Time is an important factor in battle.
For the strong, even a mere 0.01-second difference can flip the outcome of a fight.
And for someone like Kasumigaoka Utaha, a seemingly insignificant five-second pause was all she needed to drive her dagger into the enemy before her.
Of course, that's the ideal scenario.
In reality, not every enemy is kind enough to stand within arm's reach.
And we're not even mentioning the tank-class monsters scattered across worlds—creatures so absurdly durable that attacks from the weak bounce off them like raindrops hitting reinforced steel.
So even with a powerful cheat like time stop, the average person wouldn't get far in a high-tier world. It wouldn't suddenly make them strong—it would just make them slightly less helpless.
But Kasumigaoka Utaha?
She was undeniably lucky.
Born in a peaceful, normal world. No battles, no superpowers, no cosmic nonsense.
Then—through a twist of fate—she joined the chat group. A system cheat all on its own.
Even better: most members were friendly, powerful, and willing to help.
With their support, she could step beyond the limits of her mundane origins and chase after a realm she could've never imagined.
…
Five seconds passed.
The world, frozen unnaturally, clicked back into motion.
"...Why are you looking at us like that?"
Uzumaki Kushina tilted her head at Utaha, confused.
"When are you going to activate your time-stop already, Utaha-chan?"
Uchiha Miyuki didn't respond immediately. Her brows tightened—clearly sensing something was off.
Luo Hao, as expected from a seasoned God Slayer, was more direct.
"Time definitely stopped just now," she muttered, narrowing her eyes. "I felt it. An odd wind brushed my face… its rhythm didn't match the world."
"You can actually feel that?" Jaeger blinked, genuinely surprised.
It reminded him—painfully—just how wide the gap between his combat instinct and hers was.
"You didn't feel anything?" Luo Hao turned to him with a displeased frown.
This woman… She'd just gotten crushed by him in battle, yet instead of being angry or humbled, she cared more about whether he was paying attention.
Strange priorities.
"I… might've felt something. I wasn't as sure as you," Jaeger said, scratching his cheek.
Yeah, no shit—he didn't feel anything.
He tried to play it off, but his gaze drifted toward Utaha.
And she was very deliberately avoiding eye contact.
But he was certain.
Someone had touched his face during that frozen moment. Lightly. Carefully. Almost shyly—as if afraid to be caught.
Considering her power… it didn't take a genius to guess who.
…But why?
Why touch him?
Why not anyone else?
Why only him, especially right in front of all these women?
His thoughts spiraled—though he shoved them down. Now wasn't the time to interrogate motives.
Still… her power really was something else.
Jaeger shuddered slightly at the memory of being touched without noticing.
That kind of control—flawless activation, completely undetectable—was the kind of ability people would kill for.
It was, in one word: OP.
"Ahh… so it did stop?" Kushina muttered, pouting. "I thought I felt something weird…"
"It's not that hard to notice," Utaha replied with a playful smile.
Then—without warning—
She activated her ability again.
But this time, she didn't target only Jaeger.
Everyone present got a taste.
Especially Kushina—Utaha made sure she got extra "attention."
Five seconds passed.
Time resumed.
"Ah—!!" Kushina yelped, raising her arms in shock.
She stared at Utaha, cheeks blazing red. "That—! You really did stop time!"
A small distance away, Luo Hao touched her cheek, expression unreadable.
She didn't say anything—didn't need to. The slight tension in her shoulders said it all.
She'd been touched… and hadn't even realized.
Finally, she nodded.
"That is… quite the gift. It may look plain, but it's far stronger than it appears. With enough control, you can defeat enemies far above your level."
For the first time, Luo Hao's tone held genuine respect.
And she wasn't wrong. If two individuals had equal strength, but one had time stop…
They could kill the other in a single tap.
Even overpower stronger foes—so long as those enemies didn't have regeneration or time immunity.
Utaha blinked softly, surprised.
"You really think so?" she asked, a faint blush rising to her neck.
Luo Hao gave a rare, faint smile.
"Your ability is formidable. But power alone isn't enough."
A short pause lingered before Utaha took a breath and stepped forward.
"Um… Luo Hao-san. Would you consider teaching me martial arts?"
"No."
Luo Hao shut her down instantly.
"I don't take disciples with average talent. My time is too valuable to waste."
"Ah… I understand." Utaha lowered her gaze, the light in her eyes dimming.
She wasn't angry. Or resentful.
She knew Luo Hao's personality. Direct. Uncompromising. If she said Utaha lacked the talent, then that was simply reality.
Still… it stung.
"Senpai, don't be sad!" Miyuki rushed to her side, flustered.
"This mission is happening in my world, right? Maybe you'll get lucky and roll something insane—like the Rinnegan—after the mission ends!"
Utaha looked up, then smiled softly.
"Thanks. That really helps."
But then—she leaned in, mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Uchiha's little pervert~"
"HYAAAH—!!"
Miyuki squealed, flailing and covering her face.
Jaeger finally stepped in before things escalated any further.
"If the Naruto world mission doesn't give you anything good," he said casually, "I can offer some help. For a price, of course."
His gaze locked with Utaha's.
Her ruby-red eyes—brighter and deeper than any gem in his treasure vault—sparkled as she stared back.
His voice stayed calm… but beneath that calmness was something darker.
The kind of offer that felt like a devil's hand reaching out… slowly curling around you, guiding you step by step toward temptation.
•••
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