"Hey, hey, hey! Your Highness Daemon, what are you even talking about!?"
Miyuki Uchiha's voice rang out, brimming with dissatisfaction. Her eyes flicked toward Kasumigaoka Utaha, then back at Daemon.
"You think you're the only one who can tempt Senior Sister? I can totally steal a battery car to raise her! I can even teach her forbidden Uchiha techniques if she wants!"
As if to prove her words weren't empty, Miyuki pulled out a handful of sealing scrolls from her waist with a dramatic flourish.
"This one's a secret fire release technique from the Uchiha clan."
"This one... this one was a reward from that thing—The Eight Gates Released Formation!"
"And these—these are Five Elements release techniques, snatched from the Third Hokage's private stash!"
One by one, she laid out the scrolls like property deeds at a matchmaking event, spreading them before Kasumigaoka Utaha in a show of absolute sincerity.
But even that didn't feel like enough.
With a grimace of resolve, Miyuki added, "If you accept me, Senior Sister, I'll even find a way to get you a Sharingan and a Byakugan! I swear!"
Daemon blinked, dumbfounded.
She's actually pulling out the real stuff—not just empty words?
Even Kushina, who'd just been enjoying the show, was left speechless. Her wide-eyed gaze landed on her very familiar girlfriend, and an unsettling thought began to form in her mind.
Wait a minute... did Miyuki just confess to a girl? Right in front of me?
Her expression darkened slightly.
Could it be...?
Kushina's chest tightened. Suddenly, things began making sense. The way Miyuki always stuck close to her, the way she treated her differently—it wasn't just friendship.
She wasn't dumb. If Miyuki liked girls... then that kind of closeness wasn't just innocent.
And now, she had the nerve to confess to another girl right in front of her?
Unforgivable!
She didn't say a word, but her gaze burned with betrayal and disappointment.
Miyuki, still awaiting Kasumigaoka Utaha's answer with shining eyes, had no idea that she'd just detonated a landmine.
Utaha, for her part, looked completely blindsided. It took her a few long seconds to even process what just happened.
"I'm sorry," she finally said, lips tightening. "But I have to refuse."
She wasn't her usual sharp-tongued self—just honest.
"I'm very sure I like men."
"Gahhh—!!" Miyuki dropped to her knees, wailing like a child.
"If you don't believe me, just look at Daemon! He probably has more girls than every ninja in my clan combined!"
From behind her came a voice, light but chillingly cold:
"Even if that's true, you're just as bad, if not worse."
Miyuki froze mid-sob.
"K-K-Kushina!?"
In an instant, the haze of lust vanished from her brain, replaced by raw panic.
She remembered.
Kushina was right there this whole time.
And she'd just been caught... red-handed. On multiple boats.
The storm had arrived.
"Kushina, wait—let me explain!" she pleaded, grabbing her furious girlfriend and dragging her away, desperately trying to salvage her already-sinking ship.
Left behind, Utaha turned back to Daemon with an arched brow and a smirk.
"Looks like even scumbags get what's coming eventually, Mr. World Aristocrat."
Daemon chuckled.
"Well, unlike some, I've never hidden my desires. That's why I have nothing to worry about."
"Oh, I don't doubt that," Utaha said, shaking her head. "You're just a shameless scumbag."
Daemon shrugged off her jab with a smile.
"So, what do you think? Have you made up your mind yet?"
Utaha didn't answer immediately. Her brows furrowed slightly, clearly weighing her options.
Daemon wasn't in a hurry. He continued, voice patient and measured.
"You might have talent as a ninja, but without any foundation, even the strongest technique would be useless. What you need first is something more fundamental."
"It's physical strength!"
Luo Hao, who had been silent until now, suddenly jumped in, eyes gleaming with conviction. "The group announcement said that in the Pirate World, there's a power called 'Devil Fruit.' The animal-type fruits can massively boost physical abilities."
"Animal-type…?" Utaha's face scrunched in mild horror.
The image of turning into a half-rhino, half-human abomination from Impel Down flickered through her mind. Her stomach churned.
"…Can I pass?"
She muttered it under her breath, clearly conflicted.
Sure, strength was important… but becoming an ugly beast for it? That felt like way too steep a price.
Daemon understood. He had the same thought.
Power can come and go, but good looks? That's forever.
There were stylish, good-looking Devil Fruit powers, of course. Like the Glint-Glint Fruit or the Phoenix Fruit. But, unfortunately, most fruits… didn't exactly scream fashion icon.
Still, he wouldn't let her worry unnecessarily.
"Relax," he said softly. "The Devil Fruit I give you won't make you ugly. I wouldn't allow it. If you turned into something hideous, I'd be the one crying."
"Pfft—what kind of confession is that?" Utaha burst out laughing, covering her mouth.
It was so shameless, so blunt... but it felt weirdly genuine.
Honestly, wasn't this just as much a confession as Miyuki's earlier display?
Except… somehow, she didn't mind this one at all.
"I approve," Luo Hao chimed in, nodding with all the gravity of an elder. "A true Demon King is frank, not fake. You're qualified."
As Luo Hao spoke, time froze.
In the stillness, Kasumigaoka Utaha stepped toward Daemon, her cheeks flushed with hesitation. Then, quickly and quietly, she kissed his cheek.
A soft, warm peck—and then time resumed as if nothing had happened.
For someone like her—proud but inwardly unsure—that was her answer.
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