[Note: Read up to Chapter - 58 on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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Although Kanzou was mildly surprised by Mikoto's strength, everything remained firmly under his control.
Even if she had the power of an Elite Jōnin, she couldn't escape his grasp. After all, Kanzou was the strongest member of the Uchiha clan.
"Mikoto-san, you should be able to see how powerful I am. If I wanted Tadayoshi-sama dead, it wouldn't be difficult at all. And I have every reason to get rid of him… After all, Tadayoshi-sama supports Uchiha Fugaku-san. That alone makes him my enemy. I've already thought about eliminating him, but when I think of you… I feel a bit reluctant—this is one of the reasons I came here… to make my decision… Tell me, Mikoto-san… do you really want me to go through with it?"
Though Kanzou maintained a calm, almost charming expression, his words sounded like the devil's whisper to Mikoto.
"Sofu-sama is an Elder—you wouldn't dare," she replied, her voice tight with anger.
Kanzou's smile deepened. "I was indirectly responsible for the early death of the former Patriarch Uchiha Douma. Do you really think I wouldn't dare to push my blade through Tadayoshi-sama's heart just because he is an Elder?"
"You… you wouldn't be able to escape the consequences…" stuttered out Mikoto, feeling panicked.
"And who'd make me face the consequences? Fugaku? Haven't I already dealt with him once and killed his father? What did he do in response except throw a tantrum and make empty threats? Nothing! What do you think would change a second time? Nothing! He is a man who'd let anyone walk all over him only to make empty threats but not be able to go through with it… And even if he tries, it wouldn't change anything… the difference in our strength is not something he can ever hope to overcome… And except Fugaku… there is no one else… Yes, the truth is… No one in the Uchiha Clan can stop me… You should know this very clearly as Tadayoshi-sama's granddaughter…"
"This…" Those words shattered the last trace of hope in Mikoto's heart… because she knew that every word Kanzou had said was true.
According to what her grandfather had told her, the patriarch's sudden death was indeed linked to Kanzou.
Despite knowing this… no one dared to do anything to Kanzou. Why? Because they were afraid of him!
Fugaku, who might have had some chance of doing anything, has already been defeated by Kanzou once… and even her grandfather, who was already old, wasn't going to be a match for Kanzou either.
If Kanzou dared to make a move on the patriarch, why wouldn't he dare attack the Elder?
Suddenly, Kanzou released Mikoto and turned away.
"Well, that's what I came here to say… and I have said my piece… Now, I'll give you ten seconds to think about it. After that, I'll leave. As I said earlier, I'm not someone who likes to force others… But I just want to remind you that if I walk away today… Tomorrow, you might have to wake up to the corpse of your beloved Sofu-sama… Do you really wish for that to happen? Think about it… No one can help you in this… only you can do it… the decision is in your hands… You are the one to decide the fate of Tadayoshi-sama. With that said… Let's begin the counting… 10… 9… 8…"
His ability to lie with a straight face was unmatched. Kanzou had always been skilled at talking nonsense as if it were the truth.
Still, he knew not to give Mikoto too much time to think. This kind of decision had to be forced.
"7… 6… 5…"
As the counting progressed, Mikoto grew more and more nervous… Even someone as calm as her couldn't really think straight and kept asking herself, 'What to do…? What to do?'
"4… 3… 2—"
Just as Kanzou reached the final count and turned to leave, Mikoto suddenly grabbed his hand, "Wait…"
Kanzou grinned, his smile brazen and unrestrained, "So, what decision did you reach?"
"I promise you," nodded Mikoto as tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. Her expression was so pitiful that anyone with a softer heart might have reconsidered.
But Kanzou was not someone who showed mercy.
He has long since become ruthless to the bones—and he would never let her go just because she appeared pitiful.
Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to yourself… he has experienced this through a hard lesson in his youth, and he wasn't going to repeat it.
At the moment, Mikoto is an enemy as she is part of the enemy camp… Fugaku's camp.
Until she switched over to his camp, there was no way he was going to show an ounce of mercy to her.
"A wise decision…" Kanzou chuckled as he lifted Mikoto up in a princess carry and closed the door of the house behind him, carrying her toward her own bedroom.
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[Note: As the R-18 scene, I will post that part separately, one of these days, as subsequent parts of Chapter 8]
Drop power Powerstonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 58 on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]