HGBW: Ch. 113

"I'll listen to your story."

Mikoto stood still, looking up at the sky.

"Here you go."

After a long moment, she withdrew her gaze, then took out a scroll from her ninja pouch and handed it to Tanaka.

"What is this?"

Tanaka reached out to take the scroll and opened it. His eyes couldn't move away from it.

The scroll recorded two techniques: Sword Leap, Gale Sword

Although they were not high-level techniques, both were taijutsu-based and leaned toward sword techniques—exactly what he needed.

After all, the White Fang Sword Technique was also a form of taijutsu but primarily focused on Lightning Release. In contrast, the two techniques Mikoto gave him had one based on Fire Release and the other on Wind Release.

Once mastered, he would have three nature transformations in taijutsu, making him formidable in both the One Piece and Naruto worlds, capable of handling various opponents.

Thinking of this, Tanaka glanced at the training ground, where his shadow clone was practicing sword techniques, then looked behind Mikoto.

That meant these techniques were prepared specifically for him by Mikoto.

"I heard you obtained a Kusanagi Sword. These two techniques are just right for you to use."

Mikoto clasped her hands in front of her.

Even though she was wearing a normal jonin vest, her every movement and word exuded the grace and dignity of a noble clan heiress.

"Sorry, Mikoto-nee. This was unexpected, and I didn't have time to prepare a gift in return."

Tanaka didn't hesitate and accepted the two techniques Mikoto had given him.

As expected, all his efforts to raise favorability weren't in vain.

"It's okay. Before I came to find you, you didn't even know about this arranged marriage. But as for me, from the day you became a jonin, I already knew about you. I also knew that my father and the clan intended to marry me to you."

Mikoto shook her head.

Hearing this, Tanaka reached up and pinched his chin, thinking about what would be an appropriate return gift.

She likely lacked nothing in terms of wealth or training resources. Moreover, the Uchiha and Hyūga clans had entirely different bloodline limits. The techniques collected by both clans also followed completely opposite paths. Something valuable in the Hyūga clan might be seen as an antique in the Uchiha clan—seemingly precious but actually useless.

"There is something I want. And in this entire world, only you can give it to me. Do you know if you can fulfill my wish?"

Seeing his hesitation in choosing a gift, Mikoto spoke at the right moment.

"Of course, as long as it's within my power."

Although Mikoto had just handed him valuable techniques like she was spending gold coins, much like Orochimaru's generosity, Tanaka still refrained from making an absolute promise.

Even though they had only interacted for a short time, he had already noticed what she needed the most.

A sense of security.

If he made a promise too lightly, it would make him seem unreliable.

And if Mikoto's request was too demanding and he failed to fulfill it, not only would he embarrass himself, but the favorability he had just gained could disappear instantly.

Yes.

Favorability could increase, but it could also decrease before reaching 90.

If favorability reached 90, using the Void Walker's Gate to travel between worlds would automatically bind them together. At that point, unless he did something extreme—like forcing Mikoto to commit suicide or exterminating her entire family—her favorability wouldn't drop.

If her favorability decreased and fell below 90, the gate's existence and all memories of traveling between worlds would automatically be erased.

Only when favorability reached 100 and the gate was used again for world travel would the binding become permanent and irreversible.

"I want to see your space-time ninjutsu in action. Is that okay?"

After speaking, Mikoto might have felt that her request was a bit abrupt, so she explained:

"In the Uchiha clan, there is a tradition. Between husband and wife, they may form the Seal of Confrontation. So, before I change my surname, I want to understand the person I am changing it for."

As soon as she finished speaking, her black eyes flickered with a hint of crimson light.

Clearly, Mikoto's emotions were not as calm as she appeared on the surface.

"Alright."

Tanaka agreed to her request.

After all, part of his Op-Op Fruit abilities had already been deliberately leaked, making it no longer a secret among Konoha's higher-ups and the major ninja clans.

Mikoto's request could be a test. But more than that, it was curiosity—and a way to vent her emotions through a sparring match.

After all, Uchiha emotions and mental states were famously unstable.

Being reduced to a political pawn in a clan alliance, even someone as composed as Setsuna would have emotions about it—let alone Mikoto.

Her Sharingan was already on the verge of activating.

Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!

Tanaka formed a hand seal, and the five shadow clones in the training ground instantly dissipated into white mist.

Since he had been training for a long time, he didn't feel particularly exhausted.

"Do you need to rest first?"

Although Mikoto was eager to fight and release the emotions she had been suppressing, her natural kindness and consideration made her prioritize Tanaka's condition first.

She usually only used two shadow clones for training, which already left her exhausted. Let alone Tanaka, who had been using five at once.

"I'm fine."

Tanaka shook his head, then walked into the training ground first. He raised his right hand in front of him and formed the Seal of Confrontation.

Seeing this, Mikoto didn't hesitate. She stepped forward, stood opposite Tanaka, and immediately formed the Seal of Confrontation.

At the same time, her pitch-black eyes burst into a deep crimson glow.

Three tomoe appeared, spinning slowly like a windmill around the central black pupil.

The next second, both of them moved at the same time. However, Mikoto seemed to be faster—because her dōjutsu was instant.

"Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!"

Her eyes widened slightly.

Then—

"Tanaka, you!"

Mikoto stared at Tanaka, who had activated his Byakugan but had lowered his eyelids, closing his eyes. She had always been gentle and elegant, maintaining her composure even as a political pawn of her clan.

But now, she lost her cool, her face full of frustration.

He closed his eyes—who was she even using her genjutsu on?

Though she was angry, her rational mind quickly reminded her: If a Hyūga closed their eyes, even the Sharingan was useless against them.

"What's wrong?"

Tanaka looked puzzled—but the corners of his lips curled slightly.

Guy had once told him that the best way to counter the Sharingan was to avoid looking into an Uchiha's eyes. Kabuto had taught him that the best method was to block his own vision—also known as fighting with closed eyes.

A child would choose between the two.

An adult would take both.

So, Tanaka decided to not look at Mikoto's Sharingan—and at the same time, closed his eyes.

After all, with the 360-degree vision of the Byakugan, he only needed to slightly adjust his perspective. Even with his eyes closed, he could still see Mikoto's movements perfectly, without affecting the battle at all.

Unlike Guy, who had to train for years to fight by watching his opponent's feet instead of their eyes.

Unlike Kabuto, who had to completely seal his vision and rely solely on Sage Mode's perception.

No wonder Mikoto lost her composure.

With Tanaka closing his eyes, even a three-tomoe Sharingan's genjutsu was useless against him.

Even the Mangekyō Sharingan's Tsukuyomi would be nothing more than an empty threat.