Chapter 46 – Battle of the Mind
Mikoto, Izumi, and Inabi stood at a distance, watching the room sealed with barriers. From time to time, violent surges of energy burst out.
"Clan Leader won't be in danger, right?"
"We should go help! I'm worried Lord Akira might get hurt!"
"Quiet! Stay right here! That was Akira's order!" Uchiha Mikoto didn't falter at this crucial moment. "What you need to do now is trust him!"
—Inside Jean Grey's spiritual world—
The crimson Susanoo burned so hot it looked like it was about to melt, yet Jean in its palm could no longer break through its defenses. Uchiha Akira didn't notice the change, only thinking that Jean had finally heard his call.
The scenery shifted again. Inside a small room, a little girl curled up in the corner.
"Jean? Is that you? Jean!"
"Akira… is it you?" The little girl stopped crying.
Akira gently picked her up. "Why are you hiding here all alone?"
Feeling the warmth from his chest, the girl let go of her defenses.
"I'm so scared. I saw Lady Gao's life—over four hundred years of deceit and betrayal. I'm terrified. I remembered my mother's death… it was all my fault…"
Jean softly poured out the old burdens she had carried for years.
"There's always a voice in my mind, calling me, telling me that if I just destroy everything in front of me, I'll never have troubles again."
That must have been the Phoenix Force constantly whispering to her.
"Don't be afraid of that power. It's yours by birth, but don't let the desire for destruction control you. You must control yourself."
"Jean, sometimes you have to try to trust the people around you. Take Charles, for example. Yes, he made mistakes—sealing your memories without thinking it through—but he never meant to harm you."
"Mm… Akira, you feel so warm."
As she came back to herself, the snowy castle world crumbled. The Jean within Susanoo's palm slowly returned to her true form—completely naked, leaving Akira unsure where to look.
"Akira, I'm fine now. You can dismiss this giant."
Akira obeyed, dispelling Susanoo—only to be greeted by a big hug from Jean.
"Jean… you're not wearing any clothes…"
"This is the spiritual world. Clothes or no clothes, it doesn't matter." She whispered by his ear, her breath hot enough to make his skin tingle.
Her burning body pressed against his, and even through his clothes he could feel everything—making Akira completely flustered.
"Alright, I'm leaving your mind now. I've been here too long; people outside must be worried." With that, Akira disappeared in a flash.
—Back in the real world—
The barrier had already been destroyed by the leaking Phoenix Force. Its true strength lay in reducing matter into its most basic particles.
Returning to his senses, Akira realized Jean was in his arms—exactly like inside the spiritual world, and equally naked.
"Clan Leader!"
"Lord Akira!"
Panicking, Akira quickly stripped off his cloak and wrapped it around her.
"Don't laugh! Hurry—we need to leave. My clansmen are coming."
Jean only smiled at his flustered face.
"My clothes are gone, what can I do? Akira, you'd better find me something to wear!"
With his clansmen's voices drawing closer, and a naked girl in his arms, Akira had no choice but to use the Body Flicker Technique to escape straight to his room—leaving only a shout behind: "I'm fine, don't come in!"
Inside, he tossed Jean onto the bed and rummaged for clean clothes.
"Put these on, quickly!"
Jean made no attempt to hide herself, her pale skin dazzling to the eyes. As the wielder of the Sharingan, Akira's sharp glance caught everything—her entire body, smooth and bare, not a single strand of hair below.
"Enough! Get dressed!" His face flushed red as he turned away. Finally, Jean lazily slipped into the clothes.
Only then did Akira notice something odd—her long red hair was gone.
"Jean… your hair seems to be missing."
"Yes, I can feel it. It's fine, it'll grow back." She casually rubbed her bald head, completely unfazed.
System Message: Rise to Fame Across the Universe!
(In this world, great figures are all bald. You must prove to its people that long hair can also become legendary!)
Encountered your second bald powerhouse. Mission progress: (2/2).
Akira hadn't expected this long-dormant quest to suddenly update. The last bald powerhouse had been Charles himself. Now, even Jean had been counted. So… as long as someone became bald, they could trigger the quest?
He felt like he'd found a loophole—and who doesn't like exploiting one? But then again, taking the hair of Marvel's true heavyweights wouldn't be easy. Best to save that idea for later.
"What are you daydreaming about, Lord Akira?" Jean teased. "Calling you Akira sounds too intimate. I'll call you Lord Akira like Izumi does."
"Clan Leader, are you alright?"
"Clan Leader, are you hurt?"
Inabi and the others burst in, followed by Izumi and Mikoto. They were relieved to see their Clan Leader safe, though strangely dressed in fresh clothes.
But then they noticed Jean Grey's outfit—clothes that unmistakably belonged to Akira.
Izumi and Mikoto quickly understood, dragging Inabi and the rest out.
"As long as you're fine, we'll take our leave." They shut the door and hurried off.
"They must have misunderstood something." Jean pointed at her shirt, smirking.
"Forget it. Explaining will only make it worse. I can't exactly run after them yelling that nothing happened, can I?" Akira sighed, resigned.
"Come with me, I'll find you another room."
"Actually… I could stay here tonight. I don't mind sharing a bed with you." Jean struck a seductive pose.
"Go. To. Sleep!" Akira kicked her squarely on the rear, sending her into the room, then shut the door behind her.
"Hehe… little boy's getting shy?"