Kaede expected Megumi to be angry, but he acted as if none of it concerned him at all.
"Alright then," Megumi said flatly, "tell me why you left the Nara clan. My father was the younger brother of the clan head. Why did you leave? Was Uncle Shikaku also one of the people who wanted you dead?"
Kaede sighed, her face tightening with the weight of memory. "After you were hospitalized, I went to your uncle for help. But I was told he was in a meeting with the elders. I didn't want to pry at first, but after seeing your injuries, I knew something was wrong. So I went to that meeting myself... and I heard everything. They were planning to send you away because you had no chakra. They said you would stain the Nara clan's legacy."
Megumi wasn't surprised. He had already expected the elders to treat someone like him as a disgrace. He looked at his mother, his expression unreadable.
"Then where did you get the money to buy this place? You already fought with the Nara elders. I know they wouldn't give you a single coin from the clan's treasury."
Kaede smiled, proud yet tired. "I started taking dangerous missions in the village. That's how I paid for this house. Do you like it, Megumi?"
"Yes," he admitted. "It's bigger than that wooden house in the clan. And... livelier."
His eyes softened when he noticed his mother's pale face. He now understood why her health had declined—she had been working herself to the bone for him. Bowing his head deeply, Megumi whispered, "Thank you."
Kaede's heart warmed at his gratitude. She reached over and ruffled his hair. "I have to go on another mission tomorrow. I should have left yesterday, but when you woke up, I requested one more day from the client to stay with you."
Megumi nodded. "Alright." He quietly pushed his cursed energy into her shadow, healing the injured Divine Dog within. The creature stirred faintly, easier to summon now.
"Megumi," Kaede said, a hint of embarrassment in her tone, "your summoning wolves were hurt during my last mission. I tried medical ninjutsu, but it didn't work. And no matter how I called, Nue wouldn't answer."
"It's fine. I already know. They're healed now," Megumi reassured her. "And they like you even more than before. Nue can be summoned again too."
Kaede exhaled in relief, smiling faintly. Then she grew serious. "Megumi... tell me, what do you plan for your future?"
He didn't hesitate. "Grow up. Eat. Sleep. Marry some beautiful women. Have lots of children."
Kaede froze, stunned into silence. Her son's shameless answer left her speechless. "...Let me show you your room upstairs," she said quickly, changing the subject. "You'll love it."
After touring the house, Megumi was left alone in his new room. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his palm pressed against his shadow. Closing his eyes, he poured cursed energy into it. His tattoos glowed faintly as they helped him regulate the flow of power. Sweat rolled down his face as he focused, pushing past exhaustion.
His shadow stretched across the floor, and from it, a black crow began to take shape. Then another. And another. Failure after failure, the forms collapsed, but Megumi refused to stop. He poured more cursed energy in, forcing his limits.
In his mind's eye, he visualized the crow—not just as a shape, but as a living creature. Giving it more than form. Giving it life.
At last, the shadow split open, and from it burst a murder of fifteen crows, their harsh cries echoing through the room.
Megumi collapsed backward, his chest heaving, but he smiled. He had done it. He had created the Black Bird Shadow Crows. He modified them with a binding vow, removing their cursed energy limitation and transforming them into his own Bird Strike Technique.
Through their shared vision, he tested their eyes. He could see through all their perspectives, though it left him vulnerable to ambush. For now, it was safer to use them from inside his Shadow Box.
Pleased with his progress, he sent ten of the crows into Kaede's shadow. For her protection, he thought. Because I know that one-eyed old ghost will come for her one day.
"Hey! You saw that, right?" Megumi grinned, his voice sharp with pride. "Hahaha! I did it without you. Now praise me, and don't get jealous of my genius brain."
[Wow… congratulations, Host.]
[Let's see if that same brain can help you achieve Reverse Cursed Technique… and eventually, a complete Domain.]
"Humph." Megumi smirked, sniffing the air. "Is that jealousy I hear? Or was that a threat?"
He chuckled, but the laughter faded as darkness closed in on him. His body gave out, and everything went black. When he woke, he was on the bed. The sun scorched through the window, telling him he had slept half the day. His mother must have carried him there after he collapsed.
Downstairs, the house was quiet. Kaede was nowhere to be seen. On the table, a note waited. Megumi picked it up and read her neat handwriting.
Megumi, I've left for the mission. There's food in the kitchen and money to last a few days. Stay safe.
Megumi folded the note carefully, his expression unreadable.