"Master Patriarch!"
Raizen suppressed the storm of thoughts in his mind, bowed slightly, and called out.
"Raizen, right? Sit."
Amamiya Gen opened his eyes, scanning Raizen with a calm, discerning gaze. "Yes," he said gently, giving permission.
Raizen seated himself properly. The patriarch's nod reflected satisfaction—no arrogance in the young shinobi, just poise. Gen's eyes carried curiosity now, like a hawk examining a fledgling that might yet soar.
"I've heard of your performance on the battlefield in Tiankou," Gen began. "You did well… brought honor to the fallen Amamiya clan."
"Fighting for the Amamiya clan has always been my wish," Raizen said, masking his cynicism with practiced humility. Deep inside, he rolled his eyes. Sure, the Amamiya were a small clan with no reputation, but he could pretend loyalty with the best of them.
Amamiya Takashi, standing nearby, exhaled quietly in relief. Raizen's honesty—or at least the show of it—seemed to satisfy the patriarch. His voice softened.
"I understand you have a special ability. Can you show it to me?"
"Yes."
Raizen smirked. With a sharp cry, he spread his palms. Two miniature mouths formed in them, tongues flicking unnervingly. His chakra coalesced into a clay spider, which he sent skittering across the meeting room, then detonated it toward the courtyard.
Boom!
The shockwave carved a deep crater into the courtyard floor. Amamiya Gen's eyes widened slightly. He had seen much, but never a technique quite like this.
Amamiya Takashi whispered, "This is only the simplest form… the strongest could level our entire residence."
Gen's gaze remained steady, his tone calm but firm. "Raizen… do you know where this power comes from?"
Raizen's voice was quiet. "After my father died… the grief… I awakened it when I woke."
The patriarch nodded, thoughtfully. "Perhaps it is a hidden trait within the Amamiya bloodline. Raizen, you've done the clan proud. You will now attend family meetings."
Raizen froze. Only Jōnin-ranked members were allowed at the clan's important meetings—Chūnin rank for ordinary sessions. Gen's words left one conclusion: he intended to train Raizen for something greater.
Amamiya Gen had no children, was over forty, and yet here he was, elevating Raizen. Becoming a young pillar of the clan was no longer a dream—it was an expectation.
"If you are done, you may leave. Takashi and I have more to discuss."
"Understood, Patriarch." Raizen bowed, exiting the room with all the measured etiquette of a shinobi.
Once Raizen departed, Gen's gentle expression hardened. Eyes closed, he reflected.
"When Kiyomasa and Zuoyi fell, Raizen grieved deeply. His heart is strong, his talent exceptional… and now he wields that power. He will be a focus of training."
Takashi nodded, pride and warmth in his gaze. Raizen's bravery, loyalty, and performance on the battlefield had impressed them both. He was more than just a skilled shinobi—he was a symbol of hope in a world soaked in blood.
Gen opened his eyes, sharp and gleaming. "The next generation of the Amamiya clan needs a pillar, someone to bear the weight of our family. That person is… Amamiya Raizen."
"Yes," Takashi affirmed, bowing.
Raizen's place in the clan had just shifted from promising ninja to central figure. With the patriarch's commitment, doors opened—training, resources, authority. The sky was the limit now, and Raizen knew he had just taken a giant step toward becoming the Amamiya clan's new pillar.