"Kurenai, that's Byakuya Senkaku? He was in our year? That's so weird. I don't remember him at all."
"Byakuya Senkaku's grades were barely above dead last. How could someone like that catch the eye of the Hyuga princess?"
"Don't tease me. I'm just from the Branch House. I wouldn't dare call myself a princess."
The barbecue restaurant wasn't busy, so the chatter from Kurenai Yuhi's table drifted clearly into Izumi's ears.
"Do you know about the Hyuga clan, Byakuya?"
"I've heard a few things."
Izumi lowered her voice. "The Hyuga are divided into the Main House and the Branch House. If you're born into the Main House, you're fine. But if you're born into the Branch House, your fate becomes like duckweed without roots."
"What do you mean, 'duckweed without roots'?"
"Their lives are entirely in the hands of the Main House. It's as if their very 'roots' have been stolen by someone else. Hence, duckweed without roots."
Izumi tapped her own forehead. "The Branch House members are branded with the Caged Bird Seal by the Main House. Their lives can be taken at a whim; they are essentially puppets."
Byakuya feigned ignorance. "Teacher, what does this Caged Bird Seal do?"
"I heard it was developed to protect the Byakugan. The Main House can use the seal to destroy the Branch member's brain nerves and Byakugan at will. Whether that's entirely true, I don't know."
Izumi leaned closer, her tone conspiring. "The Uchiha clan also has the Sharingan, but you never hear about them developing a curse seal to control their own kin. Compared to them, the Hyuga seem rather petty. No wonder the Uchiha have always overshadowed them."
Byakuya only asked questions, offering no opinions of his own.
"It seems you aren't close with Kurenai Yuhi?"
The meat was sizzling. He picked up the serving chopsticks, selected a piece dripping with savory fat, and placed it on Izumi's plate.
"Thank you."
"We're not close. As you know, Teacher Izumi, I was practically invisible at the Academy. Why would someone like Kurenai notice me?"
"Ouch, hot!"
"Eat slowly. Maybe try the oolong tea first; it tastes better than last time."
"Let me try... Mmm, you're right. It is good. True enough, Kurenai's talent for Genjutsu is unique. She was always the Academy's golden girl. And her father, Shinku Yuhi, is a prominent Jonin of the Leaf."
"Teacher, how many Jonin are there in the village?"
"How would we know such things? But every Jonin is a pillar of the village. You must continue to work hard, Byakuya, and strive to become Jonin Byakuya Senkaku one day."
"Don't joke. With my meager talents, surviving the war would already be a miracle."
"Oh? Is that really all?" Izumi chewed her meat, her eyes crinkling into a seemingly casual smile. "You haven't been around for a few days, Byakuya. I suspect it wasn't sickness, but something else entirely, hmm? Don't forget, I am also one of Principal Hiroya's trusted aides."
He countered with a question. "If that's the case, why do you need to ask me?"
She glanced left and right. Aside from Kurenai occasionally looking their way, no one was paying attention to them. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "How does it feel?"
"What?"
"How does it feel to execute a Root mission? Byakuya, you don't need to guard against me. Perhaps I am the only one who can save you from this misery. I know Principal Hiroya deceived and coerced you into this. You poor thing."
He had expected them to dance around the subject longer, but she had laid her cards on the table surprisingly fast.
During their last barbecue, Byakuya had sensed Izumi wanted to say something but held back.
His mind raced, analyzing who she might be working for...
"The true Principal of the Academy is the Third Hokage, not Hiroya, who thinks he's successfully usurped the nest. In fact, I was the one who reported his recruitment by Root to the Hokage. Lord Third ordered me to monitor Hiroya's actions within the school."
Izumi seemed to read his mind and revealed her true allegiance. "Hiroya tried to recruit Kurenai too, but she refused. Because her father is a Jonin, Hiroya didn't dare force her, so he had to let it go."
"What kind of organization is Root?" Byakuya didn't rush to pledge loyalty. He wanted to see what other cards Izumi held.
"Root... It's a secret organization founded and led by Danzo Shimura. They do the things that cannot be done in the light."
Just from that sentence, Byakuya knew she was still hiding her true status. How would a mere Academy teacher know that much?
Her "honesty" was carefully calculated.
"I see. No wonder Principal Hiroya has to recruit people in secret. It fits the organization's style. But... what exactly are you asking, Teacher Izumi? I don't understand."
"I'll be blunt. I hope that in the future, you can tell me about the missions you undertake."
Byakuya waited a moment. Even when she spoke again, she didn't mention a single benefit for him.
This was asking him to work for free. She wanted him to take the risks while she reaped the rewards of "intel." Where in the world did such a good deal exist?
He immediately felt a surge of disgust toward Izumi.
Over at the other table, Kurenai stood up and waved. "Teacher Izumi, Byakuya, we're done eating. Enjoy your meal. See you next time."
"Goodbye."
"Take care, Kurenai."
After they left, Izumi pressed on. "For the sake of the Leaf, for the Will of Fire, you must make a choice, Byakuya."
Great. Now comes the moral blackmail.
He shook his head. "Teacher Izumi, I will not breathe a word of what you said today. I'm suddenly feeling unwell. Please excuse my rudeness."
Byakuya bowed and took his leave, ignoring her attempts to make him stay. He paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant.
Kurenai and her friends hadn't gone far. They were chattering excitedly about their futures.
Their voices were loud enough that Byakuya had heard them inside the restaurant. They were talking about having Special Jonin and Jonin squad leaders to teach them combat and improve their skills.
"Byakuya, wait."
He turned around. Izumi had chased him out.
Kurenai glanced at them curiously. Izumi pulled Byakuya into a corner. "I hope you reconsider. I have information that, due to the war, the village intends to promote a large number of meritorious Genin to Chunin. Working in the warehouse won't get you any solid credit. But if you do as I say, you too could become a Chunin of the Leaf."
Byakuya didn't refuse outright this time. He nodded. "Give me some time."
"You should know that the treatment of a Chunin is vastly different from that of a Genin."
"I understand. Goodbye, Teacher Izumi."
"Goodbye, Byakuya."
Going home the usual way would mean passing Kurenai's group, so Byakuya took the long way around via the back alleys.
He unlocked his door.
The house had been empty for days and had gathered a thin layer of dust.
He cleaned it from top to bottom, took a satisfying hot bath, and collapsed onto his bed, exhaling a long breath.
The Hyuga Branch House was branded with the Caged Bird Seal by the Main House. Were low-level ninja like him any different?
The only difference was that the Caged Bird was visibly stamped on the forehead, while the chains on low-level ninja were invisible.
The ninja world was just that realistic. Weakness was the original sin.
"Just give me a little more time. Once my hard work pays off enough... if anyone tries to treat me like a piece of cargo to be fought over again, I'll give them a good thumping—two solid punches right to the face."
As for becoming a Chunin? He threw the idea to the back of his mind.
Being a Genin was fine. Laying low in the Academy was fine too.
---
Morning.
He pulled up the status interface.
The mission had refreshed.
> [System: Hard Work Pays Off]
> Limited Time Mission (1 Day): Swing Sword/Katana (0/20000)
> Reward: Increase in Kenjutsu Talent.