Read ahead of public release on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley
Check out Chapter illustrations on Pixiv at unhinged_uchiha
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Elder Tadayoshi had gone out for his usual walk, but had returned earlier than normal. Just as he was about to ring the doorbell, he was surprised to see the door open, and more surprised to see the person stepping out of the house.
"Mikoto?" he murmured, blinking.
"S-Sōfu-sama?" Mikoto exclaimed. She was just as shocked, having come face to face with the very person she had wanted to avoid running into at all costs.
But she quickly composed herself, forcing down the surprise, shame, fear, and unease churning in her chest. She bowed politely and respectfully.
"Sōfu-sama… good evening," she greeted softly. Then she asked gently, "Weren't you out on a walk? Why did you return so early?"
"I felt a bit tired, so I decided to come back sooner than usual," Tadayoshi replied, carefully observing her expression and condition.
Concern flickered across Mikoto's face. "Is your health alright?"
Tadayoshi nodded. "It's fine. Nothing to worry about."
Hearing that, Mikoto let out a quiet sigh of relief. "That's good…"
She bowed once more. "In that case, please get some rest. I won't disturb you," she said, turning to leave.
Tadayoshi frowned slightly and stopped her. "Are you in a hurry?"
Mikoto nodded. "The sun is about to set, and I still need to prepare dinner for Kanzou-sama," she replied. "So… I have to get back early."
Of course, it was a lie. Kanzou had already told her he would probably be late tonight, there was a celebration at the police station, and he wouldn't be back until after dinner. He had even told her not to wait for him.
Still, this was the only reasonable excuse she could give.
"I see…" Tadayoshi murmured, his gaze dropping to the bag in her hands.
It was obvious she had come to pick something up, and he didn't question that. She was free to take whatever she wanted from this house; it was not something he felt concerned about. What unsettled him was the timing. She had arrived precisely when he wasn't home and was already leaving before he returned. If he hadn't come back earlier than usual, he would have missed her entirely.
That thought didn't sit well with him.
It felt almost as if she had been trying to avoid him.
There was no certainty, only an instinctive unease, but it was enough to trouble him. After all, Mikoto was living with the man who had assaulted her, and that alone was deeply concerning.
After a brief pause, he asked carefully, "How is your relationship with Kanzou-kun progressing?"
Mikoto blinked, her heart skipping a beat. She realised he was sensing that something might be wrong. She couldn't allow that. Forcing herself to stay calm, she nodded with a gentle smile.
"Yes… everything is fine," she said. Then, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she added, "We… we even went out together to Sora-ku yesterday…"
She didn't call it a date; it embarrassed her too much to admit that thing to her grandfather, but she hoped the implication would be enough to reassure him.
"Hmm… is that so?" Tadayoshi murmured, nodding slowly.
That answer eased his worry, at least a little. He allowed himself to believe that Mikoto's relationship with Kanzou was truly moving forward.
"And how is the clan? Is Kanzou-kun facing any problems?" Tadayoshi asked next, wanting to know more.
While Mikoto's well-being was his greatest concern, that didn't mean he was indifferent to the state of the clan. He still worried about its affairs as well.
"Hmm… I think things are going alright," Mikoto replied after a moment's thought. She then recalled something she had learned earlier that day and added, "Just today, he managed to secure an increased budget for the Police Force…"
"Oh? The budget increased? Did Sarutobi Hiruzen really approve it?" Tadayoshi asked, clearly stunned.
"That seems to be the case," Mikoto nodded. After all, this was what Kanzou himself had told her.
"Really…?" Tadayoshi murmured, still struggling to believe it.
An increase in the police budget was something they had tried to secure for decades, without success. Every time, they had been turned away with excuses: the village lacked funds, a war was underway, losses had been too great. No matter the reason, they were always told to endure and make do with what they had.
And now, suddenly, Kanzou had managed to get it approved.
The realization left Tadayoshi shaken.
'Maybe Kanzou-kun's approach isn't entirely wrong after all,' he thought.
He was aware of the methods Kanzou was using and that they were offending other clans in the process. That part still worried him. But—
'With this… at least the harassment from other clans should stop.' That thought eased his concern somewhat.
"I see," Tadayoshi said at last. "That's a good thing."
Mikoto hummed, nodding… she also understands what the increase in budget means for the Clan… and she is also very happy to hear that the Clan's budget has increased.
Anyways… having explained all of this to Tadayoshi, she wanted to take her leave, "Alright Sōfu-sama, if there is nothing else, then I will be going…"
Tadayoshi opened his mouth as if he wanted to say more, but then shook his head and simply nodded. "Alright. Be careful," he said. Then he added quickly, "And tell Kanzou-kun that if he ever needs my help or advice, he's welcome to come to me."
Although Kanzou seemed to be managing well, that didn't mean he wouldn't need guidance. He was still young, after all. For Mikoto's sake, and for the sake of the clan, Tadayoshi was more than willing to support him.
"I… I'll pass along your message," Mikoto said, bowing politely.
Then she turned to leave, eager to escape before her grandfather noticed anything amiss.
The more Mikoto tried to hide things. And the more eager she was to leave before he noticed anything, the clearer it became to Tadayoshi that something was wrong.
'She looks tense and careful as if she doesn't want to let out what she is truly feeling… and the way she hurried to leave… almost like she's trying to run away,' he thought as he watched her disappear down the path.
He was her grandfather. He had watched her grow from an infant into the woman she was now. How could he not notice the strain in her expression, the stiffness in her movements?
'She doesn't want me to see something,' he realised. And that thought led to another, heavier one. 'Mikoto… are you really alright?'
He shook his head slowly.
'What am I even asking? How could she be alright?'
She was living with the man who had assaulted her. In what world could she, or any woman, be safe, or truly okay, while living with someone who had violently violated her?
Mikoto was hiding everything so he wouldn't worry, because that was the kind of person she was. She believed that if she revealed the truth, it would only burden him.
But instead, it made his fists clench in anger.
'Uchiha Kanzou…' he thought grimly. 'It seems I really can't rest easy leaving Mikoto with you like this…'
And yet, that anger was laced with helplessness. He didn't know what he could do. He didn't know how to reach her or how to pull her away from him. He felt powerless about it.
Just then, Suzume's voice came from behind him. "Tadayoshi-sama… please don't stand outside."
"Yeah…" he replied, nodding as he turned back into the house.
As he walked inside, one thought lingered heavily in his mind. 'Is there really no way to free Mikoto from his claws?'
He felt he needed to find a way to free Mikoto from the prison she had been trapped in, but he had no idea how to do it.
'No… I have to do something.'
…
Inside Hokage Office—
"Hokage-sama… Might Duy has been released from the police station," the ANBU reported.
"He's already been released?" Hiruzen murmured, a slight frown forming.
That was rare. Until now, no one had walked out of the police station without giving something up. Not even the Hyūga patriarch, or his own son, had been released without making a sacrifice.
'What could Might Duy have given to Uchiha Kanzou?' Hiruzen wondered.
As far as he knew, Duy had no wealth to offer. That meant the price must have been something else, but what, Hiruzen couldn't tell.
Sensing his thoughts, the ANBU asked, "Shall we bring Might Duy in for questioning?"
It seemed far more efficient than speculating.
Hiruzen considered it for a moment, then shook his head. "No. Leave him alone for now."
He was already preparing to deal with certain troublesome elements within the Uchiha clan. In such a delicate situation, he didn't want Kanzou to think he was dissatisfied with the actions of the Uchiha Police Force.
For now, Kanzou needed to believe that the Hokage was perfectly content with their service.
So it didn't really matter what a mere Eternal Genin had given to the Uchiha Clan. Hiruzen believed it wouldn't have any impact on his plans.
It's a pity that he was wrong.
Might Duy would end up having far more influence on those plans than he ever imagined.
Hiruzen didn't see it that way. He decided to leave Might Duy alone for the time being and dismissed the ANBU who had reported the matter.
Once that ANBU left, Hiruzen turned to another operative standing against the wall, one whose eye sockets gleamed with activated Sharingan.
"Those people in Sora-ku," Hiruzen began, referring to Kanzou and Mikoto's visit the previous day, "the ones they met there…"
"I don't think I need to tell you, that's where the Uchihas procure their weapons," the ANBU replied casually. He knew he didn't really need to explain, given how closely the Hokage's faction had been monitoring the Uchiha clan for a very long time, but he continued anyway. "The place is run by an old woman and her daughter. They're from the Fūma clan, expert weaponsmiths."
"The Fūma clan, huh? As expected," Hiruzen said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "If I am not wrong, the Fūma clan… they're distantly related to the Uchiha, aren't they?"
"Yes," the ANBU confirmed.
The Fūma clan, famous for their use of the Fūma Shuriken, was indeed distantly related to the Uchiha clan. During the Warring States Era, they had often served as Uchiha subordinates. After the founding of Konoha, however, the clan became more obscure.
These days, the Fūma clan still operates, but not as openly or prominently as it once did. They have largely scaled back their shinobi activities and possess little active combat power beyond a handful of ninja. Even so, they continue to serve the Uchiha, especially in matters of weapon manufacturing.
Chiaki and Misaki of Sora-ku were both members of the Fūma clan who managed the clan's weapon shop from the shadows.
That's right, the weapons Neko-baa supplies to the Uchiha clan are forged by the Fūma clan. Otherwise, why would a clan as powerful as the Uchiha purchase weapons from a random cat lady? Obviously, they wouldn't.
Indeed, Neko-baa is merely a cover. She is actually a member of the Fūma clan, someone who chose to abandon the life of a shinobi and instead devote herself to weapon manufacturing.
Of course, the primary buyers of the weapons produced by the Fūma clan are the Uchiha, but they weren't the only customers; there were others as well…
Hearing the confirmation from the ANBU, Hiruzen pondered over the matter before asking him for his opinion, "About the Fūma Clan, do you have anything in your mind?"
The ANBU nodded, "I want to visit them and win over their support…"
Although the Fūma clan wasn't very powerful, their support could still be useful. At the moment, he didn't have much backing, and he especially lacked loyal subordinates. In a situation like this, even limited support from the Fūma clan could prove valuable.
"Will they support you?" Hiruzen asked.
The ANBU hesitated for a moment. Even he wasn't certain.
He believed that since Neko-baa had worked with his father for decades, she should be inclined to support him. Still, support wouldn't come freely. He would need to form a solid alliance and give her a compelling reason to stand with him, and he already knew the perfect way to do that.
And if she didn't…
'Then there's no reason for them to continue existing,' he thought grimly.
After all, if they weren't willing to support the clan's rightful heir, then what loyalty did they truly have? And without loyalty, there was no reason for them to exist.
Hiruzen considered Fugaku's proposal for a moment before speaking. "It's fine if you want to proceed with that," he said. "But let's wait a few days. For now, focus on this mission. I've created this opportunity for you, don't waste it."
"I know," the ANBU replied with a nod.
He understood exactly what opportunity Hiruzen meant. And while he was momentarily taken aback by the Hokage's methods, so different from the image of a benevolent leader, he wasn't truly surprised. Thanks to his late father's teachings, he had always known that Hiruzen was not as kind and benevolent as he appeared.
So he accepted the opportunity without hesitation.
Clipping Kanzou's wings by eliminating his most loyal supporters, he was fully committed to it.
After all, only by weakening Kanzou's power could he truly reduce Kanzou's influence over the clan.
…
Meanwhile, at an izakaya near the police station—
"Kanpai!"
Sake cups clinked together before everyone tipped their heads back and drank.
"Aaah… this is really good stuff," Satoru murmured, clearly satisfied by the taste of the Sake.
"Haha… we should be grateful to the Patriarch," Souta said. "If not for his efforts in getting the budget increase approved, it wouldn't have been so easy for us to enjoy drinks like this."
"Yeah," Shin nodded. "It's all because of Kanzou-sama. The likes of Dōma and Fugaku would never have pulled something like this off." He then bowed slightly. "Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you for your hard work, Patriarch," the others echoed.
"Fufu… of course," Kanzou chuckled, accepting their gratitude. He then turned the praise back on them. "You've all done well, too. Keep it up. Sooner or later, the name of Uchiha will resound across the shinobi world, louder than ever before."
"I'll drink to that!" Satoru said, raising his cup.
"Ooooo!" The others followed suit and emptied their sake cups before more was poured into them.
"Here, Kanzou-sama, have some more," Hazuki said, refilling his cup.
Kanzou hummed as he accepted the refill. The night wore on as his clansmen drank, ate, and laughed, enjoying themselves.
After a while, he clapped his hands to get their attention. "Alright. That's enough for tonight. There are important matters to deal with starting tomorrow."
"Ehh, but Patriarch, I haven't had enough to drink yet," Satoru complained.
"You'll have plenty of chances in the future," Kanzou replied, fixing him with a stern look.
That gaze made Satoru flinch. He immediately raised both hands in surrender. "The Patriarch's orders come above everything." With that, he stood up, grabbed his bottle, and headed out.
The others left soon after. Even the most reluctant among them was forced to go under Kanzou's stern gaze, until the izakaya was left empty.
Kanzou finally stood up and headed out as well, but instead of returning home, he turned down a desolate street and stopped, waiting.
It didn't take long.
A figure emerged silently from the shadows, wearing a spider-patterned ANBU mask and a hooded cloak that concealed every identifiable feature. The figure knelt before him.
"You called for me, Master?"
From the voice alone, it was clear she was a woman.
Kanzou replied, nodding. "I need you to investigate a few things for me."
"Investigate?" She sounded mildly surprised. "What is it?"
"The whereabouts of Uzumaki Kushina," Kanzou said.
"Uzumaki Kushina?" She stiffened in shock. As an ANBU operative, she knew exactly who Kushina was.
"Yes, just as you're thinking," Kanzou continued calmly. "So be careful. I want to know whether she's in Konoha. If she isn't, find out why she left… and when she's expected to return."
"I understand," she said, nodding as she accepted the task. Then she asked, "Is there anything else?"
Kanzou thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No. Just focus on that."
"I understand…" She hesitated briefly before asking, "Then… may I stay and accompany you tonight, or should I leave?"
"You can return," Kanzou replied, slipping his hands into his pockets as he turned away.
She looked slightly downcast but didn't press the matter. Instead, she spoke from behind him, her voice low. "Master… about the missions the Uchiha clan is about to receive, be careful. Sarutobi Hiruzen plans to—"
"It's fine. I know," Kanzou said, waving his hand dismissively as he walked away.
He left the street behind, while the ANBU remained kneeling for a moment longer, until her body dissolved into a cloud of white smoke.
…
At the Patriarch's Mansion—
With his hands in his pockets, Kanzou soon arrived home and rang the doorbell.
Ding-dong~
Mikoto's voice came from inside. "The door is open. Please come in…"
"Hm?" Kanzou tilted his head, mildly confused. Instead of opening the door for him, she was telling him it was already unlocked.
Shrugging, he turned the handle and stepped inside.
The moment he entered, he was met with an unexpected sight.
Mikoto was kneeling at the entrance, her head lowered in a deep bow. "Welcome home, Goshujin-sama~" she said, her face already flushed.
"Goshujin-sama… would you like dinner… or a bath… or…" Mikoto hesitated for a heartbeat before finishing softly, "…do you want… me~?"
Kanzou froze for a moment at the sudden delivery of those legendary words. Then he chuckled. "Fufu… Mikoto, where did you even learn something like that?"
"U-um… f-from a manga I happened to read while I was in the capital," she replied, her face burning red.
"Manga?" Kanzou blinked. "You read manga?"
It wouldn't have been surprising, and yet it still felt unexpected. Mikoto didn't seem like the type to be interested in things like that. In his mind, she was someone who would read classical literature, not manga.
"It's not like that," she hurried to explain. "The daimyō-sama's son used to read them in secret… and I happened to find one. I got curious, so I read a little…"
"Ohh…" Kanzou nodded in understanding. Then, without missing a beat, he continued, "Well, let's get back to your question. As I told you… I'd attended that celebration earlier… so, I've already had dinner, and we can skip that." His lips curved slightly. "But I didn't have dessert at the izakaya."
He looked at her directly. "So, to answer you properly… I want to eat dessert, you know what that means, right?"
As for the bath, well, that could always come later.
"Hai… Goshujin-sama, I understand~" Mikoto nodded as she rose to her feet. She leaned forward slightly, her cheeks flushed, and spoke in a soft, trembling voice. "T-then… please allow this lowly, worthless maid to be your dessert, Goshujin-sama…"
"Fufu…" Kanzou chuckled as he leaned in and kissed her.
Chu… slurp… hmm…
"Ahh… yes… the dessert tastes good…" he said with a nod as his hands began to roam over her body.
…
At the same time, somewhere in the Land of Bears—
A raven beat its wings as it crossed the sky. Soon, a village came into view. The bird descended and landed on the window of a particular house, cawing to draw the attention of whoever was inside.
The figure within the room blinked in surprise at the raven's arrival, but also understood what it meant. They hurried over, untied the small scroll fastened to the bird's leg, and moved closer to the candlelight to read its contents.
"I see… Kanzou-sama," the figure murmured. "I will prepare to be summoned."
With that, they held the paper over the flame and burned it to ash. As they turned away to begin their preparations, the raven dissolved into a puff of white smoke.
…
At the same time, somewhere in the Land of Rice—
Another raven flew across the sky and soon spotted a village. It descended, landed on the window of a certain house, and cawed repeatedly to attract attention.
But no matter how long it cawed, there was no response from inside.
Eventually, the raven took off once more, leaving without waiting any longer.
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Hurry up and drop your Power Stones!
Read ahead of public release on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley
Check out Chapter illustrations on Pixiv: unhinged_uchiha
If you like this story, then you might also like my other story: One Piece: The Incubus' Adventure. Give it a try.