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This chapter was supposed to be 5k words but ended up being 2.8k since it got deleted twice honestly got pissed off been writing this shit for the past 3 hours took me about an hour to write the 5k words then shit started getting deleted luckily I copied it at like 1.5k to past in spell check, so I had something to go off until random shit started getting deleted like some interactions, the interaction with Adam and the other person was supposed to be way more diffrent and more intersting but ended up plain and boring as I coudnt be bothered wasting another hour writing up deleted content.
**Chapter 4**
As Adam walked through the dense forest, he reflected on the battle he had just won. 'Seems like there's more to this world than I thought. This is going to be fun~.' With his hands behind his head, his posture relaxed, and a lazy smile playing on his lips, Adam strutted through the forest, no destination in mind. He was simply planning to enjoy his newly earned freedom. Although this world was infinitely more dangerous than his previous ones, Adam felt confident in his ability to not only protect himself but also to become one of, if not the strongest in this world.
After a couple of hours of strolling, Adam decided to extend his vision with the Six Eyes. Extending his perception about two kilometers ahead, he spotted a small entourage of people. Seeing a few carriages and the group currently at rest, they appeared to be a merchant caravan. 'I wonder if they have any food. All that fighting has got me feeling hungry like a motherfucker. Hmm~ considering it, they most likely have some ninja guards as well. Since ninjas are common in this world, it wouldn't be strange for a merchant group to hide some for protection. The Fujiwara clan that those clowns were a part of must be one of the more powerful ones, as that monkey was trying to threaten me with his daddy's name.'
As Adam got closer to the merchant group, he decided to speed up, coating his legs with chakra to augment them, and leaped onto a sturdy tree branch. 'Huh, this is quite useful. Infusing chakra into your limbs can augment them, allowing for better movement and physical enhancements. Any normal ninja would need excellent control to do physical enhancements while fighting, but it should be as easy as breathing for me. Comparing myself to those monkeys earlier, I'm starting to get an idea of where I rank.'
Stopping his musings, Adam arrived near the camp and chose to walk the rest of the distance, aiming to avoid startling anyone into attacking while also hoping they'd underestimate him. Any normal ninja would stay vigilant for sneak attacks, but Adam's casual, lazy demeanor would be seen as less of a threat. It wasn't long before someone noticed him.
"Hey, you kid! Stop! Don't come any closer and identify yourself, or we will attack!" one of the guards threatened.
Remaining relaxed, Adam raised his hands in the air, showing he meant no harm, while he subtly scanned the camp. He had already located the eight hidden ninjas, measuring their chakra against those of the Fujiwara clan. Adam was surprised; these ninjas seemed to have around ten times more chakra than those monkeys. While Adam was scanning with his Six Eyes, he sensed something from the carriage in the middle of the group. 'Holy damn, that person has a lot of ki! It's slightly less than mine, but I'm guessing that's just because of how unique I am. Who is this person? I'd better play it safe. I can still save myself if he decides to take action, but it would be troublesome. Those ninjas hiding around have about ten times more chakra than the Fujiwara monkeys, but I have around a hundred times that amount. In those measurements, that person has eighty times.'
Casting his thoughts aside, Adam looked at the guard with his hands still raised, his body still relaxed. "Wow~ calm down, man. I mean no harm; I'm just passing through. You guys are resting in the middle of the path, after all."
The guard relaxed a little and nodded at his fellow guards. "You're right, sorry. But it wasn't appropriate for us to rest somewhere else, and we gotta be a little vigilant. We are getting paid, after all, hahaha. Well, anyway, I'll let you go on your way."
The guard smiled and rubbed the back of his head, while Adam offered a lazy smile and put his hands down. Walking through the camp, Adam kept himself relaxed to avoid causing any trouble. 'Honestly, I have no fucking idea why I thought going over to some random people in the middle of the road was a good idea at all. Must have been all that excitement I had, finding out this is a new world and all. Whatever, just gotta move on out of here and continue my adventure~'
As Adam was about to pass by the central carriage, a gentle but commanding voice rang out from inside. "Stop." It was soft and gentle, yet the tone demanded respect. 'A royal of some sort, perhaps?' Adam decided to pretend as if he didn't hear her, continuing his walk. Suddenly, he jumped back with a flip, skidding on the dirt and planting a palm on the ground, his eyes vigilant as he faced the eight red-headed ninjas who had materialized before him.
Adam's mind raced as he contemplated how to play this out—whether to slaughter them all quickly or take his time to learn more moves. However, he knew that toying with his opponents wasn't always wise. 'Ah, what the hell. This is a new life; I'll enjoy myself however I want.'
While Adam was deciding how to kill the ninjas in front of him, the carriage door opened, drawing his attention to the source of the voice. A woman, around the same age as Adam, maybe a year or two older, stepped out. She had a cute, circular face with tiny dimples that appeared when she spoke. Her red hair was tied into twin buns, with long, silky strands falling into bangs that framed her face. She wore a white kimono dress and had a cool, indifferent expression.
"We apologize, Mito-sama. We thought he might attack the carriage, and he's quite suspicious, walking around the forest so far from a town all by himself," one of the guards explained.
Glancing at the guard and then back to the girl, Adam met her gaze indifferently. "I don't think I did anything to warrant an attack like this, 'Girl'…"
Mito's eye twitched slightly at the emphasis on 'girl.' "I apologize for my men's actions. I mean you no harm; I just want to ask you a few questions. You don't need to answer if you don't want to… also, don't call me 'girl.' I'm clearly older than you."
Adam watched her coldly as the guards retreated, allowing her space to ask her questions. 'She seems easy to tease and also quite petty. She's pretty damn hot as well. Actually, I think this is the hottest woman I've ever seen. Back in the camp, those hoes always had no hair and acted like men. Is that hair natural? Wait, of course, it is—my hair has streaks of red as well. Damn, that hair color makes her look even hotter. Huh, well, I never expected myself to be this into a random woman. Whatever, not like it matters. Now, she said she wants to ask me a few questions which I can choose not to answer. Hmm, I wonder what I should do~ ooo, I know~ let's kill one of the guards first and see how she reacts.'
Still in the same position, Adam guided one of his chains through the ground, moving it toward the group, aiming for the guard at the back. "Hmm, well I don't know~" While keeping a bored and indifferent expression, Adam advanced the chain. Just as it was about to burst out and impale the guard, Mito's eyes suddenly widened.
"DODGE!" she yelled.
Heeding her warning, all the guards dodged as the chain came flying out of the ground, barely nicking the intended target. Raising an eyebrow, Adam looked at Mito with curiosity. "Huh, you somehow sensed my attack?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.
Mito looked at him with mild anger and indifference, clearly irritated by his sneak attack after she had assured him she only wanted to ask a few questions. 'All I wanted to know was if he was an Uzumaki—wait! Chakra chains?! How… he isn't a full-blooded Uzumaki, and he isn't part of the royal family, so how does he have the chakra chains?' All her anger forgotten, Mito was now filled with intrigue and curiosity.
"What's your name, kid?" she asked, her tone shifting to a more serious one.
Debating on whether or not to kill this woman who kept calling him a kid, Adam kept a neutral expression and answered. "Name's Adam. Should I call you Mito, Mito-chan, or little Mito? Or maybe you'd like Tomato better?~" Deciding to tease her a little, Adam allowed a lazy smile to appear on his face, while his chakra chain hovered protectively above him, ready to intercept any attack.
A tick mark appeared on Mito's head as she forced a smile, her amethyst eyes narrowing at him. "Just 'Mito' is fine," she gritted out.
.
Looking at Adam's playful smile, Mito decided to get back at him. "So how do I pronounce your name? A-ea? Ae-daemo? What a mouthful. I've never heard such a strange name before." She folded her arms, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as she pretended to ponder. "Whatever. From now on, your name will be... hmm~" She placed a finger on her chin in mock contemplation, ignoring the slight twitch of irritation on Adam's face. Suddenly, she smiled smugly, her gaze settling on Adam's hair. "Shiro! Yes, your name is now Shiro," she declared with a self-satisfied nod.
Adam's expression darkened slightly as he responded, "Don't go changing my name just because your dumbass can't speak." His smile remained, but his eyes narrowed, allowing a bit more emotion to show than before. It seemed that the freedom he had recently gained was starting to break down his emotional barriers, allowing him to express himself more openly.
Mito's playful demeanor faded as she switched the subject, her tone turning serious once more. "How do you have those chains? And who are your parents?"
Adam's smile faltered for a moment as Mito's questions hit a nerve. "No idea," he replied, his voice suddenly distant. "They just appeared one day." As for… my… parents?" His head throbbed with a sudden, sharp pain, and he clutched his temples as fragmented memories began to surface. 'W-what the hell is this? Memories? But whose?' Flashes of a white-haired woman and a red-haired man filled his mind—figures he hadn't seen before, yet they felt oddly familiar. 'My parents…? My mother, Yukina Kaguya. My f-... the other person seems to be called Fushin Uzumaki.'
The memories continued to flood in, showing bits and pieces of his past. His parents, both members of powerful clans, had sacrificed their lives to protect their son and allow him to escape. 'What loving parents. How tragic.' Despite the emotional weight of the memories, Adam couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment. 'It seems like the only thing this body was taught is something Fushin called fuinjutsu, and not much was taught before he ended up dying. I'll look through those memories later.'
Mito watched him closely, noticing the subtle shift in his demeanor as he seemed to struggle with something internally. 'What's going on with him?' she wondered, her curiosity deepening. 'He mentioned his parents, but it looks like the memories are painful for him. Is that why he's so detached?'
Adam's hand slowly lowered from his head as the headache subsided, leaving him with a bitter aftertaste. 'So that's it, huh? My parents died so I could live. How touching.' His thoughts were laced with sarcasm, but beneath it all, there was a sliver of emotion—something he wasn't quite ready to acknowledge.
Taking a deep breath, Adam refocused on the present, meeting Mito's gaze with a neutral expression. "So, what now?" he asked, his voice steady but with an underlying tension.
Mito studied him for a moment, her amethyst eyes searching his for any hint of vulnerability. But Adam's mask was back in place, his emotions locked away once more. "Now," she began slowly, "you answer my questions honestly, and maybe we can avoid any more... misunderstandings."
Adam considered her words, his mind still buzzing with the remnants of those resurfaced memories. 'She's persistent, I'll give her that. But I'm not about to spill my life story to someone I just met. Not even if she is the hottest woman I've ever seen.'
With a casual shrug, Adam replied, "Ask your questions, Mito. But don't expect too much."
Mito narrowed her eyes, sensing his reluctance but deciding not to push too hard. "Alright, Shiro," she said, intentionally using the nickname she'd given him earlier, "Let's start with something simple. Where are you from?"
Adam smirked at her use of the nickname, his earlier irritation replaced by amusement. "Wouldn't you like to know," he said teasingly. "But sorry to disappoint you—I don't really remember much of that either."
Mito's patience was wearing thin, but she kept her expression neutral. 'He's being evasive, but why? Is he hiding something, or is he really that lost?'
Before Mito could ask another question, one of the guards, still wary after the earlier attack, spoke up. "Mito-sama, are you sure we should be talking to this guy? He's dangerous. We should just—"
"Enough," Mito interrupted, her tone sharp. She glanced at Adam, who was watching the exchange with mild interest. "I'll handle this," she added, turning her attention back to him. "If you really don't remember where you're from, then tell me this—why are you wandering through this forest alone? Most people would avoid this area unless they had a death wish."
Adam chuckled softly at her question, his earlier tension easing as he allowed himself to relax once more. "What can I say? I like my freedom. Besides, I'm not most people."
Mito's eyes narrowed slightly at his cryptic response. 'He's not giving me much to work with, but there's something about him... something that feels familiar, almost. Could he be...?'
"Last question," she said, her tone firm but less confrontational than before. "What is the name of your father? Actually scratch that 2 questions, How do you have the chakra chains? Only a select few within the Uzumaki clan possess that ability."
Adam's gaze sharpened at her question, a flicker of something dangerous passing through his eyes. 'She's onto something,' he realized, though he wasn't entirely sure what. 'But why does she care so much?'
"Like I said before," he replied slowly, "they just appeared one day. I didn't ask for them, but they're useful, so I'm not complaining. As for my father, his name is Fushin."
Mito remained silent for a moment, processing his words. 'So I was right he is…. He seems to be holding back quite a lot, but it's clear that he doesn't fully understand his own abilities. This... this could be important.'
After a long pause, Mito finally spoke, her tone softer than before. "I see. Well, Adam—Shiro—whatever you want to be called... I think it would be in both our interests to keep in touch."
Adam raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden shift in attitude. "Oh? And why's that?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Mito smiled faintly, though there was a hint of something more in her expression—something that suggested she knew more than she was letting on. "Let's just say I have a feeling our paths will cross again. And when they do, we might both benefit from it."
Adam studied her for a moment, his instincts telling him that she wasn't someone to be taken lightly. 'She's dangerous, in her own way. But she's also intriguing. This might be worth exploring.'
With a slight nod, Adam agreed. "Alright, Mito. We'll see how things play out."
Mito returned the nod, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer before she turned back to her carriage. "Until next time, then."
As she stepped back inside, the guards resumed their positions, still wary but no longer on high alert. Adam watched her go, his thoughts a swirl of curiosity and caution. 'This world really is something else. And Mito... she's definitely someone to keep an eye on.'
As Mito's carriage started to move, she glanced back at Adam, her expression thoughtful. "Oh, and Adam—just so you know, your father, Fushin Uzumaki, was my uncle. That makes us cousins."
Adam blinked in surprise. "Cousins? How do you know that?"
Mito smiled. "My father, Ryujin Uzumaki, is the son of the head of the Uzumaki clan. Fushin was his brother. We're definitely family."
Adam's eyes widened slightly as he processed this revelation. 'So that's why she knew about the chakra chains. This complicates things.'
Mito's gaze softened, her tone warm yet firm. "Knowing that, it might be wise for both of us to stay in touch. Family or not, it could be beneficial."
Adam nodded slowly, the unexpected connection adding a new layer to his thoughts. "Alright, Mito. I'll keep that in mind."
With that, Mito's carriage disappeared from view. Adam resumed his journey through the forest, his mind a mix of curiosity, caution, and the new awareness of their shared bloodline. 'This world really is something else. And Mito... she's definitely someone to keep an eye on.'
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