The multiverse harem: the travelers desire

Here's Chapter 2 of Multiverse Harem: The Traveler's Desire:

Ethan woke up to the gentle rustling of leaves. The sun filtered through the trees, painting golden patches on the ground. For a moment, he thought it was all a dream—the system, Hinata, and this strange world—but as he sat up, the faint voice of the system greeted him.

"Good morning, Ethan. Affection level with Hinata Hyuga remains at 20%. Power level has stabilized. Reminder: Build bonds to increase strength and progress."

Ethan rubbed his temples. It was still a lot to process. Yesterday, he had somehow entered the Naruto universe and trained with Hinata Hyuga. He had grown stronger, but the system's expectations loomed large.

"You don't waste time, do you?" Ethan muttered under his breath.

The voice ignored him, as always. With a sigh, he stood and began walking toward the clearing where he and Hinata had trained. To his surprise, she was already there, practicing her gentle fist techniques with an intensity that hadn't been there before.

"Good morning, Hinata," Ethan called out, offering a warm smile.

Hinata turned, her cheeks tinged pink. "G-Good morning, Ethan. I thought I'd get an early start today. You... inspired me yesterday."

Ethan felt a pang of guilt. The system's goal was to form bonds, but he didn't want to manipulate anyone. Still, he could see her determination, and it made him admire her even more.

"I'm glad to see you working so hard," Ethan said. "Mind if I join you?"

Hinata nodded shyly. "I'd like that."

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A Test of Strength

As they trained together, Ethan noticed subtle improvements in his movements. The system enhanced his abilities as he interacted with Hinata, making his strikes faster and more precise. He began to wonder just how much potential he could unlock in this world.

After an hour of sparring, their session was interrupted by the sound of shouting. A group of villagers came running from the nearby path, their faces pale with fear.

"Help! Someone, please help us!" one of them cried.

Ethan and Hinata exchanged a glance before running toward the commotion. When they reached the scene, they saw a rogue ninja—a missing-nin, by the looks of his torn headband—terrorizing the villagers. He wielded a large kunai, his chakra flaring wildly.

"You think you can just walk through my territory without paying the price?" the rogue sneered, his eyes glinting with malice.

Ethan felt a surge of adrenaline. The system chimed in.

"Mission initiated: Protect the villagers. Defeat the rogue ninja. Reward: Chakra enhancement and 10 affection points with Hinata. Penalty for failure: Reduced stats."

Hinata stepped forward, her stance firm despite the fear in her eyes. "We have to stop him," she said softly, looking at Ethan for reassurance.

Ethan nodded. "I'll handle the distraction. You focus on an opening."

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The Fight

Ethan rushed forward, his heart pounding. He wasn't a trained fighter, but the system's influence guided his movements. The rogue ninja sneered and lunged at him, but Ethan sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the attack.

"Not bad for an amateur," the rogue growled, charging again.

This time, Ethan blocked with a kunai he had picked up earlier. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed. Meanwhile, Hinata circled around, her Byakugan activated. She studied the rogue's chakra points, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Now!" Ethan shouted, dodging another swing.

Hinata moved like lightning. Her gentle fists struck the rogue's chest and arms in rapid succession, cutting off his chakra flow. The ninja stumbled, his weapon falling to the ground as he gasped for breath.

Ethan didn't hesitate. He delivered a final blow to knock the rogue unconscious, then stepped back, panting.

The villagers cheered, rushing forward to thank them. Hinata blushed at their praise, but Ethan noticed her sneaking glances at him, her eyes filled with admiration.

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Aftermath

As the sun set, Ethan and Hinata sat by a small campfire near the training grounds. The system's voice interrupted the quiet moment.

"Mission complete. Affection level with Hinata Hyuga: 30%. Power increase: Chakra flow optimized. New mission: Build deeper trust with Hinata."

Ethan glanced at Hinata, who was staring into the fire. "You did great today," he said.

She looked up, startled. "Oh, I didn't do much. You were the one who distracted him."

"You're too modest," Ethan replied. "Without you, I couldn't have stopped him. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

Hinata's face turned bright red, and she looked away, fidgeting with her hands. "Thank you, Ethan. That means a lot to me."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the crackling fire the only sound between them. Ethan felt a strange sense of peace, despite the chaos of the day.

But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning. The system's voice, the missions, the multiverse—it all pointed to a long, arduous journey ahead.

Still, as he looked at Hinata, he felt a spark of determination. He would protect her, grow stronger, and face whatever challenges the system threw at him.

For now, though, he would savor this quiet moment.

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End of Chapter 2