Chapter 28: A Warning and a New Home
Following Ueno Kuri to the teacher's office, Shinra maintained a relaxed smile. "What did you need to see me about, Sensei?"
"You're still smiling?" Ueno Kuri sighed, his exasperation clear. "Look, I'm not here to debate who was right or wrong today. But I need you to understand something: you severely injured Uchiha Fugaku. The Uchiha clan will not let this slide easily."
He leaned forward, his expression grave. "So, you need to be careful. While they probably won't try anything too overt within the village walls, you must remember that the Uchiha control the Konoha Military Police Force. If they find a legal pretext to target you, there's very little I, or anyone, will be able to do."
"I understand. Thank you for the warning," Shinra said, his tone becoming sincere. He knew how to recognize genuine concern.
"Ah, what's the use?" Ueno Kuri sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "I'm just a teacher, without much power or influence. This is all the help I can offer. There's no need to thank me; it's my duty. Now, if that's all, you may go."
Shinra nodded and left, closing the door quietly behind him.
When he returned to the classroom, he was immediately swarmed by Nawaki, Inoichi, and the others. "What did Ueno-sensei want? Are you in trouble? Is he expelling you?"
"It was nothing," Shinra said, waving a dismissive hand. "He just told me to watch my back around the Uchiha."
"Shinra, you really should be careful," Nara Shikaku advised, his voice low and serious. "The Uchiha run the Security Department. They're notoriously high-handed. Fabricating a charge against you would be child's play for them."
"Hmph! Hyuga Shinra is a member of the Hyuga clan," Hyuga Hiashi interjected, his voice cold. "If the Uchiha dare to move against him, they will have to answer to us." The fact that Shinra had humiliated Uchiha Fugaku had, ironically, earned him a measure of respect from the proud Hyuga heir.
"Don't worry, everyone," Shinra said, his gaze softening as it fell on Mikoto. "I have Mikoto to look after now. I'll be just fine."
"M-me?" Mikoto looked up, startled, before quickly burying her burning face in her arms on the desk.
The others looked from the blushing girl to the smirking boy and collectively rolled their eyes. Here we are, worried about a clan war, and he's already thinking about his love life.
They shot Shinra looks of utter disdain before dispersing, deciding he wasn't worth their concern.
Shinra just smiled. The fact that so many of them were worried about him was a warm feeling. He pulled out his enormous lunch box and began to eat, his mind at ease. He genuinely wasn't concerned about Uchiha retaliation.
The Uchiha clan leadership weren't fools. Openly targeting him would be political suicide. Their reputation was already in the gutter. Any overt move against a Hyuga would unite every other major clan against them out of sheer, self-interested principle. In Konoha, you might find people who didn't actively hate the Uchiha, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who actually liked them.
As for underhanded attacks? Shinra welcomed them. He saw potential assassins not as threats, but as welcome whetstones to sharpen his skills against.
The afternoon classes were just as dull as the morning's, dedicated to more basic kunai drills. The Academy's purpose was to provide a foundation, primarily for civilian children, to become usable shinobi for the village. For someone like him, it was tedious.
After school, Shinra accompanied Mikoto back to the Uchiha compound. Despite being only nine, Uchiha Fugaku's word held significant weight as the clan's proclaimed genius. His expulsion of Mikoto was a done deal, and Shinra was there to help her collect her belongings.
Under the hostile glares of every Uchiha they passed, they made their way to her home—a surprisingly large, but now lonely-looking, house. She packed only her most important and sentimental items into a scroll. With one last, wistful look at the home she was leaving behind, she turned and walked out with Shinra.
Just as they were about to pass through the main gate of the Uchiha compound, a tall, imposing figure blocked their path.
Shinra looked up. The man had a stern, square-jawed face marked with pronounced nasolabial folds, and he exuded an aura of heavy pressure. His resemblance to Fugaku was unmistakable.
"It's the Clan Head, Uchiha Tajima," Mikoto whispered, her voice trembling with fear.
"So, you're the one who injured my son," Uchiha Tajima stated. A crushing wave of pressure, laced with tangible killing intent, slammed into Shinra.
Shinra merely frowned, then stood his ground, completely unaffected. As long as one's own will and power were strong enough, such intimidation tactics were meaningless. He himself possessed a measure of killing intent, though his was born from hunting beasts, not men.
Seeing the boy stand firm, a flicker of surprise passed through Tajima's eyes, quickly replaced by a cold, calculating glint.
"A good dog doesn't block the path," Shinra said coldly, offering no respect to the Uchiha patriarch.
"You little brat! Watch your mouth!" the Uchiha clansmen flanking Tajima snarled, their eyes promising violence. If not for Tajima's prior orders, they would have attacked on the spot.
Tajima himself was furious, being called a dog to his face. Only his restraint and concern for the clan's precarious position in the village kept him from acting. He let the chilling fury show in his eyes as he stared down at Shinra and the cowering Mikoto.
Mikoto shivered under his gaze. Sensing her terror, Shinra reached out and firmly took her hand. A wave of warmth and reassurance seemed to flow from him, dispelling the chill in her heart.
"You're fortunate. I hope I see you again," Tajima said, his voice dripping with menace, before turning to leave.
"Heh. As long as you're still breathing, I'm sure you will. I just hope you survive our next meeting," Shinra retorted with a sneer.
"Empty words are meaningless," Tajima shot back over his shoulder, suppressing his rage as he strode away. If they were anywhere but Konoha, he would have ensured this Hyuga whelp died a painful death.
Shinra simply smirked and led Mikoto away, leaving the Uchiha compound behind for good. His provocations weren't born of stupidity, but of calculated confidence. The Uchiha leadership wouldn't dare move against him openly. And if they were foolish enough to try something in the shadows, he was ready. His Tenseigan's nascent Time-Space Manipulation ability was now simple enough to use. He could instantly teleport himself and Mikoto to any location he could see or clearly perceive. With that power as his trump card, he feared no ambush the Uchiha could muster.