Chapter 9

"Mom's already recovered quite a bit. I've got plenty of years left, so don't push yourself too hard."

"No matter how terrible a future you've seen, you still have me."

"I'll always have your back, shielding you from whatever comes."

Hearing those words and seeing Uchiha Chisato's earnest expression, Xunjing felt warmth fill his heart. He smiled and replied, "Mm, I know, Mom."

"But how did you figure out I knew about the future?"

"Hehe."

Uchiha Chisato smiled and reached out to tap Xunjing's forehead lightly with her index finger. "You underestimated your mom, didn't you?" she teased.

"You haven't exactly been hiding things from me. I could piece together a thing or two."

"Tell me, then. What happens to the Uchiha and the Ninja World in the future? What could make you so desperate to save my life and get stronger?"

Uchiha Chisato really did want to get to the bottom of it.

It wasn't just about sharing her son's burden. She also wanted to understand the situation ahead of time and prepare her own path. She never went into a fight unprepared; every step had to be calculated first.

"Mm."

Uchiha Xunjing fell silent for a moment. He waited until his mother had placed a soundproofing seal around the room before speaking. "In the future, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo drive the Uchiha Clan into a corner. In Konoha Year 55, the entire clan is wiped out..."

Then he laid out everything he knew about the future.

The Second Shinobi World War, the third, the fourth-he left none of them out. Madara Uchiha still being alive, Black Zetsu, White Zetsu, Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, the Otsutsuki Clan... he told her everything.

He told his mother all of it.

Uchiha Chisato was someone he could trust completely. Her affection score was maxed out at one hundred, and that was no joke. It hadn't dropped once since the Space-Time Gate had bound itself to him. He had absolutely no reason to worry that his mother might harm him, even if something unexpected happened.

"I never imagined the future would turn out like that."

After listening, Uchiha Chisato knitted her brows. "Madara Uchiha is still alive, stirring up trouble in the Ninja World, and behind him is Black Zetsu, a crafty old fox who's been hiding for over a thousand years?"

"Even aliens and the Sage of Six Paths show up?"

"No wonder you've been under so much pressure."

"You're right. Against the people you just mentioned, neither I nor the entire Ninja World would stand a chance with our current strength."

"But fortunately, we still have time, and the Pirate World has no shortage of resources."

"I'm confident I'll eventually grow strong enough to take on Madara Uchiha, and even surpass him."

"So don't worry too much. We'll just keep moving forward together."

Without the Pirate World's resources or her son's cheat, she really wouldn't have had that confidence. But now both mother and son had cheats. What was there to fear from the likes of Madara Uchiha or the Otsutsuki Clan?

"Mm."

After hearing her out, Uchiha Xunjing curled his lips into a smile. "I've never lacked confidence. It's just that time feels short, and the pressure is heavy."

"But even if we can't beat them, we can always hide out in the Pirate World for a while, then fight our way back once we're strong enough."

"From the day I awakened the Space-Time Gate, we'd already made it impossible for us to lose."

"Hehe, exactly."

Uchiha Chisato laughed along with him. "Looks like I worried for nothing. Little Xunjing, you've got it all figured out. Good."

"As for Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and the others... heh."

Uchiha Chisato suddenly paused, her expression turning cold. Through gritted teeth, she said, "I truly never expected them to go that far in the future. Fine. They've really outdone themselves!"

"When it comes down to it, I was too soft before. I let them get away with too much."

"If I hadn't thought I was running out of time, if I hadn't been thinking about the future for you and the Uchiha, I never would have backed down so much."

"But things are different now."

"Just wait and see. I'll make them pay dearly!"

"They want to wipe out my Uchiha? I'll uproot the Sarutobi Clan, the Shimura, and their allies first! Hmph!"

She was no pushover.

She was Uchiha Chisato.

She had already gone over the Senju Clan's current situation, the Uzumaki Clan's future tragedy, and Uzumaki Mito's circumstances in her mind.

She was already considering how to join forces with the Senju, the Uzumaki Clan, and Mito to deal with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and their crowd, step by step.

She had never been the sort to sit around taking blows and swallowing her anger.

"Mom, now that's what I like to hear!"

After hearing his mother's tough declaration, Uchiha Xunjing immediately gave her a thumbs-up.

With a mom like her, he felt utterly secure.

"Hehe."

Uchiha Chisato's eyes curved with her smile. She reached out and ruffled Xunjing's hair. "Leave it to me. I'll handle this."

"Of course, if you have any ideas, tell me anytime. We'll talk them over together."

"Mm-hmm!"

Xunjing nodded vigorously.

No problem, no problem.

"But that boy Itachi Uchiha really did get completely taken in by Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others."

Uchiha Chisato changed the subject, frowning. "They manipulated him into slaughtering his entire clan with his own hands."

"There was seriously something wrong with his head."

"Exactly!"

Xunjing nodded repeatedly in agreement. "And I don't think Itachi Uchiha deserves all the blame. Fugaku Uchiha bears a huge share of it too!"

"Taking a three- or four-year-old child to the front lines, saying he should experience the cruelty of war-isn't that insane?"

"He led Itachi Uchiha astray from childhood."

"Then he kept backing down and compromising with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, pushing the Uchiha closer and closer to a dead end. He didn't deserve to be the Uchiha clan head."

"And he doesn't deserve Mikoto either."

Uchiha Chisato nodded in agreement at the first part, but at his final remark, the look she gave Xunjing suddenly turned knowing. "Then who do you think deserves your big sister Mikoto?"

"Me, of course... uh..."

Caught off guard, Uchiha Xunjing blurted out what he really thought before suddenly coming to his senses.

Uchiha Xunjing looked at his mother, thoroughly embarrassed. Seeing the teasing look in her eyes, he felt his face burn and gave two dry coughs. "Ahem! Anyway, that guy Fugaku doesn't deserve Mikoto at all! Don't you agree, Mom?"

"Oh, you."

His clumsy attempt to change the subject made Uchiha Chisato laugh. She lightly tapped his forehead, her voice tinged with amusement. "I had no idea you'd already learned to chase pretty girls at such a young age."

"You've set your sights on your big sister Mikoto already?"

"But you're right. Fugaku really doesn't deserve her."

"The future you just described must have been one where you never awakened your talent, and neither I nor your mom was around."

"But now both our destinies have changed, so the future will naturally be different too."

"So I support you marrying your big sister Mikoto someday."

"And not just that. I also intend to make you the Uchiha's next clan head."

"That means you'll have to work harder starting today-improve your strength fast, and gradually build your standing within the clan."

"I'll pave the way for you. Don't be afraid. Give it your best!"

She didn't think a boy liking pretty women was anything to make a fuss about.

He was her own son, after all. She would be delighted if he married several wives and had plenty of children, helping the Uchiha Clan flourish.

Over the next two days,

Xunjing spent practically all his time aboard the ship. He either practiced the Life-Nourishing Art while eating sea king meat, copied medical texts, or practiced the Meditation Method Uchiha Chisato had given him.

Perhaps because he had lived two lives, his soul and mental power were far stronger than those of other children his age. His memory and comprehension were also exceptionally good.

On the very day he received that **, he got the basics down after only a few attempts, successfully adding it to the Heaven Rewards Hard Work Talent Panel.

Improving it afterward would be much easier.

Two days later, the group arrived safely at a dock in Area 13 of the Sabaody Archipelago.

Shakuyaku and Rayleigh were already waiting for them at the harbor.