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40.txt
Orochimaru personally demonstrated the Summoning Jutsu, calling forth a blue snake.
The serpent lowered its head before Orochimaru and spoke in a human tongue. "Lord Orochimaru."
"Bring out the contract scroll," Orochimaru instructed.
The blue snake opened its maw, its belly undulating before it regurgitated the scroll bound to Ryƫchi Cave.
Orochimaru turned to Qianyu. "Open it. Sign your name in blood, then press your dominant hand onto it as a blood seal. That will complete the contract with Ryƫchi Cave."
Qianyu unrolled the sticky, mucus-covered scroll. The last signature was Orochimaru's. He didn't recognize any of the names before it.
He bit his thumb, signed his name on the parchment, and pressed down his bloody handprint.
Contract complete, Qianyu rolled the scroll back up and handed it to the blue snake.
The serpent swallowed the scroll back into its gullet. "Lord Orochimaru, Lord Qianyu. I shall return to Ryƫchi Cave."
Smoke enveloped the blue snake once more. When it cleared, the creature was gone.
Orochimaru then tossed Qianyu another scroll.
"These are records of my secret techniques," he explained. "Study them yourself. Note any questions you have. I will return every half-month to provide answers."
Next, Orochimaru laid out the new training regimen. "Morning physical and reaction training continues unchanged. The afternoon, however, changes. No more low-level jutsu practice.
"Now that you have the Uchiha's fire-style techniques, you will delve into them. I glanced at the scroll. Techniques like Great Fire Dragon and Great Fire Annihilation require mastery of both form and nature transformation for fire release.
"You already have experience with lightning release transformation. I won't teach you this. Figure it out yourself.
"Additionally, your afternoon will now include mastering the Summoning Jutsu. Once perfected, shift your focus to my secret techniques.
"Manage your time accordingly."
Orochimaru had full confidence in Qianyu. The boy's drive and discipline needed no oversight from him.
The workload had increased, but Qianyu's determination burned hotter than ever. Sticking to this plan would lead to a breakthrough. He was sure of it.
"Begin your training. I have matters to attend to," Orochimaru said, preparing to leave. "For emergencies, find me at the Hokage Building. Or, once you master the summoning, call a snake from Ryƫchi Cave to relay a message."
"Yes, Master Orochimaru."
The moment Orochimaru was gone, Qianyu launched into the new routine.
Uchiha Compound.
Fugaku returned and immediately sought out his father, Masaki.
"Fugaku. How did it go?" Masaki asked, seeing his son. "Qianyu accepted the scrolls, of course. He accepted our olive branch?"
Before Fugaku could answer, Masaki continued, a smug assurance in his tone. "His eyes must have fallen out of his head. Those are fire-style techniques passed down through our lineage for generations. Even Orochimaru doesn't know them. And the Sharingan insights are even more precious. He's undoubtedly grateful to the Uchiha now."
Fugaku's expression was grim. "No, Father. He did not accept our goodwill. He⊠burned both scrolls to ashes."
Masaki froze. His face cycled through a series of emotions.
"He⊠burned them?" Masaki asked again, disbelief coating each word.
Fugaku nodded. "Yes. And he made it clear our apology is not accepted."
CRASH!
Masaki's fist slammed down on the table, shattering it into splinters.
"That insolent brat! A cast-off, an outcast of our clan! Who does he think he is?! He's not even officially part of the Hokage's faction yet!"
Rage turned Masaki's face a mottled red. Veins bulged along his neck. Fugaku, too, seethed with indignation. The Uchiha were the foremost ninja clan. Even if Qianyu refused the apology, such a humiliating rebuttal was beyond disrespectful.
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by Masaki's ragged, furious breaths.
It took a long moment for the Uchiha patriarch to regain his composure. Furious, yes. But not reckless. Reckless men didn't become clan leaders.
"Fine," Masaki finally said, his voice icy. "If the whelp refuses our face, we withdraw it. Fugaku, a new task for you."
"Please instruct me, Father."
"I will convene another clan council tomorrow to impose stricter discipline. Your duty thereafter is surveillance. Watch our clansmen. Especially the hot-headed few. Keep them in check.
"The moment any of them steps out of line, report to me. I will handle the discipline personally.
"The Uchiha must change. Now. Any later, and the situation may spiral beyond control.
"Mark my words, Fugaku. Within the year, the shinobi world will be plunged into turmoil. Konoha will need our strength. This coming war is our chance to change the village's perception of us. Our arrogance must end.
"You know the temperament of our people. A decisive victory in war, and they'll be looking down on everyone from the heavens. We must curb this now.
"Otherwise, when the war ends, it may be the Hokage who comes to settle accounts with the Uchiha.
"Our time is running out. The legacy of the Uchiha will not be destroyed by our hands!"
Fugaku's expression was grave. "Understood, Father. I will watch them."
After Fugaku left, Masaki's anger toward Qianyu festered, a burning knot in his gut.
Yet he could do nothing.
Qianyu now enjoyed the protection of not just Orochimaru, but Hiruzen Sarutobi, and likely even Mito Uzumaki. When the boy first returned to Konoha, Lady Mito herself had offered to take him inâan offer Hiruzen had refused. As a fellow Senju descendant, Mito's favor was assured.
If the boy already dared to scorn the Uchiha now, what would he do once he matured? Once he was fully entrenched within the Hokage's inner circle? He would hound the Uchiha at every turn.
The thought was galling.
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