By the time they finished visiting the Shinobi Exhibition, the sky had already turned the warm orange of early evening. Ryoma and Uchiha Mikoto chose to dine at a nearby upscale restaurant. With a private VIP room prepared for them, Ryoma had thought there'd be no chance of running into overly enthusiastic fans.
He underestimated exactly how influential his presence had become.
The moment the owner learned Ryoma was coming, he personally rushed over to act as their waiter. The head chef poured his entire skill and pride into every dish that left the kitchen. Despite a few overly dramatic gestures, the meal was undeniably satisfying.
When the two eventually stepped out of the restaurant, night had already fallen.
"Let's take a walk through the park," Mikoto suggested.
The lakeside path was sparsely lit, the darkness allowing Ryoma to relax—no need to hide his features. Side by side, they walked slowly along the calm water, the cool breeze brushing past them. A rare moment of peace embraced the two of them.
"I wish this moment could last forever," Mikoto murmured.
Her voice was soft—yet filled with resolve. Her dark eyes, gentle and luminous beneath the moonlight, held Ryoma in an unbroken gaze.
Tonight, she had decided she would no longer run from her heart.
"Ryoma," she breathed, "I like you."
She paused only a heartbeat before continuing—honest, vulnerable.
"Even though you already have Kushina… Even though I know I shouldn't… I tried to give up these feelings—but I can't. I love you."
Ryoma didn't respond right away. Instead, he raised a hand, brushing aside a strand of her long, silky hair and tucking it behind her ear. His voice was low and close.
"I feel the same."
Mikoto's slender body trembled, her hand lifting—hesitant but yearning—and she firmly intertwined her fingers with his. Her cheeks flushed as her gaze rose to meet his.
"Then… will you stay with me?" she asked, anxiety flickering in her voice. "Even if Kushina exists…?"
"Yes," Ryoma answered without a hint of hesitation.
Her heartbeat surged wildly, and she inhaled shakily, as if gathering the last of her courage.
"Then… prove it to me."
Moonlight spilled across her face, softening every feature into breathtaking beauty. Her eyes fluttered shut—lashes trembling with nervous expectation.
Ryoma drew her into his arms, and Mikoto pressed herself against his chest, burying her expression from view.
"Stay with me tonight…" she whispered.
The two figures soon disappeared into the quiet, empty streets.
That night, Uchiha Mikoto did not return home.
Morning came.
After seeing Mikoto safely back at the Uchiha compound, Ryoma opened a space portal and stepped through—arriving in a barren stretch of land not far from Iwagakure.
As his feet touched the dusty earth, he surveyed the vast terrain. No forests. No mountains. Only endless wasteland stretching to the horizon.
Perfect.
What he was planning next… would not be kind to nature. And here, no one would be harmed.
"Summoning!"
A thunderous impact shook the barren ground as white smoke burst outward. When it cleared, a massive figure towered like a living mountain—its entire bloated sand-yellow body covered with dark, jagged markings shaped like eerie seals. Sharp, black ears twitched atop its head, while its huge mouth bristled with diamond-like teeth. Tiny pupils—like slits in old copper coins—narrowed in irritation.
The One-Tailed Beast—Shukaku.
Ever since Ryoma had completely overwhelmed him in their previous battle, Shukaku had unwillingly become one of his summoned beasts. And every time this man called him, trouble followed.
"What did you drag me out for this time?" Shukaku grumbled, a shiver of dread creeping up his spine. Nothing good ever came from being summoned by this black-hearted human.
Ryoma smiled, far too casually.
"Nothing much. I just mastered a few new techniques and need someone to help me test them."
Before Shukaku could protest, Ryoma's aura exploded. Natural energy converged violently around him as he stepped forward—entering Sage Mode: Apex.
His transformation wasn't flashy like the Six Paths power Naruto or Madara displayed—no floating orbs or divine glow—just an overwhelming sensation of power returning to pure simplicity. Besides the orange pigment spreading around his eyes, he looked almost unchanged.
Yet Shukaku felt like he was being stared down by a predator.
"…Why does he have the same aura as the Sage of Six Paths…?"
Shukaku's heart thumped hard. He had no idea that Ryoma's Sage Mode was fused with Six Paths chakra—its presence instinctively terrified tailed beasts.
"You're not planning some twisted experiment again, are you?" he asked suspiciously.
Ryoma clapped the massive tanuki on the shoulder as if calming a frightened pet.
"Relax. I'm not going to beat you up. Actually, I want you to beat me."
Shukaku blinked. Once. Twice.
This wasteland had been chosen for a reason—no forests to destroy, no mountains to collapse, no innocent life within miles. The perfect place to push Sage Mode: Apex to its limits. Defense, endurance, and impact—he wanted to test it all. And few beings had the chakra reserves and destructive power of a tailed beast.
"This guy… is serious," Shukaku realized, still confused.
"…You're really letting me hit you?" he confirmed again, hardly believing it.
Ryoma nodded confidently.
A slow, wicked grin stretched across Shukaku's giant face—the kind that promised gleeful payback.
"Well now…"
"That's the best thing you've ever said."
...
TN:
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