Chapter 43 – Infiltrating the Hand
"Min, wake up, wake up." Jean brushed her wine-red hair across Uchiha Min's face.
The moment he opened his eyes, Uchiha Min saw Jean Grey teasing him with her hair.
"How did you come in without making a sound?" Min didn't expect Jean Grey to have become so bold.
"I used my telepathy to control the noise so I wouldn't wake you."
"What kind of technique is that?"
"It's simple. When I step on wooden floors, they vibrate. If I use my telepathy to dampen those vibrations, my footsteps naturally become quiet."
"So you still had to wake me up with your hair?"
"Yes. I read online that waking someone up like this won't make them angry."
"Then you definitely weren't looking at any serious website," Min muttered silently to himself.
"Alright, I need to change clothes. Go out for a bit."
"You're not even undressed, what's there to be embarrassed about?" Jean gave him a slightly provocative look.
"Enough, out. I'm changing." After finally sending Jean away, Min let out a sigh of relief.
After washing up, Min devoured the beef patties Mikoto had made in the dining room. Mikoto had studied Western cooking especially for him, though she had also picked up some Chinese recipes. Min was never too fond of traditional Japanese dishes.
Miso soup was too salty, natto looked unappetizing, and sashimi was mostly bland. Sushi was fine once in a while, but eating too much of it became tasteless.
Jean Grey shamelessly joined them for breakfast. Somehow, she had even learned how to use chopsticks, and even helped Mikoto serve some millet porridge.
"Alright, sit down, Mikoto-nee, let's eat together." Among the three, Min ate heartily, Mikoto ate with elegant manners, while Jean mostly just kept sneaking glances at Min while eating.
"So, your name is Jean? Similar to mine. I'm Uchiha Mikoto."
After a brief introduction, Mikoto started chatting with her.
"Alright, Mikoto-nee, I'm going to train now." Min quickly got up and left as soon as he was done.
"Jean, is it alright if I call you that?" With only Mikoto and Jean left at the table, Mikoto decided to strike up a conversation.
"Of course, then I'll call you Mikoto-nee like Min does." Jean smiled warmly at her, clearly comfortable with the address.
"Uchiha Min, as clan head, carries a lot of pressure. That's why he trains so hard every day. Tell me, do you… have feelings for him?"
Jean hesitated, then nodded. She had already been so forward, it wasn't much of a secret anymore.
"You know, Min saved the entire Uchiha clan in its darkest hour. He's only sixteen. If you really have those kinds of feelings for him, you'll face many problems. Cultural differences, different values, and maybe… not even belonging to the same world."
"Even so, are you fearless enough to stay by his side and help him?" Mikoto could tell Min was somewhat resistant to Jean's advances, but more because he didn't know how to deal with her—or with girls in general.
"Even so, I still want to be near Min. It's like one of your Eastern sayings: even if I'm a moth flying into the flame, I still want to try." Jean replied firmly.
"Then I won't stop you. But whether you can reach the light you're chasing… that's up to you. Just a word of advice: our Uchiha clan has plenty of good young women."
Mikoto quietly acknowledged this bold girl, though she couldn't help but sigh at how none of her own Uchiha girls had made a move yet.
"That night, we have a big mission. Tekka, inform Inoho, Homura, and Izumi. Tonight, we're hunting some ninjas."
Though Min was confident in his own strength—he alone could crush all of Lady Gao's Hand—he still wanted to bring his clansmen along for training.
"Yes, Clan Head." Soon, he gathered them all together.
"You have half an hour to prepare your gear. We leave at nine sharp. Dismissed!"
As expected, Jean insisted on joining the night raid.
"Jean, tonight there will be killing. People will die. This isn't some child's game."
"I can help too. Don't underestimate me. I was useful last time, wasn't I?" Jean answered confidently.
"…Fine. Let's go."
They moved across New York's skyscrapers with body flicker techniques. Jean, unable to keep up, had no choice but to fly behind them with her telekinetic powers.
"This girl can fly?!" Uchiha Tekka was surprised.
"Jean's like us, born with awakened powers. She can move objects, sense minds—flying is just a side effect."
"Such convenient powers… almost on par with our Sharingan."
"I'd still say ninjutsu is more versatile, aside from not being able to fly." Indeed, ninjutsu's variety far surpassed most mutants' abilities.
"Most mutants only have a single ability. Those with multiple powers are extremely rare. But multiple powers don't always mean stronger. Jean, though, is a genius among geniuses. Her potential is terrifying."
Min explained Jean's abilities—after all, tonight they were comrades-in-arms.
"Our target is to wipe out a ninja organization. But they don't use chakra. Instead, they have powerful regeneration and possibly heavy weaponry. Don't underestimate modern weapons—they kill just as easily. Remember, you're Uchiha elites. Don't let me lose you here."
As they advanced, Min tirelessly repeated the mission's key points.
"A ninja group without chakra? First time I've heard of that." Uchiha Inoho grinned.
"They're just ninja from the Far East island nation. To be blunt, ordinary assassins—different from us." Uchiha Homura had done some research beforehand and understood the meaning of "ninja" in this world.
"Jean, Izumi, you two stay close to me. You lack both experience and strength." Compared to battle-hardened Tekka and the others, they were like lambs with no large-scale combat experience.
Tekka and the others had seen real battle during the Third Shinobi World War. In life-and-death fights, their killing efficiency was far beyond what Jean or Izumi could manage.
"I understand, Min."
"Yes, Lord Min."
"This is one of the Hand's strongholds. Our mission is simple: clear it out. If we encounter any of their leaders, be extra careful. And if you find fossil-shaped bones, preserve them—that's one of our main objectives."
"Now—begin the infiltration!"