With Maru and Kasumi present, lunch was unusually proper.
There was no teasing, no intimacy—
Only the soft clink of chopsticks and the occasional quiet exchange.
Midway through the meal, Ren withdrew his focus inward.
His consciousness sank into the Sharingan space.
As his pupil power flowed, today's dimensional bubble formed.
A soft pop echoed in his mind.
Another item drifted out from the pale blue-white stone gate.
[Item: Summoning Technique Cultivation Method]
[Evaluation: A method from another world capable of communicating with souls and elemental spirits. Notable potential.]
[Origin: Shaman King]
Beneath the ancient gate—
Still glowing with its eternal pale light—
One bubble continued to struggle and howl like a trapped corpse.
Beside it floated a worn book, wrapped in pure white light.
Its aged cover suggested it had been read countless times.
Ren's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Shaman King…"
He recalled the story.
A world where shamans communicated with spirits.
Where Asakura Yoh fought alongside the samurai spirit Amidamaru.
Where the Shaman Fight determined the one who would become king—
To oppose Asakura Hao.
A man reborn every five hundred years.
A great onmyoji whose power bordered on godhood.
Driven by hatred after witnessing his mother burned by ignorant humans—
He sought to cleanse the world and create one for shamans alone.
Ren's thoughts drifted.
A faint comparison surfaced.
"Obito…"
But the difference was clear.
One driven by narrow obsession—
The other by a distorted yet expansive love.
Even in destruction—
Hao still carried a strange gentleness.
In the end, he revived the fallen.
Became the King of Spirits.
And the story reached its conclusion.
Not perfect—
But not flawed.
If given the chance…
Ren's lips curved faintly.
"…It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring someone like that into the Uchiha."
A reincarnating onmyoji—
Master of soul and ritual.
In a clan defined by emotion and power—
That would be… interesting.
His focus returned to the method in his hand.
"This could merge with Edo Tensei…"
The thought unfolded naturally.
Binding souls.
Attaching them to vessels.
Possessing hosts.
Hashirama's spirit—
Attached directly to a living body.
Tobirama—
Bound to a weapon.
A deeper, darker idea surfaced.
"If I kill Danzo… and bind his soul…"
"…could I create something like a Ten Thousand Souls Banner?"
The concept amused him.
A tool forged from imprisoned souls.
Power layered upon power.
Or—
Another path.
"…like reviving a spirit through cultivation."
If the systems of two worlds were combined—
Shamanic possession.
Ninja techniques.
Soul manipulation.
The possibilities—
Were vast.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Then—
"Ren-kun, someone's coming."
Mikoto's voice pulled him back.
She set down her chopsticks and carefully wiped her lips.
Her gaze lifted toward the distance.
Uchiha Hazuki approached swiftly.
"Lady Mikoto. Lord Ren."
With a single step, she crossed the wide span of the Naka River—
Landing lightly before them.
"Elder Hokage requests Lady Mikoto to return to the clan."
She paused, then added with a small smile—
"The elder seems to be in a very good mood. It should be good news."
Mikoto turned to Ren.
"I won't be able to train with you this afternoon."
There was a hint of apology in her voice.
Seeing the immediate disappointment on his face—
Her heart softened.
She turned her head slightly, a faint blush rising to her ears.
"…Come to my house for dinner tonight."
The change was instant.
His expression brightened without restraint.
Mikoto froze for a second.
Then realization dawned.
She had been tricked again.
Her lips puffed slightly in annoyance—
Yet the sweetness in her chest lingered.
In the end, she only let out a soft, embarrassed huff before turning away.
Hazuki bowed to Ren.
Then followed after her.
Ren watched them leave.
Then quickly finished the rest of his meal.
Across from him—
Kasumi had already eaten.
She sat gracefully, reading a finely bound novel.
Maru stood beside her—
Fanning her with complete dedication.
The book's title was striking:
"After Losing Me, the Cold Noble Lady Regrets It After Bearing His Child."
A ridiculous premise—
Yet wildly popular.
Stories like these had shaken the literary world.
Especially among nobles.
Tragic romance.
Emotional excess.
It spread quickly—
Even influencing female shinobi.
Ren's earlier act—
Feigning disappointment—
Had come straight from such stories.
A little vulnerability.
A little sincerity.
Step by step—
Closing the distance.
At this rate…
Inviting Mikoto to his home was only a matter of time.
Kasumi closed her book and leapt lightly into his arms.
Maru immediately began clearing the dishes.
"Master, there are several pieces of intelligence to report."
Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly in the sunlight.
She had returned to the Ninja Cat stronghold earlier.
Gathered fresh information.
"Mito Homura has left Konoha and is heading toward the Daimyo's residence."
"In the Land of Rain, traces of Sunagakure and Iwagakure have been found. Kumogakure has also dispatched shinobi."
"Hanzō, known as the 'demigod,' has left Amegakure with his forces. His destination is unknown."
"At the same time, a new organization calling itself 'Akatsuki' has appeared in the Land of Rain."
She paused briefly.
Then continued.
"In Kusagakure, we've found survivors of the Uzumaki clan… the ones who escaped after the fall of Uzushiogakure."
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