"No problem! I'll update the contracts and teach you right away!"
Seeing their anxious expressions, Ren Takashi chuckled. "Relax, it's not a big deal."
He raised his hand and gently tapped between the brows of each person. Streams of light flowed into their minds, fusing seamlessly with their contract runes.
Buzz...
In their spiritual vision, the contract rune trembled and emitted a soft glow. Its patterns became more intricate and mysterious. Simultaneously, the training methods for the Chakra Seed Refining Technique and the Demonic Heart Seed Path poured into their consciousness.
Everyone closed their eyes to digest the information.
A few minutes later...
"This method is fascinating. It's like replacing the host—so subtle and effective. It's incredible you could devise this, Ren Takashi!" Shikaku opened his eyes, visibly impressed.
"Indeed." Minato nodded excitedly. "Now we can transition to Chakra Circulation without any hidden threats in our system."
"Alright then, keep practicing! I've still got others to update." With that, Ren Takashi disappeared in a flash and proceeded to update Uzumaki Mito, Tsunade, and the others with the new rune and technique.
"Such incredible speed. You solved a problem that's stumped generations with elegance... your mind truly is astonishing," Uzumaki Mito praised with heartfelt admiration.
"Haha, not bad, huh?" Ren Takashi scratched his head modestly.
After spending just a few minutes with her, he updated his mother's rune as well and then headed straight to the Uchiha Security Department.
There, he met with Uchiha Nobuhiko and explained everything.
"Oh? You've already created the technique? And resolved the detection issue too? Excellent!" Nobuhiko's eyes gleamed. "Quickly, update mine first. Then I'll gather the rest. Do you have time today to contract a new group? I've selected them already."
"No problem. Let's get it done."
Ren Takashi quickly updated Nobuhiko's rune and passed on the technique. Then, he updated the runes for all existing contract holders before turning to the new batch—over a hundred people.
With his sense for loyalty and intent, Ren Takashi identified ten individuals as potential spies or internal dissenters. Still, he implanted the contracts and techniques without making a scene, silently marking them.
"Dad, well done! This batch all passed. You've really done your homework this time," he remarked.
"Haha, I couldn't embarrass myself again in front of you, right?" Nobuhiko laughed. "Besides, thanks to your recent work and the clan reforms, more and more people are turning to our side."
"Even the fence-sitters are shifting their allegiance. You've embarrassed the Third Hokage enough lately that people see he's not as untouchable as before."
"Right—how are the moral education materials for the new academy going? We'll need them soon."
"Almost done. Give me a few more days."
Ren Takashi had been working on them using a shadow clone at home, compiling teachings inspired by both his own world and this one—custom-tailored for the Uchiha clan's new ideological foundation.
"Perfect. I'm planning to initiate a full-scale signing soon. Once we consolidate enough contracts, we can roll out the merit system and mission halls across the clan."
Ren Takashi nodded. "Sounds good. Just call me when you need me. It's better to finish cleansing the clan and get back on track quickly."
Three days later...
Ren Takashi received an invitation from Uzumaki Mito. He immediately paused his training, said a few words to Mikoto, then teleported to her courtyard and appeared in the living room.
There, Uzumaki Luming was also present.
"Come, sit," Mito said with a warm smile.
Luming pushed a large scroll toward him. "Thanks to you, our Uzumaki clan survived. This is just a token of our gratitude."
"It's not enough to repay you, but if you ever need anything, just say the word. The entire Uzumaki clan will stand with you."
"A gift? Really, that's too kind—"
"Take it," Mito said seriously. "You helped us in our most desperate moment. This scroll contains all of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques. It's our sincere thanks."
Ren Takashi's eyes widened. A complete inheritance?
With a gentle nod, he pressed his palm to the scroll, then instantly teleported it to his personal sealed vault at home.
"That's... Flying Thunder God again?!" Uzumaki Luming's jaw dropped. "Did you just send that scroll straight into storage across space?"
Ren Takashi nodded casually. "A small trick, really."
Both Mito and Luming gave him looks of exasperation. "Too modest," Mito muttered. "If it were that simple, Tobirama wouldn't have died."
"By the way," Ren Takashi asked, "has the clan land been finalized?"
"It has! We'll begin relocating and rebuilding immediately."
"Great. I'll be sure to attend the housewarming when the time comes."
In the Hokage office...
Third Hokage, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu sat with sullen faces, staring at the scroll of the Flying Thunder God's upgraded version.
"...So? What do we do now?" Sarutobi exhaled smoke, irritation creasing his brow.
"What else can we do?" Danzo growled. "No one can learn it! We've been completely scammed!"
"I bet Ren Takashi planned this all along."
They had hoped to mass-train this technique, but not a single Root ninja could grasp it. Even Danzo had tried himself—only to fail spectacularly.
Koharu scowled. "Is this even real? Maybe he intentionally left something out?"
"Don't be absurd," Sarutobi waved her off. "It's real. We simply didn't account for its demands. Tobirama's Flying Thunder God already required rare spatial talent. This upgraded version is even harder."
"But... perhaps the group teleportation array could be performed as a team? That requires more sealing proficiency and less spatial aptitude."
"That's... actually a good idea," Homura muttered.
"What about asking Ren Takashi to teach us himself?" Koharu suggested.
"Impossible," Sarutobi shook his head again. "Mito would never agree. Neither would Senju or Uzumaki. That bridge is burned."
Their faces grew darker.
Despite appearing cooperative, Konoha's leadership was now clearly on the outside—no longer trusted.