"Yeah! Thank you, Mom!"
Ethan smiled brightly at Sarah's words.
Then, he walked over and sat across from his mother. His face turned serious as he looked into her eyes. "Mom, do you trust me?"
"Huh?"
Sarah was momentarily stunned before letting out a soft chuckle. She reached out, gently ruffling Ethan's hair with a loving smile. "What kind of question is that? Of course, I trust you. You're my son. Now, tell me, what's on your mind?"
She could sense his seriousness, and although she didn't understand why, she trusted him unconditionally.
"Thank you, Mom!"
Ethan's smile deepened. Then, under Sarah's confused gaze, a mysterious rune began to form at the center of his forehead. Controlling it with his mind, he made the rune float in front of his mother.
"Mom, touch this mark with your hand and choose to accept it in your heart," Ethan instructed. "If you have any questions, we'll talk after. Just trust me for now, okay?"
Rather than explaining everything, he decided to have his mother directly bind herself to his time-space gate ability first. That way, the proof would be undeniable.
His talent had already revealed to him that his mother's trust and favorability toward him were at the maximum level—100%. That meant she was qualified for the bond.
So, instead of taking a roundabout approach, he chose to be straightforward.
"Oh?"
Sarah studied the floating mark, then glanced at Ethan's determined expression. Finally, she nodded. "Alright, I trust you."
She reached out and touched the rune.
Immediately, a surge of information filled her mind. The mark was a contract—one that would grant her immense benefits but also establish a subtle link between her and Ethan.
Despite her surprise at Ethan's strange ability, her trust in her son never wavered. Without hesitation, Sarah chose to accept the contract.
The rune turned into a streak of light and flowed into her body, settling within her consciousness. A phantom image of a gateway appeared at the center of her mind, radiating an aura of mysterious power.
Along with this, the knowledge of its effects and limitations became clear to her.
"This… this can allow us to travel through a portal to another world?" Sarah's eyes widened in astonishment. She looked at Ethan in shock. "Ethan, what is this?"
Ethan smiled confidently. "It's exactly as you're thinking. The moment I extracted my first chakra, I awakened this talent. Along with it, I received a mysterious inheritance—knowledge about our world and the other world connected through this portal."
"A mysterious inheritance? A unique talent?"
Sarah furrowed her brows. "I've never heard of anything like this. This is beyond anything I know... Could it be an inheritance from an ancient sage?"
As one of the strongest Uchiha of her generation, Sarah knew many of the clan's deepest secrets. She had long suspected that the Sage of Six Paths was more than just a legend. Perhaps Ethan had somehow inherited a piece of that ancient power.
"The inheritance of a sage? Maybe," Ethan replied with a shrug. "But honestly, that doesn't matter right now. What's important is that this power can help us!"
His eyes shone with determination. "Mom, the key is using this gift to heal our bodies, restore our strength, and extend our lives. That's our priority. Once we've done that, we can think about everything else."
Sarah's expression softened. "Ethan… you've always been mature, but now you sound like an adult. Are you saying you can cure your own congenital weakness?"
Ethan nodded firmly. "Yes! This inheritance has given me medical knowledge, including techniques that can improve our health. There's a special exercise that strengthens the body over time, extending lifespan. I've tried it myself—it really works."
"Oh?"
Sarah's lips curled into a small smile.
She thought to herself, It seems my little Ethan has many secrets… but as long as it's not harmful to him, I don't need to know everything.
A mother's love didn't require endless questions. If it was something good for her son, that was all that mattered.
"Mom, let me teach you the exercise. Try it for yourself and see if it works for you."
Without waiting for her response, Ethan stood up and began demonstrating the movements. He explained every step in great detail, making sure his mother could follow along.
Sarah didn't refuse her son's offer. She watched attentively, her Sharingan activating instinctively to copy each movement with precision.
[You practiced the health-preserving exercise once. Proficiency +1. Lifespan +1 day.]
After finishing a full round, Ethan wiped the sweat off his forehead and turned to Sarah. "Did you memorize everything?"
"Of course," Sarah replied with a gentle smile. "Now, let me try it once. You can check if I'm doing anything wrong."
Although she didn't have high expectations for this technique, she wanted to support her son. If it really worked, she would gladly embrace it.
More than anything, she wanted to live longer. Not for herself, but for Ethan. She needed to be there for him—to protect him, guide him, and ensure his future was secure.
The Uchiha were already facing growing hostility from the village's leadership. The Third Hokage, along with his advisors, had been subtly suppressing them. Uchiha Kagami's suspicious death had only deepened Sarah's mistrust of them.
As long as she was alive, the village wouldn't dare make any major moves against the Uchiha. But if she were to die too soon… what would happen to her son?
That was a future she refused to allow.
With these thoughts in mind, Sarah began practicing the health-preserving exercise.
Her movements were graceful and precise. Even without her Sharingan, she could have mastered it instantly—she was, after all, a genius among the Uchiha.
"Mom, you're amazing! You got it perfect on your first try!" Ethan cheered. "So? Do you feel any difference?"
Sarah finished her routine and exhaled deeply. She took a moment to scan her body, sensing any changes.
"It's subtle, but yes… I feel lighter. The chronic fatigue I always have feels slightly reduced." Her eyes brightened with realization. "If I continue practicing this, I believe I can recover even more. This… this might actually prolong my life."
Ethan beamed. "That's exactly what I was hoping for!"
Sarah chuckled softly, pulling Ethan into a warm embrace. "Ethan, you are truly my greatest blessing."
For the first time in years, she felt a glimmer of hope—not just for herself, but for the future of her son and the entire Uchiha clan.