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Next Morning—
Kanzou didn't head to the Police Station. As the patriarch of the Uchiha clan, there were plenty of matters that required his attention, and sometimes he just didn't have the time to manage the affairs of the Police Force.
Today was one such day as he checked on some construction projects within the Clan Compound.
As he was doing that, Mikoto placed a tray of dishes on the table in front of him and nervously called, "K-Kanzou-sama… your… b-breakfast…"
Kanzou paused, glancing at her.
Immediately, she lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
Noticing her fingers squirm nervously, he mumbled, "Am I that scary?"
Mikoto immediately tried to explain, "N-no… that's not—" However, meeting his gaze, she flinched and found herself unable to speak.
"Tch," clicking his tongue, he put down the pen before picking up the chopsticks and began to eat.
"Itadakimasu!"
He started with the miso soup, taking a slow sip before moving on to the grilled salmon and a mouthful of steaming rice. The tamagoyaki was light and slightly sweet, while the pickled vegetables cut through the richness perfectly.
"…H-how is it?" she asked timidly.
"As always, it's good… you really know how to cook food that suits my appetite," nodded Kanzou.
His words immediately brought relief to her.
Kanzou continued, "When it comes to cooking and doing other household chores… You really are good. A perfect wife material."
The sudden and unexpected praise made her pause. She didn't know how to react for a moment. Calling her wife material... even... even though he has been ignoring her completely for such a long time. She tried to open her lips but didn't know what to say. In the end, she just nodded. "I… I see…"
"It's a pity though… you'd probably never be able to become my wife… since these are the only things you'd remain good at… really a waste of potential…" added Kanzou, shaking his head.
"!!!" She froze, not knowing how to respond. Clearly, he was reminding her that just serving him meals and managing the house won't earn her the status of his wife. She has to earn it… But at the same time, he was mocking her for her inability to actually pull off what's needed to complete her evolution.
She is a wasted potential…!
Being reminded of that, his eyes threatened to spill tears.
"Kanzou-sama… I—" she began chokingly, as if wanting to say something, but just then, the doorbell rang.
DING-DONG!
"Well… it seems we have company today…" Murmured Kanzou, signalling her to go open the door and see who was visiting them.
"Hai…" She nodded. While properly tying her apron, adjusting her clothes, and cleaning up her eyes and cheeks to make sure the tears threatening to flow out weren't visible, she made her way towards the door.
'Who could be visiting this early in the morning? Is it one of Kanzou-sama's subordinates?' she thought, opening the door only to find Elder Tadayoshi standing there.
Immediately, the color on Mikoto's face drained completely. "—S-Sofu…sama?" she murmured, her expression turning horrified and hesitant.
Why was her grandfather here? Was it because of the poisoned tea? Was he here to pursue that matter? Was he here to fight Kanzou?
Several questions appeared in her mind at once, the answers to which she was too afraid to face.
Afraid and ashamed of what she had tried to do, she didn't even know how to face her grandfather. She kept her head lowered, not daring to meet his eyes, and while anxiously clutching her blouse, her sweaty hands tightened into fists.
Tadayoshi looked at his granddaughter again and noticed her eyes were a little wet. It was obvious. Before he came here, she was probably crying or something… it ached his heart again.
At the same time, he noticed her blaming herself and being ashamed to face him, and that saddened him more.
Wanting to comfort her, he raised his hand to gently caress her head… but she flinched and stepped back as if afraid of his kindness, as if she didn't deserve it and was unworthy of it. As a result, Tadayoshi's hand hung uselessly in the air…
Biting her lip, Mikoto asked tremblingly, "H-how come you are here… is it… is it because—"
Tadayoshi understood that it was pointless to say anything to her at this point. Without beating around the bush, he went directly to the main matter. "Mikoto… I need to speak with… Kanzou-kun."
"W-with… Kanzou-sama?" she murmured, becoming more afraid.
She feared that her grandfather might question Kanzou about what she tried to pull off that day… Tadayoshi questioning Kanzou… that won't be good. Knowing Kanzou, he might get annoyed with the elder and kill him… Even if not kill him, something else bad could also happen… she couldn't bring herself to let that happen.
"…what… what is it about?" she asked hesitantly.
Before the elder could respond, Kanzou's voice came. "You want to speak to me?" he questioned, arriving at the door.
The elder looked at the source of all the problems in Mikoto's life. Hatred and anger in his eyes were so thick that it was difficult to conceal them, even with his experience, temperament, and control. He felt the urge to immediately pull out the kunai hidden in his clothes and puncture Kanzou's heart with it.
If he were to kill Kanzou here and now… Mikoto will be free, right?
Kanzou, of course, noticed the Elder's hatred and killing intent. But he didn't care and just smirked. At the same time, he wrapped an arm around Mikoto's waist right before the elder's gaze, before questioning him, "Well, I wonder what this is about?"
Mikoto froze, not expecting him to do something like that all of a sudden… Not only because he was doing this right in front of her grandfather, which made her feel ashamed, but also because he hadn't held her waist in such a long time that, for a moment, she was unable to react. Still, she didn't struggle away from his grip, and stayed there… and in fact, even felt happy that he held her… and her cheeks couldn't help but turn a little red.
On the other hand, noticing Kanzou's small yet deliberate actions, Tadayoshi, although seething in anger, also calmed himself.
If he pulled out a kunai at this moment, it would put Mikoto's life at risk. That's not what he wanted.
Taking a breath to calm himself, the elder spoke to Kanzou, "Since you are the Patriarch, there's something I had forgotten to tell you about until now that you have to see…"
"...Something that concerns my position as the Patriarch? I wonder what that is," asked Kanzou, tilting his head in confusion and curiosity.
"Come with me… It's not something I can explain. You must see it for yourself to truly understand," said Tadayoshi. And having said that, he looked at Kanzou a little unsure whether Kanzou would agree to come with him or not.
After all, the relationship between the two sides is clearly tense. It wouldn't be strange if Kanzou didn't follow him.
But he was worrying for nothing. Kanzou didn't hesitate at all. "Is that so…? Then let's go," he murmured.
Seeing Kanzou agree without much thought, the elder sighed. He didn't know whether Kanzou was too confident or if there was some other reason, but it was good that Kanzou agreed.
On the other hand, Mikoto's expression changed. "D-don't—" she exclaimed, fearing that Kanzou and her grandfather going out together would definitely result in something bad happening.
"Relax, Mikoto… the elder only wishes to show me something that I… as the Patriarch must see. That's it," said Kanzou, interrupting her and caressing her back.
"B-but—" Mikoto tried to say, but was interrupted by him. "Did I not say that you must relax?" he said, and added, "...it's really something concerning my position. Why are you so worried?" He even turned to the elder and asked deliberately with a smile, "She is worrying for no reason, isn't she, Tadayoshi-sama…?"
After a moment of silence, the elder nodded. "…Yes. It's just something that he must know since he is the Patriarch."
"See? Well… you wait here. I will go see what it is that the Elder wishes to show me," he said, withdrawing his hand from Mikoto's back before going forward and putting on his sandals.
Mikoto looked as though she wanted to say something more… but she didn't dare to argue with Kanzou and could only stand there in silence.
"…I'll be back shortly. Keep the breakfast warm for me…" he said, then walked out of the house.
Elder Tadayoshi looked at Mikoto's reluctant, fearful expression one more time. This may be the last time he sees her, and he has countless words that he wants to say to her. But at this point, it was all pointless, and all he could do was give her a hopeful, assuring look before leaving as well.
Left behind, Mikoto stood there struggling with herself as she recalled the hateful, rage-filled eyes of her grandfather… along with the hopeful, assuring look that he gave her just before leaving, and her expression changed. "No… Sofu-sama… he is—"
She definitely felt that her grandfather was planning something… Fully certain that something would definitely happen, Mikoto panicked.
With her grandfather's strength, he couldn't defeat Kanzou in a straight fight, but what if he tries something else?
With Kanzou's strength and the fact that he has the Mangekyō Sharingan, Mikoto is unsure whether her grandfather would be able to pull off whatever he may be planning and might end up getting himself killed.
After all, Kanzou definitely wasn't going to let the elder's attempt slide… he'd definitely—
In the first place, she doesn't want her grandfather to do anything to Kanzou, and she also doesn't want anything to happen to her grandfather.
In a way, she wants to have her cake and eat it too, as she doesn't want anything to happen to either of the two people… but… clearly that's unrealistic… because Kanzou wants her to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, and her grandfather wants to free her… neither may be achieved without death of at least one… and Mikoto realizes this… but… but—
"No, I have to stop them!" she murmured and ran inside. Picking up her own bag of weapons, she hurriedly jumped out of the window and tried to see where Kanzou and Tadayoshi went.
Noticing their backs from a distance, she followed after them.
...
Only a few minutes later, Kanzou looked at the staircase in front of him.
"Naka Shrine?" he murmured.
Indeed, just when he was wondering where the elder was taking him and what it was that he wanted Kanzou to see, unexpectedly, Tadayoshi had brought him to the Naka Shrine.
The last time he had been at the Naka Shrine was on the day he became the Patriarch. That was the day of his official succession ceremony as the new Patriarch of the Clan, and he hadn't expected to be brought here today.
'Was he really serious that he wanted to show me something that I, as the Patriarch, should see??' he wondered.
He was actually somewhat expecting the elder to take him somewhere where he might have set up a trap… and attempt to use that to kill him… but really to bring him to the Naka Shrine? Was he mistaken? Or is it that the elder just intends to make Kanzou drop his guard?
Although it's possible that the elder might have actually set up some trap at the Naka Shrine itself and wanted Kanzou to drop his guard… he felt that the possibility was less now and the elder might really be intending to show him something.
As for what the elder might be trying to show him, Kanzou already had an idea.
After all, there was only one thing of such importance at this place that he, as the Patriarch, should be seeing.
'It should be the Stone Tablet…' he thought.
And his guess was correct. The elder, once leading him inside the shrine, took him to the main hall. There, he removed the seventh tatami mat and then weaved a series of hand signs, opening the door by bringing out the entry stone, uncovering the entrance to the secret underground room.
As the stairway leading down to the hidden chamber appeared before Kanzou, the elder looked at him and noticed that his expression was completely neutral, as if he was unsurprised by the reveal of this secret underground chamber beneath the shrine.
He paused. "Have you been here before?" he questioned with a frown.
Kanzou shook his head. "No, never been here before."
Indeed, despite being aware of the existence of the underground place, Kanzou had never actually been to this underground chamber before.
The reason? Isn't it obvious?
He knew that the only thing worth seeing underneath was probably the Stone Tablet. And when it came to the Stone Tablet, there probably wasn't anything on it that he didn't already know… including who left behind the stone tablet, for whom the stone tablet was left, what the tablet was actually meant to convey, and what it was saying after having been modified by Black Zetsu.
Since he already knew all that and more, he didn't bother being curious about this underground place…
But today… the elder was bringing him to this place…
'I wonder why…?' he was very curious why the elder was suddenly bringing him here.
Could it be the elder wanted to kill him here? If the elder managed to kill him here… his body would probably never be discovered, since the only person alive who was aware of the existence of this secret underground place was the elder himself and Kanzou…
Confused by Kanzou's lack of surprise and not getting a satisfactory response, the elder shook his head before stepping onto the stairs and climbing down. "Follow me…" he said.
Kanzou shrugged uncaringly and followed inside.
As the two people stepped inside, the entry stone began to close automatically…
Kanzou, who was following Tadayoshi down the stairs, glanced back, raising an eyebrow. "That entry stone isn't malfunctioning, is it?"
"That's just how that entry stone is…" Tadayoshi said lightly without glancing back. "To ensure the secrecy of the place, it automatically closes once the people who are supposed to step inside have stepped inside…"
"I see…" he murmured, shrugging as he continued to follow the older man. Of course, as he was climbing down, he noticed that the elder had become a little tense… it seemed to be the kind of tension that someone experiences when they are about to finally achieve something… but are only a few steps away…
'Really?' he thought, his lips curling into a sneer as he continued to follow without saying much, interested to see what Tadayoshi would do next.
...
Meanwhile, in the main hall, Mikoto—who was unaware of the existence of the underground chamber underneath the Naka Shrine and had failed to sneak inside along with Kanzou and her grandfather—slammed her fist anxiously on the entry stone. "No… please… open it…"
Those two had gone inside, and she had a very bad feeling that neither of the two might step outside.
She needed to go inside and stop whatever may happen inside...
But it was useless… without the right hand signs, she couldn't enter…
As for breaking her way in? She could certainly try, but breaking her way inside the secret underground chamber would be impossible for her.
The Nine-Tails' rampage or the Super Shinra Tensei used by Tendō Pain in the canon could only damage the outer Nakano Shrine and not even touch the chamber underneath. How would she manage to break inside?
She tried several things but failed to actually break inside... as a result, all she could do was frustratingly slam her fist and cry… but that wasn't going to do anything…
...
On the other hand, Kanzou and Tadayoshi were underground, and the elder lit the two braziers, brightening the dark chamber and allowing Kanzou to take in his surroundings.
Text was inscribed across the walls, while the side walls were adorned with murals that resembled ancient frescoes. It was difficult to tell whether the murals were meant to convey a deeper meaning, a story of ancient times that may or may not have taken place, or were merely traditional decorations intended to enhance the chamber's mystique and solemnity.
Perhaps their purpose was both...
Tadayoshi spoke. "This underground chamber beneath the Naka Shrine is a secret place that has only been known to the select few… only the previous Patriarch and a few others were the ones who knew about this. Currently, I am probably the only one aware of its existence."
The secret of the Naka Shrine is indeed known to very few people, including the Patriarch and the elders, and that's it.
Perhaps even Fugaku, the son of the previous Patriarch, didn't know.
But Kanzou suspects that the people in the Hokage faction probably know of the secret. After all, Madara had brought Senju Hashirama here…
Maybe Hashirama had passed on that information to others… such as Senju Tobirama… and through him it could be known by Hiruzen, Danzō, and so on.
"Since you are the Patriarch… you have to see this…" he paused, turning towards the Stone Tablet resting between the two braziers, and added. "Especially about that thing…"
"Is that the stone tablet that you wished to show me?" he asked.
Instead of answering his question, the elder pivoted. "Kanzou-kun, to be frank, I don't like you… No, saying that I don't like you would be an understatement… Taking into account what you did to my granddaughter, I find you vile," he said bluntly.
Hearing this, Kanzou didn't seem offended. He didn't care whether the Elder approved of him or not. In fact, he even laughed in response. "Fufu… is that so? It's a pity that your granddaughter doesn't seem to share the sentiment. Even after everything I am putting her through, she wishes to stay with me…" He even added, "Just before you came, she had actually prepared a lavish breakfast for me with all the care and effort she could put in it… It tasted good as well…"
Tadayoshi clenched his fist. "I really do regret the way I raised her to be…"
Someone who is willing to suffer in silence and endure everything. Why did he raise her to be like that? He wished he hadn't.
"There is no medicine for regret in this world…" snorted Kanzou uncaringly and stepped forward to take a better look at the stone tablet.
The elder sighed. Indeed, there is no medicine for regret in this world. What has happened to Mikoto cannot be undone… all that can be done at this point is—
Tadayoshi activated his Sharingan while stepping closer to Kanzou…
Since Kanzou's expressed interest in the stone tablet, he gave a brief explanation. "That Stone Tablet was left to us Uchihas by our ancestors… and it can only be read with the help of the Sharingan."
"Hmm…" Kanzou hummed, curiously activating his Sharingan. While he wasn't interested in reading the content of the Stone Tablet, since he was here anyway, he might as well take a look at it.
The elder continued. "It records secrets of the Uchiha Clan, the secrets of Sharingan as well as the information of the Mangekyō Sharingan… including hints on how to awaken it…"
Indeed, that was all Kanzou could read with just the three-tomoe Sharingan…
Noting that Kanzou was too focused on reading the Stone Tablet, Tadayoshi—while slowly bringing his hands together as if to weave some hand signs—added, "Unfortunately, with the visual prowess of a three-tomoe Sharingan, it is not possible to decipher beyond that… to decipher it further, Mangekyō Sharingan is needed, which neither of us has and or would awak—"
Before the elder could finish, Kanzou interrupted him. "...it tells the story of the Sage of Six Paths, his mother Kaguya, the God Tree… as well as—"
One after another, Kanzou began narrating the secrets inscribed on the Stone Tablet.
Of course, even he couldn't read the entire Stone Tablet since the Rinnegan is needed to completely decipher it, and let alone the Rinnegan, he doesn't even have the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan at this point, but still, what he read… was also something that the elder was completely unaware of…
And listening to Kanzou mention that information, the elder's expression changed… not only his expression, but even his hands that were about to weave some signs... paused—
"You… you can decipher it?" he questioned.
"That's right…" nodded Kanzou, shrugging as if this wasn't such a big deal.
But for Tadayoshi, it was. 'No, how is he able to decipher it…?' he questioned. He didn't have to think too much. There was only one answer... one reason he could decipher it.
"Could it be…?" he murmured as he had a realization.
Immediately, he… who was standing diagonally behind Kanzou, took a few steps forward until he was standing diagonally ahead of Kanzou, and at that time he looked at Kanzou… no… at his eyes…
The moment he noticed that unfamiliar, complex pattern, he froze. "!!!"
It was indeed as he thought…
"Those… Those eyes…" he murmured a bit loudly, his breathing quickening a little.
"Is there anything about my eyes?" questioned Kanzou, meeting the elder's gaze.
Just from making contact with Kanzou's Mangekyō Sharingan, the elder seemed to feel immense pressure, as if he was standing on an ice cellar, as if he was being looked at by a demon… his body went rigid, and even breathing seemed to become a little difficult.
This kind of feeling… he wasn't unfamiliar with it. He had felt it before… decades ago, when standing in front of Madara.
Indeed, that's the feeling he got at the moment… that's how scary the pressure exuded by Kanzou felt to Tadayoshi.
And feeling this pressure, Tadayoshi also understood something else. 'I see… now I finally understand what Mikoto has been facing every day… why she has become so fearful, why she is always nervous, why she was threatened… and why… she doesn't have any hope of fighting or escaping Kanzou…'
Facing Kanzou, his own strength and will seem to crumble… how could Mikoto's not go through the same?
Curling his lips at the tense Tadayoshi, Kanzou spoke, "The Stone Tablet that you wished to show to me, I have seen it…" and questioned him, "Was there anything else you wanted to show to me, speak to me, or discuss with me?"
"I—"
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A/N:
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