My New Life is Harder Than Expected(Naruto SI-Waifu Catalog) (Patreon)

Chapter 15

(Two Days Later)

“Why?”

“Hmm? You need to be more specific than that Sasuke.”

It seems I was hoping for too much in expecting Sasuke to just ignore me for the remainder of our stay here.

‘I’m honestly amazed that he managed to hold off from coming to me until now.’

“I’M ASKING WHY DID YOU ABANDON THE UCHIHA CLAN AND TAKE THE ONLY OTHER MEMBER WITH YOU!?” Sasuke yelled at the top of his lungs with his Sharingan unconsciously activating before blinking when the surroundings suddenly changed.

“Wha-where!?”

“Relax.” I spoke up calmly behind him and let go of his shoulder after teleporting us a distance away from our previous position.

“It’s rather late at night and everyone is resting now after working hard to finish the bridge, so I brought us here so we could have our talk without disturbing anyone.”

Sasuke took in his surroundings and then looked back at me wearily with his two tomoe Sharingan rotating slowly.

“Now as to your question.” I blinked once and when my eyes opened again my Sharingan was staring back at Sasuke who flinched at seeing my eyes. “Who ever said that I left the Uchiha Clan?”

Sasuke took a moment to regain his bearings probably reminded of that night again before answering. “Then how come you moved out of the Uchiha District and even changed your last name to Senju?”

“That’s actually very simple.” I shrugged and deactivated my eyes again. “Protection.”

“Protection? What are you talking about?”

“I’m not surprised you don’t know, after all you are still very naïve about many things in this world.”

“Tsk, just answer the question!”

“If I remained in the Uchiha District and kept my Uchiha name, there is a 99% possibility that I wouldn’t have lived past the first week in spite of surviving after your brother stabbed me in the chest. The same can be said about Izumi.”

Sasuke flinched again when I mentioned I was stabbed before his face took on a look of confusion as he tried to grasp what I was trying to tell him and failing. “I-I don’t understand. What do you mean you wouldn’t have lived past the first week?”

“I’m saying that there are forces both internal and external that would rejoice if the Uchiha ceased to exist just like the Senju Clan almost did and they’re not above killing a child or two.” I said blankly knowing just how harsh this world could be as there were some clans within the village that wouldn’t be above getting their hands dirty in order to rise in power.

That’s not even mentioning Danzo and the countless clans or shinobi villages that would be happy to make sure the Uchiha died due to all the enemies the Uchiha and Senju Clans made in the Warring States period.

Sasuke stood quiet for a moment deep in thought before looking at me again with the hostile look nowhere to be seen in his eyes anymore and his Sharingan deactivating. “What does that have to do with the Senju Clan though? And if what you are saying is true then does that mean that I’m somehow excluded from that list?”

“The Senju name carries a lot of weight in Konoha and I knew that I would be protected at least until I learned to defend myself if I changed my name.”

“In essence, thanks to my name I would be relatively safe within the village until I was ready.” I explained the first part while thinking if I should say something about his second question as the reason Sasuke wasn’t targeted was because Itachi threatened the elders to sell village secrets if Sasuke was harmed.

“So that’s why there was that announcement about your dual heritage…” Sasuke whispered quietly in realization while looking down for a moment. “What about Izumi?”

“That’s actually rather simple. I was one of Izumi’s only friends in the clan and when I was offered to move into the Senju Compound she asked if she could tag along and I agreed.”

“She left just like that?” Sasuke asked skeptically.

“I won’t pretend to speak for her. The only thing I can say is that she didn’t want to live in a place that reminded her of everything she lost that night.” I said with a shake of my head.

Sasuke thought about it for a moment and nodded his head in agreement. “And my second question?”

“Hmm,” I hummed in thought while looking at Sasuke with a serious expression. “That’s because-”

“I think you’ve said enough for now Akari.” Kakashi interrupted while appearing in a swirl of leaves with a Body Flicker (Shunshin).

“Hoh, took you long enough to show yourself. I thought for a moment there that you were just going to peep on us.” I said with a teasing smile as I looked at Kakashi from the corner of my eye.

“Kakashi! What are you doing here?” Sasuke demanded once he got over his surprise at Kakashi’s sudden arrival.

“Maa, maa. I was just talking a night time stroll when I noticed my cute Genin talking with his fellow clansmen so I became curious.” Kakashi said calmly with his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah right.” Sasuke immediately said with a deadpan before shaking his head and glaring at the man. “Anyway, this has nothing to do with you Kakashi. As you clearly heard, this is clan business.”

“Hahaha he’s got you there Kakashi.” I said with a chuckle then looking at Sasuke again.

“I’ll only say this much. Itachi clearly left you alive for a reason, though what that reason is I don’t know.” I slightly lied with a shrug before continuing.

“With Itachi’s knowledge of the inner workings of Konoha, it would not be very hard to threaten the village to protect you in return for him not releasing such secrets. But that’s just my opinion.” I revealed before losing my serious expression and walking back to the house while cheerily waving my hand over my shoulder.

“Anyways goodnight you two. See you tomorrow~”

I didn’t need the powers of my eyes to know what kind of expression Sasuke was currently making at the bombshell I just dropped on him. Confirming for the teen that Itachi did want him alive for some reason which according to Itachi’s own words was attaining the Mangekyō Sharingan.

‘The question is, what will you do with such information Sasuke? Not that I think it will change much since I plan on stamping and selling your brother after I kick his ass of course.’

=====

(That Same Evening)

“Finally ready to talk huh?”

“Why did you spare me?” An almost dead sounding voice asked in return not even turning in my direction as she sat on one of the beds in my Demiplane with her legs pulled up to her chest.

“I have no reason to kill you even if you did attack me first without provocation.”

“You’re an Uchiha, not to mention you bear the Senju mark on your clothes. Those are two very good reasons in my mind not to trust you.” The girl said with some anger leaking into her voice when she said ‘Uchiha’.

Looking down I beheld a girl about the same age as me with long black hair that came down to her waist and deep black eyes, features reminiscent of members of the Uchiha Clan.

It was none other than Nanashi Uchiha, a fake name given to the girl by the Uchiha Clan back in the Warring States Period that literally meant ‘Nameless’ as a way to remind the girl that she was nothing but a tool for the Uchiha.

Hikari, which was the girl’s real name, was actually a character that only appeared in a video game but thanks to Universal Calibration she was now real here too.

Turns out that the traitor was actually Teguse, the one presumed to have originally unsealed Hikari with the help of Merz using the knowledge of the Warring States period that he had stolen from Konoha. Merz would then go on to recruit Hikari by using her hatred for all shinobi and the ninja world as a whole to gain her trust.

Merz was another person who had only appeared in the game and was the leader of an organization called Zero with its goal being returning the shinobi world to an era of warfare. Their plan was basically another Eye of the Moon Plan to start the Fifth Great Shinobi War by controlling people with Hikari’s Yachihoko which let her control the mind and chakra of individuals.

Of course, when I found them Merz was nowhere near as strong as he was in the game after gaining an artificial Sharingan and I was able to make quick work of him and Teguse before focusing on Hikari.

“What if I told you I was not really an Uchiha or a Senju for that matter.” I commented casually with my head tilted to the side.

Finally lifting up her head and turning to me, Hikari glared slightly at me looking somewhat offended at my words. “Then I would call you a bad liar. There’s no way I would ever mistake a member of the Uchiha Clan with those eyes of yours even if your Mangekyō does look somewhat weird.”

“Hahaha yeah I guess you wouldn’t really believe me without some proof huh?” I said letting out a hearty laugh causing Hikari to look at me weirdly.

“You’re…weird.” Hikari said now looking at me as if I had grown a second head.

“Guess I am.” I agreed with a nod before looking at the girl with a smile. “But it is the truth nonetheless. You see I’m not even human.”

“Wha?”

Before she could comment any further, I switched back into my original form of a slime and landed gently in the bed with a wiggle right by her legs and looked up.

“Nice to meet you! I’m Akari the slime! I’m not a bad slime slurp!” I introduced myself happily with my voice changing to match that of Rimuru’s exactly, with its high pitch tone and all before dropping the classic line.

=====

Girls like cute things.

I should really remember that in the future whenever Izumi and Kushina get mad at me again for something stupid I did.

It had not taken long for Hikari to fall prey to her natural instincts and hug my slime body to her chest with a small smile on her face after making sure I was not actually an illusion with her Sharingan. With her guard down I had used the opportunity to finally explain to her how I had the powers of the Uchiha and Senju and what my plans for the future were.

Namely capturing as many people as I could, evolve into a True Dragon, kill the Akatsuki and Otsutsuki Clan and finally get the hell out of dodge of this shitty world. There was also the whole reviving the Uchiha thing but I chose not to mention it yet due her backstory with the clan and all.

Not like I planned to actually live among the Uchiha anyway.

“So, what do you say? Do you wish to join me?” I asked still in my slime form not commenting when Hikari’s grip on me tightened at the question.

“Why are you offering me this? What do you stand to gain from me joining you?” Hikari asked with her head lowering and covering her eyes from my view.

“Honestly? Not very much. While you’re very strong, there are many who are still much stronger than you.” I answered honestly causing the girl to lower her head even lower.

“Why I’m doing this in another matter entirely.” I continued with my voice taking on a softer tone. “I guess I just want to be your friend.”

Hikari’s body tensed at those words before raising her head a bit and looking at me in confusion. “…Friend?” She asked as if not believing what she was hearing.

“I know that you have had a shitty life so far and I wanted to change that if I could. I want to get to know the real person behind the name Nanashi that was given to you to remind you of your position within the clan. I want to get to know Hikari Uchiha.” I said finally revealing her true name causing the girl to look even more confused at what I called her.

“Hikari?” She asked testing the name out slowly and blinking in curiosity.

“Of course. It’s your real name after all.” I agreed with a happy wiggle of my slime body. “The name your parents gave to you.”

Hikari didn’t respond to that and stayed quiet for a long while. Moments later she hugged me to her chest again and I felt something wet land on my slime body letting me know that she was crying.

Feeling the happy emotions coming from the girl thanks to my new guest, I did my best to snuggle up to the girl in my current body knowing that I had succeeded in braking through to the girl.

=====

With the reveal of her true name, my cute slime form and no doubt the effects of multiple Lures, I had managed to bring Hikari to my side gaining another powerhouse to my team with a ridiculously overpowered Mangekyō ability.

Not that she really had any choice in the matter in the end as I had immediately Stamped Hikari after subduing her and would be fully captured in a few more hours whether she accepted my proposal or not. That she accepted only meant that I wouldn’t have to sell her as I was planning to if she declined.

Since I didn’t particularly know much about the girl other than a few key pieces here and there, I wouldn’t feel too bad about getting rid of her even if everything I told her before was true. Just because I was willing to be nice to her did not mean I wouldn’t harden my heart and do what needed to be done.

“This is beautiful…” Hikari said softly as she beheld the full extent of my Demiplane for the first time. “Where are we?”

I couldn’t blame Hikari for her comment as I felt the same way about this world. A world mostly untouched by human hands was truly a beautiful sight to behold. Especially since this place was fully under my control and it was safe from any external threats unless I specifically brought them here.

It was basically a paradise.

“It is.” I agreed coming to stand at her side and looking at the scene in front of us feeling beyond happy that even though small for now, it will only continue to grow infinitely. “This is my home and now yours too.”

My words seemed to have a deep effect on her as she lowered her head and began crying softly.

“I…I’ve been alone for so long. Always somewhere dark. No one ever saw me as a person. I didn’t think…I didn’t think I had anyone on my side. But…But…!”

Suddenly Hikari raised her head again and looked at me with teary eyes while gently grabbing ahold of my shirt now that I was in my human form again.

“There was someone who came and saved me. Even if it was by chance. Someone who offered me friendship. I…I’m just…so glad. Honestly. That I’m alive!” With those words Hikari then leaned her head on my chest while tears continued to run down her cheeks. “Thank you… …for saving me. Thank you for setting me truly free.”

“Yeah…You don’t have to worry about anything anymore. I’ll protect you from now on.” I said gently while bringing my hand down on her head and petting it softly knowing that my head pats had a calming effect on people thanks to Sticky Fingers.

Inside though I felt like shit at the thought that just moments ago I was planning to sell her if she didn’t agree to join me as if she was just another object. Shaking my head of such thoughts, I shoved them to the back of my mind to ponder on later and focused on the crying girl in front of me.

The least I could do for her at this point after that confession was showing her the world of sunlight that her parents always wanted for her before they died.

“I’m honestly not surprised at the lengths that accursed clan was willing to go in order to control this child.”

A rough voice came from inside of me interrupting the moment I was having with Hikari.

‘Tsk, damn it Kurama! Couldn’t you have waited a little longer before chiming in?’

“Sorry about him. Kurama has never been the most patient of beings.” Another voice chimed in quite different from the one before.

“Quiet Isobu! I don’t want to hear that from the guy who always gets grumpy after he gets interrupted from his naps.”

Knowing another argument was coming I couldn’t help but sigh in frustration thinking about the day this all started.