Elsewhere in the Nara Clan Compound
The council chamber of the Nara clan was dimly lit, shadows stretching across wooden beams. A faint smell of incense lingered, but it did nothing to ease the tension choking the room.
"Tsunayoshi, I thought you said that boy would die," one elder said, his voice sharp.
"Yes, you must explain what went wrong," another demanded.
"Now we can't touch him at all."
Their voices rose in an overlapping tide of accusation. The elders' faces—etched with years of wrinkles and cunning—twisted in anger.
Tsunayoshi sat still at first, his knuckles drumming against the armrest of his chair. The murmurs grated on his ears, stoking the fire in his gut.
These old fools. They were quick to criticize but too cowardly to act. He was the only one willing to gamble with Danzo's support.
"Shut up!" he finally roared, slamming a palm against the table. The sound echoed like a strike of thunder.
Silence blanketed the room. The elders fell back into their seats, wary of provoking him further.
"Let me think," Tsunayoshi growled, rubbing his temple. His pride was stinging, but he wouldn't show weakness. "Summon Hikaru for me," he ordered, flicking a glance toward the subordinate waiting outside.
The man bowed quickly and left.
---
Moments later, the door creaked open again. A young man entered, tall and broad-shouldered, with sharp eyes that betrayed his nerves. He looked no older than his mid-twenties.
He bowed deeply. "Greetings, elders. Elder Tsunayoshi, you called for me?"
The elders watched in silence, their gazes heavy.
Tsunayoshi's voice cut through the air, low and cold. "Tell us what went wrong with the mission I gave you."
Hikaru froze. His brows furrowed. "Mission? What mission are you talking about, sir?"
Tsunayoshi's jaw clenched. "Don't play dumb, you bastard. If you don't talk right now, I'll kill you where you stand." Veins bulged at his temple, his killing intent leaking into the room.
The weight of it pressed down on Hikaru's shoulders like chains. He swallowed hard, searching the room for support, but found none.
"Stop acting like a fool, Hikaru," Elder Tomonori finally spoke, his tone cutting.
Hikaru's palms grew sweaty. Why had Tsunayoshi dragged him here in front of everyone? Was this a trap? Would he be made the scapegoat?
Finally, after a long pause, he exhaled through clenched teeth. "I already gave the nurse the poison. The boy should have died slowly." His lips curled into a half-smile, but it was brittle, desperate.
The words sent a ripple of shock through the chamber.
Tsunayoshi's fists tightened on the table, rage threatening to spill over. He had trusted this fool to handle such a simple task.
Before he could lash out, Elder Tomonori spoke again, his voice steady but firm.
"The boy survived. And you should abandon any further action. The Fourth Hokage himself has taken interest in him."
The revelation cracked the air like lightning. Murmurs broke out among the elders' followers, unease spreading like wildfire.
"What?!" Tsunayoshi roared, rising to his feet. His eyes burned with fury, locking onto Tomonori. "Are you blaming me for this failure?"
Tomonori raised his hands calmly, though his voice carried an edge. "Don't misunderstand. I was never part of this plan. I only agreed to observe after learning Danzo's hand was involved."
The words hit Tsunayoshi like a blade. Danzo. How could he face his master with failure in hand?
The room grew thick with unspoken fear.
Finally, Tsunayoshi straightened, masking his turmoil. "Everyone, be careful. What we discussed here must not leave this chamber. Do I make myself clear?"
The elders and their followers nodded silently.
"Dismissed!"
Chairs scraped as men stood, filing out of the room one by one.
But as Hikaru turned to leave, Tsunayoshi's voice snapped like a whip. "Not you. Stay."
"Huh?" Hikaru stiffened.
When the last of the footsteps faded, only five remained. The silence was suffocating.
Tsunayoshi leaned forward, slamming his fist onto the table. "Your next mission is to erase everyone who knows about the poison—the nurse, and anyone else who dared speak of it. Do you understand?"
The words drained the color from Hikaru's face.
Assassinate his own clanmates? Silence the nurse? He knew too well what awaited him—whether he succeeded or failed, he was already marked for death.
Still, refusal meant instant execution.
His head bowed. "Yes, Elder." His voice cracked with resignation. He turned and walked out, the weight of betrayal crushing his chest.
---
Later That Night – At the Nara Household
The sliding door creaked open. "I'm home," Shikaku's tired voice filled the quiet house.
In the kitchen, Yoshino stood with arms crossed, her rounded belly showing beneath her kimono. Her sharp eyes narrowed the moment she saw him.
"You're just getting back now?" she said coldly.
Shikaku winced.
"Is this how you treat your pregnant wife? Leaving her alone while you sit around drinking with your friends?"
Her words pierced him deeper than kunai. He lowered his gaze and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry for being late."
"Hmph." She turned, setting down bowls. "Sit. Eat."
They ate in silence for a while. Shikaku's chopsticks moved mechanically, his mind distant. Yoshino noticed the furrow in his brow, the heaviness in his shoulders.
Finally, she sighed. "Mind telling me what's bothering you?"
Shikaku hesitated, then exhaled slowly. "It's about Megumi… and the elders."
Yoshino set her chopsticks down.
"He woke up from his coma today," Shikaku said quietly.
Her eyes lit up, joy softening her face. "That's wonderful news! Kaede must be so relieved—"
But Shikaku cut her off, voice heavy. "The Fourth Hokage has decreed that Megumi must make his decision by next week."
Her smile faltered.
Still, Yoshino's resolve remained firm. "Whatever choice he makes, at least Kaede won't be forced into so many dangerous missions anymore."
Shikaku turned to her, puzzled by her certainty. "Why do you say that?"
"Because I know him better than you. Kaede was my best friend. I believe Megumi will honor his father's name… but in his heart, he'll follow his mother."
Her words caught him off guard. He studied her face, searching for the reasoning behind such confidence.
"Do you think Kaede was the true owner of that strange summoning technique? The one without chakra?"
Yoshino tapped her chin thoughtfully, then shook her head. "No. That was Megumi's kekkei genkai."
The weight of it sank in.
Shikaku's voice dropped. "If our son were in Megumi's place… who would you choose? The clan, or him?"
Yoshino's eyes softened. She gave him a faint smile, refusing to answer. "Eat before it gets cold."
Shikaku stared down at his meal, his appetite gone. The silence stretched, filled only by the faint crackle of the hearth.
---
The Next Morning – Hospital
Sunlight filtered through the window blinds of the ward, warming Megumi's face. He sat upright in bed, staring at his hands.
"Hey, System," he muttered inwardly.
[How can I help you, host?] The voice rang in his mind, dry and familiar.
"After I leave this hospital, I need to develop a new technique."
[Wow. Is the sun rising from the west today?]
"Shut up and help me," Megumi snapped, his lips twitching.
[You already have the Ten Shadows Technique. I even help and gave you a dōjutsu—heavenly restriction with your bottomless cursed energy reserves. And you're still greedy? Honestly, you're impossible.]
Megumi clenched his fists. "That damn old man…"
[What was that?]
"Nothing," he muttered under his breath.
"Mr. Megumi?"
He blinked, pulled from his thoughts. A nurse stood at the doorway, holding a clipboard.
"Are you feeling better?" she asked.
"I'm fine. Can I go home now?" Megumi replied, his tone sharp.
The nurse hesitated, shifting uneasily. "Ah—I'll call the doctor." She scurried out of the ward, nearly tripping over her own feet.
Megumi sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Why is everyone acting so weird since I woke up?"
[The weirdo calling others weird… priceless.]
"Shut it," he hissed inwardly.