A week had passed since the end of the Chūnin Exams, and I was starting to feel bored. Okay, not completely, but with my health returning to how it should be, I was ready to start training or ask Jiraiya-sense when we were going to go on a proper mission now. One that is fitting for our new rank. But before that, naturally, I had not been allowed to train. But before I could even get there and get the green light, Mom kept saying my chakra system needed a break. Then, before I could say more, Kushina appeared, yelling at me that if I made Minato train too early, because he would for sure follow my lead, she would break both our legs. After that... We had a valid reason to stay on our butts. So, it was why Minato and I had spent the whole week reading, refining notes, and crafting.
When I say crafting, I mean he was making kunai, drawing up his famous, special variant. He told me that he would ask Jiraiya to manufacture it, so for now, we were working with regular ones. So, before I would have the three-pronged variants, I got myself a set of regulars, twelve in total, all marked, allowing me to sense their position and use them to teleport between the pieces effortlessly.
On the last day of the week, I was in our backyard, sitting on the wooden porch with one leg stretched out and the other bent, trying to toss a kunai lazily into the air and send another straight into its ring. It wasn't training if Mom would come and ask, because... Um... It was coordination maintenance. Totally different thing, as I was simply working on my coordination, yes. That's it.
"Renjiro."
I missed the kunai when I heard the voice, and if not for my reflexes, it would have fallen back on the top of my head... luckily, I caught it by the handle just before it landed, already looking towards the voice.
To my surprise, it was Fugaku who stood near the gate. This time around, he wore dark civilian clothing rather than Police Force gear, but that somehow made him look even more official, not less. Am I in trouble? His expression was calm, his posture straight, so I couldn't really read if I was or not.
"Fugaku-sama," I greeted, standing up, putting things away while his gaze flicked to my hand, then back to my face.
"I see your recovery is progressing well enough."
"Wonderfully," I said with a grin. "I can almost embarrass myself at full strength again, as you have just seen it."
"Yes."
That was not the reaction I wanted... Tsk. In the end, he stepped into the yard without asking permission, which, to be fair, he didn't really need. Mom was probably inside, had already sensed his presence, or heard his voice, but said nothing, not even looking out the window. As for Dad, he was still at work, so... I guess this was a predetermined meeting? Is this a bad sign? I was thinking about that when Fugaku stopped a few steps away.
"There is a clan meeting tonight."
"Um," I blinked, "Okay?"
"A private one."
"Um..." Okay, I need more. Can we start talking in a bit longer sentences, hm?
"You will attend." I blinked again, being stingy with words. Haaah, okay, that's... new.
"Just to clarify," I opened my mouth, tilting my head, "When you say private, do you mean regular private, clan-head private, or the kind of private where if I go, the next day I should pretend I was asleep if anyone asks where I was?"
"The last one."
"Wonderful..." I shrugged, but kept smiling. This was finally an opportunity, one that would allow me to make my voice heard. "Fugaku-sama," I said carefully, "I know we talked about me attending clan meetings after becoming Chūnin, but I assumed that meant normal ones. You know... People sitting around, talking loudly about, I don't know, police funding and who to fine next."
"Those will come later." He finally smiled a little, which was a wonder, but it disappeared quickly as he began shaking his head.
"Lucky me."
"Indeed. Your performance made it impossible not to include you in these meetings from now on."
As I listened to him, there was something in his voice... Tension, maybe. Hm... Is this meeting going to be dangerous? That's interesting.
"What is this about?" I asked, straightening my back.
"For today, two matters. One of those will be my position within the Police Force, and the other is you."
"That explains why I need to be there, then."
"Yes."
"But," I tried, lifting an eyebrow, "Those sound like very different matters."
"They are connected now." He shook his head, "You have been training under me, after all." I hated how ominous that sounded, but before I could ask more, he turned slightly toward the house, then back to me. "Be in your room after sundown. Say nothing to your parents and especially, say nothing to Minato." My eye twitched before I could stop it... What do you mean? "He will be asleep." He said, as if reading my mind, hearing my question. "And he will remain asleep."
"Fugaku-sama…"
"That's enough," His gaze hardened when speaking. "Renjiro."
I closed my mouth, and for a long moment, we simply looked at each other. I didn't like it, but it had to be done. I could understand that, so finally I nodded.
"I'll be ready."
"Good." He turned to leave, then paused, looking at me over his shoulder. "And Renjiro?"
"Yes?"
"Tonight, think very carefully before you speak. I won't step in if anything happens."
"Does that mean..." I tilted my head, squinting at him, "That I at least get to speak? Eventually?" He didn't answer, just left, and I watched him go until the gate closed behind him, and only then did I let out a slow breath. "Well, good talking, Clan Head. Oh, likewise, Renjiro-kun, we should go drink a beer now and then." I muttered, looking down at the kunai in my hand, "Tsk... I guess I should prepare, hm?"
It was no surprise that the rest of the day moved slowly after that 'invitation.' Mom noticed, naturally, and she looked at me twice during dinner, her eyes narrowing, telling me she knew but would keep silent about it. Dad didn't notice at all, thankfully, and he was too busy talking about how everyone was now talking about us in the force. Minato ate beside me, and I could see that he caught something in how I tried to act normal. Which wasn't normal for me. After dinner, I went to my room, changed into darker clothes, and sat near the window, waiting. Minato was in the room, too, already lying down, not even asking what was going on, trusting me enough that I would tell him in time. We were close enough that he knew from one glance and was smart enough to hold back any questions for now.
It was already dark, and the moon had risen by the time the air in my room suddenly shifted. There was no sound of footsteps when it happened; I only caught a slight increase in pressure, making my ear buzz. I turned my head towards the source, and Fugaku was already there, crouched on the windowsill, his eyes flashing red, his Sharingan spinning. I could swear... I could... Were they reverting from a Mangekyō?
"Ready?" He asked, bringing me out of a somewhat stunned state.
"Yes." I nodded, looking at Minato, but he didn't even flinch, still sleeping. Was this... "Fugaku-sama."
"It was a simple genjutsu; you don't have to worry about it, but your friend is too sharp for his own good."
"He was already sleeping..."
"Then this ensures he remains that way." He said, not wanting to argue, and I also didn't want to let go of the issue either.
"I don't like that; he is my brother."
"I know, but this is necessary now." There was no apology in his voice, and it made me more annoyed for some reason. "He will wake normally."
"He better..." I murmured, barely audible, and this time his gaze lingered on me as his Sharingan slowly disappeared, and only then did he nod, and we left through the window.
Fugaku moved without any wasted motion that I could read, keeping to rooftops, and I followed close behind, without dropping any speed or starting to breathe more heavily. We did not head toward the Police headquarters or toward Fugaku's house, which I had already guessed would happen. Instead, we moved past the public streets, past the family homes, away from everything. The further we went, the older everything felt, and the houses became fewer and fewer. Soon, stone walls replaced wooden fences, and clan symbols appeared more often, mostly painted but some carved, old enough that the edges had faded, maybe from the days when Konoha was just getting started. Eventually, Fugaku led me toward a shrine, and it was the first time I slowed down.
Oh... Oh no... I recognized this. Under here, there was the famous stone tablet with its nasty little secrets that only the Sharingan could read, and you needed all of the variants, scanning it in order. What was its name... Um... The Naka Shrine. I think?
"You know this place?" Fugaku asked me, as if reading my thoughts that probably appeared on my face. By the tone alone, I could tell he was surprised.
"I know of it," I answered carefully as his eyes narrowed, but he did not question me there.
Without more to ask, we headed inside. It was well maintained, but not exactly what I would call lively. Certainly, this was not a place for festivals or children; it felt much more serious. Walking ahead of me, Fugaku moved toward the back wall, pressed his fingers against a hidden point in the wood, and sent his chakra through as a section of the wall and floor shifted in answer.
We descended without hesitation, and the stairs were narrow, the air getting cooler with every step. I counted the turns automatically, while I could feel how chakra seals were layered into the stone. They were not on the Uzumaki-level but... I guess they could still offer plenty of protection. Then we reached the chamber at the end of the walk, and it was larger than I expected. As for its shape, it was circular, low-ceilinged. The walls were carved with old Uchiha symbols, some faded battle scenes, and lines of script I couldn't fully read at a glance. As for the main piece, at the far end, there it was: The tablet.
It was a black stone, taller than I was, covered in writing that seemed plain at first, then... gibberish. My Sharingan stirred on instinct, but before it could come online, I stopped it from happening. Without permission to read it... Eh, no. Let's not risk it. Calm down, Renji... Not yet, not when I could be spanked for it, because we were not alone.
Several people were already gathered in the chamber, which I guess was Fugaku's inner circle. I recognized some. Mikoto, his wife, stood near the right side, hands folded before her. She gave me a small nod, kind enough to feel like a greeting. Hano Uchiha was present too, one of the senior Police officers who knew my father and had apparently been one of the people Dad almost invited to the celebration. He had a square jaw, sharp eyes, and a weary posture.
Then, there was Tetsuma Uchiha. I remembered him from father's description, a narrow-eyed, severe man, and as far as I know, he was one of the radicals. Dad wasn't on good terms with him, so... I knew not much besides that. Next to him stood Reiho Uchiha, and he was... older. I mean, ancient. He was thin and held onto a cane, while his eyes looked half-blind already. I think Mom mentioned him to me once when I was a kid, asking for stories, and told me he was the recordkeeper of our Clan... or something.
Besides them, two others were also there whom I knew by face but not well by name. Naturally, I was introduced to them, and one of them was a younger Jōnin named Shunpei. My first read of him was that he was ambitious, always looking towards Fugaku when he wasn't looking. Maybe he wasn't ambitious, only an askisser. The other was a woman named Kanna, another Police officer, same rank as my Dad. She looked less infatuated but, well, I didn't really care. When all introductions were done, all eyes turned to me, and I resisted the urge to wave or strike a pose.
"Renjiro Uchiha..." The ancient one spoke up, and I was afraid he would breathe his last just then, and they would blame me for killing a clan member.
"So he is," Tetsuma cut in before I could greet anyone, looking me over. "The champion of the Chūnin Exams."
"Paper champion," I said, grinning but... no one laughed. Tough room, tough room! Of course, Fugaku shot me a look, because I already forgot his warning, but I didn't care. This is me, accept me as I am or don't, I don't give two shits about what others think of me.
"Well..." Reiho tapped his cane once. "He is young, and it shows."
"Then let us not waste the night; kids need to go to bed early," Tetsuma said, and I almost mouthed a healthy fuck you. "There are two matters before us." He continued as his gaze shifted to Fugaku.
"The first is the Police Force." He answered.
"Mhm," Hano folded his arms. "The current chief grows weaker by the month. Everyone knows it. The administrative side is already being handled by men below him, and half those men are incompetent, lazing around."
"Careful," Kanna interrupted. "Some are merely cautious and don't want to ruin their own careers."
"That is even worse," Hano replied.
"I agree," Shunpei nodded. "The village has changed since the last war. It will change further with another one approaching, and the Police Force cannot remain ceremonial while others decide on a new security policy around us. If war breaks out, martial law will be enacted, and we will be the ones upholding it, not the ANBU."
"The Hokage will not object if the matter is presented properly," Mikoto said quietly. "We can go about this the proper way."
"Hmph," Tetsuma's eyes sharpened, looking at her. "He should not have the right to object anyway. We decide the Clan's leadership, and through it, who is the Chief of Police."
There it was... So, the one I need to be cautious with is this Tetsuma guy, huh? Are you the one who plants the noise in Fugaku's ears? I can see that being the case... If this goes on for a decade or so, then for sure. Looking at him, for now, Fugaku did not react immediately. He was listening, letting them speak enough to reveal where they stood on the matters.
"Do you support this?" Reiho asked him at that moment.
"Yes." Fugaku's answer was immediate. "It is time to change the person who leads our Clan."
So... Did that mean that Fugaku would be promoted to chief of the Uchiha Police Force soon, huh? Well, I mean, officially, because he already had enough authority that it was only a matter of formalizing it.
"Finally!" Tetsuma exhaled, his eyes turning to me, "So, let us move on to the second matter."
Ah? That's it? So, today's first topic was only a formality, and I am the main attraction? Wonderful.
"Renjiro," Fugaku said, turning to me. "Step forward."
I did so while the tablet stood behind them, making me scan the people one by one, squinting more and more.
"Boy," Tetsuma said first, his eyes not leaving mine. "You used Hiraishin no Jutsu, did you not?"
"Uhum." I nodded.
"Explain how." He said, sorry, he was ordering me.
"Woosh!" I said, moving my arms, "And... Woosh! It also makes you feel you are being yanked away by your navel, but you get used to it."
His eyes narrowed, because that was clearly not what he wanted to hear. Of course, Hano frowned too while Kanna watched me, a bit shocked. Shunpei's gaze went cold with open disgust while the old Reiho just leaned on his cane. Only Mikoto's expression remained soft, but her attention was absolute nonetheless.
"Boy..." Tetsuma stepped closer. "Stop playing around. The technique was developed by Tobirama Senju. A man who mistrusted our clan, opposed us, studied us, and created methods to kill us more efficiently. And yet you were allowed to study it...? Do you know what this means?!"
"Yes." I nodded, "Duh. I'm not stupid; it means I learned it."
"Then you will teach it to us!" He added without beating around the bush.
"Hah!" I chortled, "No."
Naturally, Tetsuma went still, while Fugaku's eyes shifted toward me, but he said nothing.
"No...?" Tetsuma repeated, hissing through gritted teeth.
"No," I said again, emphasizing the simple word. "I swore to the village that I won't share it willy-nilly."
"You swore to the village...?" Shunpei asked, "Did they put something on you? Because if they did...!"
"I swore on Konoha about a classified technique." I rolled my eyes, showing them my tongue. "There are no blocks or seals on my tongue. I'm just not telling, because I made my oath that I wouldn't tell anyone I don't deem compatible."
"Stop playing around, you stupid kid!" Tetsuma's mouth tightened. "You will tell us everything when we tell you to do so! Do you understand?! YOU. WILL. TELL. US!"
"Huh?" I looked at him, raising a brow. "No, I won't. Are you deaf?"
Tetsuma's Sharingan activated at once, and I wasn't even a step behind him, also turning them on, looking at him without blinking.
"You are standing before your elders," Tetsuma said, suddenly being very quiet, thinking it would intimidate me. "You will do as we order you."
"You can order me." I said with a smirk, refusing to budge, ignoring the sound of clothes rustling as everyone began shifting around, "But I can refuse it."
"You can't! You unfilial bastard! Show respect to your elders!" He yelled at me again, but not even a muscle flinched on me.
"Earn it." I sneered as his eyes narrowed further, heaving now, while I took one slow breath, because if this is Fugaku's inner circle... I think it needs some trimming. "What's your rank, Tetsuma-kun?" I asked, sounding like I was talking to a toddler.
"You dare...?!" He flipped his shit at that, but I didn't care, and my hand was already resting on a kunai, placed in its holder, strapped to my right thigh.
"I dare because I think I could take you on, Tetsuma-kun."
"You little mongrel shit! Not only are you threatening the Clan to release its secret, fooling around with a Yamanaka kid, but you also voice such traitorous thoughts out in the open?! Before us?! You utter—"
"Want the jutsu?" I asked, interrupting him, my fingers already flicking the holster open, "Then read it, Tetsuma-kun, and copy it down!"
To my luck, he raised a hand, maybe to wave, slap me or whatever, but I was faster. Way... faster. By the time his hand was in the air, I had already flicked a kunai towards him. Naturally, he grabbed it mid-air, sneering, but that was already part of my plans. The moment he got hold of it, I used Hiraishin, appearing right behind him, pointing another Kunai at his neck, pressing it so hard to it that I drew blood.
"Slow." I whispered into his ear, "All bark... no bite... Tetsuma-kun."
Then, I was back where I stood before he could register, as I left behind another kunai, embedded into the floor before jumping forward. Naturally, he wasn't in the mood to let it go, and he raised the kunai, still in his hand, intending to throw it back at me. Bad choice. Without thinking about it, I flicked my fingers, sending the kunai that was still glinting from his blood forward, through Hiraishin, making it reappear in his hand. With a loud squelch and shout, it materialized in his palm, as if I had thrown it through it, splattering blood everywhere. With a shriek, he dropped the other kunai while his spluttering blood landed on the stone tablet behind him.
"As I said..." I smiled, looking at him without any compassion, watching him grab his own wrist, looking at the kunai completely embedded into his hand, "Earn my respect... Sadly, Tetsuma-kun, you are pathetic."
"YOU—!" He screamed, but finally, Fugaku spoke up, stepping forward.
"Enough! You should have known," he said, glaring at Tetsuma, "that you can't order an Uchiha to do something they don't want to do." Then he turned towards me, "Renjiro... Can you teach us how the technique works?"
"I actually can't." I shrugged, shaking my head, my voice much more respectful and friendly. "I learned to sense the marks; I can't place them myself." I answered honestly, and much more openly when speaking to him, "Minato managed to understand the marking part of the jutsu, too, as for me... Haah... It's complex enough that it eludes me. It means," I looked at everyone else, "I can use the jutsu, but only if I'm with Minato."
"Then..." The old man muttered, suddenly looking at the kunai in Tetsuma's hand, "Ah... I see."
"As for teaching," I shrugged again, looking over everyone present, especially the idiot who was biting his lips, trying to pull the kunai out of his flesh, "I am the main proof that the village doesn't hide it from our bloodline. I guess, if I manage to master it fully, I can pass it down."
"Didn't you swear...?" Fugaku asked suddenly, but I just smiled at him.
"I said, I can't divulge it willy-nilly. If I find someone I think is worthy and able... I am allowed to pass it down. I guess." And with that, well, pretty much a complete lie, I hopefully planted the seed to make them start sucking up to me. Could I pass it down? Maybe? Would I? Probably? Who cares? As long as they take my words seriously, that's fine enough.
And if that doesn't work, I can still try other ways. The only thing I was aiming for now was to get into Fugaku's ear as much as I can and influence him... and through him, the clan's future. The fact he was already training me and apparently taking a liking to me was a very good and powerful start. I just had to become even more of a confidant and steer him away from any idea of a coup.