The next three months brought nothing but routine to the Nakayama Family. In that time, each of Kenshin's wives gave birth three times, granting him three levels. He invested his first free skill point into "Formation Creation," raising it to seventh level, and the second and third into "Talented Offspring," bringing it to eleventh level. As soon as the ability hit tenth level, Kenshin received an intriguing notification.
[Congratulations, you have met the hidden condition and obtained the active ability "Gift of Father."]
He immediately read the description and was quite surprised.
Gift of Father: Allows the Patriarch to reward promising offspring once every thirty days, refreshing the effect of the "Talented Offspring" ability.
"And what does that mean?!" Kenshin thought irritably, spending the next fifteen minutes meticulously analyzing the extra info. He concluded that the ability would let sons born with low "Talented Offspring" modifiers refresh it, as if reborn.
Unable to hide his excitement, he summoned Ichiro and activated it on him. His whole body glowed for a second, then he passed out, waking five minutes later in his worried father's arms.
Ichiro immediately said something had changed inside him, but he couldn't pinpoint what. Kenshin checked his "status" and couldn't hold back a joyful smile.
Name: Nakayama Ichiro
Age: 20 years
Talent Level: 24
Chakra Quality: 5
Chakra Volume: 4840
Chakra Control: 63%
Space Authority Lvl 3
Sharingan Lvl 2
After that, Ichiro, who had been slipping, soared with renewed strength and solidified his leadership. Kenshin avoided interfering in their training, just encouraging them and setting up sparring sessions while refining the exo-suit.
Over three months, he barely managed to equip all four teams with sturdy blades. It took a monstrous amount of time, but he succeeded, and now the "Nakayama Family" was gaining minor notoriety. Ichiro was the formal head of the mercenary group and gradually learning to deal with people.
Kenshin also tackled a grand project to extend telepathic communication range. He finally created a formation that could act as a telepathy relay, and their installation began. Accompanied by a few sons, he occasionally left the sanctuary to inscribe formations on various heights—ancient trees or mountain cliffs.
Progress was excruciatingly slow, but he covered a forty-kilometer radius around the sanctuary, which pleased him greatly.
He couldn't rejoice enough at his sons' successes—many had become Chunin. Most of Aya's older sons had developed their Sharingan to two tomoe, making them even deadlier in battle.
All team captains were Chunin rank, including the newly appointed Fifteenth. Kenshin was shocked when the Fifteenth suddenly hit Chunin and asked Kasumi about it. She was mildly surprised but, after thinking, said it was normal given his instant knowledge transfer and talent—reaching Chunin was a breeze.
That evening, Kenshin gathered the whole family at one table and signaled for silence, then stood.
"Exactly one year ago today, I arrived in this world. At first, I was shocked and scared because I know this world's history," Kenshin said calmly, eliciting shocked gasps. All the girls stared, eager for more, and he continued.
"My first thought was that I was doomed to die in the endless cycle of wars. But I gained a very unusual ability, thanks to which we're all sitting here now. I don't know where it came from or why me, but I'm thrilled it turned out this way," he said, pausing briefly before continuing.
"Today, I want to celebrate the anniversary of my arrival and solemnly declare that the Nakayama Family has gained some strength and no longer fears for its existence," he stated, pausing again. All eyes on him brimmed with boundless pride and love.
"However, even protected from hunger and bandits, our family remains vulnerable to future threats. We have five years to gain enough power to withstand the coming storm. If we fail, we'll be destroyed and forgotten. Train relentlessly for the family's sake, to become the pillars upholding our home."
As he finished, the joy faded from everyone's faces. The sons fell deep into thought, each about their own. The girls sank into sorrow. The calmest were the team captains, Ichiro, Third, Seventh, and Fifteenth—as well as Kasumi and Hitomi.
"What danger awaits us?" Kasumi asked, entering his room with Hitomi after dinner.
"Possibly none, but we must be ready for any threat. In four years, we need to raise ten Kage-level shinobi, and then, perhaps allied with Konoha and the other great villages, we can prevent the worst and crush the threat in its cradle."
"WHAT?! Ten Kage-level shinobi? Impossible! Even Konoha doesn't have ten Kage," Kasumi exclaimed in shock.
"She's right—it seems impossible. Even with your knowledge transfer ability, at current rates, we might barely raise one Elite Jonin in that time..." Hitomi whispered. She'd fully settled into the household and regained her professionalism.
"At current rates, yes—but the pace will accelerate with my ability's growth, so even in the worst case, we should manage several Kage-level shinobi. But that's not enough. Real success chances need at least five Elite Kage-level, and victory is guaranteed by two Sage of Six Paths-level shinobi."