Chapter 18

"Maybe once I improve my physique and vitality several times over, I'll have a shot."

Xunjing nodded in understanding.

It wasn't as though nobody in the original story had manifested a Perfect Susanoo with just the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Obito had done it.

But he had relied on the white Zetsu cells in his body.

Uchiha Chisato continued, "As for other options, Iwagakure's Light-Weight Rock Technique and Hidden Sand's Magnet Release can both let you fly."

"But getting our hands on those won't be easy."

"Over ten years ago, a group called the Sky Ninja attacked Konoha. They also had the technology to make flying ninja tools."

"Unfortunately, after Konoha defeated them, they vanished without a trace."

"Should we send a few people to look for them?"

"Or we could sign a contract with a flying summon. What do you think?"

After speaking, she turned her gaze to Xunjing.

Xunjing rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. "That could work, but we'd need to pick a strong flying creature. I'm worried an ordinary one would run out of steam halfway up and never reach ten thousand meters."

"As long as we make it up there once and unlock that part of the map, we won't have to worry anymore. We can teleport there whenever we want."

They certainly couldn't count on the village's ordinary ninja eagles.

"Mm."

Uchiha Chisato nodded after hearing him out. "Mom will find a way. For the Golden City and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, we have to make this work, no matter what."

"Besides, all those strange shells on Sky Island are valuable goods too. They're worth plenty."

Those things could easily become a new line of business for the Uchiha. Introduce them to the Ninja World, and the money would come pouring in.

If the Uchiha could completely free themselves from their financial dependence on village missions, the Third Generation and his crowd would lose one means of keeping them under their thumb.

Two birds with one stone.

"Sure."

Xunjing naturally had no objections.

"Anything else? You might as well tell me now."

Uchiha Chisato pressed him again.

"Nothing else for now."

Xunjing shook his head. "I just want you to have Mikoto come over so I can check whether her affection level is high enough."

"If it is, I might as well sign a contract with her too."

"Then she can start training over here sooner and build up her strength."

"I heard that Fugaku keeps pestering her."

"I'd like to see whether he'll still have the nerve to chase after her once he realizes he can't even beat a single finger of hers. Hmph."

He, Uchiha Xunjing, knew how to hold a grudge.

"Hehe, honestly, you."

Uchiha Chisato couldn't help covering her mouth and laughing. She tapped his forehead with a finger. "Fugaku really was unlucky to get on your bad side."

"Hmph."

Xunjing gave a soft snort and lifted his chin. "I'm not just messing with him because of Mikoto. More importantly, he's going to do some awful things in the future and get the Uchiha clan wiped out."

"Yes, yes, of course."

Uchiha Chisato nodded with a smile, clearly not quite believing him. "You miss your dear Mikoto, don't you? Once I get back, I'll send someone to fetch her and have her stay for dinner."

"Just be home by six. I'll give you the information on Military Rations Pills then too."

"That's settled, then. Mom's off."

With that, Uchiha Chisato snapped her fingers, dispelled the soundproof barrier, and vanished from the Pirate World.

Xunjing left the room and headed straight to Dr. Kureha's library to browse her medical books.

That evening, just before six,

Xunjing said goodbye to Dr. Kureha, returned to his room, and left the Pirate World in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, he was back home in the Ninja World.

As soon as he stepped out of his room, the rich aroma of food greeted him.

When Xunjing entered the living room, Uchiha Mikoto was setting dishes on the table.

"Hey, Mikoto!" He smiled and raised a hand in greeting.

His gaze swept over her, and the system showed an affection level of 87.

Yes! Xunjing felt a surge of delight. His efforts hadn't been wasted after all.

"Are you... little Xunjing?" Mikoto froze when she recognized him. "When did you get so tall? You look much healthier too. Has your illness been cured?"

They had last seen each other a month ago.

Since then, she'd had classes and kept up with her training. With Uchiha Chisato busy lately as well, she hadn't had a chance to visit.

Yet in just one month, Xunjing had shot up more than ten centimeters and grown much sturdier.

If his face hadn't still been so handsome, she might not have recognized him.

No, he was even better-looking than before.

He was an adorable little boy, through and through.

"Yeah, I'm almost completely better. I'll be able to train soon." Xunjing grinned.

"Really? That's wonderful! Your wish finally came true!" Mikoto's eyes lit up, and she was genuinely happy for him.

She had always known that Xunjing dreamed of training, but his body had held him back. Now he had finally made it through.

"Xunjing, you're back? Come help carry the dishes. Dinner's almost ready!" Uchiha Chisato called from the kitchen.

"Coming!" Xunjing answered, heading into the kitchen with Mikoto. In just a few trips, they brought all the remaining dishes to the table.

He invited Mikoto to sit down and eat.

"Mmm! Aunt Chisato, your cooking just keeps getting better. This is delicious!" Mikoto took a bite, her eyes lighting up as she showered Chisato with praise.

"Then eat plenty." Uchiha Chisato smiled, her eyes narrowing. "Apart from the taste, do you notice anything else?"

"Huh?" Mikoto paused, a little confused. When she looked up and saw Chisato's serious expression, she quickly paid closer attention to what she was feeling.

Now that she focused on it, this really was different from anything she'd eaten before.

"Yes... it seems incredibly nutritious. My stomach feels warm, and that warmth is spreading through my whole body."

"I feel so much more relaxed. A lot of the fatigue from the past few days of training has faded."

"It feels like even my cells are craving that warmth."

"This is unbelievable."

"Auntie, what kind of meat is this?" Mikoto asked, her face full of astonishment.

Uchiha Chisato gave a mysterious smile and pointed at Xunjing beside her. "You'll have to ask him. This is all thanks to him."

Mikoto turned to Xunjing, curiosity and questions in her eyes.

Xunjing offered no further explanation. A strange mark appeared between his brows and floated over to Mikoto. "Touch this mark and agree. Then you'll understand everything."

Mikoto stared at the rune in front of her for a moment, puzzled. When did Xunjing learn to do something like this?

Then again, he had been acting strangely all day, always so mysterious.

She glanced at Uchiha Chisato again. Seeing her nod with encouragement in her eyes, Mikoto finally made up her mind.

She gently touched the rune with her finger.

In an instant, a voice sounded in her mind, asking whether she wished to enter into a contract with Xunjing.

The contract was quite clear: she would receive many benefits, but Xunjing would also have a certain degree of authority over her.

Mikoto gritted her teeth and agreed.

She trusted these two. They wouldn't hurt her.

The rune slipped into her fingertip, traveled upward, and disappeared between her brows.

A gate-shaped mark appeared in her mind, resting quietly in the depths of her consciousness.

Then a flood of information poured in: details about the Space-Time Gate and the Pirate World, along with all sorts of basic information, delivered in one go.

Mikoto froze on the spot.

This time, there was far more information than Uchiha Chisato had received.

Xunjing had added it deliberately.

Maps, details about the world, and various bits of common knowledge-he couldn't be bothered to explain them over and over later, so he simply passed them all over through the contract at once.

It saved him the trouble.

It took Mikoto quite a while to absorb everything. At last, she opened her eyes and stared at Xunjing and Uchiha Chisato in shock. "Is... is all of this real? Another world? So this meat comes from Sea Kings in another world?"

"That's right." Xunjing nodded firmly. "Eat more. It's good for you. It can strengthen your physique and vitality, and even increase your chakra."

After a pause, he added, "Starting tomorrow, set aside some time every day to train with me in the Pirate World. We'll build up your physical strength first."