Naori looked up at him, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"Naori," Mirai said, his voice soft but clear. "Happy birthday. Your coming-of-age ceremony is a big occasion, so I wanted to give you one more special gift."
He took a palm-sized box from his robes and opened it.
Inside lay a crystal pendant. The crystal was transparent, and within it, a faint stream of golden light slowly drifted, like sunlight trapped in amber.
Naori stared at the pendant and froze for a moment.
"It contains Chakra I prepared in advance," Mirai said solemnly.
"Keep it with you. If you encounter danger, inject your own Chakra into it to activate it, and it can unleash a strike with power comparable to a Tailed Beast Ball.
"But you only get three uses. Once they're gone, the crystal will shatter."
The surroundings fell silent for several seconds.
Then someone drew in a sharp breath.
Several elders of the Uchiha Clan exchanged glances, their faces filled with relief—
They knew better than anyone what a Tailed Beast Ball represented.
The power sealed within this tiny pendant was practically the same as carrying a trump card on the level of a Tailed Beast.
Sure enough, going all-in on Naori had been the right choice!
Naori lowered her head and stared at the crystal.
She reached out and picked it up, placing it in her palm. The surface of the crystal was cool, but the golden light inside had a gentle warmth, as if responding to her.
She raised her head and looked at Mirai. Tears shimmered in her eyes, but the corners of her lips were curved upward.
"I won't let it break." Her voice was soft, but firm.
Mirai smiled. "I hope you'll never need to use it in your lifetime."
Naori