Naruto: Uchiha's Harem

"Does Hayate-senpai not have a girlfriend?"

Uchiha Kage wasn't looking at the wound Hinata had just carefully bandaged for him, but rather at the ninja fragments he had picked up from the ruins earlier, which had fallen from Yūhi Kurenai and Aburame Shino.

At the same time, he felt a bit regretful that he hadn't been able to obtain any ninja fragments from Uchiha Itachi this time.

Although he had easily dodged Itachi's Amaterasu using his intangibility ability, Kage was still quite envious of the Amaterasu ability.

'To set someone on fire just by glaring at them—how cool is that?'

"I...", Gekkō Hayate didn't expect to be hit with such a brutal question by Uchiha Kage.

He silently glanced ahead at Yūgao, who was checking the map.

He wondered when he and Yūgao would shed their ANBU identities and finally be able to be together openly.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be reduced to envying a junior like this.

"Enough chit-chat. The Hokage has tasked us with investigating the terrain of the Land of Whirlpools' ruins first. Let's hurry up and get going."

Yūgao didn't notice Hayate's inner thoughts; her focus was solely on the mission at hand.

"Yes."

Kage knew that the Land of Whirlpools was a must-visit.

After all, if Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water were to go to war in the future, both the Land of Waves and the Land of Whirlpools would be the first battlegrounds.

———

"What? They were all captured by Konoha ninja? And imprisoned in Konoha's jail?"

[Land of Lightning, Hidden Cloud Village]

A certain kunoichi, who had been waiting for her students to return to the village, was shocked by the sudden news that had reached the village.

"Yes, the Raikage has already sent people to negotiate with Konoha."

Another kunoichi, who seemed to be a secretary, comforted her friend while shaking her head helplessly.

"However, Konoha is unexpectedly firm this time, and..."

Attacking Konoha ninja within the Land of Fire's borders—it's really hard to argue in their favor.

"I see... I'll take responsibility for this incident. Please ask the Raikage not to worry about such a trivial matter."

The kunoichi sighed. She had indeed been too lenient with her genin students.

But she never expected that, with just a moment of inattention, these bold students of hers would dare to chase Konoha ninja into the Land of Fire.

———

"What, you want this eye too?"

After confirming that the Mangekyō Sharingan Uchiha Itachi had given him was genuine, Pain swallowed the crow along with the Sharingan in front of Obito.

"This eye is the same no matter who holds it. In the end, it's all for dealing with the tailed beasts."

Obito was indeed covetous and somewhat wary of Shisui's Sharingan.

But since Pain (Nagato) had no intention of handing the eye over to him, he didn't bother pressing the issue.

After all, one day, not only would this Mangekyō Sharingan return to his hands, but even the Rinnegan on Nagato's face would be his.

He wasn't in a hurry.

"You're right, but the tailed beast plan is still..."

Although their goal was the same—to collect the tailed beasts and bring peace to the world—Nagato and Obito had significant differences in how to ultimately handle the tailed beasts. Even without mentioning that, Nagato had always been wary of this suspicious ninja who wore a mask, never showed his true face, and claimed to be Uchiha Madara.

So, there was no way he would hand over Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan to him.

"Is the Gedo Statue's shell not fully nourished yet?"

To revive the Ten-Tails, it was necessary to seal the One-Tail through the Nine-Tails into the Gedo Statue, the former shell of the Ten-Tails, in a strict manner.

"It still needs some time."

Nagato had already pushed himself to the limit, even sacrificing his own life force, to restore the Gedo Statue's vitality.

But for now, it was still not quite ready.

"More importantly, why did Uchiha Itachi insist on returning to Konoha?"

Even going so far as to hand over a genjutsu like 'Kotoamatsukami.'

Nagato was curious about what Itachi's ultimate goal was, given the high price he had paid.

"It's because of a kid named Uchiha Kage, but the main reason is probably his concern for his younger brother's safety," Obito's tone carried a hint of disdain for Itachi.

For such a powerful ninja to have such an obvious weakness—it was ultimately nothing to fear.

"...Kage?", Nagato wasn't particularly moved by the Uchiha clan's notorious tradition of doting on younger siblings.

But the name Obito mentioned...

"What is it?"

"Nothing, just recalling an old acquaintance from many years ago. His name also had the character 'Kage' in it."

"There's nothing worth clinging to in this false world. In any case, hurry up and prepare the Gedo Statue. We can't delay the tailed beast capture any longer."

Without further small talk with Pain, Obito disappeared on the spot after finishing his instructions about the Gedo Statue.

———

"There's really treasure here?"

Gekkō Hayate pushed open the door to a cellar and was nearly blinded by the glittering gold coins and jewels inside.

"Rather than treasure, it's more like the spoils of banditry from the rogue ninjas who have been hiding in the Land of Whirlpools' ruins."

Seeing so much wealth, Yūgao was also surprised.

But once she remembered that these riches were stained with the blood of innocent people, she quickly calmed down.

The Land of Whirlpools' ruins, as a no-man's-land between several major nations, had become a haven for rogue ninjas and criminals over the years.

"Even if it's stolen goods, there's no one left to claim them. The Hokage will definitely praise us for this. We... Cough! Cough!..."

Hayate was already fantasizing about the scene of being commended by the Third Hokage and revered by the villagers after bringing this treasure back to Konoha.

However, his excitement caused his already poor health to act up, and he began coughing violently again.

"We owe it to Kage. He's the one who led us to the rogue ninjas' hideout and found the location of this treasure," Yūgao glanced at Uchiha Kage, who was walking at the back.

She then quickly patted Hayate's back to help him catch his breath.

"Your health is too poor. You really shouldn't have participated in this mission."

"It's just an old problem. It's fine."

After coughing several more times, Hayate finally calmed down.

"But we really do owe it to Uchiha Kage this time. How about we leave him here to guard the treasure? With just you, me, and Captain Kakashi, we should be enough to handle the Land of Water."

"Well..."

Yūgao hesitated.

"You still think he'll hold us back?"

"After all, he's just a rookie genin. I think it's better to let him stay here than watch him go to his death in the Hidden Mist Village."

Infiltration missions into the Hidden Mist Village to gather intelligence were S-rank missions. Hayate didn't think bringing Uchiha Kage along was a good idea.

No matter how talented the Uchiha clan was, a genin was still a genin.

"Let's ask for his opinion first. After all, it was the Hokage's direct order to have him participate in the mission."

Although Yūgao thought Hayate had a point, she decided to let Kage make the decision himself.

Whether he would hold them back was one thing, but staying here would definitely be safer for him.

"What's he doing?"

At this point, both of them turned their attention to the young man at the back.

They saw him staring intently at a shelf filled with masks.

"Is there something special about these masks?"

Yūgao also curiously looked at the various masks on the shelf.

Were the rumors about the Death God here because of these masks?

"Nothing."

Uchiha Kage shook his head lightly. Although he appeared calm on the surface, he was inwardly shocked.

Because one of the masks on the shelf displayed the words "Fragment of the Death God."

If he wasn't mistaken, this mask was likely the one Orochimaru would later use to summon the Death God.

'But what is this Fragment of the Death God?'

'Can it be absorbed like the ninja fragments?'

"It just looks very realistic."

Kage nonchalantly reached out and took the Death God mask in his hand.

'Sure enough... it can be absorbed!'

He pretended to tuck the mask into his robe, but in reality, he had already absorbed it.

[Fragment of the Death God X1 has been fused.]

'Does this mean I can now use the Death God's abilities?'

'Speaking of which, what exactly are the Death God's abilities in the ninja world?'

Kage felt some changes in himself after absorbing the fragment, but at the same time, it seemed like nothing had changed.

"It does look realistic. These rogue ninjas hiding in the Land of Whirlpools probably used these masks to scare people."

Hayate also took a mask from the shelf.

'To be attracted to such masks, Uchiha Kage really is just a kid.'

.

.

.

"You're saying it's for my own good, so... you want me to stay here?"

After gathering the treasure and surveying the terrain of the Land of Whirlpools, Uchiha Kage was informed of Hayate's suggestion.

"But, Hayate-senpai, you're the one who needs more looking after, aren't you?"

"Me? Why?"

Hayate didn't understand why Kage was turning the tables on him.

"Because senpai has severe dark circles, a pale complexion, and keeps coughing. It's obvious you're seriously ill."

To be honest, looking at Hayate's frail appearance, Kage was genuinely worried that he might cause trouble during the mission.

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