Naruto: Awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, and Unify the Ninja World

Uchiha Shin lit a bonfire and glanced at the silent girl beside him.

To break the heavy silence, he took the initiative to speak. "My name is Uchiha Shin, I'm from Konoha. Tell me your name."

Hearing his direct approach, the startled girl stiffened before nervously replying, "Kanako… Uzumaki Kanako. I… I'm from…"

Kanako hesitated. The words caught in her throat as painful memories surfaced, her eyes welling with unshed tears. She had barely escaped with her life. Her home was gone. There was nowhere to return to.

Noticing her distress, Shin reached out, giving her a gentle pat on the back to soothe her anxiety.

"So, where do you plan to go next?"

"I… I don't know."

Her voice was barely above a whisper as she shook her head, a lost expression on her delicate face. There was nowhere for her. She was just drifting, directionless.

Instinctively, her gaze fell on Uchiha Shin, the boy who had saved her. He was only a little older than her, but there was something about him—an air of confidence, strength. A natural leader.

She wanted to follow him.

And it wasn't just because she had nowhere else to go. There was something deeper, an admiration buried within her heart that compelled her to stay close to him.

As if afraid that he would reject her, Kanako hurriedly spoke. "Uchiha-sama, I—I'm very useful! My mother told me that my body is special."

She clenched her fists and took a deep breath before revealing what she had never told anyone. "If someone bites my skin or drinks my blood, they can recover their chakra and stamina."

She stared up at him with desperate, pleading eyes. "So please, let me follow you!"

The moment she spoke those words, her heartbeat quickened. It was a secret her mother had always told her to keep hidden. But right now, all she could think about was proving her worth so that Uchiha Shin wouldn't abandon her.

She was weak, helpless—a small, trembling creature searching for shelter. All she wanted was for him to accept her, to give her a place by his side.

Shin's eyes flickered with a brief hint of surprise. That ability… it sounded a lot like Uzumaki Karin's.

Realization dawned on him. Considering the timeline, Uzumaki Karin hadn't even been born yet. That meant… Kanako could very well be Karin's mother.

With that in mind, any thoughts of returning her to the Uzumaki clan disappeared. That clan was already on the brink of extinction. If he left her alone, her fate would likely be the same.

His hand moved on its own, ruffling her vibrant red hair. A rare smile graced his lips. "Since you want to follow me, then follow me."

Kanako froze, her mind blank for a moment before a bright, overjoyed expression took over her face. Her cheeks flushed red, like a ripe apple under the firelight.

Without thinking, she stretched out her small hand toward him. "Then… Uchiha-sama, you can bite me to restore your chakra."

She bit her lip lightly, mentally preparing herself for the pain to come.

Shin's eye twitched.

He flicked her forehead. "Why the hell would I bite you right now? And don't just offer yourself up like that. You shouldn't treat yourself as a tool."

Kanako let out a small yelp, rubbing her forehead. She hadn't expected him to react like that. She just wanted to be useful…

But the warmth in his voice, the way he scolded her—it made her feel something unfamiliar. He didn't see her as just some object to be used. That meant more to her than she could put into words.

She smiled softly, a genuine, relieved smile.

To her, Uchiha Shin was like a god.

That night, they slept beside the bonfire, Kanako curled up beside him, finally finding a sense of peace amidst the chaos.

The next morning, Shin took her to gather and bury the bodies of her fallen companions. Kanako remained silent the whole time, her hands trembling as she placed stones over the makeshift graves.

She was the only one left.

Once they finished, Shin made a decision. He wouldn't go looking for more survivors. He had done what he could. It was time to return to the village.

But first—

He took Kanako to an isolated lake.

"Take a bath," he told her, already stripping off his own bloodstained cloak. "You stink."

Kanako's face turned crimson. "Y-You don't have to say it like that!"

Still, she obeyed, slipping into the cold water, washing away the dirt, blood, and sorrow of the past few days.

As she bathed, she underwent a transformation. The grime was washed away, revealing delicate, porcelain-like skin. Her crimson hair clung to her small frame like silk. Water droplets traced the curves of her body, glistening in the morning light.

She was young, but there was a budding beauty hidden within her. A flower yet to bloom.

Shin, standing nearby, caught himself staring for a moment before snapping out of it.

Kanako, noticing his gaze, hugged herself. "U-Uchiha-sama, the clothes… please."

"…Right."

He pulled out a spare set he had brought for Uchiha Mikoto and tossed them to her. The outfit was loose on Kanako, the sleeves too long, but it was better than nothing.

She fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, biting her lip shyly.

"Alright, let's go." Shin's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "We need to move quickly."

Kanako tilted her head in confusion. "Eh? What do you mean?"

Before she could react, Shin reached out, one arm slipping under her knees, the other around her back. With effortless ease, he scooped her up in a bridal carry.

"Wha—?!" Kanako's scream rang through the forest as Shin took off at full speed.

The wind rushed past them. Kanako clung to him instinctively, her legs kicking slightly before settling down.

She was small. Light. And the warmth of her body pressed against him made it impossible to ignore her presence.

She covered her face with her hands, peeking at him through her fingers. "I-Idiot! Give me a warning next time!"

Shin smirked but didn't answer, his focus already on their surroundings.

Using his finely honed chakra control and the Mangekyō Sharingan's insight, he had started experimenting with a new technique—the Uzumaki's Kagura Mind Eye.

It wasn't a jutsu, but an innate ability. The records he had found explained how those with strong Uzumaki blood could awaken it naturally.

And thanks to the Uzumaki bloodline he had obtained, he had picked it up almost immediately.

Even on his first attempt, he could sense everything within a ten-kilometer radius.

Every enemy. Every movement. Every fluctuation of chakra.

With this, he easily avoided patrolling ninja and wild beasts along the way, ensuring their journey to Konoha remained uninterrupted.

And all the while, Kanako smiled softly, her fingers gripping his cloak.

She had no idea where the future would take her. But for now, she was content.

Because for the first time in her life, she had found someone she could trust.

------

Bonus Chapter - 100 Power Stones ✅

Next Bonus Chapter - 250 Power Stones