Let's Get Married

Realizing he was no match for his opponents, Sosuke took advantage of a gap in the exchange to secretly leave behind a Shadow Clone.

If the remaining man dared to strike, the clone could take the girl hostage.

Just like the scene before him now.

"Stop!"

"Don't you dare harm the Princess!"

Seeing the two men hesitate out of concern for their hostage, Sosuke wavered briefly before abandoning the idea of using the threat to his advantage. No matter how foolish they were, they wouldn't just stand there and let him kill her. For now, he needed to retreat—but of course, the Princess had to come with him.

"If you make a single move, I'll cut off one of her ears first. The next step, a finger. The third step, her tongue."

Ignoring the murderous glare from the man, Sosuke staggered toward his Shadow Clone. Throughout it all, the two Captain-level fighters dared not act rashly. Even with all their skills, they couldn't strike before the Kunai fell.

They couldn't understand how the Youth's clone was so powerful. Even now, they couldn't tell which one was the real body. Regret and frustration filled their hearts. More than once, the younger man nearly risked a desperate gamble.

"Don't be impulsive," the other urged. "I can see the boy isn't set on killing. He just wants to get past us. The worst outcome is a failed mission."

"I understand."

Reaching the girl's side, ignoring her blazing glare, Sosuke raised his arm and knocked her out cleanly. He had the Shadow Clone hoist her onto its shoulder, then turned and waved politely. "Seniors, This Humble One will take his leave now."

Two minutes after the Youth left, the two men, as if freed from being rooted to the spot, finally moved.

The younger man possessed powerful perception, easily locking onto targets several kilometers away. Did the boy think taking the Princess hostage meant a safe escape? Too naive. The moment he let his guard down, they'd snatch her back.

"Just you wait."

After an unknown amount of time, Uzumaki Mito slowly woke from her slumber.

She couldn't help it—the jolting beneath her was too intense. The familiar sensation made her face flush, and she couldn't resist reaching out to grip it tightly. In countless lonely moments, she'd secretly done this herself; she knew that thickness and texture by touch alone.

She was lying on the back of a pack horse.

"Awake, my Princess."

The familiar voice came, and Mito's expression instantly soured. She hated the helplessness of having everything controlled by someone else.

As the princess of the Land of Whirlpools, she had been strict with herself since childhood. Among her peers, she always ranked at the top in both strength and knowledge, with few able to match her. But today, she'd been unlucky enough to run into one of those rare exceptions. Even under the guard of two teachers, this detestable man had captured her alive.

For the proud Mito, being taken prisoner was a utter disgrace.

She tugged hard at the reins, but when he didn't react at all, she could only speak coldly. "Help me up."

"No."

"Why?!"

"I think the way you're lying down looks pretty."

In truth, having her lying down made it easier for him to act. At the slightest suspicious move, he could raise his hand and take her out with a Kunai. Realizing this, Mito wisely stopped pressing the issue and instead turned her head with difficulty to ask, "Fine. Then tell me, when do you plan to let me go?"

"Never."

"?"

Taking a sip of water from his canteen, Sosuke said flatly, "You're the princess of the Land of Whirlpools—a real big shot. I finally got my hands on you; why would I let you go easily?"

So he really did see through my identity. Mito sighed inwardly, her red ponytail drooping. She could guess what the Youth was thinking. Use her as a hostage, extort some money.

But when he spoke, she realized she had severely underestimated his shamelessness.

"I'll take you back to my clan. We'll bow and marry. After you bear me a child, he'll become the heir to the Land of Whirlpools."

"By then, the whole country will be mine for the taking. Why the hell would I still be a ninja?"

This shocking declaration left the naive Ponytail Princess utterly dumbfounded.

"M-m-marry?!" Mito's face flushed red, not from shyness, but from rage she could no longer contain. "You bastard, don't even think about it."

"I, Uzumaki Mito, would sooner marry a pig than you in this life or the next!"

Of course, that was just a spur-of-the-moment remark; he never expected the Youth to actually consider it seriously. "That's not impossible. Once we return to the clan, I'll find a way to get you a handsome Ninja Pig—one that can talk. I'll sign a contract with it in advance, and you'll still be able to control the Land of Whirlpools."

"You bastard, once I get free, I'll make you pay."

Earlier, while she was unconscious, Sosuke had spotted a traveling merchant caravan that specialized in providing daily necessities for travelers from all over the world.

He paid for a horse and a straight-barreled chain lock made of refined steel—the kind where the handcuffs were connected by a solid metal bar.

Its purpose was to prevent the hands from touching each other, denying the prisoner any chance to form hand seals and resist.

Given the girl's current strength, there was no way she could break the chain. Otherwise, with Mito's temper, she'd have already jumped up to bite him.

In truth, Sosuke was also hesitating at this moment, wondering if he should just let her go.

Running into the Uzumaki trio was pure coincidence. There was no grudge or enmity between them, so it wasn't necessary to fight to the death.

Actually, it was because he couldn't beat them. Otherwise, those two men would have already turned into points.

Glancing back, Sosuke pondered for a moment and made a decision in his heart.

Once they reached the town ahead, he would release her when there were plenty of people around.

After all, she was the princess of the Uzumaki Clan. For a mere hundred or so points, earning the enmity of an entire country was hardly worth it.

Her father, Uzumaki Ashina, was one of the top Clan Head-level experts of the Warring States Period, with terrifying combat power and many widely known Sealing Techniques under his belt.

Even if he really wanted to kill her, he'd have to wait until the leek was fully grown. Who cuts down a crop before it's ripe?

"Behave yourself, and I'll guarantee you humane treatment."

Hearing this, Mito fell completely silent, likely realizing she was no match for him in words.

Continuing would only bring her further humiliation.

At that moment, a large caravan was secretly assembling.

"Move it! Load all the goods onto the carts."

At the front of the convoy, Scarface was conducting the final inspection. The "goods" he spoke of were none other than lively, struggling humans.

This was a group of slave traders dealing in human trafficking.

"Haha, the haul's not bad this time." Soon, Scarface laughed out loud, indicating the quality of this batch was decent.

He pulled out the money pouch at his waist and distributed the pre-prepared payment. The sellers, their faces hidden, took their money and left the scene.

"Any unsold goods left?" Scarface shouted.

Just then, he heard the sound of hooves in the distance.