Shinichi left the meeting hall and wandered through the Uzushiogakure.
Everywhere he walked, he saw red . The civilians and ninjas, nearly 90% of the population in Uzushio carried Uzumaki's distinctive red colored hair. And everywhere he walked, eyes followed him.
His black hair, navy blue high-collared Uchiha combat robe, and the Uchiha fan crest on his back stood out like a raven in a sea of crimson. After all, Land of Whirlpool was a very isolated country that rarely accepted strangers.
As he continued his tour, a familiar and pleasant aroma caught his attention. He couldn't place it at first, only that it tugged at ta memory from his past life.
He mindlessly followed the scent to a small takoyaki stall. He lifted the curtains and stepped inside.
A middle-aged red-haired man in a white apron beamed at him, welcoming with a hearty greeting.
"Irasshaimase!" (Welcome!)
"Hello. A set of Takoyaki please."
"Which set? We sell them in sets of Eight, twelve, or twenty‑four?."
"…Twenty‑four set please."
"Twenty‑four pieces set, coming right up!"
The owner poured creamy wheat flour batter on to the custom frying plate mold, added a mixture of chopped octopus-legs, tempura scraps, and minced green onions. He then poured another batch of flour batter before he flipped each half‑cooked sphere with practiced precision. Soon, twenty‑four steaming takoyaki were placed before him.
Shinichi speared one with a toothpick and popped it into his mouth. But it was too hot. His tongue burned, but a pulse of chakra healed it instantly and enjoyed its taste. Takoyaki was a snack he used to share with his 'family' in his past life; with Yeon.
As he ate while reminiscing his past life, the curtain lifted again. A young woman with long red hair and bright violet eyes strode in.
"Oji-san! Twenty‑four pieces!"
"Miho! It's you. I haven't seen you in a while."
"Hehe. I was busy setting up barriers around the village! I've mastered fuinjutsu now, datteba!"
Shinichi blinked.
'Datteba?'
Miho declared proudly while sticking her rather modest chest out.
Then she noticed him.
"? Oji-san, you actually have a customer other than me at this hour, datteba?!!!"
"You Brat! What's that supposed to mean!"
"Ahahaha! I'm just kidding, just kidding."
She scratched her head and quickly averted her eyes, looking for an excuse. She quickly found her target and grinned.
"Hey, Kid. You like Takoyaki too?"
Shinichi glanced around. There was no one else in the stall. He turned toward her and nodded.
Miho puffed her cheeks as she placed her hands on her hips.
"You are not a talkative one, datteba!"
Shinichi swallowed the Takoyaki.
"No, I just think that its improper to speak with food in my mouth."
Miho was taken aback for a moment before she gave a provocative smile.
"Gyahahahaha. A sharp mouthed one at that too."
Shinichi ignored her and continued eating. He was close to finishing his plate.
"Owner-san," he said, "a hundred more pieces."
The owner's brows arched and blinked, then he returned a satisfied smile.
"Ouuu! Hundred pieces coming right up!"
"Oji-san add 100 more pieces for me too, Datteba!"
"??!! Ahahahhaha. Sure, Sure."
Miho shot Shinichi a provocative look, as if looking for a competition. Shinichi frowned, but decided to ignore her and focused on his Takoyaki. But, secretly he was probing her identity since their first encounter.
'There's Two chakra signatures… coexisting within her? She must be the Three Tails Jinchuriki.'
The treatment of Jinchuriki was different in every village. Uzushio and Konoha both had a very stable seals and suitable vessel that two villages never experienced the so-called Tailed Beasts rampage. They did not harbor any prejudice or hatred for them at all.
Other villages, on the other hand, lacked these resources that they often experienced the Tailed Beasts rampage. Hence, the treatment of jinchuriki was very harsh and discrimination was rampant in these villages.
Shinichi side glanced at Uzumaki Miho with indifference and continued to enjoy his Takoyaki.
Miho felt a little dejected by his indifference, but she quickly regained her vigor and took a sit beside him.
"Ne,Ne! You are an Uchiha from Konoha, right? You must have traveled a lot! What's it like in Konoha and Land of Fire? I've never been out of Land of Whirlpool, datteba? It is so boring here!"
Shinichi subtly leaned away while shielding his Takoyaki.
'Do I know you? Are we close? Why do you act like as if we're friends.'
The owner tried to help.
"Ahem. Miho? Your Takoyaki is out. You can take it home."
"Hmph! I was going to eat here datteba!!"
The owner let out a defeated sigh and served her plate.
Miho hurriedly accepted it and eagerly took a bite as the creases on her forehead disappeared and smile of pure joy surfaced. Then after taking few more bites, she continued.
"So, what is outside world like?"
Shinichi exhaled as he finished his last piece.
"You are persistent, aren't you? Don't you feel ashamed pestering someone younger than you?"
"Hehe! Trying to make me mad again? It won't work anymore, Datteba!"
Shinichi felt exasperated. He felt like he was talking to a wall.
'This woman…. She either can't read the mood or she is ignoring it!'
He turned to the owner.
"Please pack the rest!"
"Right away!"
"Ah! Wait. Oji-san! Pack mine too, datteba!"
Shinichi accepted the box and quickly made his way out of the stall. As soon as moved out he quickly wrapped the box with chakra to protect it, and vanished with shunishin.
Miho ran out just in time to see him disappear. She pouted and stumped the ground few times until the tile started to crack. Miho flinched in panic as she stared at the cracked floor tile. She then quickly peaked left and right and ran home.
As her silhouette disappeared, three Uzumaki shinobis appeared. One stayed behind to fix the damage, while the two followed Miho's path.
***
Later, Shinichi lay in his room, recalling Sosuke's words after the meeting.
…
"Shinichi," Sosuke said, "don't speak too rashly next time. The Three Tails Jinchuriki is the Uzukage's own daughter. And the Uzukage is Uzumaki Mito's older brother."
Shinichi nodded, he knew he overstepped his boundaries during the meeting. It was just that he couldn't help but give his own opinion during the military briefing, as he had done in his past life. But he couldn't say that out loud.
"Uncle Sosuke, I didn't know about the jinchuriki..."
Sosuke patted his shoulder, as if to assure him.
"No one in our clan did either. Including myself. But next time, consult me or Fukashi before speaking. You are still too young. It is not good for you to draw more attention than you already have."
Shinichi frowned but nodded his head.
"But, I must ask," he questioned, "if even the Uzumaki clan is struggling to control the Tailed Beast, then what use is it to other nations? It is clear that only our Mangekyo Sharingan can control them. Wood release can suppress Tailed Beasts, but it cannot control them. It is better to give this troublesome thing to other nations to suppress their growth."
Sosuke narrowed his eyes.
"Then, what if the other nations finds a method to control them?"
Shinichi shook his head.
"Whatever that method is, can it be more efficient than our Mangekyo sharingan? Madara‑sama could utilize Kyubi to its full potential as a weapon and tool because he could suppress its will with genjutsu. But clearly, Jinchūrikis cannot. In worst situation, father can control the Bijū and its vessel with his Mangekyo."
Shinichi spoke as he pointed at his crimson eyes.
"Shinichi... your eyes. They've grown stronger." Sosuke nodded. "I won't deny that Mangekyo is our pride and our greatest weapon. But, it's rare for our clansmen to awaken them, and certainly even more difficult to maintain them. We much not depend solely on Mangekyo to resolve our problems."
Shinichi shook his head.
"Uncle, the future of our clan's survival is deeply connected to our sharingan." He then pointed at Sosuke. "Your eyes are also one of the closest to reaching threshold of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Sosuke's eyes widened as he abruptly turned toward Shinichin.
"??!!! Shinichi! You can gauge the state or our sharingan and its evolution?"
"Uncle, our Kekkei genkai is simple yet also very complex. If we accumulate enough Special Yin chakra in our eyes and reach the threshold, then the sharingan awakens and evolves. Of course, forcefully injecting Yin chakra has no effect, as the Yin chakra... I'll just call it sharingan chakra, instead. The sharingan chakra is unique to each of our own physiology."
Sosuke leaned forward impatiently and asked
"Shinichi! Is there anyone else who is close to awakening them?!"
To Sosuke's disappointment, Shinichi shook his head.
"… This... It's not that simple." He then raised his index and middle finger and continued. "There are two main factors that affect our Kekkei genkai. The strength and activeness of our sharingan chakra release organs, which is directly related to our genetic and bloodline purity, and the another is emotional stimulus."
Shinichi took back his hand.
"I do not have a clear understanding yet, but based on my observation so far, most of our clansmen are born with dormant sharingan chakra organs. Only those who we often determine as geniuses have active or stronger ones."
Sosuke frowned as he listened to Shinichi's narration.
"How did you learn all of this Shinichi? This... sharingan chakra release organs and our Kekkei genkai…"
"When my emotions fluctuated and my Sharingan evolved, I felt these organs activate. Later, when I handed Senju's Medical Ninjutsu to 8th elder and worked in the clan infirmary, I sensed these organs in every clansman. Some active. Some dormant. Some… dead."
Sosuke flinched slightly.
"Dead?"
"Clansmen, who have not awakened sharingan or civilians above thirty. Their organs no longer respond. While I worked in the infirmary, I gently stimulated the organs of our unawaken clansmen. With very few exceptions, only those under thirty reacted. I did not dare to use stronger stimulation yet."
Sosuke trembled in excitement.
"Shincihi! Does this mean that our children, the future generation could all awaken their sharingan?!"
"All of our clansmen since birth have potential to awaken sharingan. The size and strength of organs in each clansmen varies. But if I can develop a successful method to effectively awaken these organs, then yes, all of our clansmen, in the future will be able to awaken and evolve their sharingan at least up to three tomoe in their life time."
"I see."
After a short remark, Sosuke's excitement dimmed slightly as he exercised patience and solemnly closed his eyes. After about a minute of silence, Sosuke opened his eyes and placed his hands on Shinichi's shoulder.
"Shinichi... as your God-father, I support your research. But as clan head..."
His voice hardened.
"You must only conduct this research under my supervision or the 8th Elder's."
"Elder Shinno? But why?"
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"
"Yes I do. Clan head. But why?"
Sosuke lifted his arms.
"You weren't the first clansmen who researched into our Kekkai genkai. And you certainly won't be the last either..."
"? But. I haven't read or heard of any such research before?"
"That is because every such records have been terminated either by the elder council or by the clan heads."
"..."
"Research into our eyes draws blood. and for Uchiha... it was very... very costly."
Shinichi lifted his head up as if he connected dots on missing pages from the scrolls and records.
"..... The first Civil war."
"And the second," Sosuke said quietly. "Both began with the good intentions... But both ended in a tragedy."
"...."
"It is the duty of the elders and the clan head, to stop and eliminate any internal or external research into sharingan."
Sosuke placed his hands back on Shinichi's shoulder and spoke.
"If your research ever loses its purpose... I will fulfill my duty as clan head. No matter the cost. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes. Clan head. I will keep that in mind."
…
Shinichi opened his eyes and looked up.
"Studying our Kekkei genkai, huh…"
He muttered as he raised his hand towards the ceiling.
'To develop a safe training method to stimulate the sharingan chakra organs, a lot of tests and trials will be needed. To determine the best age to start stimulating/activating them. How quickly and at what strength they need to be stimulated. What is the limit that our young clansmen can endure for this sort of stimulation… The price may be heavier than I thought...'
He clenched his hand into fist.
'I can see where uncle Sosuke was getting at.'
Shinichi stood up straight and shook his head as he sighed.
'Forget it. Let's focus on the war for now.'
He exited his room and found an Uzumaki attendant folding some laundries nearby.
"Excuse me. Is there a training ground that I can use?"
There was nothing better than a good exercise to clear his mind.
"Ah! Yes! Honored guest! I will guide you to our clan training ground."
She hurried ahead while lowering her head to hide her reddened cheeks.