"Raizen, speak! Tell us everything you've experienced!"
The moment Amamiya Gen stepped aside, curiosity hit like a surge of chakra. Clan members leaned in, eyes bright with anticipation. Only two of the five ninja sent out had returned—Amamiya Riku had lost an arm, a Jōnin-level shinobi had fallen, and Raizen… had come back unscathed.
Everyone knew that surviving the battlefield meant more than skill—it meant cunning, instinct, and luck. The entire clan, from seasoned ninjas to wide-eyed children, pressed in, eager to hear Raizen's tale. Even the youngest pulled at his sleeves, demanding stories of the blood-soaked frontlines.
Raizen glanced at the expectant faces. There was no escaping this crowd. He cleared his throat, letting his words paint the battlefield in vivid strokes—but carefully left out the more "game-breaking" techniques. Flying Thunder God? Too spicy for the audience today.
And yet, even with the omissions, his story drew gasps and wide-eyed admiration. The family's ninjas exchanged glances, impressed.
"Raizen! Can you show us that Clay Explosion Technique you mentioned?"
A Chūnin couldn't contain his curiosity, and Raizen grinned. The patriarch would already know, so hiding it now would be pointless—and besides, showing off in front of your family had its own perks.
"Of course I can," Raizen said with a shrug.
He spread his hands, and two mouths formed in his palms, their scarlet tongues flicking unnervingly. Gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd.
"It's… weird!"
Ordinary clan members recoiled, but the trained ninjas raised skeptical eyebrows, recognizing the potential for chaos.
Raizen gave a sharp, exaggerated cry, bit into a chunk of clay, and with a flash, a massive bird materialized in front of everyone's eyes. He leapt onto its back, guiding it with precise chakra control. The bird lifted, carrying him into the sky.
"Wow! It's flying!"
The children cheered, clapping their hands, chasing after him in excitement. Below, the adults—including clan ninjas—watched dumbfounded as Raizen orchestrated another spectacle: a clay spider exploded violently midair, sending thick smoke cascading over the yard.
"Masterful!" someone whispered, awe-struck.
Even among his own clan, Raizen's ability was something extraordinary. Yet the audience didn't realize the full depth of his techniques—or that these abilities were unique to him alone.
Amamiya Takashi appeared at the meeting room window, arms crossed, a trace of exasperation in his gaze.
"Raizen! Come down. The patriarch is summoning you."
"I know, big brother!" Raizen shouted, guiding the giant clay bird toward him. Landing gracefully, he approached Takashi.
"When the patriarch asks, answer truthfully. No hiding, understand?"
"Don't worry, big brother. I've got this." Raizen nodded, eyes sharp.
He followed Takashi into the family meeting room, where Amamiya Gen sat on the tatami, eyes closed, calm—but radiating the same quiet danger that had once made Raizen's pulse spike on the battlefield. Gen's presence was a different kind of threat—no flashy techniques, just the weight of experience and authority.
Raizen's chest tightened slightly. The danger here was no less than facing Uchiha Gang himself.