Chapter 121: Uchiha Hiro: Help me! Help me!

Chapter 121: Uchiha Hiro: Help me! Help me!

After listening to quite a few stories from The Nekomata's Journey, the restless chakra in Ling's body finally returned to calm. Even when The Nekomata's Journey deliberately released chakra to startle him again, it only fluctuated slightly before returning to normal.

Feeling incredulous, The Nekomata's Journey curled its tail tip up again.

After confirming that he had calmed down, Ling let his thoughts leave the Wraith Pearl. Feeling the world turn dark again, he couldn't help but grip the hilt of his sword tightly. After a long while, he let out a long breath. "I still need more training... The Nekomata's Journey, I'm ready. Let's sign the summoning contract, shall we?"

However, after his voice faded, Ling didn't get a response. After a brief hesitation, Ling carefully released his sensory ability, but the feedback he received was only a blank.

Just as Ling was in a daze, the Wraith Pearl in his hand began to expand. The moment his fingers touched the soft fur, he switched to holding it with both hands. "...The Nekomata's Journey?"

"What's wrong? You look so surprised."

"No... I just didn't expect you could shrink."

"Tailed Beasts have no flesh and blood. They are pure chakra beings. The size of our form is determined by the amount of chakra in our bodies." The Nekomata's Journey wrapped the Wraith Pearl with its tail and quickly climbed onto Ling's shoulder and sat down. "As long as we want to change, we can change our forms at will - but it's quite troublesome."

"Ah... So your real body is inside the Wraith Pearl now?"

"That's right," The Nekomata's Journey nodded. "After all, the chakra gap between the two parties signing a summoning contract can't be too large. I don't intend to help you fight, so it's enough for you to sign a contract with a small part of my chakra. Anyway, it's quite convenient for me to transform."

"How thoughtful," Ling bent his finger and stroked The Nekomata's Journey's chin. "Do you want me to weave the Wraith Pearl into a collar for you to wear?"

The Nekomata's Journey proudly lifted its chin and let out a snort. "That's not urgent. Let's sign the contract first."

"Okay."

"But there's one thing I have to tell you in advance." The Nekomata's Journey's voice became a bit more serious. "After the summoning, don't casually reveal my name to others - not even your family."

"Huh? Okay, I'll remember." Ling nodded slightly. "Can I call you Little Neko from now on?"

"Humph~ Suit yourself - Do the Hand Seals. Do you still remember the sequence?"

After a brief recollection, Ling began to make the Hand Seals, but he still couldn't help being distracted. [It seems that names hold special significance for Tailed Beasts... Does revealing one's name signify recognition? Or are there other precautions...]

Things were going smoothly for Ling. However, on the other hand, Uchiha Masaki's sudden departure made Madara a bit uncomfortable.

Madara watched Uchiha Masaki packing his things, frowning slightly. "Is there something urgent?"

"Say, Madara, didn't Ling tell you not to snoop around other people's missions casually?" Uchiha Masaki said, wagging his finger with a smile. "It's quite impolite, you know?"

Madara pouted. "I'm not interested in your mission. I just saw you were in such a hurry, so I asked... After all, there won't be anyone I'm really familiar with in the team once you're gone."

"Oh? So..." Uchiha Masaki stroked his chin and leaned closer to Madara. "You're gonna miss me? Who would've thought that a cold - looking kid who can even make his peers cry would have such an endearing side?"

A vein popped out on Madara's forehead. After his face twitched a couple of times, he snorted and turned away. "I'm not gonna miss you. I just don't want you to die out there all alone."

"Relax. A ninja who has survived this long in the battles like me isn't that easy to kick the bucket."

Madara just tsked and then sped up his steps to leave.

Uchiha Masaki watched Madara's departing back. The smile on his lips gradually faded, and finally he left the room with a cold look on his face. Although he was Ling's younger brother, he was completely different from Ling in terms of perceptiveness.

...

Uchiha Hiro was facing Yukimaru, who was asking him for double the reward. Finally, he realized what he had forgotten - he'd forgotten to summon back Yukimaru, who'd been sent to inform Uchiha Masaki!

"Are you trying to renege on your promise, meow?" Yukimaru eyed Uchiha Hiro suspiciously. "I went all the way to the Land of Lightning for you within just half a day, expending so much energy, meow!"

"No, I'll send the reward later." Uchiha Hiro's mouth twitched slightly. "It's just..."

Yukimaru looked up at him. "Just...?"

"Just could you go one more time?" Uchiha Hiro swallowed hard. "Ling just sent a message saying it's okay, so..."

Before Uchiha Hiro could finish, Yukimaru jumped up and slapped him in the face with his tail. "You're deliberately playing with me, aren't you? Go jump in a lake, meow!"

Watching the puff of white smoke that suddenly appeared, Uchiha Hiro silently rubbed his slapped face. He tried to summon Yukimaru again but was, unsurprisingly, rejected.

[It seems I'll have to prepare more dried shrimp next time... Is there any way to fix this situation? Given Masaki's speed, he should be on his way by now.]

Uchiha Hiro stared at the research materials that he had just tidied up on the table. Rarely feeling guilty, he scratched his nose. [I'm not deliberately causing trouble this time. Maybe I should go find Ling's crow. With Ling's help, I might be able to fix this mess a bit.]

However, before Uchiha Hiro could come up with a solution, the door of his room was roughly pushed open. If he hadn't quickly held down the materials, he'd have to spend a long time tidying them up again. Thinking of this, he angrily looked up at the door, only to meet his Jiji's equally angry gaze.

"Uchiha Hiro!"

Uchiha Koji's voice was brimming with anger. His beard, usually groomed to perfection, was all fluffed up. "You're getting bolder and bolder!

Letting it slide the last time you stole missions from your dad and your brother was a mistake. But this time, you even dared to forge mission permissions with my Hand Seals? You little rascal, are you itching for a thrashing?!"

Uchiha Hiro went rigid all over but still tried to defend himself. "I didn't! Jiji, you need to show evidence when you make accusations! You're slandering me!"

"Cut the crap! Get out here! I'll see how much you've improved these days. Don't think that just because you've awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, I can't teach you a lesson, you little punk! Get out here!"

"Dad, I'm his dad. You're getting the generations confused..."

"And you, shut your mouth! All you do is shield your son. Is this how I raised you back then?!"

Uchiha Hiro quietly used a paperweight to secure his research materials. Forget about Uchiha Yakuki for the time being. He was in deep trouble himself.