had already been decided.
The moment she strayed from the path set by her teacher or her village, punishment came swiftly and without mercy.
Even the man she once loved had died because of that system.
Eventually, she'd accepted it—resigned herself to that fate. She kept training, kept getting stronger.
But now, the Emperor himself had told her… she could choose a different path.
...
Looking up at Uchiha Mirai's face, Shizuka spoke firmly,
"Lord Emperor, I want to honor the vow I made."
"I don't want to return to Nadeshiko Village. Please—let me become your woman. This isn't a burden, it's my own choice!"
Even though they hadn't known each other long, Mirai's actions had already left a deep impression on her.
Rather than going back and dealing with more nonsense challenges from random men, she'd rather follow him.
Mirai looked into her eyes, calm and composed. As if he'd already expected this.
"Alright," he said. "Then I'll respect your choice."
"From today on, stay in Konoha. Live with me."
"Yes!"
...
After following Uchiha Mirai to the estate, Shizuka felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
In just a short while… she'd become the Emperor's woman.
It was like a dream.
If other women found out, they'd go mad with envy, wouldn't they?
Sensei…
I don't hate you anymore.
If not for you, someone like me would never have had the chance to meet the Emperor.
Watching Uchiha Mirai's back, Shizuka silently made a vow in her heart—
She would give everything she had to make Lord Emperor happy!
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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