Time is a important factor in battle.
For the strong, even a mere 0.01-second difference can flip the outcome of a fight.
And for someone like Kasumigaoka Utaha, a seemingly insignificant five-second pause was all she needed to drive her dagger into the enemy before her.
Of course, that's the ideal scenario.
In reality, not every enemy is kind enough to be within arm's reach.
And let's not even talk about those tanky monsters scattered across countless worlds—those so absurdly durable that attacks from the weak bounce off like raindrops on steel.
So even with a broken ability like "time stop," the average person wouldn't get far in a high-tier world. It wouldn't make them strong—just less helpless.
But Kasumigaoka Utaha was undeniably lucky.
She was born in a peaceful world—normal, uneventful. And yet, through a twist of fate, she joined the chat group. A system cheat in its own right. Even better, most of the members were friendly, powerful, and willing to help.
With their support, she could step beyond her mundane origins and chase after a higher realm of existence.
…
Five seconds passed.
The world, which had frozen unnaturally, clicked back into motion.
"...Why are you looking at us like that?"
Uzumaki Kushina tilted her head at Utaha, surprised. "You've managed to activate your time-stop already, Miss Utaha?"
Uchiha Miyuki didn't speak right away. Her brows drew together slightly—clearly sensing something amiss.
Luo Hao, the seasoned God Slayer, was more direct.
"Time definitely stopped just now," she muttered, narrowing her eyes. "I felt it. An odd wind grazed my face. Out of rhythm with the world."
"You can actually feel that?" Daemon blinked, genuinely surprised.
It reminded him—painfully—just how vast the gap was between his own combat intuition and hers.
"You didn't feel anything?" Luo Hao turned to him with a frown, visibly displeased.
This woman. She'd just been crushed by him in battle, and instead of fearing or hating him, she cared more about whether he was being attentive. Strange priorities.
"I... might have felt something. I wasn't as sure as you," Daemon admitted, scratching his cheek.
Though he tried to play it off, his gaze shifted briefly to Utaha.
She was very pointedly avoiding his eyes.
But he was sure of it. Someone had touched his face during that frozen moment. Lightly. Carefully.
Given her power, it didn't take a genius to figure out who.
...But why?
Why did she touch me, and not anyone else?
And right in front of all these women?
His thoughts started to spiral, though he quickly shoved them aside. It wasn't the time—or place—to start questioning motives.
Still... her power really was something else.
Daemon shuddered slightly at the memory of being touched without noticing. That kind of control—flawless activation, completely undetectable—it was the kind of ability anyone would kill to have.
It was, in one word, broken.
"Ahh... so it did stop?" Kushina's face twisted into a pout. "I thought I felt something weird..."
"It's not hard to notice," Utaha replied with a playful smile.
Then, without warning, she activated her ability again.
This time, she didn't target just Daemon.
Everyone present got a taste.
Especially Kushina—Utaha made sure she got extra attention.
Five seconds passed.
Time resumed.
"Ah—!" Kushina squeaked, raising her arms in surprise. She stared at Utaha, her cheeks flushing bright red. "That—! You really did stop time!"
On the other side, Luo Hao touched her cheek lightly, her expression unreadable. She didn't say anything, but the subtle tension in her shoulders said enough.
She'd been touched. And hadn't noticed a thing.
Finally, she nodded. "That's... quite the gift. It may look plain, but it's stronger than most realize. Given enough control, you'll be able to defeat enemies far above your level."
Her tone had shifted—no longer dismissive. It was the first time she spoke to Utaha with genuine respect.
Utaha blinked, slightly caught off guard.
"You really think so?" she asked shyly, a little blush creeping up her neck.
Luo Hao gave a rare, faint smile. "Your ability is formidable. But power alone isn't enough."
There was a short silence before Utaha took a breath and stepped forward.
"Um, Sect Leader Luo Hao... would you consider teaching me martial arts?"
"No."
Luo Hao shut it down instantly.
"I don't take in disciples with average talent. I value my time too much to waste it."
"Ah... I see." Utaha lowered her gaze, the light in her eyes dimming.
She wasn't angry. Or bitter.
She knew Luo Hao's personality from the chat group. Direct. Uncompromising. If she said Utaha didn't have the talent, then that was simply the truth.
Still... it stung.
"Sister, don't be sad!" Uchiha Miyuki reached out, flustered. "There's a mission coming up in Minecraft world, right? Maybe you'll get lucky and roll something insane—like the Rinnegan!"
Utaha looked up, then smiled softly.
"Thanks. That really helps."
But there was a mischievous glint in her eye as she leaned in closer, voice lowering to a whisper.
"Uchiha's little pervert~"
"Ahhh—!"
Miyuki froze for a second, then squealed, flailing as she tried to hide her face.
Daemon sighed and cut in before things got too out of hand.
"If the Naruto World mission doesn't give you anything good," he said casually, "I can offer some help. For a price, of course."
His gaze locked with Utaha's for a moment.
Those ruby-red eyes of hers—more captivating than any gem in his collection—shimmered as she stared back.
His voice was calm. But behind it was something darker.
The kind of offer that felt like a hand reaching out... and pulling you slowly toward temptation.
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