Chapter 19: A Transaction of Loyalty
"You've been with us for some time now," Fugaku began, his tone measured and authoritative. "Is there a particular field of ninjutsu you wish to pursue?"
Takumi feigned hesitation. "I've only just started at the Academy. I was under the impression I wasn't yet of an age to formally learn clan techniques."
"That can be arranged. Selecting a ninjutsu to specialize in is a privilege afforded to every Uchiha," Fugaku stated, his gaze fixed on Takumi. His stern, square-jawed face carried an inherent weight of authority. "The clan's ninjutsu archives are the cumulative result of generations of contributions from our members."
"Then... thank you very much, Lord Fugaku," Takumi said, layering his voice with a convincing amount of gratitude.
Observing his attitude, Fugaku gave a satisfied nod. In his mind, exchanging a few techniques for the boy's unwavering loyalty to the clan was a transaction that could only yield profit. According to the Chunin instructors at the Academy, Takumi's talent was significant. This made binding him to the clan all the more crucial. If such a bond couldn't be forged, then the boy would have to be marginalized. The Uchiha needed loyal Uchiha, not potential loose cannons.
"Do you have a specific chakra nature you wish to develop?" Fugaku inquired.
The five basic nature transformations were the foundation of all shinobi combat.
"Lightning Release, I think," Takumi said after a moment of pretended consideration. "I've used chakra induction paper before. It reacts to the 'Lightning' nature."
Lightning Release. The Yotsuki clan was renowned for their natural affinity for it. Acquiring Uchiha-grade Lightning techniques would be like granting wings to a tiger. In truth, any of the five natures held immense potential. The shinobi world, however, was often trapped in tradition, overly reliant on raw chakra application while ignoring deeper physical principles. Lightning Release could be the key to magnetism—the manipulation of electromagnetic fields, perhaps even gravitational distortion by controlling electron orbits. The possibilities, seen through the lens of a transmigrator's knowledge, were vast and largely untapped. Even Fire Release could be refined beyond simple combustion into plasma generation and precise thermal control. Ironically, it was Kumogakure, for all its brutish reputation, that had pushed technological boundaries the furthest, even developing a chakra cannon capable of destroying the moon, while others like Orochimaru focused solely on biological science.
"Very well," Fugaku nodded. The Uchiha archives contained numerous Lightning Release scrolls, accumulated over the years. "I will have someone take you to select a scroll later. Remember, do not be overambitious. A D-rank technique will be a sufficient starting point."
"Yes, thank you, Lord Fugaku," Takumi repeated, maintaining his facade of gratefulness.
"Alright, that's enough business for now. Let's eat," Mikoto interjected gently, looking at the spread of food. "It will get cold if we wait any longer."
"Ah," Takumi acknowledged, filling a bowl with rice. Proper nutrition was essential for the growth he was forcing upon his body.
As they ate, Fugaku steered the conversation to other, lighter topics, occasionally sharing a dry anecdote that would make Mikoto smile. Takumi ate in silence, an observer to their dynamic.
Roughly half an hour later, Mikoto and Takumi took their leave, retracing their path through the drizzly Uchiha compound.
"Mikoto-san," Takumi began, breaking the comfortable silence. "What is the typical retirement age for a shinobi?"
It seemed there was no official retirement age, nor had he heard of any pension system.
"Retire?" Mikoto pondered for a moment. "Most shinobi don't live long enough to see retirement. But if one wishes to, they can submit an application. Once approved, they can formally retire and leave the shinobi life behind."
She had seen few old ninjas who lived into their eighties or nineties. But she had seen many genin, fresh from the Academy, who, unable to withstand the cruelty of their world, chose to hang up their headbands and seek a quieter life.
"I see," Takumi nodded. That made sense. In the annals of clan history, there were stories like that of Yuhi Kurenai's mother, or shinobi in Itachi's own squad, who, despairing of the endless cycle of violence, relinquished their status. They became tools that had worn out their usefulness, discarded without a second thought. This was a world where children were handed kunai and sent to battlefields, with no psychological support to process the trauma. It was no wonder the shinobi world was full of extremists and psychopaths; they were quietly twisted and broken by the very system that created them.
"As for me... I might be retiring soon," Mikoto said, her voice softening noticeably.
"Congratulations, Mikoto-san," Takumi offered with a congratulatory smile, though a cold dread settled in his heart. Is she talking about starting a family? Is Itachi's birth imminent? The thought was a heavy weight in his chest.
He continued walking slightly behind her, his eyes lifting to study her back. A desperate, dark thought flickered in his mind. Is there a way to prevent it? To stop Itachi from ever being born?
A faint ripple of red chakra stirred in his left eye, the Sharingan reacting to the surge of intense emotion. He quickly closed his eye, and when he opened it again, it was plain, featureless black.
His opinion of Fugaku was simple: the man was a weak hypocrite. It was a profound waste that a woman like Mikoto would be tied to him, only to share his grim fate. Fugaku's offer of ninjutsu was no different from Kumo's attempts to recruit him—a transaction meant to purchase his loyalty. From now on, he would be expected to act in the clan's interests, to contribute. A simple trade.
But Fugaku, in Takumi's view, never truly considered any Uchiha outside his immediate family as real clan members. He could not escape responsibility for the clan's massacre. When Itachi turned his blade on his own kin, slaughtering the innocent, how could Fugaku, the clan head—a man who allegedly possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan—have been completely unaware? He never raised a hand to stop the slaughter. Instead, he expressed a twisted pride in his son's "resolve," willingly accepting death at Itachi's hand alongside Mikoto, concerned only for their second son, Sasuke. Meanwhile, countless clansmen lay dead in the streets.
The majority of the Uchiha were ordinary people. Not everyone was a ninja; not everyone could awaken the Sharingan. They had placed their trust in a leader who ultimately betrayed them. Takumi had no intention of being buried alive by such a distorted ideology.
(End of Chapter)