Since they were going to further research natural energy, the laboratory naturally had to be made more formal.
"The things here cannot be known by outsiders, and the procurement of research equipment must also be done in secret."
Ruri's expression was very serious.
The matter of senjutsu was too important; Ruri didn't plan to reveal even half of it, not to outsiders, and not even to the Uchiha clan members.
"But without the help of those maids, it would be difficult for just the two of us..."
Just as Shiraishi was about to express his difficulty, Ruri bit her thumb, then began to form hand seals, and finally slammed her palm onto the ground with a smack.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a puff, white smoke appeared.
A pitch-black cat appeared in front of Shiraishi and Ruri.
It was about half the size of a human and wagged its tail at Ruri.
Ruri took out a list displaying the names of various research instruments.
"Buy everything on this list. I will inspect it in one day."
The black cat nodded decisively, then vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Shiraishi looked at the spot where the black cat disappeared: "That was..."
"Our Uchiha clan and the Ninja Cat clan have always been on good terms. Before I started school, I signed a summoning contract with some of them. Having them handle things ensures safety and secrecy, allowing us to avoid the village's watchful eyes."
The Ninja Cat clan is active in inconspicuous corners of the ninja world. Their presence, whether large or small, can be found everywhere. Their efficiency is top-notch, whether it's for gathering information or purchasing goods.
For Ruri, the ninja cats with whom she had signed a summoning contract were undoubtedly her most capable assistants.
Shiraishi marveled at Ruri's connections, realizing the difference between a prestigious family and a commoner.
Not only did they have their own complete cultivation system, but also various reference books and a wider network of connections than commoners.
◎
Staying at Ruri's house didn't cause any ripples; for the entire village, it was an insignificant matter.
Now, Shiraishi lived daily in a room comparable to a high-class hotel, sleeping on a luxurious soft bed. In the mornings, he ate nutritious breakfasts carefully prepared by the maids. When tired, he could stroll in the garden or fish in the pond. Though he was supposedly a servant in Ruri's house, he was actually treated like a young master.
Life in the mansion of the wealthy young lady was bland and ordinary.
Although he occasionally received strange, disdainful glances from Ruri's maids, Shiraishi remained indifferent.
He was striving hard, earning his keep through his own abilities. What did these maids understand?
Now, Shiraishi could only occasionally accompany Ruri in her training. As soon as school was over, he would quickly return to the underground laboratory Ruri had newly acquired for him to research and guide natural energy.
Only by successfully and stably guiding natural energy could the next step of Sage Mode chakra fusion proceed.
For this, Ruri's basement frequently experienced explosions. Although the fluctuations were small, Ruri, for complete secrecy, made the laboratory's surroundings even more robust until the vibrations from the explosions could no longer be felt above ground.
These precise experimental instruments, including the reinforcement of the laboratory environment, used defensive plates transported from the Land of Iron.
According to Ruri, these cost a total of forty-five million ryo, accounting for one-tenth of the pocket money in her bank account.
Shiraishi just wanted to know what kind of small business Ruri's parents were running outside to allow Ruri to live such an ordinary life.
◎
On the day the first month of living at Ruri's house ended.
Shiraishi returned to the laboratory after school in the afternoon to continue his research on natural energy, while Ruri went to the Uchiha's Naka Shrine to attend the monthly clan meeting.
The Uchiha members attending the clan meeting were not ordinary Uchiha clansmen. Activating the Sharingan was only one of the prerequisites; they also had to be special jonin or higher in ninja strength, or a talent like Ruri, who was a key figure in the clan's cultivation and had a high probability of inheriting the clan leader position in the future.
Ruri was not only a genius of the Uchiha but was also being groomed as one of the candidates for the next clan leader.
Therefore, she was qualified to attend the monthly small clan meeting.
Naka Shrine.
Uchiha ninjas gathered here one by one. The sky was dim, and torches lit the paths on both sides, illuminating the way up to the shrine.
Upon reaching the top of Naka Shrine, they entered the shrine building, used a jutsu to open the sealed stone slab, and Uchiha ninjas descended one after another.
In the empty underground chamber, an ancient stone monument stood, illuminated by burning flames on both sides, brightening the dark basement.
Over twenty people gathered here, all currently special jonin or jonin stationed in the clan's territory. Some jonin were absent because they were on missions.
The monthly clan meeting actually had no important announcements. The relationship between the Uchiha and the Hokage of the village was still harmonious.
Except for a few high-ranking officials who might be dissatisfied with or hostile towards the Uchiha.
But the Uchiha clan simply ignored those wary and disgusted gazes.
As the Leaf's foremost ninja clan, they had that kind of confidence.
Even the Hokage had to concede to them by three points, let alone those higher-ups who were even weaker than the Hokage.
Clan meetings always dealt with trivial matters: where a training ground was damaged, whether the number of complaints from Leaf villagers about the police force had increased recently, whether there were any new promising talents in the clan worth cultivating, how this month's expenses compared to last month, whether the clan's industrial income had increased... An hour later, the clan meeting ended in a lengthy and tedious rhythm.
"Ruri, Fugaku, stay behind."
An old man with white hair spoke, over sixty years old, his face covered in wrinkles.
Uchiha Shisui.
He was the most respected elder in the Uchiha clan. Due to his advanced age, he had retired from his ninja career and resided in the rear, shouldering the important responsibility of cultivating the Uchiha clan's genius ninjas.
Also called to stay with Ruri was an Uchiha ninja aged seventeen or eighteen—Uchiha Fugaku.
He had a handsome appearance, his face showing no trace of immaturity, giving him a mature and steady demeanor.
Fugaku, like Ruri, was a genius ninja of the Uchiha clan. Last year, he passed the jonin examination, becoming an excellent and young jonin.
Additionally, his Sharingan was at the three-tomoe level, giving him a significant advantage against jonin of the same rank.
Ruri and Fugaku knelt before Elder Shisui, quietly waiting for him to speak.
"If nothing unexpected happens, the next clan leader will be chosen from among you two."
"Yes."
Hearing Elder Shisui say this, Ruri and Fugaku remained expressionless.
"Both of you are undoubtedly rare talents among the Uchiha throughout history, possessing the potential to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan."
It was only when Elder Shisui mentioned the name Mangekyo Sharingan that Ruri and Fugaku showed a slight change in expression.
The Mangekyo Sharingan, that was the ultimate eye, transcending the three-tomoe Sharingan.
Its origins were ancient and untraceable, but the most recent Uchiha ninja to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan was Uchiha Madara, who founded the Hidden Leaf Village with the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
It was a legendary eye that only the Uchiha could awaken, wielding supreme visual jutsu.
As the most senior elder of the current Uchiha clan, Elder Shisui was already a jonin in the village during the early days of Konoha's establishment. He might not know every secret of the Uchiha, but he certainly knew more than most Uchiha clansmen.
This included the secret of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Elder Shisui, what exactly are the conditions for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
It was Fugaku who asked this question.
His Sharingan had already reached the three-tomoe level, which was the highest state for a normal Sharingan. He was more eager than Ruri to know the method for evolving to the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Only then could he flawlessly become the Uchiha clan leader and lead the Uchiha to new heights.
He felt he now had sufficient strength to approach the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Fugaku, your three-tomoe Sharingan still needs more training; you need to continue honing it. In a few days, I will recommend you to the Third Hokage, so you can form a team with other Leaf ninjas and go on missions. You will benefit greatly from that."
"Yes."
Fugaku complied. All his strength was taught by Elder Shisui, and he had absolute faith in Elder Shisui's arrangements.
His arrangement must have its own considerations.
"Elder Shisui, what should I do then?"
Ruri asked.
"Your luck is better than Fugaku's; you have already found the conditions for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan. Next, you only need to train your normal Sharingan to its limit. When the time is right, I will tell you the method for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Elder Shisui looked at Ruri with a hint of profound meaning.
He valued Ruri more than Fugaku.
Her deep bonds with the village's ninjas, her dedication to power, and her unparalleled talent in using the Sharingan... At that time, to gain the strongest power, she would surely succumb to the temptation of the legendary visual jutsu and make the right choice.
At that time, the Uchiha clan would once again prosper, completely surpassing the Senju lineage.
"Yes."
Ruri was puzzled as to why Elder Shisui said her conditions for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan were more abundant than Fugaku's, only requiring her to train her normal Sharingan to its limit. However, she didn't ponder it deeply, merely nodding to indicate she understood.
Compared to the position of clan leader, she was more interested in the method of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan.