Madara still couldn’t make sense of it.
His older brother had spent nearly the entire day away from home, only to return carrying two oddly patterned eggs and immediately ask him to sew a pair of cloth pouches so they could be carried around more easily.
Even after hearing Ryo explain that the eggs contained future Summons, Madara remained unconvinced.
To him, Summons existed purely as support in battle.
If one was needed, it could simply be captured and put to use.
Spending years personally raising one felt completely at odds with the whole point.
When he voiced those thoughts aloud, Ryo simply reached over and messed up his hair.
“That way of looking at it isn’t quite right, Madara.” His tone was gentle.
“A Summon isn’t just a source of power—it’s also a companion.
Would you ever tell another member of our clan that they’re nothing more than a tool?” “Well…
no.” Madara still looked confused.
“But don’t people form Summoning Contracts because they want to borrow a Summon’s strength?” “It’s less about obtaining strength and more about covering your weaknesses.” Ryo smiled faintly.
“Honestly, I’d never really considered getting a Summon before.
Anything a Summon could do, I could usually accomplish myself—and often more effectively.
On top of that, entering a contract comes with responsibilities.
I was worried it would take time away from my training, so I kept delaying my trip to the Cat Village.
And now that something unexpected happened to me, I’m dealing with the consequences of that decision.” A helpless smile crossed his face.
“It proves that everything has value of its own.
The moment you start looking down on something, there’s always a chance you’ll regret it later.
Just treat your older brother as an example of what not to do, alright?” Madara’s brows knitted together.
It wasn’t that he disagreed.
He simply didn’t like hearing Ryo use himself as the cautionary tale, regardless of how casually he said it.
After a brief silence, Madara decided to steer the conversation elsewhere.
“By the way, Brother, is there anything important I should know before going on missions?
The Academy’s current term is ending soon, and before long I’ll be accompanying one of the clan elders on assignments.” “Missions…” Ryo rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“For your first mission, actual combat is unlikely.
As long as you stay alert and follow instructions, you should be fine.” “What was your first mission?” “My first mission?” Ryo leaned back slightly, searching his memory.
“If I recall correctly, it involved stealing intelligence from a gambling den.
I used the Transformation Technique to provoke the target and bait him into a game.
Once he got completely absorbed in gambling, I switched his real intelligence with forged information I’d prepared beforehand.” A grin appeared on his face.
“Not only did I complete the mission successfully, I earned quite a bit of extra money too.” He laughed.
“To be honest, gambling isn’t particularly difficult for shinobi.
If you really want to win, there are plenty of ways to do it.
So if you’re ever in a situation where you’re desperately short on funds during a mission, a gambling house isn’t the worst emergency option.
Just don’t turn it into a habit.
Those places aren’t exactly ideal environments.” He continued casually.
“Besides gambling houses, taverns and pleasure districts are also excellent places for gathering information.
It’s worth keeping an eye on those kinds of locations during missions.” Madara blinked.
“Brother…
have you actually done missions in taverns and pleasure districts?” “The pleasure districts attract all kinds of people.” Ryo explained matter-of-factly.
“Samurai, guards hired by wealthy nobles, young masters and ladies seeking excitement…
Sometimes even brothel owners hire shinobi to recover unpaid debts.
Quite a few low-level missions come from places like that.” Then he paused awkwardly.
“As for taverns…” He looked away.
“Well, sometimes after completing a mission, I’d stop by for a drink.” A trace of embarrassment appeared on his face.
“Though there were also times when the owner threw me out because I was obviously too young.” Madara: “…?” “Brother…
didn’t Father say we’re supposed to report back to the clan immediately after completing a mission?” Ryo coughed into his fist.
A faint blush crept onto his face.
“Well…
the merchants protected by our clan all know who I am.
If I used a Transformation Technique to sneak in, it would only create more trouble later.” Clearing his throat, he straightened up.
“Ahem.
Anyway, if there’s something else you’re curious about, just ask.” Madara stared at him for several moments.
Then he finally spoke.
“…So even you break the rules sometimes.” “Of course I do.” Ryo laughed helplessly and ruffled his hair once more.
“I’m still a person, after all.
Originally, I wanted to accompany you personally on your first mission.” His expression softened.
“But with things the way they are now…
not being able to watch you grow with my own eyes is a bit disappointing.” “Don’t worry, Brother.” Madara smiled confidently.
“I’ll definitely live up to the expectations of our family and come back victorious.” A short while later, he stood up, retrieved a Ninjutsu scroll, and returned.
“Oh, right.
There are a few things about Ninjutsu I’d like to ask too.” “Of course.
Go ahead.” The two continued discussing techniques until Uchiha Tajima finally returned home.
After dinner, Tajima called Ryo aside for a private discussion.
“The conflict with the Senju Clan has officially come to an end.” Guilt was clearly visible in his eyes.
“Tomorrow, after Madara leaves for his mission, the elders and I will reveal the truth to the rest of the clan.
You’ve endured a lot these past few days, Ryo.” Sitting properly in seiza, Ryo gently shook his head.
“No.
This was simply something I had to do.
It wasn’t especially difficult.
Now that everything has finally been settled, I can devote all of my attention to adapting to my current condition.” The concern on Tajima’s face only deepened, but he chose not to stop him.
“I understand.
If there’s anything you need, let me know.” “There is something I’d like to ask, Father.” Ryo rested his walking cane across his lap and unconsciously traced its surface with his fingers.
“My current state no longer allows me to focus on Ninjutsu and Genjutsu the way I once did.
That means I need a weapon I can truly depend on.
Although this cane was a gift from Madara and Izuna, it’s still unsuitable for actual combat.” Tajima nodded.
“You’re right.
The team responsible for purchasing ninja equipment will be departing in a few days.
I’ll have them commission a staff-blade made from chakra metal for you.” After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Should it be the same length as your previous weapon?” “No.” Ryo hesitated briefly.
“A little longer, if possible.
I’ll continue growing, after all.
And after spending the last few days experimenting, I’ve discovered that a longer cane is much more effective for navigation.
If possible, I’d also like a small amount of chakra metal embedded in the tip and connected directly to the blade.
The handle should contain exposed chakra metal as well.” He paused before explaining.
“That would allow me to use chakra to perceive my surroundings without requiring direct contact.
I haven’t found a more chakra-efficient sensing method yet, but at the moment this seems like the most practical solution.” “I understand.” Tajima nodded thoughtfully.
“I’ll make sure the craftsmen receive every detail.
Although a custom weapon like that will require additional time.
It probably won’t be completed until the next shipment of ninja tools arrives.” “That’s fine.” Ryo nodded.
“There’s one more matter I’d like to discuss.” He fell silent.
Several moments passed before he finally spoke again, having made up his mind.
“I want to spend some time training in isolation at the Naka River Highlands.
Could I ask you to help prepare the supplies I’ll need?”