At dawn the next day, not long after Eiya got up, a knock sounded at his door.
He opened it to find Uchiha Itachi on the threshold, a thick bandage around his right arm.
Itachi's face was calm, though a faintly complicated look flickered in his eyes.
Eiya arched a brow, surprised that Itachi, who had traded blows with him just last night, had come on his own today.
As if sensing the question, Itachi said evenly, "The clan head wishes to see you."
Eiya's mouth quirked. "What, you couldn't beat me so you ran to get your dad?"
Itachi said nothing, simply turned and gestured for him to follow.
Watching Itachi's back as he walked away, Eiya gave a small shake of his head.
Still, he had wanted to meet the Uchiha clan head anyway, so he fell in behind and left the house.
Before long they arrived at Uchiha Fugaku's residence.
It sprawled over a wide area, its brick-tile outer wall more than two meters high and still unable to hide the gardens within.
Willow branches in the courtyard swayed in the wind, their silhouettes dancing even from a distance.
Beyond the gate lay a green pond with a rockery at its heart, water trickling down in a clear stream.
Farther in stood rows of elegant, expansive annexes, all hewn with care from fine rosewood.
Eiya followed Itachi along a flagstone path into the veranda.
Inside the hall, Uchiha Fugaku sat in plain clothes, kneeling at a low table as if he had been waiting.
Seeing them enter, Fugaku nodded slightly. "Uchiha Eiya, we meet again. About yesterday—"
Eiya cut him off. "Clan Head Fugaku, can you stand up for me?"
"Stand up for you?" Fugaku blinked.
Putting on a wronged look, Eiya went on, "After I left the Hokage's office yesterday, I went alone to the forest to train. I didn't expect it but—"
He shot a pointed glance at Itachi. "This guy hid in the dark to spy on me. Fine. But then he jumped out and tried a cheap shot."
A pulse throbbed at Fugaku's temple.
He kept his silence a moment, forced his anger down, and said slowly, "As I understand it, the two of you were only sparring. My son is praised constantly and has been set on a pedestal as a prodigy. Hearing of your deeds, it's natural he would want to test himself against you. That is normal."
"Normal? He nearly killed me." Eiya gave a cold laugh. "I spent the whole night on edge when I got back. As clan head you should see justice done for me. Or give me some compensation for the shock."
He shifted tone with a sheepish addendum. "I'm not asking for much. Five million ryō will do."
Fugaku stared, eyes widening, and gave Eiya a long up-and-down look.
Eiya's spirit was bright, his complexion ruddy, his flak vest spotless.
Itachi, meanwhile, was injured in several places, his right hand broken.
This brat hadn't so much as smudged a hem. Who exactly had tried to kill whom?
And now he had the gall to demand compensation.
Fugaku nearly spat blood, cursing Eiya's ancestors to the eighteenth generation in his heart.
Eiya ignored the clan head's dark look and quietly waited for the system's chime.
It didn't come.
He frowned inwardly. He had twisted the truth and tried to shake down the clan head. How was that not indulgence?
A thought later, he guessed why.
Indulgence depended on true desire.
A dieter breaking their restraint to binge was indulgence.
He, on the other hand, was a Konoha chūnin. A C-rank mission's pay added up. He wasn't living lavishly, but it was comfortable enough.
He didn't care much for money, so no reward.
Across the table, Fugaku drew a deep breath and took a while to settle himself.
"Itachi is acknowledged as a prodigy. Though you're older than he is, to push him this far is no small feat," he said. "As clan head, I am concerned with what you intend to do next."
What he intended?
Take your seat as clan head, perhaps.
Eiya said nothing, only gave Fugaku a smile that meant nothing at all, leaving the man faintly puzzled.
Fugaku let it pass and continued. "Ninjas do not fret over trifles like money, least of all one as capable as you. But your squad has met with misfortune and likely cannot take missions for now. If you are willing, would you consider serving in the Police Force?"
"Not interested," Eiya said without a thought.
"Don't be so quick to refuse." Fugaku shook his head.
"Though the Hokage will not pursue it, yesterday's matter cast an ugly shadow around the village. There are rumors harmful to the Uchiha that are misleading many ordinary shinobi. Even other clans have voiced objections. In this climate, re-forming a squad, you will struggle to find teammates. The Police Force is under Uchiha command. It suits you best for the moment."
Eiya nodded absently and made a noncommittal sound.
Just then, light footsteps sounded behind a screen.
"Fugaku, you don't even entertain a guest?" a gentle woman's voice chided.
A graceful figure stepped out from behind the screen.
Uchiha Mikoto.
She wore a pale violet house kimono. Her black hair fell like a waterfall over her shoulders.
Kneeling lightly by the table, she lifted the teapot and poured fragrant tea for them both.
Her slim jade fingers set off the celadon cups. When she lifted her eyes, warmth smiled there.
"Eiya, you've grown," Mikoto said with a smile. "Back then I took missions with your parents."
"Is that so?" Eiya looked up and took her in.
A woman in her early thirties lacked a maiden's innocence, but in its place stood mature, smoldering grace.
No normal man facing such beauty at such close range would feel nothing.
A flicker of envy rose in Eiya.
This old fox Fugaku ate well indeed.
Wait—what if I set my sights on his wife right in front of him—
Eiya stopped holding back, letting his gaze run over Mikoto's figure without restraint.
From the elegant line of her collarbone, down to the softly rising chest with each breath, then lower still to the slim curve of her waist—
Fugaku took a sip of tea, glanced at Eiya by chance, and froze.
Following his line of sight, his cup almost slipped from his hand.
He coughed twice, face darkening. "Mikoto, you may go."
Heat flushed Mikoto's ears under Eiya's bold stare.
Ding. Indulgence successful.
As a junior of the clan, the host openly and brazenly fixed his gaze on the clan head's wife. Indulgence level B.
Issuing reward.
Obtained: Nehan Shōja no Jutsu, A-rank.
Eiya's eyes lit at the chime in his head.
Just as he had guessed.
He knew the technique well.
Nehan Shōja no Jutsu was a wide-area support genjutsu that could be cast near or far.
In the original story, Yakushi Kabuto used it during the chūnin exams to lull an entire arena to sleep in an instant.
Genjutsu didn't excite Eiya, but one more trick never hurt. One day it might be worth its weight in gold.
After Mikoto left, Fugaku's tone went cold. "Eiya, your parents died on the battlefield when you were very young. Life alone has not been easy. But there are rules—"
The oblique rebuke reeled Eiya's drifting thoughts back.
He knew exactly what it was—a roundabout way to call him ill-bred.
"The clan head's lesson is noted," Eiya said with a nod.
Fugaku cut to the point. "As for what I proposed, what do you think?"
"I don't know. Another time," Eiya said lazily, waving a hand, his mind already elsewhere.
A wild idea took shape in his head.
Just now, a mere stare at Mikoto in front of Fugaku had netted a B-level reward. If he went much further right under the clan head's nose, would the system hand him an S-level prize?
At that thought, he began to weigh the plan in earnest.
The Uchiha blood ran pretty in both men and women, and Eiya was no exception.
In his previous life he had played his share of games with all kinds of women. He was no starry-eyed innocent in matters of the heart.
Winning Mikoto's favor would be best.
Even if not, he meant to find a way to pull her into his arms.