Russell had always considered his own Originium Art to be one of the most insidious in this world.
But after seeing this skill, he was forced to admit: when it came to true malevolence, the detector was in a league of its own.
Guaranteed hit.
Can be used continuously.
Can be enchanted.
An unending series of piercing attacks, all aimed at the enemy’s rear.
This was the skill sealed within that card.
The amount of physical damage this skill could inflict at once was no longer important.
Because the very nature of this thing was so vile that even a demon would fall to its knees and say mass!!
Russell took a deep breath and tore the skill card.
Soon, the method for activating this skill appeared in his mind.
“…Naruto…
lend me a kunai.”
The young man beckoned to the bright and cheerful boy, signaling him to provide a casting implement.
This skill had to be used in conjunction with a kunai.
It wasn’t that it couldn’t be used bare-handed; it was just that if he did, he could say goodbye to his fingers.
But speaking of which…
what was the definition of a “kunai”?
Russell pondered.
If he carved the word “kunai” onto an AK-47 assault rifle, would that count?
Hearing Russell’s request, the happy-go-lucky fox-boy—who never complained about hard labor and even grinned foolishly while doing it—shot back two steps.
His expression was as horrified as a newbie who had just left the starting village only to find the entire Otsutsuki clan blocking the gate.
No, that wasn’t right.
Even when he was attacked by the Otsutsuki in the future, Naruto had never looked this terrified.
This poor bastard had truly been on the receiving end of a One Thousand Years of Death.
Russell’s expression turned a little awkward.
“Ahem, power itself is neutral.
Its alignment depends on how it is used,” Russell coughed, trying to imply that he was an upright person who would use this ability for righteous purposes.
But, whether it was his imagination or not, the expressions of the group members around him only grew more terrified.
“Seriously?
You guys don’t trust me at all to use this power for good?” Russell’s eyes widened as he looked at his fellow members, his expression one of profound grief.
“But Boss, you just used the global trade deficit to coerce a wandering crown princess into swearing fealty to you,” Megumin muttered.
“No matter how you look at it, you seem more like a budding final boss than a hero.”
Her words received unanimous praise from the surrounding members.
“…Big Bro Russell’s performance just now felt scarier than the Hokage himself.”
“Indeed, it had the air of some of the land’s more devious schemers…
Perhaps deceit and conspiracy simply flow in the blood of nobles.”
“…Mr.
Russell opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing.
He could only feel that a thick barrier had already formed between him and the rest of the group.
Dammit!!
All I wanted was a gacha card!!
“…Alright, let’s drop it.” Russell immediately changed the subject.
He sensed that his reputation might be in a bit of a precarious state.
“The troublesome Reunion Movement is gone.
Now, it’s time I told you about the future you’re all so concerned with.”
His words made all the group members, except Megumin, hold their breath.
The fundamental reason they had all gathered in Ursus was because Russell possessed an ability akin to future sight.
He could tell them what futures to avoid.
Only a blockhead like Megumin would choose a meal ticket instead.
“Sasuke…
how is he now?” The first to ask was Uzumaki Naruto.
He had become uncharacteristically serious, his expression filled with apprehension.
“Sasuke…
if it hasn’t been long since he defected, he should still be training under Orochimaru, that guy who’s plotting to take over the Uchiha clan’s bodies.”
The Uchiha, the famous red-eye clan.
Their Mangekyo Sharingan was both powerful and stylish.
Orochimaru had been lusting after those eyes for a long time.
Uzumaki Naruto was on pins and needles.
He felt he had to leave right now, immediately, and rescue Sasuke from Orochimaru’s clutches.
“But you don’t need to worry.
Your story is a pretty standard hot-blooded anime.
Sasuke successfully turns the tables on Orochimaru, then kills Danzo—the great villain who ordered Itachi to slaughter his own clan—to complete his revenge.
In the end, to protect the world, he joins the Allied Shinobi Forces and teams up with you to fight the progenitor of chakra, Kaguya Otsutsuki.”
Recalling the plot of Naruto, Russell shrugged and held back Naruto, who was clearly about to rush back to find Sasuke.
His words made Naruto break into a foolish grin.
Sasuke came back.
That’s good…
that’s good.
And fighting the progenitor of chakra, Kaguya Otsutsuki?
That sounds so cool!!
I’ll definitely be a big shot, maybe even the Hokage!!
At the thought that he might become Hokage, Naruto began to giggle like a drunkard.
“Will I become Hokage in the future?” he asked Russell with a goofy smile, and received a thumbs-up in return. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“Hmm, by the way, Naruto, do you want to know who your future wife is?
And the names of your son and daughter?” he asked in return.
The question instantly made Naruto’s face turn the color of a baboon’s behind.
“Ah…
th-that kind of thing, are you allowed to say it?” he stammered, his face beet red and his eyes darting about.
For an inexperienced young man, such a question was a bit hard to handle.
“Looks like you don’t want to know.
Well, I’m heading off then.” Russell smiled and nonchalantly made a gesture as if he were going back inside to sleep.
“Don’t go, Bro!!” Naruto instantly grabbed Russell’s arm, his expression as frantic as if he were about to be crowned King of the Apes.
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to know?” Russell smiled, a smile that was just a little bit smug.
“…I do,” Naruto admitted honestly.
“Meet your excavation quota, and I’ll tell you,” Russell said, pointing to a nearby warehouse filled with over three hundred sets of protective gear.
“If you can’t, you can just keep wondering.”
As the other group members stared as if watching a vampire, Russell led away the Uzumaki donkey he had just spurred on with a carrot.
Naruto performed the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, and then, after putting on protective suits, the clones trudged off towards the mine with food, water, and donkey carts.
[Well done!
Periodically dangling a carrot in front of your subordinates can greatly increase their work efficiency.
Host, you mobilized your subordinate’s enthusiasm with just a bit of gossip.
Simply brilliant!!]
The detector was shamelessly flattering Russell.
If you think I did so well, then give me another gacha card!
Russell fiercely criticized the detector in his mind.
He then turned to the remaining two, only to find that Skadi had disappeared at some point.
“There was no battle this time.
From here on, there shouldn’t be anything I can help with.”
A message from Skadi appeared in his private chat.
She just left?
She really is…
hard to know what to say about.
She desperately wants friends, but after meeting them, she’s so afraid of bringing them misfortune that she chooses to leave without a word?
Russell sighed.
A god of the Seaborn was parasitic within Skadi’s body.
To awaken the god sooner, the Seaborn would do everything they could to torment her mentally—which naturally included killing those close to her to make her break down and become a vessel for the god’s revival.
That was the truth behind the “misfortune” Skadi brought.
Those Seaborn were truly unpleasant.
Tsk— Russell pulled his thoughts back and looked towards the young lady who had been keeping a low profile.
“Excuse me, Russell, could you tell me about my father?” the girl asked timidly.
—o—