The Hakimaster of Naruto

Chapter 213 CHAPTER 213: A MOMENT OF TENDERNESS

Today was undoubtedly a special day for Uchiha Mikoto.

Rakshasa—the name that shook the entire ninja world—had actually asked her to feed him. This was not shameful; it was an honor. A privilege.

Worshipping the strong was simply the nature of the ninja world.

And Rakshasa had saved her life.

Uchiha Mikoto was also ANBU Tengu. She remembered how, not long ago, it had been her role to guide Rakshasa into ANBU, to teach him protocols, to help him understand everything. She had been the senior then.

Now, their positions had completely reversed.

She remained an ANBU ninja. But he had become one of the strongest beings in the ninja world—strength comparable to Kage level. The famous Tsuchikage and Kazekage had both fallen to him.

Such achievements would make any of his peers proud for a lifetime.

Uchiha Mikoto fed Ragnar carefully, her mind swirling with strange emotions. She couldn't quite process how she had ended up here.

Only when the bowl was completely empty did she finally snap back to reality.

"Ragnar-kun, was that enough? If you want more, I can prepare additional portions."

She spoke quickly, hoping to cover her embarrassment, not daring to meet his eyes directly.

After eating and drinking, Ragnar's condition had notably improved. He raised his hand slightly.

"No need. Thank you." He paused, then added: "It was delicious. The first truly delicious meal I've had in my life."

He meant it.

Thinking back over his years, he had never experienced a meal like this. He was an orphan, always having to care for himself. The most basic sustenance Konoha provided to distressed orphans barely kept body and soul together—enough to scrape by, nothing more.

Food this delicate, this attentive, this carefully prepared? Never.

Even when he had money and visited Konoha's restaurants, ordering what passed for delicacies, it couldn't compare to what Uchiha Mikoto had made.

Ragnar-kun is praising me?

Mikoto lowered her head, her heart fluttering with excitement. So happy!

"What's wrong?" Ragnar asked, noting her bowed head.

"N-nothing! Nothing at all!" She waved her hands hastily.

With his energy partially restored, Ragnar's mind worked more clearly.

"Mikoto. Did the captain send you?"

"Yes. Tsunade-sama and the others are away from camp temporarily, so the captain asked me to care for your daily meals while you recover."

"Tsunade isn't in camp? Where did they go?"

The Iwa ninja and Sand ninja had surrendered. In the Land of Rain, Konoha dominated. Logically, there should be no opponents left—unless...

A flash of insight struck Ragnar. He recalled a certain existence.

Mikoto explained: "After our great victory over the Sand and Iwa forces, the Konoha camp was attacked and captured by fully armed Rain ninja. At that time, our forces were depleted from the previous battles—we couldn't fight another engagement. So the captain ordered Tsunade-sama, Jiraiya-sama, and Orochimaru-sama to confront the Rain ninja as a three-person team."

Just as in the original timeline—facing Sansho Hanzo.

Ragnar thought silently. Soon, Konoha will have not only White Fang and Rakshasa, but also the legendary Sannin. Hah. Konoha approaches its peak.

"How long have they been gone?" he asked calmly.

"Three days. The captain dispatched a jonin team to meet them not long ago. If the outcome is decided, news should arrive within these two days."

Ragnar knew that a jonin team would accomplish little against Sansho Hanzo.

Sansho's poison could kill jonin easily—given sufficient preparation, it could poison entire cities, even countries. Hanzo was called a demigod not for his ninjutsu prowess, but for the unpredictable, devastating power of his salamander's venom.

At this point, the Land of Rain's situation had largely been decided. If Hanzo truly killed Tsunade and the others, the consequences might exceed what the Land of Rain could bear.

A shrewd man like Hanzo had probably already prepared an escape route for his nation.

After all, the culprits of the Second Ninja War were Iwa and Suna. They had initiated the conflict, fighting over land and resources. The Land of Rain had been unfortunately caught in the middle.

Konoha's interests had become involved, so Konoha had joined as well—but their main enemy was never the Land of Rain. It was Iwa and Suna.

Truthfully, the Land of Fire was vast and rich, with abundant resources, pleasant climate, and flourishing forests. They had no real interest in the Rain Country's small territory and miserable weather.

Not worth taking. Not worth fighting over.

Now that Iwa and Suna had surrendered, Konoha had no reason to prolong the war. It was time to end this brief Second Shinobi World War.

If Hanzo possessed any wisdom, he would avoid provoking Konoha further. He would prepare for peace talks instead—benefiting everyone.

Ragnar considered many possibilities, but couldn't predict the final outcome. And in his current condition, he couldn't reach the battlefield anyway.

If Tsunade comes to harm... I'll destroy the Land of Rain myself when I recover.

Uchiha Mikoto watched him silently as he thought. She sat quietly, inexplicably nervous.

Ragnar returned to the present and noticed she was still there.

"Still here? You don't need to stay by my side constantly. If you have things to do, attend to them."

"It's fine! No problem!" Mikoto waved her hands quickly.

"Then why are you still sitting there?" Ragnar asked, genuinely puzzled.

"I..."

Uchiha Mikoto nearly choked on his straightforward words. She shot to her feet, body tensing. She packed the lunch box with practiced speed, bowed nervously at a perfect ninety-degree angle.

"Ragnar-kun! I'll take my leave!"

"Go."

She fled.

The little slug, which had been pretending to be dead, twisted its fat body and squirmed closer.

"Lord Ragnar," it said seriously, "why do you treat girls so inhumanely?"

"Inhumanely?" Ragnar looked genuinely confused. "Little slug, what are you talking about? Did I do something stupid?"

"As a summoning beast, slugs can sense human emotional changes. That girl prepared a loving dinner for you. She cares for you attentively. And you drove her away. If you keep this up, you'll never get a girlfriend."

"Screw off with your 'loving dinner.' What nonsense are you spouting?"

Ragnar kicked the little slug away and turned over in bed.

But silently, he found himself wondering:

Am I really being inhumane?

(End of Chapter)

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