A cold blade rested against Uchiha Chen's neck, its chilling gleam enough to freeze the blood. With the slightest pressure, it could easily slit his throat.
The woman holding the knife spoke in a cold, merciless voice, her undisguised killing intent clear as she asked, "Chen, what were you planning to do just now?"
Uchiha Chen was still panting heavily, his body trembling slightly with tension and fear.
Although the Senbon had partially blocked his airway, Uchiha Chen's Sage Body was already healing his wound at an astonishing rate. In just a few seconds, he had nearly recovered.
Even so, Uchiha Chen pretended to be struggling to breathe. Gasping for air, he tried to defend himself.
"I... I just wanted to use a genjutsu to tell you some important secrets."
Uchiha Chen stammered, his gaze shifting uneasily. He didn't dare let her hear the uncertainty in his voice. "After all, there might be someone listening through the walls. I can't afford to let my guard down!"
Before he could finish, the knife handle shifted slightly in her hand. Its sharp edge instantly sliced into Uchiha Chen's neck. A sting of pain flashed through him, and a drop of bright red blood trickled down the blade, falling before his eyes. It hung in the air like a red jewel, gleaming with an eerie light.
Uchiha Chen's eyes widened as he stared at the drop of blood, an indescribable fear rising within him. Death was so close that he felt an oppression unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Even with Izanagi as his safety net, he had only just arrived in this world! Though his body had already fused with this new vessel, his mind had yet to fully adapt to the change.
This was the first time he had faced death from such close range. It was nothing like the absurd, ridiculous way he had died before transmigrating. This was a genuine sense that the thread of his life was no longer in his hands, and the deep fear of an uncertain future.
Her icy words came again. "This is the home of the Uchiha Clan's head. How could anyone be listening through the walls? Who could possibly be spying on us here? If you don't tell me the truth..." She let the threat trail off.
The razor-sharp blade pressed a little deeper. More crimson blood trickled down its length, each bead dropping to the floor like a crystal-clear pearl. Every drop seemed to mark the frantic beat of my heart, again and again, until I could hardly breathe.
Hearing this, Uchiha Chen couldn't help cursing himself inwardly. What a terrible excuse! She was right—who would be foolish enough to sneak into the head of the Uchiha Clan's home to eavesdrop? He never would have guessed Uchiha Mikoto would be so perceptive. No wonder she was the woman I had set my sights on.
In that brief moment, Uchiha Chen had recovered from his fear of death. After all, he wasn't going to die for real. He still had Izanagi, didn't he? Besides, Kotoamatsukami didn't require eye contact to activate. Thank goodness he hadn't used it carelessly just now, or he'd have been done for.
If his plan was exposed, the Uchiha Clan—or even Konoha—might hunt him down. His only way out would probably be to join the Akatsuki. And while he was at it, he could have some fun with Konan. Heh, he couldn't let one tree keep him from the whole forest!
At the thought, Uchiha Chen felt utterly speechless with himself. Things had reached this point, and he was still thinking about fooling around with women? Damn it! I silently spat on myself in disgust.
Yet a voice deep inside him argued back: I'm just a shut-in who likes playing porn games. What's wrong with a man having a few perverted thoughts? At that, his once-hunched back straightened a little.
Watching Uchiha Chen's expression shift again and again before he finally stood straighter, Uchiha Mikoto's patience wore thin. She said coldly, "Since you're so stubborn, there's only one way out for you: death!" With that, she swung her blade toward his throat.
At this critical moment, Uchiha Chen finally reeled in the wild thoughts running through his mind. Just as the blade was about to cut into me, I snapped my eyes open. The Tomoe within spun rapidly, transforming into a Mangekyo Sharingan, and I shouted, "Kotoamatsukami!"
In an instant, the blade froze in midair as if a binding spell had been cast upon it.
Uchiha Chen began to write a command for Uchiha Mikoto—no, for my Mikoto, my first wife—to overwrite her mind and memories.
Uchiha Mikoto, from this moment on, you will learn to skillfully conceal your true identity in front of others. In public, you will continue to play the part of the noble and elegant clan head's wife: the gentle, virtuous spouse at Uchiha Fugaku's side, and the beloved mother of Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha.
But when we are alone, you will drop this disguise and become my personal slave.
In the world that belongs only to the two of us, you will willingly give yourself to me, feeling immense happiness and pride as you do so.
Whatever I ask of you, you will carry out without hesitation. Even if it costs you dearly—even if you have to kill someone with your own hands—you will not hesitate for a moment. Because to you, my interests will always come first.
Once he had finished writing the command, Uchiha Chen cautiously reached out and gently moved the sharp blade from his shoulder. At that moment, she seemed to awaken from a nightmare. Her once cold, merciless expression shifted as complicated emotions surged through her.
A moment ago, she had been as cold as ice. Now, in the blink of an eye, her face was filled with confusion, shock, excitement, pain, and guilt.
She tossed the knife from her hand without hesitation, then her legs gave way and she sank to her knees. She quickly sprang back up, her lips trembling as she cried out, "I'm sorry, Master! I truly don't know why I didn't recognize you just now. Please forgive me! I'll bandage your wound right away."
Before she had finished speaking, she reached into the Jonin vest that marked her rank and pulled out a roll of bandages, ready to treat my wound.
But Uchiha Chen waved for her to step back, then raised his arm slightly to show the wound, which had already healed on its own.
Seeing that Uchiha Chen was unharmed, Mikoto immediately dropped to her knees again. She picked up the knife beside her and held it to her slender, fair neck, her gaze firm and resolute. "This wretched woman dared to hurt you, Master. My crime is unforgivable! Only death can atone for it..." Before she could finish, she began to press the blade into her throat, intent on ending her life.
Seeing this, Uchiha Chen hurriedly shouted, "All right, I've forgiven you!"
With that, Uchiha Chen snatched the knife away, thinking to himself, I don't want to watch the beauty I just won over die right in front of me. Then he spoke gently. "Also, don't call me Master anymore. Just call me 'Chen,' like you used to."
Hearing this, she knew her master no longer blamed her for what she had done and had even allowed her to call him by name. Her guilt only deepened, and she quietly set the knife aside.
Uchiha Chen stood quietly beside her, waiting for her emotions to settle. Once she had calmed down, he carefully helped her to her feet and lightly touched her soft, pale hand. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he teased, "These hands are so slender and delicate. They're nothing like the vicious hands that nearly took my life just now. They look more like the nimble hands of someone who could play heavenly music."
His teasing words immediately made her uneasy. These hands had nearly cost her master his life. That was an unforgivable crime, and they had no right to remain.
She was about to pull her hands away, pick up the blade beside her, and cut off the hand that had held the knife when Uchiha Chen saw what she intended. He swiftly pulled her into his arms, his right hand gently stroking her slender waist as he said softly, "I've already told you I forgive you. Don't ever hurt yourself again. That's an order from your master."