Chapter 292: A Gamble for a Good Life
Ichikawa Ao's heart raced. He might even have a chance to become someone like a ninja instructor one day—if he survived and learned properly.
He had no opportunity to study outside, and since this was the Naruto World, magic was clearly out of the question. But Ninjutsu—there was a chance.
After all, Ninjutsu and magic were similar. One required hand seals, the other chants. If he had to choose, hand seals were far cooler than chanting.
Chanting spells before a fight was far too chuunibyou. Although he had once been an otaku obsessed with flashy theatrics, he had long since outgrown that phase.
With that thought, Ichikawa Ao no longer hesitated. With a plop, he performed a proper dogeza, prostrating himself fully before Uchiha Itachi.
He wanted to speak, but only incoherent sounds escaped—"wah wah ah ah." Quickly regaining his composure, he reached for the ground and wrote carefully:
"Respected sir, I wish to become your summoning beast! Please let me sign a summoning contract with you!"
Uchiha Itachi, seeing the sudden motion, was ready to act—but froze. The Goblin knelt, babbling incoherently, then began writing on the ground.
Itachi watched patiently.
A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Wants to sign a summoning contract with me?
Interest sparked. Last night, he had not noticed these Goblins could communicate or learn. They seemed limited to using their Jax.
He asked carefully, "What abilities do your Goblins have?"
Ichikawa Ao took a gamble. "Our Goblin clan has extremely strong learning abilities, but no Ninjutsu. If you allow me to learn Ninjutsu, any Ninjutsu, I can master it quickly."
Itachi's eyes narrowed. Extremely strong learning ability? He studied the words the Goblin wrote, silently evaluating.
No Ninjutsu yet claiming mastery potential—even forbidden techniques?
Ichikawa Ao had not meant to bluff. He simply knew his own rapid learning capacity, honed from his previous life, was extraordinary.
Itachi then asked, puzzled, "You do not have Chakra? Can you not refine it?"
The Goblin wrote back, "Yes, our clan has no method to refine Chakra."
Itachi nodded, considering. "Very well. Does your clan have a summoning contract scroll?"
Ichikawa Ao blinked. A scroll? He didn't possess one. But perhaps in this world, Goblins could be treated as summoning beasts. Still, they lacked Chakra entirely.
He honestly wrote, "I'm not sure, maybe? Didn't you find any in the cave last night?"
Itachi shook his head. "No."
Ichikawa Ao pressed on, "Is a scroll absolutely necessary?"
"It's not strictly necessary," Itachi said. "As long as you are willing to follow me, nothing else is required."
The Goblin quickly scribbled: "I sincerely wish to follow you. Please accept me."
Itachi decided to give him a chance. "I agreed, but my main body is not here. Are you the only one, or are there others?"
Ichikawa Ao looked blank and wrote, "I left the nest alone last night to survive on my own. I do not know about the others."
Itachi frowned. "Then why return here?"
The Goblin pointed to his Jax and wrote, "To hunt prey, I still needed Jax. I came back to see if I could find a suitable one."
Itachi studied the weapons—indeed, a large bundle accompanied the Goblin. It seemed he told the truth.
"Do you know where the town is?"
The Goblin shook his head.
"Then stay here. Tonight, I will take you to my main body."
Ichikawa Ao nodded obediently. This was a rare opportunity—he had to take it seriously. Alone, he might never find another chance to learn Ninjutsu. Luck alone would not suffice.
That evening, Itachi's Shadow Clone led the Goblin toward the town. Because the Goblin could not travel through trees, their progress was slow.
By the time they arrived, it was nearly midnight. Yet the streets were crowded, alive with lanterns and decorations, as if for New Year's.
Itachi did not allow the Goblin to enter immediately. He quickly found some clothes and handed them over. The Goblin dressed to avoid attracting attention, blending in with the townsfolk.
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