Chapter 6

As for the exact differences, she would have to study them carefully before drawing any conclusions.

"It was most likely caused by the environment," Uchiha Xunjing said, picking up the thread. "There are even enormous Sea Kings in this world's waters that can reach several thousand meters in length. Sea beasts dozens or even hundreds of meters long are everywhere."

"Even on land, vicious beasts dozens of meters long roam all over the place."

"So I think we can regularly hunt Sea Kings and large predators in the future and eat their meat."

"Combined with the Life-Nourishing Art and physical training, it might not only help our bodies recover faster and grow stronger, but also restore some of our vitality. Mom, what do you think?"

"Fine." After hearing him out, Uchiha Chisato nodded without hesitation. "Even if you hadn't brought it up, I was already planning to do that."

"Something this good for strengthening the body shouldn't be wasted."

Uchiha Chisato continued, "In the future, the trustworthy and loyal members of the clan can be given some Sea King meat too, so they can grow stronger."

"After all, the Uchiha Clan will belong to you sooner or later. The stronger these people become, the more beneficial it will be for your future."

"It's a shame not everyone can form a contract. Otherwise, I would have sent people here long ago to establish a stable base and hunt Sea Kings and vicious beasts every day."

"That way, I wouldn't have to do it myself."

At this point, she paused and looked at Xunjing. "Once you've nursed your body back to health and your strength gradually improves, Mom will help you build prestige within the clan bit by bit."

"Then we'll arrange for the clan's children to follow you, so you can get to know them, win them over, and gather them around you."

"Get them to like you as soon as possible, so it will be easier for you to form contracts with them. What do you think?"

From the moment she learned of Xunjing's innate ability, Uchiha Chisato had already begun planning all of this.

She had everything mapped out clearly, leaving Xunjing with nothing to worry about.

Originally, considering that she did not have long to live and that Xunjing's condition was poor, she had intended to support the Third Elder's son, Fugaku, as the next clan head.

But now, she had changed her mind.

Her son was the most suitable candidate.

Fugaku was too indecisive. He lacked what it took to be clan head.

Naturally, Uchiha Xunjing would not refuse. "Fine, I'll listen to you, Mom."

Having a mother like this saved him far too much trouble.

Xunjing was rather glad that the first person he had contracted with had been his mother.

"Oh, right."

Uchiha Chisato asked again, "Tell me, if I leave a Shadow Clone over there after I return, or leave one here instead, can it remain active across worlds?"

"If it can, things will become much more convenient from here on."

Otherwise, traveling back and forth would delay matters in the Ninja World too much.

She could not be in two places at once.

This time, she had only intended to scout things out and had not planned to stay long.

She had not expected to land on a pirate ship in the middle of the sea, nor to save the Kuja Pirates along the way, so she had no choice but to alter her plans.

"Hmm... We can try. Maybe... it should... work?"

Xunjing was not entirely sure either.

"Then let's try it."

The two tested it on the spot.

The result went without saying—success.

If they left a Shadow Clone in either the Ninja World or the Pirate World, the clone would not vanish when the original body traveled to the other world.

Moreover, Xunjing discovered that he could set a coordinate at any place he had visited and teleport there directly.

This included people, ships, and other objects.

That was incredible.

It meant that he could freely travel back and forth to any place he had visited in the future.

The more Uchiha Xunjing thought about it, the more he felt that this method would not only work in the Pirate World. It would probably work in the Hokage world as well.

If his strength had not been insufficient and the timing not yet right, he would have wanted to immediately start exploring a new map.

"Mom, do you think we can do this—return here to rest for a few days midway, then go over in person once they're nearly at the Sabaody Archipelago?"

He turned to Uchiha Chisato, his tone carrying a hint of testing.

Chisato pondered for a moment before replying, "It would be best to leave one of us there in person, so we don't expose any flaws or run into trouble along the way."

"After all, we still don't know whether that Observation Haki can see through a Shadow Clone."

After saying that, she reached out and pinched Xunjing's cheek, smiling helplessly.

"Did you forget? You've only just extracted the tiniest bit of Chakra. You haven't learned the Shadow Clone technique at all."

"Besides, with your current physical condition, how can you keep working with Chakra? Not to mention training Shadow Clones."

Xunjing froze, and his expression immediately fell.

"...I forgot."

He scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed. "I need to get healthy quickly, or I won't be able to do anything."

Seeing his dejected look, Chisato could not help laughing. She reached out and patted his head.

"Don't rush. Take it slowly. Things will get better eventually."

Xunjing took a deep breath and waved his hand. "Enough talking. Let's practice the Life-Nourishing Art first. I don't think I've reached my limit today yet."

As he spoke, he stood up and began practicing again.

He also wanted to find out how many times he could practice in a single day now.

"Alright, Mom will practice with you. Let's get both our bodies back in shape as soon as possible."

Chisato smiled, stood up as well, and began practicing alongside him.

After practicing twice, Xunjing could not hold on any longer.

He panted heavily, dropped onto the ground, and wiped the sweat from his face.

He was exhausted. His entire body was sore and aching.

His stomach was growling fiercely too—he was starving.

His body was clearly telling him: Stop practicing. You can't take any more.

No matter how good the Life-Nourishing Art was, it still needed energy to sustain it.

By contrast, Chisato was still far from her limit.

As she continued practicing, she reassured him, "Since you've reached your limit, rest for now. Mom still needs to continue. I have to recover my peak strength as soon as possible."

Over the years, her strength had declined badly because of her body.

This world was too dangerous. She had to recover quickly.

Xunjing nodded. "Alright, then I'll think about medicinal formulas for recuperation."

"I'll also copy out a few medical books so we can use them as payment for Dr. Kureha later."

The Sea King meat had been stewed until tender, and with the aid of the Life-Nourishing Art, its effect on restoring the Life Origin was extraordinarily noticeable.

"If the payment isn't sufficient, this woman won't be easy to deal with."

The title Witch had not come from nowhere.

"You've thought this through very carefully. We'll do as you say!"

Uchiha Chisato naturally had no objections. Instead, her heart was filled with relief.

This child had truly matured overnight.

"It seems that inheritance really is formidable. It filled Xunjing with far too much knowledge."

"And information about the Ninja World and the Pirate World?"

"It probably doesn't only cover the past and present. It may even contain information about the future."

"Once things settle down, I must ask Xunjing about it properly so we can prepare in advance."

As Uchiha Chisato trained, she quietly calculated in her heart.

She could sense that ever since he had awakened his innate ability and received the Sage Inheritance, her son had carried a certain sense of urgency.

It was not merely because of her and Xunjing's lifespan issues.

She could feel Xunjing's desperate desire to become stronger, as well as that powerful sense of crisis.

"It seems our family's future, and even the Uchiha Clan's future, is far from promising."

Otherwise, Xunjing would not be acting so urgently.

Xunjing did not yet know that his mother had inferred so much from the subtle changes in his emotions.

He first flashed back to the Ninja World, brought back a stack of blank paper from home, and began copying medical books while writing separate medicinal formulas for the two of them—formulas to recuperate their bodies and treat their injuries, based on his own condition and the problems he had discovered when examining Uchiha Chisato earlier.

More than an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

After practicing the Life-Nourishing Art dozens of times, Uchiha Chisato finally stopped for the time being.

Knock, knock, knock!