"Yes! Thank you, Mom!" Gin smiled warmly.
Approaching Hikari, he turned serious.
"Mom, are you ready to believe me?"
Hikari reached out and gently placed her hand on his head."What are you talking about? Mom will always believe you. If you want to say something, say it."
Despite her confusion, she trusted her son unconditionally.
"Thank you, Mother!" Gin beamed. Then, noticing her curious gaze, he concentrated. A mysterious rune appeared between his eyebrows and floated toward her.
"Mom, just touch this rune and accept. We'll talk more about it later, okay?"
He decided to bind his mother through his talent—Gate of Space-Time. It would be easier to explain everything afterward. Besides, he could already sense that her affection toward him was a full 100 points—enough to meet the conditions for the contract.
Hikari studied the rune carefully, then looked into her son's eyes and nodded.
"Alright."
She touched the glowing rune. In an instant, information flooded her mind. By accepting the contract, she would gain immense benefits—but also allow Gin to exert some control over her. Despite the strangeness of the method, her trust in Gin was absolute, and she didn't hesitate to accept.
The rune transformed into radiant energy, entered Hikari's hand, and settled in her consciousness, taking the shape of a glowing door. Its rules and conditions etched themselves into her mind.
"This… lets me travel through space-time into another world?" Hikari asked in shock. "Gin, what is all this?"
"Nothing too crazy," Gin replied with a grin. "When I unlocked my chakra, this talent awakened. I received a mysterious inheritance, along with knowledge of our world and another—beyond the Gate of Space-Time."
"Talent?" Hikari frowned. "I've never heard of anything like that. Could it be... from the Sage of Six Paths?"
As a senior of the Uchiha clan, Hikari knew many secrets from ancient scrolls, including legends about the Sage. They may not have been myths after all.
"Mother, what matters now is using this legacy—and the resources of the other world—to heal and extend our lives. I've acquired medical knowledge, and I can see you're not in great shape either."
"You mean... you can cure your innate weakness?" Hikari's eyes lit up.
"Yes! There's a health training method that strengthens the body," Gin nodded. "I just tried it myself—it really works. It's not an instant fix, but over time, it can significantly extend life. My talent confirms it."
Hikari smiled softly, thinking to herself, "It looks like my little Gin has his own secrets. But I don't need to know everything. It's enough to know he's safe." A good mother doesn't question too much when she trusts her child's intentions.
"Mom! I'll teach you the exercises. Try them and see if they help!"
Without waiting for a reply, Gin stood up and began demonstrating the movements step by step, explaining them clearly. Hikari, not one to ignore her son's sincerity, activated her Sharingan and precisely mimicked every motion.
[You performed the Health Preservation Exercise. Skill +1. Life Expectancy +1 day.]
"How was that? Remember everything?" Gin asked, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Not bad," Hikari said calmly. "I'll try them now. You can observe and correct me if I do anything wrong."
Though skeptical about whether these exercises could truly help, she didn't want to disappoint her son. More importantly, she knew she needed to live long enough to protect him and give him a stable life.
Since the death of the Second Hokage, and with Sarutobi Hiruzen's rise to power, the pressure on the Uchiha clan had steadily increased. Even Uchiha Kagami had been secretly assassinated—Hikari was certain Danzo and his Root operatives were behind it, though there was no proof.
Her mere presence kept Konoha's ambitions in check. Her poor health was the only reason they hadn't made a bolder move. If she died, Gin and the clan would be vulnerable. Even with Sage-like talents, without time and protection, Gin's future could be snuffed out too early.
With all this weighing on her mind, Hikari began the exercise. As a genius kunoichi, she mastered the moves effortlessly—even without her Sharingan, her body remembered.
Under Gin's watchful eyes, she gracefully completed the routine.
"Mom, you're amazing! You remembered everything perfectly on your first try! So, how do you feel?" Gin asked, applauding.
Hikari exhaled, focusing on her body's inner state. Her eyes softened.
"It worked. The effect is still small, but I can feel some of my chronic pain easing. My body feels lighter. With regular training, this could truly improve my health. Gin… you really are Mom's lucky star."
She wasn't exaggerating. Listening closely to her body, she felt the early signs of improvement. Combining this method with proper chakra control, supplements, and medicine could heal old wounds and restore vitality.
This was just the beginning.