Chapter 28: The Unwitting Advocate
Seeing Uchiha Raizen emerge from the hall, Uchiha Ryoken and Uchiha Natsume immediately moved to his side.
"Well, for now, we just wait. We should—" Uchiha Raizen began.
"Elder Raizen," a Kamizuru clansman interrupted, bowing respectfully. "The Patriarch has instructed that we must not be poor hosts. Please, follow me."
"See?" Uchiha Raizen said with a slight smile. "We have a place to wait."
They were led to a serene pavilion in a garden, where tea was promptly served.
"Please, rest here. You will be notified as soon as a decision is reached," the clansman said before bowing and leaving.
Once the man was out of sight, Uchiha Raizen made a quick hand seal. "Silent Killing Field." A faint, translucent dome of chakra shimmered into existence around the pavilion, muffling all sound from within.
"Fire Release: Little Fire Serpent!" he murmured. It was a low-powered, self-developed variant of the White Dragon, useless in a real fight but perfect for flushing out spies. A dozen tiny, fiery snakes shot from his fingertips, slithering into the corners of the pavilion and the surrounding foliage. They didn't burn, but their intense heat and chakra signature forced several dozen hidden insects to scurry out into the open.
"Tsk, tsk," Uchiha Raizen tutted loudly. "I wonder who lost these pests. If I find any more, I won't be so forgiving!"
As if understanding the threat, the insects quickly vanished back into hiding.
"Uchiha Natsume, check again. Are we clear?" Uchiha Raizen asked.
"All clear. They're gone. But, Second Brother, how did you know they'd leave bugs to watch us?" Uchiha Natsume asked, impressed.
"It's nothing special," Uchiha Raizen deflected with a casual wave. "You know my ability. I can sense the chakra of any technique being used nearby. Those bugs are a form of ninjutsu, after all."
"Makes sense. You're really something, Second Brother!"
As they chatted, Uchiha Raizen's expression suddenly grew focused. He held up a hand for silence.
"They've started," he whispered.
"Started? What's started?" Uchiha Ryoken asked, confused.
"I copied one of their eavesdropping insect techniques and deployed my own," Uchiha Raizen explained, a faint smile on his lips. "I can hear their council meeting right now."
The three fell silent, allowing Uchiha Raizen to concentrate.
Inside the Kamizuru council hall, the atmosphere was heated.
"Their intention is clear," Patriarch Budō stated, opening the discussion. He was well aware that eavesdropping bugs were present; he had likely sanctioned them himself. "I want to know your opinions."
"Patriarch, I say we cannot submit!" the Second Elder, Budō's own younger brother, declared. "Everything we have done for generations has been to preserve the purity and independence of our clan! To bow to the Uchiha would render all our struggles meaningless!"
"Indeed! If we—" other elders chimed in, the majority voicing their agreement with the Second Elder.
"But for how long can we hold out?" Budō countered, his voice rising. "Have you considered that? If we face another large-scale conflict like the last one, will we survive? And if we do, how many of us will be left?" He was unconsciously repeating the very arguments Uchiha Raizen had used on him.
"This... while it's uncertain, we can at least guarantee our clan's purity!" the Second Elder insisted.
"Purity requires a clan to exist!" Budō roared, slamming his fist on the table. "If we are wiped out, what use is purity then?!"
Listening in, Uchiha Raizen almost laughed aloud. The patriarch had become his perfect, unwitting advocate. The man was now doing Uchiha Raizen's job for him, passionately arguing the Uchiha's case against his own clansmen. The seeds of doubt and fear, once planted, were now taking root and flourishing on their own.