Kabuto had officially become Tsunade's disciple, but his treatment was nowhere near the level Haruya enjoyed.He still lived in the orphanage, and most of his "lessons" came from Shizune. As for Tsunade—she had slipped right back into her true nature, spending her days haunting the casino and losing spectacularly.
This made Haruya increasingly desperate for Gunma Company to reopen.If Tsunade kept burning through money at this rate, they really would end up sleeping on the street.
Early the next morning, Haruya sent a wood clone to class while his real body headed to the Gunma Casino.He had left Uzumaki Ena and Karin alone for two full days—it was time to check on them.
The casino was still under renovation.According to Haruya's plans, it would become a six-story entertainment hall, each floor offering different games and buy-ins. Naturally, the higher the floor, the better the service. And since most buildings along Tanshu Street were small wooden two-story houses, a six-story landmark would stand out brilliantly as advertisement.
Half a month into renovations, the first three floors were already complete.Disguised, Haruya slipped into the third floor and knocked on a certain door.
It opened, revealing Uzumaki Ena. The moment she saw him, she trembled instinctively.
"M-My lord."Her voice was small, her fear obvious. Kakuzu and Sasori had left a deep impression on her, and now, unsure of her and her daughter's future, she naturally reacted this way.
"How have the past few days been? Anyone bullying you?"Haruya took one look at her pitiful expression and couldn't help thinking how easily she triggered both a desire to protect…and a desire to tease.
"No," Ena said quickly. "Everyone treats me with respect."
Haruya shut the door behind him and locked it.The sound made Ena pale instantly.
Was he going to—?
She clenched her lips. She was prepared to sacrifice anything if it meant protecting her daughter, Karin.
But the next moment, her eyes widened.
Because Haruya dispelled his disguise and reverted to his true form—a cute, seven-year-old boy.
Ena blinked. The fear in her heart loosened at once.
So that frightening man… was actually this child?
"Let's try introductions again," Haruya said lightly. "My name is Haruya. I'm seven."
He had no problem showing his real form to her for one simple reason: he could control Ena at any time.Without the Uzumaki clan's physical talents, she was essentially an ordinary person—with her daughter as an obvious weakness.
And even if she revealed his identity, it wouldn't matter.Gunma Company was backed by Tsunade.Even if the Third Hokage found out, he would probably just sigh and think Haruya was… creative.
Ena covered her mouth in shock. She had never imagined the man who bought their freedom was just a child.But this was better—far better—than that adult face.
And a seven-year-old likely wouldn't do anything too extreme to her.
Haruya noticed the subtle shift in her expression.The trembling rabbit-like fear softened into cautious confusion.
He raised a brow, wrote something on a paper, and handed it to her."Sign at the bottom."
"What is…?"Ena took it, glanced down—and froze.
It stated that Haruya had spent two million ryō to rescue her and Karin, and the debt was now officially hers to repay.
Two. Million.
Her face drained.
"M-My lord… this… you're serious?"Her voice shook, eyes shimmering with panic and helplessness.
Haruya nodded with satisfaction.He liked that expression.
There's a concept from psychology—cute aggression.When something is too cute, the brain produces a tiny urge to pinch or squeeze it, balancing overwhelming positive emotion with a harmless negative impulse.
Haruya was used to being on the receiving end of Tsunade's "aggression," but seeing Ena awakened the opposite in him: a rebellious, teasing instinct.Here was someone he could control—someone fragile, earnest, and completely within his grasp.
It felt… good.
Ena's vision dimmed. Despair rose in her chest.
How could she ever repay such an astronomical sum?
"I'm not used to talking to people who look down on me," Haruya said casually.
Ena immediately dropped into a squat, begging, "My lord, I—I really can't afford that much money…"
From this angle, Haruya—at 1.2 meters tall—was now slightly taller than her.If this were Tsunade, he'd be staring straight into a pair of grand, majestic mountains.
Ena… was normal. Average.But her figure was still shapely enough.
Haruya leaned close, resting his small head against her shoulder, lips near her ear.
"Look at the bottom."
Ena's shoulders shook.She glanced back at the IOU—and saw the final line:
"If unable to repay temporarily, you may work for the creditor."
Her relief was instant and palpable.
She lifted her arm, showing the smooth pale skin of her wrist."M-My lord, I can be useful. If you're ever injured… one bite is enough for you to recover."
She was demonstrating her worth—the only ability she had left.A walking healing potion. Useful. Valuable.
And so, Uzumaki Ena stepped once more into a life not unlike that of Kusagakure—one of exhaustion, sacrifice, and quiet suffering.
Haruya stared at her arm, covered in fading bite marks, and felt a moment of silence wash over him.
How pitiful.How tragic.
He was suddenly thankful he lived in Konoha.In many small hidden villages, life for someone like Ena would be even worse.
He gently touched her arm.Given an Uzumaki's vitality, these wounds were nothing—they would heal quickly.But the lingering marks showed that her chakra had been drained too fast for her body to recover.
Ena blushed at his gentle touch.Even if he was only a child, no one had treated her with such care before.
Haruya brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, then rested his hand atop her head, fingers playing with her soft red hair.
"I'm not going to waste your abilities," he said quietly.
He planned to have Ena learn sealing techniques. Karin as well when she grew older.
The Uzumaki sealing arts were renowned—powerful, indispensable, and perhaps the only way an ordinary shinobi could deal with tailed beasts.
Medical ninjutsu he already had covered: Tsunade, Shizune, Kabuto.But two sealing specialists?That could change everything in critical moments.
The only problem was the secrecy.Uzumaki sealing techniques were top-classified Konoha knowledge.
But Orochimaru could get them.He was one of the Legendary Sannin, with access to nearly every forbidden text in the village—even the Scroll of Seals.
Tsunade could also access it, but explaining that situation to her would be… messy.Easier to bargain with Orochimaru.
Ena blinked, confused.Did she really have any other purpose?
Haruya stroked her cheek, trailing a finger lightly along her lips—warm and soft.
"The most important thing for you right now," he murmured, "is to take good care of your body."
Her blush spread all the way to her ears.Maybe it was gratitude… maybe it was his cuteness… but she didn't resist him.She simply thought of it as a child's innocent nonsense—even if the nonsense was a little intense.
Haruya, meanwhile, felt like he had acquired a living collectible.No wonder certain infamous prime ministers in another world enjoyed such power—it was exhilarating, especially with the daughter nearby.