Chapter 13

A jinchūriki growing close to someone outside her usual circle? An Uchiha matriarch forming bonds elsewhere? Interesting.

When Danzo finally spoke to Souta, it was short and to the point.

"You seem close to both Kushina Uzumaki and Mikoto Uchiha."

Souta only smiled. "They're good company."

Danzo studied him for a moment, then gave a slight nod. He didn't see Souta as a threat. If anything, he saw potential.

 ...

Souta walked through the dimly lit streets of Konoha, irritation clear on his face.

"Useless system," he muttered, kicking a loose pebble. "Other people get dojutsu, godlike strength, immortality… and what do I get? A tea shop and a headache."

He exhaled sharply. "Not even a basic jutsu. Not even a kunai. What the hell am I supposed to do if some shinobi decides they don't like me?"

DING!

A screen materialized before his eyes, glowing faintly in the night.

----

[Hidden System Quest: The Bonds That Bind]

Objective: Within two years, create a bond so strong with Mikoto Uchiha, Kushina Uzumaki, and the mother of Hinata Hyūga that they would willingly leave their lives behind for you.

Whether it means abandoning their husbands, betraying their clans, or choosing you above all else— they must be willing to follow you without hesitation

Reward: 3 Unique Abilities 

Failure Penalty: No abilities. Ever.

----

Souta stopped in his tracks. His eyes ran over the text again, slowly absorbing the meaning.

He let out a low whistle. "Damn… you're not playing around."

This wasn't some shallow romance quest. It wasn't about making them fall for him in a fleeting way. The system wanted something deeper. Something irreversible.

Mikoto. Trapped in a cold, duty-bound marriage with Fugaku. She already found warmth in him, but was it enough to make her consider leaving? Not yet.

Kushina. She loved Minato, but… love wasn't always enough. He was always gone, always busy, always looking at the bigger picture. Would she really stay loyal to someone who treated her like an afterthought?

And finally—Hinata's mother. A complete unknown. The Hyūga were bound by tradition, by strict rules. If he could make her willing to throw all of that away… then he'd truly done something impossible.

Souta exhaled, a slow smirk forming.

"Two years, huh?" He cracked his neck, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Alright, system. Challenge accepted."

DING!

[Quest Accepted: The Bonds That Bind]

Souta narrowed his eyes at the floating text before muttering under his breath, "Just don't give me some shitty abilities after all this. Otherwise, forget saving others—I won't even be able to save myself."

The system didn't respond. It never did when he tried to bargain with it.

With a final sigh, he continued walking toward his house, thoughts swirling. This mission was ridiculous. Nearly impossible. But that only made it more interesting.

First things first—Mikoto. She already enjoyed his tea. That was his in. But casual small talk wasn't enough anymore. He needed more. More trust, more connection. Something deeper.

Then, Kushina. She was a tough nut to crack. Fiery, loyal, and devoted to Minato. If she was going to start seeing him in a different light, he had to get her to confide in him.

And finally, Hinata's mother. He didn't even know her name yet. That was a problem.

As he stepped outside, he muttered to himself, "One step at a time."

Now, where to begin?

He opened the door to his room, lost in thought. As he stepped inside, he absentmindedly took off his shoes and shut the door behind him.

Just as he was about to head to bed, a sharp sensation pricked his neck.

He froze. Cold metal pressed against his skin.

His mind barely had time to register the danger before—clatter.

The weapon slipped from the person's grasp.

Then, without warning, the figure collapsed against his back, their body limp and unmoving.

Souta's heart pounded as he spun around, eyes locking onto the figure sprawled across the floor.

Pakura??.

Her body was a mess—burns, gashes, blood soaking through her torn clothes. She was barely breathing.

His mind raced. How the hell did she get here? His house wasn't exactly common knowledge. For a moment, he just stared at her.

Well, at least she was alive. That was something.

Letting out a small breath, he crouched down, checking her pulse. Weak but steady. Her body was burning up, and not in the way her Scorch Release usually worked.

"Tch." He clicked his tongue. "You're a damn mess."

His plans for the night were officially ruined.

Shaking his head, he lifted her up, careful not to jostle her wounds too much. He'd deal with the questions later. For now, he had to make sure she didn't die on his floor.

As he carried her to his bed, one thought lingered in the back of his mind—

Laying her down gently, Souta wasted no time. He moved quickly, heading to the small cabinet where he kept his medical supplies. —he wasn't a doctor, but he knew enough to handle basic wounds. Living alone, and dealing with all kinds of people had taught him that it was always good to be prepared.

And right now, that preparedness was paying off.

He grabbed a damp cloth and pressed it to her forehead. Her fever was bad. 

As he carefully cut away the parts of her clothing that were stuck to her wounds, he muttered, "You really went through hell, huh?"

Burns, slashes, bruises—this wasn't just some minor scuffle. 

He cleaned her wounds, dabbing antiseptic on them before wrapping them in fresh bandages. She flinched slightly but didn't wake. That wasn't a good sign.

Once he was done, he leaned back, exhaling.

"Well, I did what I could," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. Now it was just a matter of waiting. Either she woke up… or she didn't.