Chapter 13: An Appetite for More
There was no guarantee of success. Whether Samui would comply was a gamble. This entire maneuver was about one thing: creating an opening.
That's right. Just a single, small opening.
Takumi understood perfectly that his current status and power were insufficient to demand anything of real value from Kumogakure directly. Instead of overreaching, it was far more effective to lower his expectations and ask for a seemingly insignificant token. A D-rank ninjutsu was the perfect leverage—it wouldn't feel threatening to Samui, nor would it raise her suspicions to a breaking point. This was a test, a gentle probe of her bottom line and the extent of her authority.
He stood there for a moment longer, the dim light from the hallway casting his shadow long and distorted across the tatami mats.
"Until next time, Miss Samui."
He secured the scroll safely inside his ninja tool pouch, ensuring it was hidden from casual inspection, and then took his leave. The game was far from over. A D-rank technique was merely the first taste. Next time, the price for their "sincerity" would need to be higher. It was all to provide the necessary stimulus, to let his Sharingan drink in the potent cocktail of… emotional fluctuation.
Before heading directly home, Takumi made a stop at the main counter of the sushi restaurant to purchase a takeaway box of sushi. It was a simple but effective cover. A legitimate reason for his visit. Why would someone go to a restaurant and leave after only a few minutes without buying anything? The last time, his prolonged stay could be explained. This time, a quick purchase would help him avoid unwanted attention.
He was halfway home, the box in hand, when a figure suddenly rounded a corner and bumped squarely into him.
Thud.
The container fell, its contents scattering across the cobblestone path.
"I'm so sorry! So sorry!" a flustered voice exclaimed.
A girl with soft, curly hair and slightly rounded cheeks looked down at the ruined meal of rice and fish on the ground, her face a mask of apology. When she looked up to see who she had collided with, her embarrassment deepened. "You're… Takumi-kun? Oh, I'm so, so sorry."
"It's quite alright, Yuhi Kurenai-san," Takumi said, shaking his head. The sushi was just a prop to him anyway. Its loss was inconsequential.
"No, I have to make it up to you. I'll buy you another one," Kurenai insisted, her sense of honor compelling her.
"It's late. They're closed for the night."
"Did you get it from the sushi place on the back street? The one to the left?"
"That's the one."
"No wonder. They close early in the evening," Kurenai murmured, her shoulders slumping. She felt terrible. Just earlier at the Academy, she had been thinking about his Sharingan and the possibility of discussing genjutsu theory with him. Now, she had gone and ruined his dinner. She had undoubtedly offended him.
"You could compensate me with something else," Takumi suggested mildly.
Kurenai's eyes lit up with relief, and she immediately agreed.
Ten minutes later, they were seated at a small, warmly lit izakaya. Kurenai ordered with practiced ease, selecting a variety of small dishes before handing the menu to Takumi. He opened it to find it was primarily a seafood establishment, with a particular emphasis on octopus preparations. He pointed to one at random and placed the menu back on the table.
Soon, their table was laden with food. The most prominent dish was a large plate of wasabi octopus. Takumi recalled the official profiles; Kurenai Yuhi's favorite foods were listed as shochu, vodka, and wasabi octopus. Her least favorite was cake.
"Takumi-kun," Kurenai began after taking a bite of the spicy octopus, "after the Uchiha's eyes awaken, their proficiency with genjutsu is enhanced, right?"
"It provides certain… advantages," Takumi conceded, watching her across the small table. "But the specifics depend entirely on the individual's own foundation and skill."
The Sharingan did offer a boost, but it had its limits. In the hands of a dedicated genjutsu specialist, its power could be magnified exponentially. He remembered the profiles from the future: Kurenai's genjutsu stat was a perfect 10, while Kakashi, even with his three-tomoe Sharingan, only rated an 8. Kakashi used the eye for its copying prowess, not its illusory potential.
"Then… Takumi-kun, would you have time to discuss genjutsu techniques with me sometime?" Kurenai asked, her crimson eyes hopeful.
According to his own words, her theory was correct! With enough hard work and study, she could bridge the gap posed by the Sharingan and prove the worth of her father's life's work!
"Perhaps," Takumi said. "But it will have to be later. I have a sparring match with Obito tomorrow, and I have chakra control training after school for my ninjutsu lessons." As he spoke, his gaze lingered on her features. She was cute, there was no denying it. But his appreciation was clinical, analytical. He found the future version of Kurenai—the poised, mature kunoichi—far more compelling. That kind of "beautiful thing" would have a unique and complex flavor to savor.
He could feel a faint, warm current swirling deep within his left eye, a subtle reaction to the thought.
Of course, that was a consideration for the distant future. For now, exchanging knowledge with the present-day Kurenai on genjutsu was a beneficial arrangement. The Uchiha clan's illusions were predominantly Sharingan-based, relying on the eye's inherent power. The Yuhi clan, however, had carved out their reputation as genjutsu masters through technique and skill alone, despite the Uchiha's legendary status. They undoubtedly possessed unique insights.
"Wonderful!" Kurenai's eyes curved into happy crescents, all her previous worry forgotten. She found Takumi to be surprisingly approachable and kind. For a moment, she wondered if all shinobi from the Land of Lightning were this easy-going.
She had no inkling of the true, calculating reasons behind his agreeable nature.
Deep within the hidden chamber beneath the sushi restaurant, the air was still.
"Lord D," Samui said, her posture rigidly respectful.
"Yotsuki Takumi made contact?" D asked, not looking up from the map he was studying.
"...He requested another scroll. A D-rank," Samui reported, carefully repeating the story of Takumi acquiring the 'Lightning Release: Iron Fortress' technique. She edited the narrative, however, omitting his leverage over her and framing it as if Takumi had simply been dissatisfied with his initial offering. Her face, a mask of cool composure, betrayed nothing of the underlying tension.
"Good. Very good," D nodded, a satisfied smile gracing his lips. His attention was fully captured by Takumi's request. "From now on, you will be his primary point of contact. Your objective is to ensure his eventual defection to Kumogakure."
It was ideal that Yotsuki Takumi was showing desire. A ninja's foundational style was often set early in their career. Once Takumi grew accustomed to using Lightning Release techniques supplied by Kumo, he would become dependent, forced to return to them for more. The Uchiha had capable Lightning ninjutsu, but they couldn't compare to the Hidden Cloud Village, the undisputed masters of the Lightning element. The Uchiha's true specialty was Fire Release; their clan fan was a symbol of flame mastery.
"The Uchiha bloodline will be a cornerstone of the village's future strength," D declared, popping a piece of sushi into his mouth. With a feat like this to his name, would he still be doomed to a life of grunt work and espionage? If not for the promise of a promotion and a prestigious position upon his triumphant return, no one would willingly risk their life spying in Konoha, a place where a single misstep meant being disposed of.
"Yes, Lord D. And I..." Samui began after a moment, biting her lip. She felt a growing unease, a sense that she should come completely clean about the boy's unnerving perception and the threat he had implied.
(End of Chapter)