The house was silent. After the day's activities, Megumi lay flat on his mattress, staring up at the ceiling. The faint moonlight that spilled through the window stretched across the wooden floor, painting the room in silver lines. His mind, however, was restless.
"Hey, System…" His voice cracked through the silence. "Why is it that I can't remember anything about the people I've met?"
There was no response at first—only the echo of his own breathing. He pulled the blanket closer to his chest and continued, almost angrily.
"I mean, when I met Kakashi, I didn't remember that he always used his clone as bait before ambushing people. And when I saw Itachi and Minato, I knew they would die someday, but I couldn't recall when or how. It's like the memories are… fogged. Locked away from me."
Finally, the System's voice cut into his thoughts, sharp yet detached:
[First, I cannot answer your question. But you must not forget—you had an agreement with the being that sent you here.]
[You cannot break that contract. Or else…]
Megumi clenched his teeth. "Damn… that old man really got me with that one." He sat up, resting his back against the wall, fists tightening on the blanket.
The truth ate at him. He couldn't understand why his memories—memories that could mean survival—were being sealed away. It felt cruel, deliberate.
"How am I supposed to protect my family if I don't even know my enemies' abilities? Tell me, System! How am I supposed to survive in this cursed world without foresight?"
[That is the price you pay for being too greedy. Every power has its countermeasure.]
Megumi's mood darkened, his thoughts swirling. Anger pressed down on him like a heavy weight, and in that frustration, he missed the subtle loophole in the contract the System refused to elaborate on.
After a long silence, he whispered, "… Can I at least develop a new technique?"
[Yes. You can create techniques that align with your cursed energy.]
[Your mastery in refining cursed energy has a success rate of one thousand percent.]
[You can create techniques faster and more efficiently than the average sorcerer.]
Megumi's eyes widened. Hope flickered in his chest, though he kept his tone cautious. "… Explain what you mean."
[What takes other sorcerers years—sometimes decades—to understand, you can comprehend within a fraction of the time.]
"So…" His lips curled into a grin. "That means I can unlock Reverse Cursed Technique and even Domain Expansion easily?"
[You're joking, right?]
Megumi blinked, his smile fading. "What do you mean?"
[RCT and Domain Expansion are the pinnacle of all jujutsu in this world.]
[If you wish to unlock RCT, you will have to figure it out yourself. As for Domain Expansion, it can only refine with tireless practice.]
Megumi's hands fell limp against his knees. "… So I'll have to suffer the same fate as Gojo…" His voice was barely above a whisper.
The room fell into silence once more, broken only by the quiet sound of his breathing.
---
The Nara Clan Council
Elsewhere in Konoha, a candle-lit chamber of the Nara compound buzzed with tension. The elders of the clan sat in a half-circle, their aged faces tight with disapproval. At the center of the room, Shikaku Nara sat with his arms crossed, his eyes calm but sharp, as though he had already predicted the arguments about to unfold.
"Shikaku," one elder began, his tone stern, "we must know why you insist on allowing that chakraless child to train alongside the other clan children."
Another elder quickly added, "Especially after that incident with the missing-nin. Encouraging him only invites more danger. We will not allow an outsider to bring destruction upon this family."
The words were met with nods and murmurs of agreement. Yet Shikaku didn't react immediately. He studied the table in silence, his mind calculating, as always.
Finally, he raised his head, his voice even but resolute. "First of all, that child is my younger brother's son." His gaze hardened, piercing each elder in turn. "And why shouldn't he train with the others? Just because he lacks chakra does not mean he is useless."
The elders fell silent for a moment. They were used to Shikaku's calm logic, but his tone carried weight tonight. Unbeknownst to them, Shikaku had already seen glimpses of his nephew's abilities—things that couldn't be explained by chakra. He knew better than to dismiss such potential.
Why would he make an enemy of someone with that kind of hidden strength?
---
The Hokage's Office
At the heart of the village, inside the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was tense. The advisors of Konoha sat gathered, their stern faces illuminated by the warm glow of lantern light. At the center of the room, Kaede knelt on the tatami mat, her head bowed low.
She had only just returned home when the summons arrived, and now she stood before not only the Third Hokage but also the two councilors—and Danzo Shimura himself.
"Greetings, Lord Hokage," Kaede said softly. "Forgive me. I was on my way home when I received your message."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, pipe in hand, waved gently, his eyes kind despite the sharp atmosphere. "There is no need to apologize. I understand—you have your son to care for."
But before the warmth of his words could settle, Danzo slammed his fist on the table, his single visible eye sharp as a blade.
"Enough of this nonsense. Kaede, explain yourself. How did you obtain a summoning contract without chakra? And why did you conceal it from the council? Are you planning to betray the village? Speak!"
The force of his voice rattled the room, but Kaede did not flinch. She knew the game well—Hiruzen as the good cop, Danzo as the bad.
Her voice was calm, but a shadow of killing intent leaked into her tone. "I acquired the contract the day before my mission. My team and I were ambushed. The scroll was given to me as a token of patronage from a merchant store in Konoha."
Koharu Utatane leaned forward, frowning. "But in your report, you stated that Nara Kenji's team rescued you. Are you lying to us?"
"I told the truth." Kaede's eyes narrowed. "The scroll was offered in Konoha. That is all."
The tension rose, but before it could spiral, Hiruzen interjected. "It is fine. Kaede has served the village with loyalty and sacrifice. Still… could not others also sign this summoning contract?"
"No." Kaede shook her head firmly. "It is a one-person contract. And it carries a heavy price." She deliberately turned their interest away from Megumi.
Danzo sneered. "Lies."
But Hiruzen ignored him, his gaze thoughtful. "What price did you pay? And… can your son inherit the contract? I hear he is without chakra."
Kaede's expression stiffened. The mention of her son sent a sharp pain through her chest.
"I lost my chakra when I signed the contract. That was the price."
Danzo scoffed. To him, a chakraless boy was of no value—barely worth mentioning.
Sensing Kaede's fury, Hiruzen raised a hand. "That will be all. You may leave."
Kaede bowed low, her hands trembling at her sides, before leaving the chamber.
The moment the door closed, silence blanketed the room.
"You are too soft with her," Danzo spat, his voice dripping with disdain.
"You failed, not I," Hiruzen replied calmly, smoke curling from his pipe.
Danzo's eye narrowed, rage simmering beneath his calm exterior. But before words could ignite, Koharu cut in sharply. "Enough. We must think rationally. This bickering helps no one."
Danzo seized the pause, his voice low and dangerous. "Then let me handle her—as the darkness of Konoha. Reinstate Root, and let me recruit again. With that, this matter will be solved swiftly."
But Hiruzen shook his head. "No. She is Shikaku Nara's sister-in-law, and Root will not be expanded. Minato will handle the situation."
Danzo slammed his hand on the table. "Sarutobi… you will regret this." With that, he stormed out of the chamber, the door rattling behind him.
The room remained heavy with silence.
"It's fine," Hiruzen murmured, though the lines on his face deepened. "He will cool down."
But Koharu's gaze was cold, calculating. "We cannot ignore Kaede. If she becomes a threat, we must deal with her swiftly."
The elder beside her nodded grimly in agreement.
The shadows of Konoha grew deeper that night.