Riding with Mikoto

Uchiha Mikoto leaned down and pinned Uchiha Kurohane's shoulders firmly with both hands. She pressed down hard with her waist and legs, trying to hold him in place.

By all rights, Uchiha Mikoto had the mount and an overwhelming advantage. Under these circumstances, it was difficult for the person pinned beneath her to turn the tables.

On top of that, Uchiha Mikoto was five years older than Uchiha Kurohane, and he was much smaller than her. In that regard, Mikoto had a major advantage too.

Uchiha Mikoto should have been able to win.

But Uchiha Kurohane had gained Yakushi Nonō's Taijutsu talent, which included Jujutsu.

Jujutsu was a form of Taijutsu focused on close-quarters grappling on the ground.

It included techniques for pinning an opponent down and escaping from a pin.

Uchiha Kurohane knew how to counter the mount.

He grabbed Mikoto's wrists with both hands and pulled her little hands apart.

To increase her strength, Uchiha Mikoto leaned farther forward, pressing the weight of her upper body onto him.

Uchiha Kurohane waited for her to lean forward, then thrust his hips upward with all his strength.

Since Uchiha Mikoto was leaning forward, her lower body was unstable. Uchiha Kurohane lifted her right off him.

Unable to use her strength in midair, she was turned over and pinned to the ground again.

Uchiha Kurohane mounted her waist once more, looked down at Mikoto's pretty face, and smiled with satisfaction.

"Looks like I'm still the winner."

Uchiha Mikoto refused to accept defeat and tried to turn over again.

Having learned from his previous experience, Uchiha Kurohane pinned her down firmly this time.

After struggling for a while, Uchiha Mikoto soon realized that Uchiha Kurohane was much stronger than she was.

She had no choice but to give in.

Uchiha Mikoto gazed up at Uchiha Kurohane's face, her heart pounding and her cheeks flushed. Sweat beaded on her body, too.

[Ji~ The host has successfully made Mikoto submit, achieving the accomplishment "Uchiha Mikoto Admits Defeat" and earning the Entry "Mikoto's Chakra D+."]

(Mikoto's Chakra D+: The host gains Uchiha Mikoto's Lightning Release, Fire Release, Water Release, and Yin Release Chakra.)

Uchiha Mikoto was only a fourteen-year-old girl, so she didn't have much chakra. The Entry was only D+ rank.

Still, Uchiha Kurohane hadn't had Lightning Release Chakra before, so this made up for one of his weaknesses.

On the other hand, Uchiha Kurohane had previously gained Water, Earth, Yang, and Yin Release Chakra from Kushina Uzumaki, but no Fire Release Chakra.

Uchiha Kurohane didn't have much Fire Release Chakra of his own, so before using Fire Release, he had to convert chakra of other natures into Fire Release Chakra.

This was not only troublesome, but also consumed a great deal of extra chakra.

Now that he had gained Fire Release Chakra, things would be much easier.

After checking the system's reward, Uchiha Kurohane saw that Uchiha Mikoto had stopped struggling completely. He smiled and asked,

"Have you admitted defeat?"

Uchiha Mikoto had given up in her heart, but she wouldn't admit it out loud.

"No. You used Chakra Enhanced Strength. That's against the rules."

"I didn't use Chakra Enhanced Strength."

"You're way too strong. You must have used it!"

Uchiha Kurohane immediately understood what Mikoto meant.

Chakra Enhanced Strength used chakra to reinforce the body and increase strength.

Since this happened inside the body, no one could see it unless they had the Byakugan.

So Uchiha Kurohane couldn't prove his innocence.

This little Mikoto was surprisingly crafty!

But it didn't matter if she refused to admit defeat. She was only fourteen, too young for anything more.

Uchiha Kurohane had never intended to do anything to her.

He had only wanted to show off his strength and make Mikoto abandon her delusion of taking him on as a little brother, so she would obediently become his little brother instead.

Now that he'd achieved his goal, it didn't matter if she refused to admit defeat.

That said, the feeling of sitting astride Uchiha Mikoto's waist and looking down at her was surprisingly wonderful.

Uchiha Kurohane didn't want to get off. He wanted to keep arguing with Mikoto.

But just then, an angry, authoritative shout came from the distance.

"What are you doing?"

Uchiha Mikoto's body shuddered when she heard the voice. She hurriedly whispered,

"My adoptive father's here. Get off me!"

Uchiha Mikoto had mentioned before that her adoptive father was Uchiha Setsuna.

He was a hardline Uchiha elder who had once attempted to overthrow the Second Hokage's rule.

After spending more than a decade in prison, he had been released by the merciful Third Hokage because of the Second Shinobi World War. He was now the head of the Uchiha Clan.

He was gloomy and usually said very little.

Uchiha Kurohane had never had any dealings with him.

Now that he saw him approaching, Uchiha Kurohane quickly moved away and stood up.

Blushing, Uchiha Mikoto patted her backside and got up as well.

Uchiha Setsuna strode toward them and fixed Uchiha Kurohane with a cold stare.

"What did you just do to Mikoto?"

Uchiha Setsuna looked as if someone had trampled the little cabbage he'd raised. His face was full of fury, and even his hands were trembling with anger.

Uchiha Kurohane thought the old man was out of his mind.

He was only nine years old—a little kid. What could he possibly have done?

They'd just been playing around. What was there to get so worked up about?

Uchiha Mikoto answered for Uchiha Kurohane before he could.

"We were training in Taijutsu."

Uchiha Setsuna hadn't believed her at first. He was about to ask why Taijutsu training involved mounting someone on the ground, but then he noticed the two wooden Kunai lying there and fell silent.

He narrowed his eyes and looked closely. The Kunai were covered in notches, marks left by fierce clashes.

That showed they really had been training with wooden Kunai, and that they had taken their practice seriously.

Uchiha Setsuna was rarely able to see Mikoto train so earnestly, and he felt a rush of relief.

Mikoto had finally started working hard.

Perhaps Fugaku had inspired her and given her some fighting spirit.

But she should have attended Fugaku's farewell gathering first, then trained after he left.

It was inappropriate of her to skip Fugaku's farewell gathering and come train with this child instead.

If Uchiha Fugaku found out, he would surely get the wrong idea.

Besides, what was the point of training with this dead last?

Other than the Sharingan, the boy had nothing going for him. Training with him was a waste of time.

Uchiha Setsuna said sternly,

"If you want to train, you should come to me. I'll find the best instructor to teach you."

"And Fugaku's farewell gathering was just now. Why didn't you attend?"

As it turned out, Uchiha Setsuna had come looking for Uchiha Mikoto because he'd noticed she wasn't among the crowd.

"I don't like crowded places."

Uchiha Mikoto spoke in a coquettish, willful voice.

"Ah, Fugaku's going to fight in the dangerous Land of Rain. Even if you don't like it, you should put up with it for a while... Never mind. It's already happened, so there's no point talking about it now."

"Come with me. I'll find you a female Taijutsu instructor."

Uchiha Setsuna stressed that the instructor would be female, clearly displeased by the physical contact between Uchiha Kurohane and Mikoto.

Uchiha Kurohane thought he was being too petty.

He'd only sat astride Mikoto's waist. He hadn't done anything inappropriate to her.

Mikoto hadn't lost a single piece of flesh, either.

And yet the old man was upset. He was far too petty!

People who were that petty had no future. No wonder his coup had failed...