"Indeed."
Ren Takashi nodded firmly. "Before I can teach you how to increase your strength and extend your life, I need you to sign a contract with me."
"I created this contract by combining the spiritual and confidentiality seal techniques you taught me a few days ago, along with meditation methods, genjutsu formulas, and advanced sealing techniques."
"Once signed, it will prevent you from revealing anything I teach. You also won't be able to act against me in the future. Any action you take that harms me will result in backlash—and the more severe the betrayal, the harsher the consequence, potentially even death."
He paused briefly, then formed a brilliant contract rune from his brow and sent it toward Uzumaki Mito.
"Whether you choose to sign it is up to you. If not, I can always develop a life-saving potion. Extending life is more difficult, but not impossible."
Uzumaki Mito smiled kindly at his calm expression.
Her eyes shifted to the glowing rune floating in the air. "If that's the case, then I'll sign it. I appreciate your honesty."
"But... are you really the one who created this seal? It's far more profound than any sealing technique I've encountered. Dozens of times more complex. It's hard to believe."
Even just observing it caused her vision to blur. She was certain she couldn't decipher it, and likely no one in the ninja world could—not unless the Sage of Six Paths himself returned.
"Hehe, didn't I tell you? I had an epiphany a few days ago and ended up developing this spiritual contract seal."
Ren rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
"I don't buy it." Uzumaki Mito rolled her eyes. "Still, it seems I underestimated your insight. How do I sign it?"
She was already committed. To her, Ren Takashi had become someone she trusted with her life.
"Use your mental energy to touch the rune's core," he said. "Relax and don't resist its entry."
"Alright."
Uzumaki Mito nodded. Her spiritual energy reached out, brushing the rune.
Fwoom!
A gentle light flashed. The rune turned into a stream of energy and sank into the space between her brows, embedding itself into her consciousness. Countless sealing runes spread like circuitry across the surface of her mind before disappearing from view.
"Incredible," she murmured. "Not only does it restrict harmful intent, but it boosts genjutsu resistance and strengthens mental clarity."
"Ren Takashi... your accomplishments in this field already surpass mine."
"Hardly," he replied modestly. "I still have much to learn from you."
Then he stepped forward and placed his hand gently on her forehead.
A stream of light surged from his palm and flowed into her sea of consciousness, entering the core of the contract rune.
Suddenly, torrents of knowledge flooded Uzumaki Mito's mind.
As she digested it, her eyes widened with each passing moment.
When she finished, she looked at Ren Takashi in stunned silence. "You created all of this yourself?"
They were techniques that defied belief.
The Huxia martial arts forged the body into something near-divine, while the Chakra circulation method elevated chakra refinement to an art. It was a complete system, leagues beyond anything in the current ninja world.
Even her famed Hundred Healings Mark paled in comparison.
Compared to these teachings, the traditional chakra training system was a crude patchwork. These methods could even extend life and, through meditation, temper the mind and soul.
"This gift is too much," she said, shaking her head. "I don't know how to repay you."
"You don't need to," Ren replied with a smile. "You taught me your sealing techniques and defended me against the Third Hokage. If we start tallying favors, our relationship will only get awkward."
"Just practice what I gave you. The longer you live, the longer we have your support. That's reward enough."
Uzumaki Mito looked at him for a long moment.
"You're right," she finally said. "I'll master these techniques. I'll live as long as I can—for your sake."
She stood. "Stay a little longer. I'll teach you all the sealing techniques I know. And I'll entrust you with the entire Senju inheritance. How much you can learn will be up to you."
Ren Takashi's eyes lit up. "I've always wanted to study the Flying Thunder God Technique that the Second Hokage invented."
"That technique?"
Uzumaki Mito raised an eyebrow. "It's part of the inheritance, of course. But let me warn you—it requires strong spatial aptitude and lightning-fast reflexes."
"Try it, but don't force yourself. Even geniuses get trapped chasing skills they're unsuited for."
"No worries. I have strong spatial affinity. I can sense space fluctuations and nodes easily."
"Is that so?" Her eyes sharpened. "Then your talent might even exceed Tobirama's. He didn't have that ability at first."
Without another word, she stood and walked into the back room.
Kushina leaned closer to Ren, lowering her voice.
"Brother Ren... what exactly did you teach Grandma Mito? She looked like she'd seen a ghost."
Ren grinned and flicked her nose.
"Don't worry. Once I formalize your contract, I'll teach you too. It's good stuff."
"How's your sealing technique coming along?"
Kushina groaned.
"Not well. I thought I was smart, but this stuff is insane. It's way harder than anything from school."
She slumped over dramatically.
Moments later, Uzumaki Mito returned, holding a massive sealed scroll nearly two meters long.
"Here. Everything from the Senju inheritance is in here. Study it at your own pace. No need to return it. I made a copy from the originals."
Ren Takashi bowed gratefully. "Thank you, Grandma Mito."
"Whoa!" Kushina leaned in. "That's huge. This scroll has, what, twenty cubic meters of space inside?"
"Haha. Interested? You can learn it later," Uzumaki Mito chuckled.
Kushina blanched and quickly shook her head.
"No thanks! I can barely handle what I'm already learning. Please spare me."
They laughed.
Ren stood. "I still need to finalize contracts with Kushina, Mikoto, a few others, and Tsunade-sensei. So I'll leave now."
"I'll leave a Shadow Clone to continue studying your sealing techniques, and I'll teleport back to retrieve the scroll once I master Flying Thunder God."
Uzumaki Mito nodded. "Good plan."
She briefly considered involving Nawaki but decided against it. Ren and Nawaki hadn't spent much time together. Better to let their bond grow naturally.
Back at the secret training base, Ren created an isolation barrier and summoned everyone.
"I want to teach you something important," he said, "but it involves dangerous knowledge. To prevent leaks, I've created a spiritual contract."
"Signing is your choice. Even if you don't sign, I'll still help you—just not with certain things."
Shikaku waved him off. "Skip the speech. Of course we'll sign."
Minato, Haizuka, Kushina, and Mikoto all nodded in agreement.
Ren smiled, deeply moved.
One by one, he sent the contract rune to each of them, explaining the process.
They reached out with their spiritual energy and completed the pact.
Then Ren transmitted their techniques.
To each of them, he taught:
—Skill: Traditional Huxia Martial Arts [Core Body Training]
—Skill: Ren-style Chakra Refinement [Enhanced Efficiency]
—Skill: Chakra Circulation Method [Longevity Variant]
—Skill: Meditation Method [Mental Fortitude Boost]
For Mikoto, he substituted:
—Skill: Three Tomoe Sharingan Practice Method
—Trait Activation: Sharingan Awakening Protocol
When they finished absorbing the information, Shikaku stared at Ren, stunned.
"These techniques are absurd... Ren, are you even human?"
"No wonder you were so careful. Honestly, you shouldn't have taught us this. We owe you too much. I might as well sell myself—and my clan—to you."
Ding Zuo nodded, eyes wide. "Chakra... can be accumulated like this? I won't have to worry about reserves ever again."
Haiyi's eyes glimmered. "With that meditation method, my clan's secret techniques will leap forward. I don't even know how to repay this. Maybe selling all three of our clans still wouldn't be enough."
Minato stepped forward.
"Ren, from today on, I'm yours. Completely."
Kushina and Mikoto groaned.
"Don't say things people could misinterpret."
Author's Note: The story's heating up! More contract signings and political plays coming soon. Please continue supporting with your subscriptions and comments!