Chapter 67: Clan Leader Arrives

"Is the Summoning Technique just Reverse Summoning?"

Aozora murmured to himself.

Though somewhat unexpected, it actually made perfect sense.

Humans summoning beasts is the Summoning Technique, so naturally beasts summoning humans would be Reverse Summoning.

Now understanding the truth behind Reverse Summoning, Aozora could roughly deduce why Jiraiya failed to escape using this technique during his investigation in Rain Village.

Separated by thousands of miles — or even existing in separate worlds — the summoned beast and contract holder couldn't know each other's exact circumstances, making timing extremely difficult to control.

Using Reverse Summoning without knowing the contract holder's precise battle situation might either ruin a victory or merely retrieve the contract holder's corpse.

After reaching this realization, Aozora focused on visualizing the Heavenly Book, preparing to use up all stored Gongde.

These Gongde were obtained last month during the bandit suppression campaign, totaling eight drops. After all, not all mountain bandits were ruthless criminals — some were merely displaced commoners forced into banditry.

Aozora decided to invest all eight drops of Gongde into [Embodiment Beyond the Self].

Through Gray Feather's explanation and his own deductions, Aozora roughly understood two weaknesses of Reverse Summoning. First was its difficult learning curve, second was its challenging timing.

However, he didn't give up.

He recalled the first crow he had summoned — as large as an eagle.

This crow possessed massive chakra reserves. With proper training, it should be capable of performing Reverse Summoning. Its only issue was mental instability — no real intelligence.

That actually worked out better. Aozora didn't intend to tame it anyway — he planned to refine it into his own embodiment.

Yes, rather than employing Beast Taming methods, he intended to refine its spirit to become his own embodiment.

The Beast Taming method was aimed at intelligent beasts, using soul contracts to convey thoughts and life-or-death threats to maintain control.

But this crow lacked true intelligence and was fundamentally uncommunicative, so Aozora wanted to forge it into his external embodiment.

Immortal cultivators often refined mythical beasts like dragons and phoenixes into personal embodiments. So why not a crow for Aozora?

If he could refine this great crow into an external embodiment, then through their powerful connection, timing Reverse Summoning would become far more precise.

And on top of that, this crow was impervious to blades and projectiles, highly resistant to Ninjutsu, and brimming with untapped potential.

Decision made, Aozora visualized [Embodiment Beyond the Self] within the Heavenly Book.

As soon as the four Ancient Characters appeared, glowing with golden light, golden droplets surged toward them like a swarm drawn to flame.

After a long while, all the golden droplets had been absorbed. Yet the characters still hadn't turned solid gold — not even close to gilded.

[Embodiment Beyond the Self] truly deserves being called a supreme immortal ability. At minimum, I'll need another ten or more drops of Gongde just to complete it.

Thinking about how much Gongde he still needed, Aozora became even more resolute in his decision.

From now on, he absolutely needed personal freedom, otherwise sustaining such high Gongde requirements would prove impossible.

After sighing softly, Aozora accepted the new inheritance.

This new inheritance involved [Soul Cultivation].

A long passage of ancient inscription followed, the old man's voice nearly lulling him to sleep. If not for the sudden clarity of insight, Aozora would never have understood what the new inheritance was talking about.

In short, the new inheritance explained how to cultivate one's soul and construct a Soul Seed for creating clones.

Human souls consist of the True Soul and Spirit. The True Soul serves as the skeleton of the soul, while the Spirit forms its flesh.

Ninjas commonly use Spirit energy in techniques such as Shadow Clones. Gods also carry memories within their souls, but Spirit is fragile and renewable, gradually dissipating after separating from the body.

As for the True Soul, it remains forbidden knowledge among ninjas.

This inheritance specifically described how to split the True Soul, using it as bone and Spirit as flesh to build Soul Seeds.

Besides this complete inheritance, there were scattered pieces confirming Aozora's suspicion—they contained knowledge about soul-body transference and reincarnation.

One piece detailed transferring into Spirit Beasts, though the knowledge was fragmented and incomplete, temporarily unusable.

After verifying the method was feasible, a brief look of joy flickered across Aozora's face as he decided to test this Soul Cultivation approach.

Carefully recalling the technique several times to ensure no details were missed, Aozora began his cultivation.

He focused his mind and began mobilizing chakra in his body using secret techniques to nurture his soul.

The sensation felt strangely pleasant, like his whole being was bathed in warm yet refreshingly cool water.

Suddenly, Aozora found this feeling oddly familiar.

Thinking deeply, he realized—it reminded him exactly of when he used gongde to bathe his soul!

Still, bathing in gongde felt even better—almost euphoric.

With this realization, Aozora continued practicing Soul Cultivation.

So immersed did he become that he continued his Soul Cultivation until nightfall.

When his chakra nearly depleted, Aozora stopped cultivating.

As he stepped off his bed, Aozora felt completely drained, his whole body weak and exhausted.

Next time, I should really take it easy.

While thinking this, Aozora went to the kitchen to cook himself dinner.

Cooking up dishes while humming a little tune, suddenly a knocking sound interrupted him.

"Who is it?"

Calling out, Aozora turned off the stove and walked forward to open the door.

Standing at the entrance was Fugaku Uchiha, wearing casual clothes.

"Chief, why are you here?"

Before Fugaku could answer, Aozora quickly stepped aside. "Please come in!"

Fugaku gave a slight nod and entered Aozora's courtyard with calm dignity.

Following two steps behind, Aozora said, "Chief, my stove is still on. Maybe you can take a look around yourself? Or wait in the living room."

Fugaku responded, "You go handle your cooking!"

Since Fugaku was visiting, Aozora cooked up a couple of extra dishes and brought out the premium sake he'd opened yesterday.

Pouring Fugaku a cup, Aozora said, "Chief, this is my older brother's secret stash of sake—give it a try!"

Fugaku accepted the cup, took a small sip, then remarked, "Not bad!"

After finishing, he placed the cup down and directly stated, "I dislike beating around the bush—I'm here asking you to be my assistant."

Aozora asked, "Did Kotetsu convey my conditions?"

Fugaku replied indifferently, "He did."

Upon hearing this, Aozora nodded but remained silent.

Silence signified his stance clearly.

No agreement on terms—no deal.

Fugaku showed no surprise. He slowly said, "Frankly speaking, your conditions aren't excessive at all. I could easily find another assistant—but I don't want to."

By now, he had stopped speaking and looked straight into Aozora's eyes. "It's not for a paycheck," he continued, "but for you.

Maybe it's because you grew up at the edge of the compound or how your elders brought you up, but you've always kept your distance from the rest of the clan—the way Shisui did.

I originally thought you were as devoted to Konoha as Shisui was, until the clan meeting—"

He paused again, then said, "Obviously, you're a sharp kid. You really care about the clan, I can tell. But if you keep your distance for too long, the clan members might not accept you. Being my assistant will allow you to take part in clan affairs early and gain their recognition."

Aozora never saw Fugaku's real intention behind the offer coming.

Even so, he shook his head anyway.

"Thank you for Chief Clan Leader's generous offer."

"But—I don't need their recognition!"

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