"Mm! Thank you, Mom."
Uchiha Genkei smiled back warmly.
Then he stepped across the room and sat down opposite his mother, his expression suddenly serious.
"Mom," he said earnestly, "do you trust me?"
"Huh?"
Chiri blinked at the sudden question. Then she chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle his hair.
"What a silly thing to ask. Of course I'll always trust you."
"So, is there something you want to tell me? Go ahead."
She could sense his sincerity.
Though she wasn't sure what he was getting at, her trust in her son was absolute.
"Thank you, Mom."
Genkei's smile widened. Then, without another word, he summoned a glowing rune from the center of his brow. Under Chiri's astonished gaze, the rune drifted forward and hovered in front of her.
"Please touch it with your hand," he said. "Just agree to the bond in your heart. I'll explain everything after."
It would be too much trouble to explain now. Better to let his mother experience the binding process first—it would make everything clearer afterward.
As expected, his hunch had been correct. From the moment he saw her, Genkei had sensed it through the trait: her Favorability toward him was a perfect 100.
She qualified for the Gate's binding without question.
No need to beat around the bush.
"Oh?"
Chiri studied the glowing mark, then glanced at her solemn little boy. She gave a small nod.
"All right."
She extended her hand and gently touched the rune.
A rush of information poured into her mind—details of the contract and its effects. She now understood that this was a binding, one that granted her great benefits but also tethered her partially to Genkei's authority.
The power to cross worlds... the Gate of Time and Space.
It was astonishing. She couldn't imagine when her son had obtained such a mysterious ability.
But her trust in him never wavered.
So, without hesitation, she accepted.
The rune flashed and vanished, transforming into a beam of light that entered her body through her hand and settled deep in her spirit sea.
There, a phantom image of a gate appeared—silent, stable, and glowing faintly with otherworldly power.
At the same time, the Gate's full functions and restrictions became clear in her mind.
"This… this lets you travel to another world?"
Chiri turned to him, visibly shocked. "Genkei, what is going on?"
Genkei smiled faintly and shrugged.
"It's nothing too crazy. The moment I extracted my chakra, I awakened a trait. Along with it came some mysterious inheritance—knowledge about our world and another one, and this ability called the Gate of Time and Space."
"An inherited trait… mysterious knowledge?"
Chiri frowned slightly. "This kind of power… it's unheard of. Too strange."
She paused. "Could it be... you've received the Sage's legacy?"
As the current Grand Elder of the Uchiha, Chiri knew more hidden truths about the shinobi world than most, including the theory that the Sage of Six Paths hadn't been a mere myth—but a real historical figure.
Genkei gave a noncommittal shrug.
"Maybe. Maybe not."
Then his face turned serious again.
"But that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is that I can use this inheritance—and resources from the other world—to heal us. To fix our bodies, extend our lives. That comes first. Everything else can wait."
"I've inherited some medical knowledge, too. I can tell your condition is deteriorating."
Because if they died, nothing else would matter.
Chiri's eyes lit up.
"You mean to say… the inheritance you received can cure your condition?"
Genkei nodded firmly.
"There's a cultivation method—Life-Nurturing Arts. It strengthens the body and restores vitality. I just tested it myself. It works."
"The effects are small at first, but over time, it can extend your lifespan."
"My trait even gave me confirmation."
"Oh?"
Chiri smiled knowingly.
So he's been keeping secrets. But that didn't matter. She didn't need to pry as long as it helped him.
A mother didn't need to know everything—only that her child was safe and well.
"Then let me teach you the method, Mom. Try cultivating it yourself. See if it helps."
Without waiting for a response, Genkei stood and began a detailed explanation. He walked her through each movement, each breathing cycle, demonstrating it with precision.
Chiri didn't interrupt. She listened attentively, her Sharingan silently activating to copy every motion and detail.
—
—You practiced Life-Nurturing Arts once. Proficiency +1. Lifespan +1 day.
—
"How was it? Did you get everything?"
Genkei wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at her expectantly.
"I did."
Chiri stood and nodded. "Let me try it. You check my form."
Even if she wasn't sure this method could actually extend her life, she wouldn't reject her son's sincerity.
If it did work, even a little… she would gladly use it.
She wanted to live longer. To protect him. To be there for him. To watch him grow strong and safe.
Since the death of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, Sarutobi Hiruzen and his clique had grown increasingly hostile toward the Uchiha.
Even Uchiha Kagami had been quietly eliminated.
Though Chiri had no concrete proof, she was convinced—it had been Danzō's doing.
Right now, her very existence kept Hiruzen and the others in check. They dared not act openly against the clan.
But that was only because her health was failing.
If she were at full strength, they would learn the true price of their schemes.
She couldn't afford to die—not now.
What would happen to the Uchiha if she were gone?
What would happen to her son?
Even if Genkei truly had the Sage's inheritance or awakened some god-tier talent, it would mean nothing without time—time to grow, time to heal, time to become strong.
That was something Chiri simply couldn't allow to slip away.
With that thought in mind, she began practicing the Life-Nurturing Arts.
To her, the technique was surprisingly simple.
Even without the Sharingan, she could've memorized and understood it easily.
She was a genius, after all.
Under Genkei's watchful eyes, Chiri completed her first cycle of the art—fluidly, flawlessly.
"Mom, you're amazing! You got it in one try!" Genkei clapped in delight. "So? Did it help?"
Whew…
Chiri exhaled slowly and focused on her inner condition.
She smiled softly.
"Yes. Not a huge effect, but I can feel it. The lingering fatigue in my body has eased just a little."
"My body feels… lighter."
"If I keep this up, and combine it with the right medicine and nutrition, I might be able to clear out some of the old damage. Maybe even restore some of my lost vitality."
"And that… might just give me more time."
"You really are my little miracle, Genkei."
She wasn't just humoring him. With her expert control over her own body, she could tell—this technique worked.
Her spirits lifted.
For the first time in years, hope returned.