Kasumigaoka's message dropped like a bomb in the group chat, silencing everyone for a few awkward seconds.
Her concern was understandable.
Traveling to a dangerous world with zero combat power? Yeah, that doesn't exactly scream "protagonist." More like... cannon fodder. And not even the honorable kind. The kind that dies offscreen, gets no name, and ends up as a tragic backstory element.
Worst case scenario? She ends up as some experimental 'hot weapon'—living, but definitely not alive.
Thankfully, Uchiha Miyuki broke the silence with his usual swagger:
"Relax, senpai. I won't let anyone turn you into a hot weapon. If someone's going to use you like that, it'll be me!"
...Someone please throw this women off a cliff.
Kasumigaoka Utaha replied flatly:
"...Ahra, thank you, I guess? You're so reassuring, Uchiha."
Then came Luo Hao, voice practically radiating pride:
"Don't worry, little girl. Anyone who dares harm a teammate in another world would be insulting me, Luo Hao. And I don't take insults lightly."
Now that's the kind of support that doesn't make you want to shower twice.
Kasumigaoka let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Even her thighs, which had been shaking with nerves, finally calmed down. She almost looked graceful again.
She didn't know much about Luo Hao—just fragments from group announcements and bits of chatter—but she'd already pieced together that this woman was terrifyingly powerful, a bit ruthless, but someone who always kept her word.
And then there was Daemon—the Heavenly Dragon. The titles alone sounded like the final boss of a mythological anime: Hand of Hermes, Leviathan's Keeper, Chaos Dragon, Hercules' Belt, and probably "Holder of Too Many Cool Names."
With those two watching her back, and her own handy little [5-second time stop] cheat ability, Utaha figured she had a decent shot even in the Naruto world.
Still…
Her cheeks flushed at the memory of Daemon's ridiculous claim about "your wife, my raising." It wasn't just absurd—it was in a chaotic kind of way.
She might act like a snarky flirt online, but in real life? She was a pure-blooded flower. Never been in love, never held a guy's hand. Definitely never imagined she'd be part of an isekai harem survival squad.
Meanwhile, in the One Piece World...
Daemon was lounging like a lord, scrolling through the chat with mild amusement.
"Luo Hao, Kasumigaoka Utaha... heh."
Beautiful women from his favorite fictional worlds? He wasn't even pretending to be above it.
Money, power, women—he liked them all. He was a simple man with simple (extremely dangerous) tastes. If being a Celestial Dragon meant having his cake, eating it, and turning it into a ten-course meal, he was all in.
So he sent his message with the flair of a self-declared romantic:
"Don't worry, Utaha. You were one of my favorite characters back in the day. Like Luo Hao, I'll make sure you're safe."
Yamamoto Mei: "Wow. That's the first time I've seen Daemon get sentimental."
Uchiha Miyuki: "Tsk. So Kasumigaoka-senpai was one of your wives in your past life too, huh? Just how big was your harem?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "..."
She was this close to screaming into a pillow. One of many wives? Past life? Was this a confession or a cult initiation?
And then the group prompt arrived, saving her from further public embarrassment:
[The portal to the world of "Naruto" is now open. Once all three participants reply with 'I'm ready', transfer will begin. If no response within 24 hours, you will be forcibly sent.]
Utaha didn't hesitate. She typed with the speed of a woman escaping a dating app: "I'm ready!"
No weapons, no gear, no training—she had none of it. But Uchiha Miyuki, her 'owner' (don't get her started), was responsible for supplies.
And there was no way she was wandering around the Hidden Leaf Village in a JK uniform. That was either fan service or a death sentence.
Luo Hao also chimed in confidently.
She didn't need to pack anything. She was the weapon.
Daemon, however, didn't immediately reply. He asked something a little more thoughtful:
"Does the mission say anything about time flow? If we're gone for a week, how much time passes in our world?"
Luo Hao didn't care. If she came back a thousand years later and found civilization in ruins, she'd probably just rule over the ashes.
But Utaha?
She paled.
She had a family. Friends. A life. If she came back to find them gone, she'd probably break.
Luckily, Uchiha Miyuki replied: "No worries, Your Highness. I asked the group already. Regardless of how long the mission takes, only one day passes in your home world."
[Image attached: system note confirming it.]
Utaha nearly collapsed with relief.
"Only one day? Then we can at least make some plans."
Daemon sighed.
"Still, even one day could cause problems back in the Holy Land. If I suddenly disappear and the Five Elders panic, they might do something dumb—like kill Roger's wife. That'd mess up the timeline."
"Give me a moment to go talk them down before we cross."
Yamamoto Mei: "....."
Sakura Tosaka: "....."
Uchiha Miyuki: "Woo~ I want a freckled big sister too!"
Yamamoto Mei: "Shut up, pervert!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "...Our chat group is actually terrifying. Not only are the men openly staring at women, but even the women are just as bad."
"Anyway, do you seriously plan to add a pregnant woman to your harem? Mr. Celestial Noble, you're starting to sound like a walking scandal."