Since we are going to further research Natural Energy, the laboratory naturally needs to be more formal.
"Things here cannot be known to outsiders, and the procurement of research equipment must also be done in secret."
Ruri's expression was very serious.
The matters of the Immortal Technique are too important. Not to mention outsiders, even the people of the Uchiha Race, Ruri doesn't intend to disclose a bit.
"But without the help of those maids, it's going to be difficult for just the two of us..."
Hakushi was about to be troubled, Ruri put her thumb in her mouth and bit it, then began Sealing, and finally slapped the ground with her palm with a snap.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A puff of white smoke appeared with a bang.
A black cat appeared in front of Hakushi and Ruri.
It was about half a person's size and wagged its tail at Ruri.
Ruri took out a list displaying the names of various research equipment.
"Buy all the items on this list, and I will inspect them after one day."
The black cat decisively nodded, turned into white smoke with a bang, and disappeared.
Hakushi looked at the place where the black cat disappeared: "That was..."
"Our Uchiha has always been on good terms with the Ninja Cat Race. Before going to school, I signed a Summoning Contract with some of the Ninja Cats. Having them handle things is safe and stealthy, able to avoid the eyes of the village."
The Ninja Cat Race is active in inconspicuous corners of the Ninja Realm. Their presence, more or less, can be found anywhere, whether it's gathering information or purchasing goods, their mobility is top-notch.
For Ruri, the Ninja Cats with whom she signed the Summoning Contract are undoubtedly her most effective helpers.
Hakushi sighed at Ruri's connections; this is the difference between a prestigious family and commoners.
Not only do they have their own complete training system and various reference books, but they also have broader connections than commoners.
◎
Staying at Ruri's house did not cause any ripples; for the entire village, it's an insignificant matter.
Now, Hakushi stays every day in a room comparable to a high-class hotel, sleeping on a luxurious soft bed, eating nutritious breakfasts meticulously prepared by the maids in the morning, taking a walk in the yard when tired, fishing in the pond, saying he is a servant at Ruri's house, but actually being treated like a young master.
Living in the mansion of a wealthy family's young lady is uneventful and ordinary.
Although he occasionally receives strange disdainful looks from the maids in Ruri's house, Hakushi remains indifferent to this.
He earns his living by working hard and with real skills; what would these maids know?
Now Hakushi can only occasionally accompany Ruri to practice once. After school, he quickly returns to the underground laboratory Ruri newly bought for him to research and guide Natural Energy.
Only by steadily guiding the Natural Energy successfully can the next step of Sage Art Chakra fusion be carried out.
For this reason, explosions frequently occur in Ruri's underground, although with little fluctuation. But Ruri, for complete secrecy, made the surroundings of the laboratory more solid, so the vibrations caused by explosions wouldn't be felt above.
These precise experimental instruments, including the reinforcement of the laboratory environment, use defensive shields transported from the Land of Iron.
According to Ruri, these cost a total of forty-five million Ryo, occupying a tenth of her pocket money wealth in her bank account.
Hakushi only wants to know what kind of small business Ruri's parents are doing outside that allows Ruri to live such an ordinary life.
◎
On the last day of the first month of living at Ruri's house.
Hakushi returned to the laboratory after school in the afternoon to continue natural energy-related research, while Ruri went to the Nankai Shrine of the Uchiha to attend the monthly family clan meeting.
The Uchiha members attending the clan meeting are not ordinary Uchiha clan members. Awakening the Sharingan is just one requirement; they also need to be Special Jonin or ninja with above strength, or talented individuals like Ruri, who are key family nurtured talents with a high probability of inheriting the Clan Leader position in the future.
Ruri is not only a genius of Uchiha but is also being cultivated as one of the candidates for the next clan leader.
Therefore, she is eligible to attend the monthly small clan meeting.
Nankai Shrine.
Uchiha ninjas gathered here, the sky dim, torches lit on either side of the road, allowing the path to the shrine above to be seen clearly.
Reaching the Nankai Shrine above, entering the building of the shrine, using Jutsu to open the sealed stone slab, Uchiha ninjas successively walked down.
In the empty underground chamber, an ancient stone tablet stood, with fires burning on both sides, illuminating the dark underground chamber brightly.
There are over twenty people gathered here, all currently staying in the clan's territory as Special Jonin or Jonin. Some Jonin weren't present because they were on missions outside, thus could only be absent.
The monthly clan meeting actually doesn't have any important announcements, the relationship between Uchiha and the village Hokage remains harmonious.
Except for some top members who are individually dissatisfied or hostile to the Uchiha.
But those looks filled with wariness and disdain, the Uchiha Race simply ignores.
As the foremost Ninja Race of Konoha, they possess such confidence.
Even the Hokage must concede to them, let alone those high-level officials weaker than the Hokage.
The clan meetings typically deal with trivial matters, such as which training grounds are damaged, whether complaints against the Security Team from Konoha villagers have increased, whether there are new promising talents in the clan worth cultivating, how this month's expenses compare to last month's, or whether the clan's income has risen...
An hour later, the clan meeting concluded in a lengthy and tedious manner.
"Ruri, Fugaku, stay behind."
An elderly man spoke, hair grizzled, over sixty years old, his face etched with wrinkles.
Uchiha Shikora.
He was the most esteemed elder in the Uchiha Clan, having retired from the ninja career due to age, residing in the background, bearing the responsibility of nurturing the Uchiha Clan's prodigious ninjas.
Along with Ruri, there was another seventeen or eighteen-year-old Uchiha ninja—Uchiha Fugaku.
With handsome looks, his face showed no signs of immaturity, exuding an aura of maturity and stability.
Like Ruri, Fugaku was also a prodigy ninja of the Uchiha Race, having passed the Jonin exam last year, becoming an excellent and young Jonin.
Moreover, his Sharingan was at the Three Tomoe level, giving him a significant advantage when facing fellow Jonin.
Ruri and Fugaku knelt silently before Elder Shikora, waiting for him to speak.
"If nothing unexpected occurs, the next clan leader will be chosen between you two."
"Yes."
Upon hearing Elder Shikora's words, Ruri and Fugaku remained unfazed.
"Without a doubt, you two are among the rare talents in our Uchiha history, possessing the potential to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Hearing Elder Shikora mention the Mangekyo Sharingan, Ruri and Fugaku showed a slight change in expression.
The Mangekyo Sharingan, the ultimate eye surpassing the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Too ancient to trace, the last to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan in recent history was Uchiha Madara, who founded Konoha Village with the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
It is the legendary eye that only the Uchiha can awaken, wielding supreme pupil techniques.
As the longest-serving elder in the Uchiha Race, Elder Shikora was already a Jonin in the village during Konoha's founding period, and while not fully aware of all Uchiha secrets, knew more than most Uchiha clansmen.
This includes the secret of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Elder Shikora, what exactly are the conditions to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
The one who asked this question was Fugaku.
His Sharingan had already reached the Three Tomoe level, the highest state of a regular Sharingan, making him more eager than Ruri to learn the way to ascend to the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Only then can he become the Uchiha clan leader without fail, leading the Uchiha to new heights.
He felt he was now powerful enough to seek the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Fugaku, your Three-Tomoe Sharingan is not yet fully refined; it requires more honing. In a few days, I will recommend you to the Third Hokage to team up with other Konoha ninjas to execute missions. You will benefit greatly from this."
"Yes."
Fugaku complied, as all his strength came from Elder Shikora's teachings, and he trusted Elder Shikora's arrangements completely.
There must be a reason behind such an arrangement.
"Elder Shikora, what should I do?"
Ruri inquired.
"Your fortune is better than Fugaku's; you've already discovered the condition for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan. Next, you only need to refine your ordinary Sharingan to its limit. When the time is right, I'll share the method to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan with you."
Elder Shikora looked at Ruri with meaningful eyes.
He prioritized Ruri over Fugaku.
Her deep bonds with the village ninjas, her relentless pursuit of power, her unparalleled talent in using the Sharingan...
At that time, to gain ultimate power, she would undoubtedly succumb to the allure of the legendary pupil technique and make the right choice.
Then, the Uchiha Race would usher in a new prosperity, completely surpassing the Senju line.
"Yes."
Though puzzled as to why Elder Shikora said she was more equipped than Fugaku to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, needing only to hone her ordinary Sharingan to its peak, Ruri didn't dwell on it; she nodded, indicating she understood.
More than the clan leader position, she was more intrigued by the method to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.