Gekko Takumi's face lit up when he heard Sora agree.
"The engagement is set for five years from now, which is after your graduation. At that time, you'll need to go to the Uzuki Clan and accept challenges from their younger generation. Only if you defeat the Uzuki Clan's younger generation will your union with Yūgao Uzuki be possible."
Saying that, Gekko Takumi handed Sora a scroll.
"This is Crescent Moon Dance, an A-rank forbidden Ninjutsu of our Gekko Clan. As long as you master this sword technique, you can even cut down a Jonin!"
"Originally, I intended to teach it to you after you graduated, but for the sake of a smooth marriage alliance with the Uzuki Clan five years from now, I can only give it to you now."
Sora took the scroll and grumbled, "I thought it was supposed to be by parental decree and matchmaker's words."
Gekko Takumi smiled slightly and said, "These are Yūgao's conditions. After all, it's a marriage alliance between two clan geniuses. If one cannot defeat the other's younger generation, then even if Yūgao's elders agree, she won't!"
Although the purpose of the marriage alliance was for the better survival of both clans, as geniuses of their respective clans, they also had the right to choose.
After all, both Yūgao and Sora were the future pillars of their clans... If they didn't fancy each other, their clans wouldn't force them.
This was also why Gekko Takumi asked for Sora's opinion first!
"Originally, I wanted Gekkō Hayate to marry Yūgao Uzuki. Their ages are similar, and they get along quite well. But Hayate has been sickly since childhood. Although Hayate's sword talent is very strong, and his current strength is close to a Jonin... for the sake of caution, I still decided to place my bet on you and postponed the engagement for five years!"
Sora raised an eyebrow.
So, I stole Gekkō Hayate's wife?
However, Gekkō Hayate was short-lived anyway, so it wasn't entirely stealing, right?
Sora felt no guilt in his heart; instead, there was a hint of glee.
"There's one more thing. Besides you needing to go to the Uzuki Clan in five years to accept challenges from their younger generation, Yūgao Uzuki will also come to our Gekko Clan next year to challenge our younger generation."
"She's coming too? I didn't invite her."
"She proactively offered to come, probably to give you a warning! You need to be mentally prepared. Yūgao Uzuki is hailed as the most talented Shinobi of the Uzuki Clan in the past century. I heard that Hokage-sama has already taken an interest in her, and she might join the Anbu in the future!"
Gekko Takumi said in a low voice.
"A warning?"
Sora pouted and said indifferently, "It's not certain who will give whom a warning then."
Sora decided that when Yūgao came to challenge next year, he would also participate to let her witness the prowess of her future husband!
"Don't underestimate her. Hayate fought her, and even he wasn't confident he could defeat her!"
Sora was noncommittal.
In terms of swordsmanship, even Gekkō Hayate was no match for him, unless Gekkō Hayate learned Crescent Moon Dance before him!
Gekko Takumi saw Sora's indifferent expression and stopped trying to persuade him. He knew that just talking about many things was useless.
No matter how much grand reason was said, it was not as effective as hitting a wall once!
"There's one more thing!"
Gekko Takumi's expression turned serious. "Did you give our Gekko Clan's secret Ninjutsu to an outsider?"
"Mhm."
"Why?"
"No reason. I just thought he was too weak, so I helped him out."
"..."
Gekko Takumi was speechless. "He's from the Uchiha Clan, with deep foundations! Does he need our secret Ninjutsu to improve his strength?"
"Anyway, I didn't lose out. I traded him for a Ninjutsu."
"You traded for a Ninjutsu? What Ninjutsu?"
"C-rank Ninjutsu, Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."
"You used our Gekko Clan's secret Ninjutsu to trade for a common C-rank Ninjutsu?"
"Common? How come I don't have it?"
Gekko Takumi was almost fuming.
Although the Gekko Clan had shallow foundations and not many Ninjutsu in their collection, they could still bring out one or two C-rank Ninjutsu, or even B-rank Ninjutsu!
Not to mention a Ninjutsu like Great Fireball Technique, which even ordinary civilian Shinobi could learn!
Gekko Takumi glared at Sora, took a deep breath, and suppressed the anger that was about to erupt.
It was just a basic secret Gekko sword technique that was meaningful to the Uchiha Clan. Trading it for friendship with the second young master of the Uchiha Clan wasn't a loss.
From a political perspective, it didn't seem like much of a loss either.
When Sora and Sasuke grew up, perhaps the Gekko Clan could even form a marriage alliance with the Uchiha Clan in the future!
Thinking this, Gekko Takumi's mood immediately improved.
"Forget it, I won't fuss over it this time. But if there's a next time, I won't be lenient!"
"O.0"
Looking at Sora's departing back, Gekko Takumi somehow felt that Sora would do it again!
"If that brat dares to give away Crescent Moon Dance... Sigh, never mind. Who told him he's the future of the Gekko Clan!"
Gekko Takumi sighed and turned around, leaving a lonely figure behind.
The pain of small clans was that they had few talents; one less meant one less!
And top geniuses like Sora and Hayate, who had a chance to become Jonin, were even rarer!
The future of the Gekko Clan still relied on Sora. As long as he didn't betray the village or harm clan members, everything could be forgiven.
Besides, apart from the Transparent Escape, the Gekko Clan had nothing else for other clans to covet.
Just one or two sword techniques, giving them away was fine!
It wasn't like they hadn't given them away before!
...
One night several months later,
[Ding! Your bound target suffered a clan extermination and awakened a one-tomoe Sharingan!]
[You have received a power feedback... You have awakened a one-tomoe Sharingan, and your pupil power has increased a hundredfold!]
Sora, who was just about to fall asleep, suddenly got up from his bed.
His eyes turned blood-red under the stimulation of Chakra, and his pupils transformed into the appearance of a one-tomoe.
"One-tomoe?"
A hundredfold increase in pupil power still resulting in a one-tomoe was something Sora hadn't expected.
Could it be that the increase in pupil power doesn't stimulate the Sharingan to advance further?
Sora pondered for a moment and came up with a hypothesis that he wasn't sure was correct.
The magnitude of pupil power represents the strength and durability of the Sharingan, but not the tomoe or the Mangekyo!
The increase in tomoe and the evolution of the Sharingan would indeed increase pupil power, but an increase in pupil power would not cause the Sharingan to mutate.
The two are in a relationship of inclusion and being included.
"If that's the case, what's the purpose of the pupil power increasing a hundredfold?"
It is well known that the tomoe Sharingan has three abilities:
One is to enhance the Shinobi's observation skills.
Second is to copy others' Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and even sword techniques.
Third is Genjutsu and hypnosis!
Sasuke, with only a one-tomoe, only possessed better observation skills, giving him an advantage in combat and learning.
And himself...