BlackStar_BH:
More Power Stones and comments, guys!
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Rob wasn't just saving a dying woman… he was holding on to the last thread that bound him to his roots in this world.
As long as Uzumaki Mito was still alive—reading and smiling—the Uzumaki clan would never become a mere memory folded away with the pages of the past.
Rob knew that he had forced her to remain alive, perhaps even severing the reunion she was meant to have with her partner in the next world—and that was wrong.
Yet he did not regret it, and he was ready to repeat this act every single month. Not just for Art Coins, but because he had built a stage and was carefully choosing its audience. Shouldn't his grandmother be invited?
'On this stage, an Uzumaki will play a major role in the world.'
'It may take years to complete my mission in this world, Grandma… so I'm sorry. Until then, you need to stay alive—for me.'
Rob thought this as he looked at the old woman, who was completely absorbed in the manga, occasionally turning its pages with focused interest.
…
"Grandma, I'm going now. I'll come back later to check on you," Rob said as he turned to leave.
As he was leaving, Rob glanced around.
The Senju clan's residence was almost empty—only servants and guarding ninja remained. He let out a quiet sigh.
A clan once as vast as the World Tree had nearly gone extinct, with only two members still alive: Tsunade Senju and her younger brother, Nawaki Senju.
As for Grandma Mito, if Rob hadn't secretly intervened, she would have died today, going to accompany her late husband and her children as well.
Grandma Mito didn't even notice Rob's departure. She was completely focused on what he had given her. Holding the volume with both hands, she felt its weight. It wasn't heavy at all, yet the first few pages made it feel heavier than she had expected.
Her eyes stopped at the carved mountain first. To her surprise, there were four faces.
'Why are there four instead of three?'
But her surprise didn't last long.
The first sideface completely captured her attention, and she smiled faintly.
'Hashirama… You're still standing there, proudly looking over the village you built with your own hands.'
She continued reading in silence.
"An Uzumaki with blond hair? Mixed blood, then?"
The blond child was noisy, rude, and full of trouble—at least, that was how he seemed at first. But Mito didn't look at the child himself; she looked at the emptiness around him. The cold gazes of the villagers, the rejection from everyone around him—and yet the boy laughed, played, and joked.
'Something is wrong here.'
Loneliness… she understood it immediately. This kind of child didn't laugh because he was happy, but because he didn't want to be alone.
'A truly considerate teacher…' Mito smiled when she saw Naruto being taken by Iruka to Ichiraku Ramen.
But when she read about the Kyūbi… she closed the volume for a moment.
She placed a hand over her chest. She wasn't shocked. She knew this feeling all too well. She had lived with it for many years.
'So… not everything changed.'
She opened the volume again.
Iruka's scene made her breathe steady for a little while. Just one person was enough to keep the child from collapsing. No grand words were needed. Mere presence… was enough.
When she finished the chapter, the volume remained open in her hands, leading naturally into the next chapter.
To her, this wasn't even a manga about the future. It was a reminder that some burdens… never disappear—they are merely passed on to those who never asked for them.
"What an unfortunate boy, this Uzumaki Naruto… Becoming a jinchūriki after the Kyūbi caused a catastrophe in Konoha—this burden… no ordinary child could bear it."
Mito felt deep pity for Naruto. She knew this was only the first chapter, yet what was hidden ahead was far greater.
"What is Rubirō-kun trying to convey through Naruto's character in this manga?" Mito wondered.
Rob wasn't drawing a fantasy story for no reason. She could sense many political messages within it.
She even felt the true nature of Sarutobi Hiruzen reflected in the manga. Stories that used real people like this…
'This could cause trouble,' she thought.
Mito decided to lend Rob a helping hand before she died… at the very least, she had to ensure that Hiruzen—or anyone else who might appear in the manga later—wouldn't cause trouble for her grandson.
…
[+3005 AC from Uzumaki Mito]
"As expected—lots of coins. This is great!"
Rob felt a happiness tinged with a bitter taste. He had spent 10,000 Art Coins to extend her life by a single month, yet after his grandmother finished the chapter, he only received a little over 3,000 Art Coins. On the surface, it seemed like a loss—but this was only from the first chapter, and there were still six chapters left in volume one.
"Even if the coins decrease with each chapter, it doesn't matter. I'll still recover what I invested."
That was true. He had already noticed that characters with significant backgrounds provided their largest share of Art Coins at the beginning; over time, the amount gradually decreased until the end of the volume. For example, the Third Hokage had given 999 coins after finishing the first chapter, but after the second chapter, Rob only received around 950—49 fewer than before.
...
On his way back to the Art Store, Rob was surprised to see many people still standing outside, waiting to take the place of those who had exited.
However, unfortunately for them, only a small number left the store after entering.
'Looks like my art store has become incredibly popular on its very first day!' Rob was extremely pleased.
Fortunately, the store's opening day coincided with a time when many key figures of the village were present—or had just returned from their missions.
But the unexpected person he spotted waiting in line made Rob stiffen inwardly.
Early that morning, before opening the art store, he had heard many ugly rumors circulating about this man.
Of course, Rob already knew who was behind them. That was why he had assumed the man would be utterly depressed after his reputation collapsed.
Rob had even considered intervening quickly to prevent Sakumo from committing suicide…
Uzumaki Mito was not the only precious asset he needed to save.
This man—considered the strongest in the village—was the most fascinating asset of all to Rob!
'Who would have thought he'd come to my store at his lowest point?'
Rob approached Sakumo, a smile adorning his face.
"Standing in line doesn't suit Lord Sakumo. Come with me."
Rob spoke softly from behind him, startling Sakumo.
"You… the owner of this store?"
Sakumo felt something off about Rob's friendly attitude. Shouldn't he also be looking at him with contempt—just like everyone else he'd encountered over the past few days?
"That's right. I'm Uzumaki Rubirō—call me Rob if you like. This is my humble store. It would be my honor to receive Lord Sakumo today."
How could Rob not understand Sakumo's thoughts? He had seen enough of Konoha's foolishness. Even ordinary people—weak as grass—looked at Sakumo with open disdain.
All Rob wanted was to learn the truth behind that damned mission—the one that had caused so much damage to the good man standing before him.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 26: The Third Hokage's Grandson, Konohamaru!
Chapter 27: You don't get it just because you want it.
Chapter 28: The Fourth Hokage — Konoha's Hero.
Chapter 29: A Truth from the Near Future.
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BlackStar_BH:
The chapters currently available on Patreon are up to Chapter 37.
There are 12 advanced chapters available now:
5 chapters in the Silver tier ($5 subscription) and 5 more chapters in the Gold tier ($10 subscription).
On Patreon and Ko-fi, too.
In the coming days, chapters will be made available for all tiers, reaching up to 50 advanced chapters… Enjoy!