Ascension Or Journey From World To World

Hidden Leaf Village.

Ichiraku Ramen.

Ichiraku Ramen is a small restaurant serving the best ramen in the whole village.

Thanks to the help of their new friend, Ray and Kushina were still able to find this little restaurant and try the ramen served in it.

_____

*Boom*

"Teuchi-san! Five more servings of miso ramen!" putting the bowl loudly on the counter, shouted a girl with red hair.

A black-haired girl sitting next to her looked at the disappearing ramen with wide eyes. She had such an expression on her face, as if she saw a n.a.k.e.d Third Hokage riding a n.a.k.e.d Orochimaru, behind which an intelligent and well-mannered Jiraiya was slowly walking.

"Hmph. How can you eat so much and not get fat? You eat even more than men from the Akimichi clan. Damn, this is some kind of secret jutsu of your clan!?" pointing a finger at the red-haired ramen eater, the black-haired girl shouted.

"Mikoto-chan, you should have gotten used to all of our superpowers. Just calm down and relax. Eat ramen and enjoy life," putting a hand on Mikoto's head and ruffling her hair a little, Ray said with a smile.

"Hmmm. I don't envy her at all. And I didn't think about asking you to teach me this technique! But if you offer, I won't refuse," crossing her arms over her c.h.e.s.t and puffing her cheeks, Mikoto answered.

[What is it? When did Mikoto become tsundere? Or is it the influence of Uchiha blood? Hmmm.] looking at pouted Mikoto, Ray thought.

*Sigh*

"I already told you that you can always train with us and I will teach you a few jutsus and techniques," Ray answered with a sigh.

"But aren't these your clan's secrets? As far as I know, shinobis don't like to share their jutsus and techniques, and they never talk about their hidens," looking at Ray with a questioning look, Mikoto asked.

"You're right. If it was someone else, I would simply ignore or kill this person. But this does not apply to you, you are the only person in Konoha whom Kushina and I can trust a little," looking into Mikoto's eyes, Ray said with a smile.

"Trust? Even if we've only known each other six days?" Mikoto asked in surprise.

Trust is a very rare feeling in shinobi life. She, a member of the Uchiha clan and future kunoichi, she was always taught not to trust strangers or even members of her team. She was also taught not to become attached to other people, otherwise, she would not be able to sacrifice them at the right time and they could influence her decisions. Now is the era of shinobi wars, and everyone is surviving as they can.

Even if the clans united and created hidden villages, clans primarily care about themselves, not about their villages. And this happens not only in Konoha, but also in other shinobi villages.

"Of course! Or you don't want to be our friend and my training partner? *sniff* *sniff* You don't like us? *sniff*" looking at Mikoto with tears in her eyes, Kushina asked sadly. She even stopped eating her ramen, thereby saying that she was completely serious.

"Whhhhaat? No! Of course not! I want to be your friend. And I like you," panicking a little and starting to wave her hands in front of her, Mikoto quickly answered.

"Ufufu. Mikoto-chan, you're so cute," covering her mouth with her hand, Kushina giggled.

Mikoto realized that Kushina was just teasing her, so she pouted and turned away in the opposite direction.

"I'm older than you. Don't call me Mikoto-chan," Mikoto muttered softly.

Ray looked at Kushina and saw behind her Kiyoko's transparent figure, whose face was covered with a hannya mask.

[Another illusion created by the Power of Youth? Or did Kushina get her own stand? This world is so strange...] stroking an imaginary beard, Ray thought.

The trio continued to eat ramen and talk on various topics for another 20 minutes, after which they headed to the training ground in the Uzumaki Quarter. Ray wanted to see Mikoto's power and skills.

_____

Training ground.

Ray and Kushina trained almost every day, so their training ground had a huge area and was surrounded by powerful fuin barriers. It was also divided into different zones, each of which had its own landscape and natural conditions.

Ray created all this just because of Kushina. He wanted her to be able to fight in absolutely any natural conditions and that these conditions did not affect her overall power and morale.

It's no secret that most shinobis are used to the climate and landscape of their native villages. That is why they become a little weaker in the territory of other countries.

Shinobis of the Land of Wind are accustomed to deserts, dryness, and winds, and they will noticeably weaken in the Land of Water or Village Hidden by Rain. Shinobis of the Land of Fire accustomed to a temperate climate and dense forests. This applies to the shinobis of other countries. All of them are accustomed to certain environmental conditions and once in the territory of another country, they will need some time to adapt.

Kushina has already begun to get used to all these conditions, so she will not encounter such a problem and will be able to fight without paying attention to the landscape or climate. And most importantly, she will learn to adapt, which is a very important skill in any world.

______

In the middle of the ground, covered with stones and rocks, stood a beautiful black-haired girl with unusual eyes.

Her eyes were blood red, and around her pupils were one tomoe.

The girl looked at three wooden mannequins, which stood at a distance of 10 meters from her.

<Fire Release: Fireball Technique>

The girl made several hand seals, after which she put the index and middle fingers of her right hand to her mouth and exhaled a stream of fire that formed into a fireball.

Fireball flew into three mannequins, and two seconds later they were consumed by the flame. The mannequins could not resist the heat and turned to ash, after which the fire slowly went out.

*huff* *huff* *huff*

The girl sat down on the ground and began to breathe heavily. She used this technique six times in a row and almost completely depleted her chakra supply.

"Mikoto, you're great. You are only 10 years old, but you can already use the fireball technique six times in a row. You have great potential, and in the future, you will become a very strong kunoichi," going up to Mikoto and stroking her head, Ray praised her.

"Mmm. You really have a large chakra supply. This is amazing for a member of the Uchiha clan. I thought you would have a small chakra supply and even wanted to teach you several fuin seals for storing the chakra. Well, so much the better," going up to Ray and Mikoto, Kushina said.

Hearing their words, Mikoto was a little surprised.

"Ray said you were both powerful sensors, didn't you check my chakra supply?" looking at the two Uzumakis, Mikoto asked.

Ray shook his head and answered:

"No. This was never necessary. And we do not use sensory techniques on our friends and family members. It's a secret, but we own the highest sensory technique, which works not only as a normal sensory technique, but also as empathy and a lie detector."

Mikoto was even more surprised and said:

"I really do not understand you. I am a member of the Uchiha clan, and you both know the reputation of my clan. You have no reason to trust me. So why? Why did you want to become my friends and did not even use your sensory technique on me? How do you know that I really want to be your friend? Maybe the elders gave me a mission to seduce Ray and make him a member of our clan?"

"Pffff. Do you really think that all this matters? Uzumakis an extremely good judge of character, and I don't think we were wrong about you," sitting opposite Mikoto and looking into her eyes, Kushina said.

"And I do not mind that you seduce Ray. But then you will have to leave the Uchiha clan and you will belong only to my onii-san," Kushina said with a smile.

Hearing Kushina's words, Mikoto blushed like a tomato and covered her face with both hands.

Ray looked at Kushina with a raised eyebrow.

[Do you offer her to seduce me? Kushina, have you forgotten that you are only eight years old? Even in the World of Harry Potter, children don't think about it at this age.] looking at smiling Kushina, Ray thought.

"Kushina, if you don't stop teasing Mikoto, then she will lose consciousness from high blood pressure. Or do you want her to awaken Mangekyo Sharingan?" stroking Mikoto's head, Ray said.

"Oooh. Do you think this will help her awaken Mangekyo? Umu. Then I will help her and I will tease her even more!" raising her fist in the air, Kushina shouted.

*Sigh*

Ray sighed at Kushina's antics and picked Mikoto up in his arms.

Mikoto did not answer and immediately pressed herself against his c.h.e.s.t. She knew that she had a chakra depletion and she could not walk independently or even just stand. In addition, she liked Ray and she did not mind that he carried her... Now she felt like a real Hime.

Kushina looked at Mikoto and saw that she closed her eyes and a happy smile appeared on her face.

[Well, she's a good girl and will become a good wife and sister.] Kushina thought as she continued to look at the happy Mikoto.

She went to Ray and put her hand on his shoulder.

As soon as Kushina touched Ray, the trio immediately disappeared from the training ground.

_____

Evening.

House of Kushina and Ray.

After taking a bath and a delicious dinner, Ray, Kushina, and Mikoto sat in the living room and just relaxed.

Mikoto was surprised when she saw the house of Ray and Kushina. In their house, there were so many different outlandish devices that she had never seen in Konoha. She thought it was the fuin devices of the Uzumaki clan, and she would never have thought that all this was created by Ray.

She really liked their house. Unlike her cold and empty house, their house was filled with an atmosphere of home comfort and family warmth. She did not even notice how her face was filled with sadness and loneliness.

Kushina and Ray were sitting next to Mikoto and immediately saw a change in her expression.

"Mikoto-chan?" Kushina asked anxiously.

Mikoto shook her head and smiled a fake smile.

"Nnn. Sorry, just some sad memories," she answered.

Kushina looked into Ray's eyes, after which she looked at Mikoto, as if telling him that he should comfort and calm her.

Ray nodded, sat down beside Mikoto, and pulled her into his arms.

Mikoto squeaked in surprise and wanted to say something, but Ray put a finger on her lips and began to gently stroke her head.

"Mikoto, if something bothers you, then you can share it with us. Even if we have known each other for less than a week, you have already become an important person for us, and we will try to help you in every way possible. If this is something too personal, then you can tell us about it when you're ready. But know that we will always help you and don't leave you in trouble," continuing to stroke her head, Ray said gently.

Hearing his voice filled with care and anxiety, Mikoto could no hold it in anymore and tears flowed from her eyes. She immediately hugged Ray and buried her face in his c.h.e.s.t.

Ray let her cry on his c.h.e.s.t and continued to gently stroke her head.

Kushina looked at all this with concern and anger. She was a smart girl and immediately realized that the cause of Mikoto's sadness was her arrogant clan. She remembered her expression at their first meeting. Mikoto hid all her emotions and wore the mask of a cold and arrogant princess. Even then, she realized that she was either a spoiled and arrogant princess, whom the whole clan praises, or she is a lonely and unhappy girl who is forced to be the one she never wanted to be. And when she saw that Mikoto was a very emotional girl and different from other Uchihas, she confirmed that this is the second.

Mikoto continued to cry for several minutes. She did not scream, did not complain, did not ask for help, but simply cried quietly.

As soon as she calmed down, she turned and sat on Ray's l.a.p, leaning her back against his c.h.e.s.t. Ray put his arm around her waist and began to wait for what she would tell.

Kushina sat opposite Mikoto and wiped her tears with a white handkerchief.

Mikoto gratefully smiled and started telling her story...

She told them that her mother was the younger sister of the current head of the Uchiha clan, and her father was one of the clan's strongest shinobi. Her father died in the First Shinobi War, and her mother died due to lung disease.

After that, she was left alone, and she was raised by elders and other members of the clan. The Uchiha clan elders took good care of the orphans and provided them completely, but they raised them as arrogant shinobi or as good and obedient wives.

Mikoto was very talented and the head of the clan began to look at her with a calculating look. She even heard rumors that he plans to make her the wife of his son, Fugaku, with the hope that she will give birth to talented children. Mikoto could not refuse it, because the orders of the head of the clan are laws. In addition, the women of the Uchiha clan had practically no rights and could not express their opinions. This was not surprising... Almost all clans adhere to this policy, with the exception of only Uzumaki clan, Senju clan, and Nadeshiko Village.

Having finished her story, Mikoto closed her eyes and felt lightness and relaxation.

"Mikoto, do you want to live with us?" bending to Mikoto's ear, Ray asked.

"I want to! But... my clan..." Mikoto said sadly.

"Mmm. Then now this is your home. And don't worry, your clan cannot do anything. Just tell your elders that you have achieved some success and are trying to force me to become a member of the Uchiha clan. This will protect you from the plans of the head of the clan and give we'll have some time. The elders will not allow the head of the clan to make you the wife of this Fugaku, because you have the opportunity to bring the Uzumaki man to the clan. *cough* I wanted to say, a breeder from the Uzumaki clan," putting his chin on Mikoto's shoulder, Ray answered.

"A breeder!?" Mikoto was surprised.

"Of course, why do they still need a Uzumaki man? They need him to i.m.p.r.e.g.n.a.t.e all the free women of your clan. Moreover, men are valued much higher than women. Because a man can do this constantly, without nine-month breaks. Well, you understand, right?" poking Mikoto on the cheek, Kushina answered.

"Eeeehhh! I thought that this was done only to obtain hiden and secret techniques of the Uzumaki clan! Does this mean that all the clans of Konoha need only Ray's offspring!?" the shocked Mikoto shouted.

"Hahaha. Now you know the whole truth. I am surprised that they did not tell you about this. Girls from our clan will find out about this after they have reached the age of five. This is a very common practice, especially for Kumo. But they usually just kidnap shinobi or kunoichi and make them breed. All for the sake of increasing the power of the village. All for the Greater Good," raising his head from Mikoto's shoulder and stroking an imaginary white beard, Ray said.

Kushina took Mikoto's hand and helped her up.

"Come on, I will show you your new room and tell you what is happening with the captured kunoichi. You should know about this," Kushina seriously said.

Seeing her serious expression, Mikoto nodded and followed Kushina.

Ray remained sitting in his place and thinking about tomorrow.

[Tomorrow will be the first day at this useless academy. We do not need to attend the academy personally, we can use controlled clones for this. The main question is, when is the best time for us to finish the academy and get the genin ranks? Konoha should start the Second Shinobi War in two years. Uzushio will be "destroyed" in the next few months and we will become the last Royal Uzumakis, and therefore easy targets for other clans. Hmm. I will finish the academy in half a year. Then I will have enough time to become at least a chunin. Kushina and Mikoto will continue their studies at the academy until I become a jonin and have the opportunity to accept them in my team. Yes, this is the most sensible decision.]

Ray got up from his seat and headed toward the most important room in the whole house... Onsen.

He should have a good rest and prepare for the first day at the shinobi academy.