The entire morning of the 429th day, Kenshin spent training. His health still didn't allow for intense sparring, but nothing prevented him from training his psionics. He still couldn't shake the seemingly unreal possibility of influencing the molecules and atoms of substances.
The prospects of successfully mastering methods of influencing the microworld were boundless and could significantly increase the Nakayama Family's chances of survival in the coming events.
However, Kenshin was at a complete dead end and absolutely couldn't scan matter deeply enough. Over several months, he had advanced only to identifying substances the size of a few dozen molecules. He effortlessly memorized the composition of a substance and its connections, and already at this stage, he could create an analog of Mendeleev's table, advancing this world's chemical science by centuries.
But this still wasn't enough to dive into the microworld. He felt that he had hit a wall, and his perception was bumping against an invisible ceiling, unable to grasp processes beyond the senses.
He suspected the problem lay either in his underdeveloped mind or in insufficiently strong psionics, which could barely superficially encompass a chemical reaction of sufficiently large reagents.
The sensations from scanning various objects were indescribable, but Kenshin perceived it as thousands of the tiniest, tentacle-like threads. Each thread was under his control, and like an octopus, he perceived everything through tactile exploration.
These tactile sensations were unlike the familiar feelings from physical touch. Psionics transmitted far broader information, including something akin to "taste" and "smell." Kenshin easily distinguished between iron and aluminum, manganese and sulfur.
At the moment, he could encompass with his perception a substance consisting of at least several dozen molecules. Anything smaller failed to identify and recognize.
And though he had learned to create a ball of flame at will, literally forcing surrounding molecules to change and participate in combustion, it wasn't enough for Kenshin. He didn't want to spend his life using unknown methods that opened up upon achieving certain results in psionics. He wanted more—specifically, to understand and harness the surrounding world.
He compared the ability to create fire to shooting a pistol. An ordinary person might not care about the pistol's mechanism or the chemical reaction propelling the bullet to the target. Such an arrangement didn't suit Kenshin at all, for by exploring the depths of these processes, he could learn not only to "shoot a pistol" but in an instant turn it into a grenade launcher, create not just fire but also ice, and take a step closer to studying nuclear reactions.
After an exhausting training session, Kenshin felt he was on the verge of splitting his consciousness into two streams. He was thrilled to be one step closer to this incredible breakthrough, and the despondent mood from yet another failed attempt to probe the microworld instantly shifted to satisfaction with the progress achieved.
He had barely finished breakfast with the family when he sensed the perimeter breach signal again. Ten minutes later, Aburame Tadao once more occupied the guest chair in the specially equipped negotiation room.
After mutual greetings, Kenshin stared expectantly at the guest, eager to hear the reason for the visit.
"Nakayama-san, it took enormous effort to get approval for this contract, so I hope you won't complicate my work or change your mind at the last moment," Tadao said with a friendly smile, sipping from the cup prepared for him. Tasting the unusual flavor, he peered curiously into the contents and didn't recognize the drink. His perfect sense of smell reminded him that he had smelled the identical aroma from Kenshin's cup the day before.
"Of course not, Tadao-san, as long as you don't complicate my life or saddle me with a bunch of new obligations," Kenshin replied with an equally friendly smile.
Nevertheless, each intended to make the negotiations advantageous for himself, and only four hours later did Kenshin sign the ill-fated document, mentally exhausted.
Tadao was an incredibly experienced negotiator; Kenshin barely held his positions, and advances succeeded only by miracle. Without the ability to sense moods and read some unprotected thoughts, he would have lost spectacularly to this shark named Aburame Tadao.
However, even the final contract terms were very serious, and Kenshin repeatedly tried to revise them, but Tadao was absolutely unyielding, as he physically couldn't conclude a softer deal.
The final terms included 60% military duty among shinobi of Genin level and above, plus Konoha's obligation for "free" missions. Kenshin committed to providing one Jonin twice a year for a solo mission.
The initial terms were much stricter: 80% military duty and four missions per year by two Jonin under Konoha's command. Kenshin categorically disliked such conditions, and the single point about his sons coming under foreign command was debated for over an hour.
Additionally, Kenshin agreed not to engage in military confrontation with other Konoha vassals or participate in wars on the side of other great villages.
After numerous serious obligations, the demand to build a separate residential complex on Nakayama Family territory no longer seemed so grave. However, even here Kenshin staunchly defended privacy rights and refused to house strangers on his land.
After brief discussion, Kenshin conceded on the building's size, while Tadao reluctantly yielded on the location of the future transit point for Konoha shinobi.
Kenshin committed to building a single-story heated structure with five rooms and at least fifteen sleeping spots within three months. One kitchen fully equipped with fuinjutsu, plus a shower and toilet with a 700-liter water tank.
He knew such a construction would cost a pretty penny, but he didn't want random people on his territory, so he agreed without issue, just to avoid housing them himself.
As soon as Aburame Tadao left Nakayama Family territory, Kenshin unrolled the hefty scroll and began reading, committing it all to his perfect memory. He wanted to fully protect himself from possible Konoha tricks by storing everything in his memory.
"So that's how it is..." he thought, fully memorizing all the subtleties of the Eight Gates opening technique.