"Mother... she..."
"She's dead."
Hydrangea's expression turned somewhat sorrowful.
The woman who had raised her alone during the war had recently passed away.
Mirai Uchiha gently patted Hydrangea's head in comfort and softly asked, "How did your mother die?"
Hydrangea replied quietly, "Thanks to the Military Rations Pill you gave us, Mom took me and hid away in a remote cave, surviving the hardest times."
"Afterwards, the Third Great Ninja World War ended. Lord Nagato overthrew Hanzo Sanshouo's rule, and the village slowly recovered from the war."
"Although life remained hard for everyone, they no longer had to fear being killed in their sleep at random."
"However... Mom's body was severely depleted, and her health kept deteriorating."
At this point, Hydrangea revealed a bitter smile on her face. "Mom always remembered your kindness deeply, and repeatedly told me I must become a ninja and repay your life-saving grace when I meet you again."
"She said if it weren't for you, we would've ended up like others who died in the war—eaten by wild dogs."
"But unfortunately, Mom passed away a month ago."
Hydrangea couldn't help but sob. "If only she'd been able to hold on a little longer, maybe she could have seen you again."
After hearing Hydrangea's story, Mirai Uchiha also felt a mix of emotions welling up inside him.
He had taken many lives, but saved only a few.
He never expected that his impulsive act back then would create such a butterfly effect.
Thinking about this, Mirai pulled Hydrangea into his arms and gently patting her back, he asked, "So… you're living alone now?"
Hydrangea suppressed her sadness and nodded. "Yes."
"Then follow me from now on."
Upon hearing Mirai's words, Hydrangea's eyes widened abruptly, filled with disbelief.
Just now...
What had she heard?!
"M-Mirai-sama, are you serious?!"
"When hydrangeas fade, they always leave a lingering sense of melancholy," Mirai smiled lightly. "Protecting a tender little flower can indeed be rather fulfilling."
Seeing that Mirai truly intended to take her in, Hydrangea immediately knelt down on the ground.
"Mirai-sama, from now on, I'm willing to do anything to assist you—even sacrifice my life without hesitation."
Influenced by her mother, Hydrangea had long felt a deep, instinctive admiration, affection, and gratitude toward Uchiha Mirai. Now, upon hearing that she could finally follow him, she was naturally overwhelmed with excitement.
Hydrangea led Mirai Uchiha to a small earthen mound.
This was where Hydrangea's mother lay buried.
Tears streaming down her face, Hydrangea knelt before the grave and said, "Mother, I've found my benefactor."
"You wouldn't know this, but she is none other than Daimyo Mirai Uchiha!"
"Since Mirai-sama has taken me in, please rest assured that I will become the most useful tool in his hands."
After speaking, Hydrangea placed the bouquet of flowers she held before the grave.
Her mother in the Pure Land would surely be delighted to hear such news.
Mirai stood silently by the grave, waiting patiently for Hydrangea to finish her mourning.
He had no intention of bringing her mother back to life.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death were natural parts of life. He could only ensure that those dear to him remained with him forever.
If he started bringing back even the friends and family of his companions, the entire ninja world would descend into chaos.
After taking Hydrangea under his wing, Mirai brought her to his residence.
There, she tasted the most delicious food of her life.
It was just simple grilled meat seasoned with some spices, but for Hydrangea, it was something that once seemed like a distant dream.
After feasting heartily, she rubbed her round belly and let out a satisfied burp. Then, sticking out her pink tongue, she licked her lips, still craving more.
Seeing her like this, Mirai chuckled, "Don't eat until you're stuffed like this next time. It's not good for you."
Hydrangea scratched her head somewhat shyly, "Mirai-sama, it was my first time eating such amazing food—I couldn't help myself."
"Besides, eating until you're full is actually a really happy thing."
Mirai pinched her slightly chubby cheek and smiled, "Then from now on, I'll let you eat until you're full every single day."
Hearing those words, warmth spread through Hydrangea's chest.
Ever since she could remember, nobody had ever been so kind to her.
No wonder her mother never stopped thinking about Mirai-sama until her dying day...
Mirai-sama truly was a warm-hearted person.
So different from those arrogant, aloof ninjas who treated lives like blades of grass!
Thinking about this, Hydrangea solemnly asked, "Mirai-sama, is there anything I can do for you?"
"It doesn't feel right staying here and eating without contributing anything."
Mirai replied casually, "You can clean up the room a bit."
But surprisingly, Hydrangea shook her head firmly. "Mirai-sama, I'll naturally take care of things like that without needing instructions, but I want to become a truly valuable tool."
"Please—give me a chance!"
"Looking at Hydrangea's serious expression, Mirai Uchiha helplessly rubbed his nose. 'I really don't know what to do with you.'
Thinking for a moment, Mirai Uchiha asked, 'Have you learned how to extract chakra yet?'
Hydrangea shook her head. 'Not yet. I haven't obtained the qualification to become a ninja.'
'Then study this scroll first,' Mirai Uchiha said, withdrawing a scroll from his robe. This scroll contained information about the chakra method and spiritual power cultivation techniques.
Excitement lit up Hydrangea's face as she eagerly unfurled the scroll to read it.
'Become a ninja as soon as possible and prove yourself useful to Mirai-sama!' This had almost become an obsession in Hydrangea's heart.
For this goal, she was willing to pay any price.
Seeing Hydrangea's eager expression, a sudden idea flashed through Mirai Uchiha's mind.
If he remembered correctly, in the original story, Hydrangea had displayed considerable talent in Space–Time Ninjutsu.
Perhaps precisely for this reason, Hydrangea was selected by Konan and Nagato to be transformed into the Animal Path, capable of summoning various Summoning Beasts.
Otherwise...
Mirai Uchiha really couldn't understand why Hydrangea, who only had the strength of a Chunin, would be assigned an S-Rank mission by Konan.
If things were truly as he suspected, then he indeed had many powerful Ninjutsu techniques he could teach Hydrangea."
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