"I'll remember this grudge for now."
Uchiha Kin held one side of the scroll with one hand while gripping its center with the other.
His eyes turned crimson as three black tomoe spun, rapidly scanning the contents. He ignored Mitokado Homura's livid expression.
Homura hadn't expected Kin to pull such a move.
Kin's eyes darted across the contents of the Scroll of Seals, clearly registering every character and hand seal. Instead of memorizing, he continued skimming.
Homura wasn't worried about Kin remembering everything.
The shinobi world had no such thing as instant memorization.
Besides, the Scroll of Seals contained far too much information to retain in one glance.
And those permitted to view it were supposed to be Konoha's own—no need for excessive caution.
Unfortunately, Kin was an exception.
The village elders didn't consider the Uchiha true allies, and Uchiha Kin was no insider.
Homura watched as Kin flipped through the scroll without pausing to study any technique.
He sighed inwardly in relief.
It seemed the boy knew his place.
This haphazard browsing wouldn't leave much of an impression.
Kin kept his head down, rapidly turning pages.
Multi Shadow Clone Technique… Soul Possession Technique… Chimera Technique… Four Symbols Seal… Chain Explosive Tags… Impure World Reincarnation…
Names he recognized and others he didn't flashed before him.
These jutsu were overwhelmingly powerful but came with severe drawbacks or extreme difficulty.
The lowest-ranked among them were A-rank, all demanding exceptional mastery.
But he didn't find the Eight Gates Formation.
It hadn't been added yet.
Only half the techniques were credited to Tobirama Senju; the rest bore unfamiliar names.
Soon, he reached the end.
At the same time—
"Time's up." Homura swiftly snatched the scroll back, not granting Kin a second extra.
Kin grinned at him.
Not that it mattered—he'd already memorized everything.
With his Golden Finger, he could recall the contents anytime. No worries there.
"You're to leave with me immediately," Homura warned.
This place held more than just the Scroll of Seals—many other jutsu were stored here. The scroll only recorded forbidden techniques with high risks or difficulty.
Kin scoffed but followed Homura out.
Retracing their steps, they emerged under clear skies.
"I must report now. Unless summoned, you're not to approach again," Homura said coldly.
The moment Kin forced Sarutobi Hiruzen to let him see the scroll, he'd sealed his fate as an outsider.
Though Homura couldn't fathom what Kin hoped to gain from a glance.
Kin couldn't care less about Hiruzen's thoughts.
He turned and walked away without a word.
"Uchiha… truly a clan of troublemakers," Homura muttered, glaring at Kin's retreating figure.
Once home, Kin hurriedly retrieved a blank scroll from storage.
Unfurling it, he pressed both hands onto the surface.
"Jutsu: Camera Technique!"
Chakra seeped from his palms, morphing into a swirling spectrum of colors that spread across the scroll like liquid.
Originally devised to catch White Fang red-handed, the technique now served a different purpose.
It transcribed specific memories onto paper.
"I will find a way to expose White Fang," Kin vowed.
Gratitude was one thing—vengeance another.
Neither would be neglected.
Soon, the entire contents of the Scroll of Seals materialized on the scroll.
"Heh. Try and outsmart me."
Kin smirked. Those old fools must've been drunk on arrogance to think they could outmaneuver him.
Their opinions meant nothing.
He pored over the scroll's contents, focusing especially on sealing techniques.
During his time in the village, he intended to fully upgrade the Basic Internal Energy Technique.
That night, Shimura Danzō kicked open the Hokage's office door.
"You let Uchiha Kin see the Scroll of Seals!?"
The room was brightly lit, but the two advisors and Hiruzen sat in heavy silence.
"Danzō, you can't blame Hiruzen. They were pressuring him," Utatane Koharu defended.
"That brat just skimmed it. No way he memorized anything," Homura added.
"You—!!"
Danzō pointed at them, momentarily speechless from rage.
"Have you forgotten that boy is a genius at jutsu development!?"
"He doesn't need to memorize! He just needs references to create new techniques!"
Danzō nearly roared in frustration.
What made Uchiha Kin dangerous wasn't his combat strength—it was his innovation.
The moment he heard Kin demanded the scroll, Danzō knew:
The boy wanted research material to develop his own jutsu.
"Impossible," Homura scoffed. "Those are forbidden techniques. They're not so easily replicated."
"Have you forgotten our teacher's capabilities!?"
Danzō almost laughed at his comrades' naivety.
Tobirama Senju had invented countless practical jutsu without the scroll's guidance.
If he'd had it as reference, his creations would've been even greater.
Hiruzen had approved the request without thinking it through.
"Uchiha Kin? Compared to Lord Tobirama?" Koharu shook her head in disbelief.
This only stoked Danzō's fury.
He jabbed a finger at her. "Then explain the Basic Internal Energy Technique!"
He'd been studying the technique intently—he knew its staggering value.
Could its creator really be so far beneath Tobirama?
Koharu and Homura fell silent. They hadn't considered that.
"As a precaution, Hiruzen—eliminate him. Uchiha Kin will become a threat!"
Danzō sensed no reverence for the village in Kin.
A prodigy's death was a loss they could afford.
"You're too extreme, Danzō."
Hiruzen shook his head.
"Uchiha Kin is a villager. His work has strengthened Konoha."
"From now on, monitor him closely. But killing a comrade? Never suggest it again."
Though Hiruzen harbored biases inherited from Tobirama, he wouldn't condone murdering a villager—not even an Uchiha.
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen."
Danzō's voice was ominously calm.
Letting Uchiha Kin grow unchecked would bring disaster.
"Danzō… I am the Hokage."
Hiruzen met his glare coldly.
Danzō took a sharp breath, then stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
...
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(End of Chapter)