At noon, the sun hung high over the Uchiha Clan Compound.
"Young Master Sasuke!"
After parting with Naruto and Sakura, Sasuke had just returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound when he happened to run into the ninken Denka.
"You've worked hard, Denka." As usual, Sasuke handed over a bottle of silvervine drink and asked, "Has Nekomata given a reply?"
Denka licked his paw, carefully accepted the bottle, and put it away before answering, "Nekomata asked me to give you something. She said to open it when it's convenient."
With that, Denka spat out a small scroll.
Open it when it's convenient?
It seemed Nekomata had a rough idea of his current situation as well.
With a silent sigh, Sasuke picked up the scroll from the ground and scratched the little cat under the chin, making Denka bare his fangs.
Sasuke calmly withdrew his hand, ignored Denka's slightly disdainful gaze, and said in a low voice, "I understand."
"Then I'll be leaving first, Young Master Sasuke!"
Denka rolled his eyes. As members of the Ninken Clan, although they were cats, what they hated most was being teased by people.
If it had been anyone other than Sasuke, Denka would have bitten them already.
Sasuke reminded him, "Mm. Be careful on your way back."
After Denka left, Sasuke picked up the scroll and examined it for a while.
A ninjutsu sealing scroll?
Unlike storage scrolls, this type of scroll was usually used to seal an enemy's or one's own ninjutsu. Better sealing scrolls could even seal extremely powerful techniques.
For example, Jiraiya had used a special scroll from Mount Myoboku to seal Uchiha Itachi's Amaterasu Black Flame, which was said to never go out.
After returning home and eating, Sasuke took the scroll Denka had brought and headed toward Naka Shrine.
Although Nekomata had told him to open it when it was convenient, he felt that now was convenient enough.
First, when he had met Denka, he had not sensed anyone watching him.
Second, it was March, the season of the Spring Festival. Going to Naka Shrine now would not seem unusual at all.
Third, the buildings of Naka Shrine were inscribed with special Fuinjutsu that could block much prying. There was a reason the Uchiha had repeatedly chosen this place to plot their coup without worrying about being watched.
Entering a room in one of the shrine's side halls, Sasuke shut the door and windows before directly tearing open the scroll.
With a soft bang, white smoke dispersed, and an elderly woman wearing a yellow-orange coat and dark gray cat-ear ornaments appeared in the room.
"Nekomata?" A trace of surprise flashed across Sasuke's face as he said softly, "I didn't expect you to come personally."
"It's only a Shadow Clone, little Sasuke." Nekomata casually glanced around the room before turning her gaze back to Sasuke.
"Little Sasuke, you've grown up. You're becoming more and more like a real man." With nostalgia in her eyes, Nekomata sighed. "The last time I saw you and Itachi, you were still a clingy little child."
"You and Itachi were such lovable children back then. I never thought things would turn out like this."
"Thank you for your concern," Sasuke replied calmly.
Nekomata was not only the Uchiha's source for custom weapons and intelligence. When the Uchiha privately sold their own weapons and ninja tools, Nekomata handled the sales for them. Even now, some Uchiha weapons and assets were stored with her.
Although Nekomata could not claim to know the full truth behind the Uchiha Massacre, she had more or less guessed what had happened.
Seeing Sasuke's calm expression, Nekomata sighed. "This old woman has said too much. After all, this is an internal matter of the Uchiha."
"I have already examined the item you asked Denka to bring me. It is indeed a Fire Release Chakra Crystal."
Nekomata fell silent for a moment before explaining why she had come today.
"Chakra Crystals of every attribute are exceedingly rare. Only shinobi who have cultivated an attribute's ninjutsu to the pinnacle can condense one."
Nekomata did not ask where Sasuke had obtained the Fire Release Chakra Crystal. A great clan like the Uchiha, which excelled at Fire Release, had produced far too many Fire Release masters throughout its history.
Sasuke nodded and asked, "Then is what I asked you to do possible?"
Sasuke wanted to use that Fire Release Chakra Crystal to forge a weapon. The crystal was somewhat useless in his hands and could not assist his cultivation.
Although it could indeed react with his own Fire Release and increase the power of his Fire Release ninjutsu, perhaps it would be more effective if forged into a weapon.
"Little Sasuke, do you know the Sword of the Thunder God?"
"Yes. The Sword of the Thunder God is said to have been the Second Hokage's personal sword."
"That is actually a misconception. The Second Hokage never used the Sword of the Thunder God, but it did have a great deal to do with him." Nekomata shook her head and continued, "The core of the Sword of the Thunder God was actually a Lightning Release Chakra Crystal. During the First Shinobi World War, the Cloud Ninja invaded Konoha, but the Second Hokage defeated them. In the end, the Cloud Ninja suffered a crushing defeat."
"After losing, the Second Raikage wished to cease hostilities and negotiate peace with Konoha. To show his sincerity, he gave the Second Hokage a Lightning Release Chakra Crystal and invited Konoha to Kumogakure for negotiations."
"Before setting out for Kumogakure, the Second Hokage used that Lightning Release Chakra Crystal as the core and Chakra Metal to forge a sword hilt. When the wielder infused it with their own chakra, an incomparably sharp Lightning Sword would form from the hilt."
"That was the origin of the Sword of the Thunder God."
"I see."
Sasuke nodded. Whether in his past life or this one, he had known about the Sword of the Thunder God, but today was the first time he had learned its origin.
"So, it is possible to forge a weapon using a Fire Release Chakra Crystal?"
"Correct!"
"Then, Nekomata, how much will this weapon cost to forge?"
Nekomata smiled kindly. "Little Sasuke, I won't charge you this time."
"Why?"
Sasuke raised a brow at her words.
Although the Uchiha had known Nekomata for decades, and she had practically watched Sasuke grow up, both the Uchiha and Sasuke had always paid for their dealings with her.
"Times have changed. I never expected the Uchiha to end up like this." Nostalgia filled Nekomata's eyes as she said wistfully, "Although the Uchiha have declined, my decades-long friendship with them remains. Besides, Sasuke, I think very highly of your future. I believe you can restore the Uchiha Clan. This old woman is a merchant too, so just consider it an investment in you, little Sasuke."
"Thank you."
After remaining silent for a while, Sasuke spoke in a low voice.
He made no promises, because he was not yet qualified to promise anything. Nekomata had not said what she wanted either, because that was something they would discuss in the future.
The two of them had a tacit understanding of this.
Nekomata smiled and continued, "Besides, I am also itching to forge a new attribute weapon. Chakra Metal weapons are rare in the Shinobi World, while attribute weapons have been even rarer throughout history. To this day, only two remain, and both are Lightning Release weapons: the Sword of the Thunder God, whose whereabouts are unknown, and Kiba, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen Blades."
Hearing this, Sasuke's eyes turned thoughtful. "Nekomata, could we use the Fire Release Chakra Crystal as the core and Fire Obsidian as the weapon material? Could we forge an attribute weapon that surpasses the Sword of the Thunder God and Kiba?"
"What?" Nekomata froze, her eyes widening. "You have Fire Obsidian too?"
Sasuke nodded somewhat awkwardly.
Nekomata recovered, a hint of excitement appearing in her eyes. "Then let's give it a try!"
Sigh, the results are terrible. I still haven't received a message from the site, so I can only wait until one hundred thousand words and take a gamble by applying then.
I hope everyone can show some support lately. Thank you!
Before you continue