Transaction Conditions

Boom...

Behind him, there was the sound of something hitting the ground.

"What's wrong?"

Xu Ming finished his demonstration, deactivated Chidori, and turned around.

Uchiha Kagami had stood up, surrounded by overturned dishes, but he seemed oblivious to the mess. Instead, he raised a trembling hand and pointed at Xu Ming, his face full of astonishment—as if he had just realized something terrifying.

"Uncle, what's the matter with you?" Xu Ming asked.

Orochimaru was equally puzzled. "This technique actually has a flaw. When Lightning Style stimulates cell activity and enters a super high-speed assault state, the human eye can't keep up with the movement, making it easy to miss the target..."

"I know!" Uchiha Kagami interrupted Orochimaru, raising his hand.

With a solemn expression, he took a deep breath and spoke in an unusually serious tone. "This weakness is a disadvantage for others, but for the Uchiha clan, it's a massive advantage!"

"Advantage?" Orochimaru echoed, intrigued.

He immediately grasped Uchiha Kagami's meaning.

Sharingan—the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit—grants them enhanced dynamic vision. 

At super high speed, where others would struggle to see, the Uchiha Sharingan could track movements clearly!

If an Uchiha can see while their opponent cannot, the enemy is effectively blind in battle!

This is an immense advantage!

"Xu Ming, I..."

Uchiha Kagami swallowed nervously and started speaking to Xu Ming.

"Wait!" Third Hokage interrupted, extending a hand to block him. He wore a smug smile. "Before you negotiate with my disciple, you'll have to talk to me first, as his teacher."

Before Uchiha Kagami could protest, the Third Hokage forcefully led him out of the courtyard.

Uchiha Kagami wore a bitter expression, dragged away as if walking to his doom.

Now, only Xu Ming and Orochimaru remained in the yard.

Xu Ming understood that the Third Hokage was advocating for his interests. He returned to the table with a smile, picked up a piece of sashimi, and ate leisurely. There was no need to rush—the Third Hokage wouldn't let him suffer any losses.

Moreover, Uchiha Kagami was his uncle, and the relationship between them was strong. There was no risk of deception.

With support from both sides, Xu Ming could already see a golden opportunity heading his way.

"Xu Ming, I don't quite understand," Orochimaru said, frowning thoughtfully. "Uncle Kagami obviously values this Lightning Style, but why did the teacher pull him aside for a private discussion? And why did he look like he was about to be skinned alive?"

"Because Uncle Kagami doesn't just want this technique for himself," Xu Ming explained.

"What do you mean?"

Ten-year-old Orochimaru looked confused, unfamiliar with the unspoken rules of ninja society.

Ninjutsu could only be traded for personal use.

Uchiha Kagami could negotiate for Chidori from Xu Ming and Orochimaru, but he could only use it himself—he wasn't allowed to teach it to others without the original creator's permission.

If he wanted to pass it down to future generations or his disciples, he would need approval from the technique's creator.

For example, in the future, the Fourth Hokage developed the Rasengan and taught it to his teacher, Jiraiya. Jiraiya, however, never passed it on to anyone else—only teaching it back to the Fourth Hokage's son, Uzumaki Naruto.

But Uchiha Kagami didn't want Chidori just for himself.

He wanted to pass it down to the entire Uchiha clan!

The Third Hokage had realized this, which is why he took Kagami aside to negotiate terms.

"Because, in a sense, this technique is a perfect match for the Uchiha clan," Xu Ming continued.

"Just imagine the scene."

Hearing this, a vivid image formed in Orochimaru's mind.

Uchiha ninjas, their Sharingan activated, wielding Chidori with deadly precision. Their figures would vanish instantly, striking at speeds too fast for normal opponents to react. Like bolts of lightning, they would eliminate their enemies in an instant.

Orochimaru was awestruck.

"You're right—this technique is perfect for the Uchiha!"

He swallowed hard, still shaken by the mental image.

...

...

"Hiruzen, help me!"

"Hiruzen, I have never begged you for anything since childhood, but this time, I'm begging you!"

"This technique is too important for the Uchiha clan!"

Outside the courtyard.

Under an ornamental tree, Uchiha Kagami made sure no one else was around before he suddenly knelt before the Third Hokage.

All dignity abandoned.

If obtaining the Lightning Style developed by Xu Ming and Orochimaru meant kneeling ten thousand times, he would do it without hesitation!

"You understand how crucial this technique is to the Uchiha, don't you?"

Uchiha Kagami clutched the Third Hokage's robe, weeping as he pleaded. "Oh, Hiruzen, I can even see the hope for the Uchiha's revival!"

"Alright, alright, stand up first!"

The Third Hokage grabbed his robe to prevent it from being torn and sighed with exasperation.

"Promise me first!"

"Fine, I promise!"

"Really?"

"Of course!"

Uchiha Kagami, overwhelmed with relief, stood up excitedly.

The Third Hokage waved him down. "Don't celebrate yet."

"Kagami, personally, I have no objections to your request. But there's a condition—Uchiha must support those two children. At the very least, your faction must back them."

His expression turned serious as he continued:

"If it comes down to choosing between the two, you must support Xu Ming."

"Hiruzen, have you really made your decision this early?" Uchiha Kagami asked in disbelief.

Had Xu Ming already been chosen as the successor?

"I'm just preparing for the future," the Third Hokage replied.

"Fine, I agree!" Uchiha Kagami gritted his teeth and accepted.

This decision would bind his faction within the Uchiha clan to the Third Hokage's disciples.

But that was fine—sooner or later, they had to pick a side.

Xu Ming and Orochimaru were good options.

Uchiha Kagami reassured himself.

"Now that my side is settled, you still need to think about your bargaining chip," the Third Hokage advised. "Consider what you can offer Xu Ming and Orochimaru—something valuable that won't make others uneasy."

Uchiha Kagami's face turned grim.

He paced back and forth under the tree, deep in thought.

Then...

Suddenly, he heard the distant sound of a child crying.

An audacious, shocking idea formed in his mind.

Uchiha Kagami stopped abruptly, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He turned to the Third Hokage and said:

"Hiruzen, I've figured it out!"