Pov: Fugaku Uchiha
"Are you certain that no one else saw this? Just the two children?" I ask.
"Yes, clan head" The Uchiha ninja bows and I sigh.
"Then you didn't submit a report to me either, in fact you have been at home sick all day" I command and the ninja nods before flickering away.
I light up a fire ball justu with my hand seals and start to burn away the collected evidence before cleaning up the rest of this area.
-Next day-
Pov: Takumi Uchiha
Chakra exhaustion is terrible.
"Are you sleeping through school again?" Obito asks.
Not willingly.
"I have to go- that math test is today... I will let sensei know you are home" Obito mutters from across the room as he grabs his bag and heads outside.
Right- those exams.
What a grand excuse to avoid watching them, I should have planned this prior... though I will admit I was interested in watching the aspiring ninja claim their strengths.
Hn- Obito will fail this one however, it is inevitable. Luck favours him since technically he only needs to pass the last test, ninjutsu aptitude.
...
Ridiculous.
That cloud shinobi was ranked as a Jonin, it would be embarrassing for me to call someone of that level an 'elite' of any village.
Then again my Empire was much more strict when it came to titles and ranks. The old fool would never let someone like that pass through the ranks.
Hn.
It is not something I should work myself up over.
I turn to my nearly empty bookshelf and sigh. I finished my book- now I have nothing to read, though I am glad I got it over with considering the terrible ending it had.
How boring, I shall sleep away the fatigue then.
-Eight hours later-
My eyes open and dart around the room. After scanning my surroundings I crack my neck and sit up straight.
My fatigue has lessened- enough for me to move once more, although more rest would heal me quickly.
I try and recall the dream I just had... to my disappointment I can only recall fragments, another unfortunate part of losing my sharp memory.
I get out of bed and feel my legs trying to stumble but my fatigue fails to beat my relentless attitude and I keep moving towards my door.
Opening it I head to my kitchen and notice a note left to next to a wrapped rice ball.
'My grandma says to eat well!- Obito'
How caring of them both. I sit at my table and unravel the food from its temporary wrapping before going to grab it.
*Twitch*
My hand twitches as I recall the dream I had just forgotten- a memory of my wife trying to teach me table manners.
Early on in our relationship, when she still thought that she could change me.
...
Unfortunately she could not break my will. No one could ever change the mighty Emperor of Blades will.
It vexes me to know that until my reincarnation I myself could not change my will, stuck to fighting and sharpening myself against any 'whetstone' that dared near me.
Hn.
I pick up the rice ball and eat it.
If only she could teach me now.
I ponder upon her reaction to the new me- would she welcome the new change or be wary of it, would my Empire prefer the one who sacrificed everything to make it thrive?
They would, would they not?
It would be cruel of me to abandon my duties and leave the Empire to solve it's own problems, much like I am doing to this village hidden within leaves.
Cruel.
I was incapable of being cruel.
And I suffered for it.
...
Pov: Fugaku Uchiha
"I must admit- it is quite the surprise you would tell me such a thing... what purpose does this serve?" The third Hokage asks me.
"The intent is to silently promote Takumi, I will accept him into the police headquarters ranks and he will perform some mediocre job that allows him time to make his jutsu- from what Obito Uchiha has told us... Takumi has defeated a Jonin from lightning on his own and with ease" I tell him.
"Hmm... I thank you for this, it reminds me of when Minato was young and prodigious- we cannot let such a talent slip by. I will also investigate on how this Jonin escaped" Lord third smokes his pipe in contemplation.
"Then the deal is struck?" I focus my eyes onto his.
"Yes, he will be promoted but no attention shall be brought to him- I will make it look as though his genin job is a form of making up for the exam" He nods in reply.
"Very well, I hope this all ends well" I bow and then make my way to the exit.
Takumi Uchiha.
I have been thinking about what to do with him and the best plan is to make sure the Hokage does not see him as some secret weapon by openly discussing him, once he joins the police force I will make attempts to break through his laziness and ensure that he will help the clan when the time comes.
The Uchiha need talents like him for this war more than ever.
Pov: Hiruzen Sarutobi.
*Click*
Just after Fugaku leaves Danzo enters into my office as I requested him to.
"Do you have any knowledge on the escape of one cloud shinobi recently?" I cut through all the small talk and ask him directly.
"Hm? Takumi was being monitored by three root agents" He replies.
"So it was you..." I frown and take another second to exhale smoke.
"Indeed- I saw that a child was not prepared for war and set up a scenario that would scare him into understanding his situation. Considering that my investigations surrounding the boy concluded nothing but drastic measures would move him" Danzo tells me as he sits down across from me.
He isn't wrong about that.
"Did you get what you wanted?" I ask.
"Yes and no. I saw his untapped potential but he is far too capable for that shinobi to pose a threat great enough to jumpstart his training" Danzo shakes his head.
"Takumi is talented indeed. But you should not have gone behind my back to do such a thing" I reprimand.
"Root exists for the safety of Konoha- I ensured the child was safe from harm and merely tested him. Not only is he safe we learnt quite a bit about him no? I would like to enrol him in root but that would be overstepping- he would fit in much better as a desk ninja for the police" Danzo taunts.
He wouldn't. His talents are unworthy of a desk- and for a job regarding the internals of Konoha as well... I would much prefer to train Takumi to be strong enough to thrive on missions outside.
Konoha cannot have too many monstrous prodigies after all.
"Don't taunt me Danzo" I huff.
"A thousand apologies Hiruzen- but do know I didn't mean to go behind your back, with what state you are in dealing with this war... it felt rather rude to bother you. Especially with a matter that root can handle with ease and efficiency" Danzo replies casually and sarcastically.
"Yes, it wasn't all that bad- considering what was uncovered. Just don't slip up again, understood old friend?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Of course- I will make sure to sort through my reports again and have them sent to you, I am bound to have missed one or two missions with the pile I have on my own desk- though not as tall as the towers on your own" He gets up and smiles as he looks to the tower of paperwork in front of me.
"As long as everything is in place- I will also refrain from the council meeting this weekend, would you mind informing everyone? Cloud Shinobi have been sighted within some of our forests and so I must investigate with a few Anbu this weekend" I sigh.
"Do not worry Hiruzen, everything will be settled- get some rest and work done. I will send some Root ahead of you to start any investigations as well" He looks at me with pity and walks to the door.
"Thank you Danzo" I tell him.
"No, thank you Hiruzen" He smirks as he shuts the door.
-One week later-
Pov: Takumi Uchiha.
*Tap*
I finish the drawing of my last stance and look it over just one last time.
How ridiculously disappointing. Had I not encountered that annoying vengeance filled fool I would not have acted and still be thinking about all the possibilities in regards to my form A.
But now that I have engaged in combat my mind races to complete this form. Or it did.
After using it for a very brief moment my instincts immediately zoned in on what is wrong with this form and how it can shine.
Tsk- damn my instincts, it makes my lazier life much more difficult.
Now all I can do with it is keep practicing this form until it is beyond perfect- at least the moves within it will help my chakra flow.
That leads me to my next form then, although I have reached it faster than expected I have no qualms about-
*Knock* *Knock*
Hn. Obito should be at the Academy.
*Knock* *Knock*
*Click*
Rude- I did not allow this stranger to enter my home.
I drop my utensils and paper, folding them nicely before tucking them into the folder labelled form A.
As the stranger enters into my dining room I stand, only to find that the clan head has broken into my home.
"Takumi Uchiha. You have skipped many classes at the Academy recently" He stares into my eyes.
"So I have" I confirm.
"Your grandfather made a deal with me to ignore your excessive laziness on the prospect that you would deliver work worth the time you wasted" He raises an eyebrow at me.
"A deal that I have not signed" I yawn and sit back down.
"If you wish to be treated like an adult then I suggest you act like one- you cannot become some shut in who does nothing all day while everyone else fights for you" He frowns deeply at me.
"Then treat me like Konoha treats it's children. Throw me out into war and don't expect me to come back" I mock.
"Every. Shinobi. is expected to come back- we do not send children on suicidal attacks" He glares at me.
"You don't? I saw what the Academy has to offer and it is quite lacking"
"Jonin teach the children, the Academy prepares them to be taught"
"Fine. This conversation is dragging into my own time, you want work?" I grab my folder.
"Here. I have it all memorized and won't need a copy" I throw the folder at him and he catches it.
He unfolds it and starts to scan it quickly.
"Show it to me" He demands.
"Why should I bother?" I ask.
"I will reclaim all your possession's and kick you out of the Uchiha clan" He states.
Hn. How troublesome, I suppose I must do this one task to get the clan head off my back.
"Then throw a kunai" I wave my hand at him.
*Swish* *Catch*
I activate the jutsu and my body stands still for a split second- before catching the kunai in a way that is normally impossible without wounding myself.
I pinch it alongside the two sharpened ends.
*Woosh*
One of the loose papers on the table flaps away with the energy dispersing.
Dispersing... that happened with the lightning justu as well- perhaps if I aim it I can utilize this jutsu in other areas, I could at least use the initial energy impact and recycle it to take on the rest of the energy.
"-Takumi"
In a sense I could reduce the chakra cost significantly by using the energy taken instead of covering it myself.
"Takumi"
Damn. I just improved upon my jutsu with one catch- my mind raced forward to improve myself before I could process it.
I didn't realise how invasive my trained instincts were until I started resting- I doubt that the old fool himself knew exactly what he had been training into my very being.
...
It is a good idea however and I will expand on it- perhaps in the second form.
No, that would be too easy. I can already see the path towards form B and redirection, the harder path is Form C.
I cannot add another set of defensive forms because I am already learning them... so these combinations will focus on familiarizing myself with form C- the aggressive set I put on hold.
An emphasis on storing impacts and releasing them- which will be a massive hurdle to overcome and therefore not be easily solved.
Hopefully my instincts will betray me for once.
"Takumi"
"Hn?" I look up at the annoyed clan head.
Is he still here?
"You do not have the Sharingan?" He asks me curiously.
Curiosity. A dangerous look for someone trying to rest.
"No" I inform.
"I see. Enjoy your afternoon" Fugaku smiles and walks out.
Damned curiosity- what have I set in motion now?
-1 day later-
Pov: Fugaku Uchiha.
*woosh* *Catch*
I sigh as I catch the ball again.
An instant off the target once more- My timing needs considerable work.
"I don't understand sir- this 'Form' is impractical, it is too much effort to learn something so draining on ones chakra... I can see reflex training applications but the jutsu itself is unrealistic" The Elder furrows his brows as he examines the folder I told him to look at.
"How so? You created and improved upon many of our taijutsu techniques across decades... would you be capable of learning this?" I ask.
*Woosh*
I throw the ball upwards.
"Of course, anyone can learn the jutsu- it is quite easy with such detailed instructions and enough time... it is unrealistic because an Uchiha needs a two tomoe sharingan to time it right- but using it will stiffen the sharingan in place causing it to not function for a moment and then spasm to catch up with the action. It is self inflicted nuisance to deflect an attack the Sharingan can foresee and therefore dodge. if you wish to upgrade the jutsu to allow Sharingan use I can look into it... but it will be hard without harming ones eyes when taking the impact" He explains.
But Takumi did not use the sharingan to catch that Kunai.
In fact... his timing was impeccable.
*Catch*
And I need an entire second to time it right without my sharingan... I also stiffen my entire body for a second as well.
Two seconds of opening granted to my opponent. With a week or more I will improve but what is the point?
"Not to mention that if you fail to block the attack with this jutsu you open yourself to that attack- or perhaps another one... it fails at it's primary objective" He scoffs.
But he caught the blade and then moved as if never using the jutsu... he is not just using the jutsu he is perfectly timing it onto the exact instances in time in which the kunai touches his skin.
It is something I would need the sharingan for- even at my level I would not risk timing the attack in battle.
Hn. Although Takumi has trained to use this jutsu for quite some time... it is useless for the clan as a whole- I need techniques that everyone can learn, not just the talented.
"Thank you for the advice Elder. I ask of you to seal that folder within a scroll and place it into our forbidden techniques archive- we cannot risk a child of our clan using this jutsu in battle" I command.
"Very well" He bows before walking away.
Thanks for reading :)
No chapter next week sorry!