Chapter 40: The Contract and The Clan's Resolve
Orochimaru's demonstration was flawless. With a puff of smoke, the large blue snake materialized in the underground chamber, its scales shimmering in the dim light. It lowered its head respectfully. "Lord Orochimaru."
"Bring forth the contract scroll," Orochimaru commanded, his voice a soft hiss.
The snake complied, its body convulsing slightly before it regurgitated a large, ornate scroll onto the stone floor. Orochimaru turned his golden, slitted eyes to Kagenori. "Open it. Sign your name in blood, then press your entire bloody palm onto the parchment. This will formalize your contract with the Ryuchi Cave."
Kagenori knelt, unrolling the slightly damp scroll. The last signature was Orochimaru's, stark and alone. Now, his would join it. Without hesitation, he bit his thumb, the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth. He carefully wrote 'Kagenori' in bold, crimson strokes and then firmly pressed his blood-smeared hand below it, leaving a perfect, stark red print—a permanent mark of his bond.
Once the scroll was re-rolled and swallowed back by the blue snake, the creature addressed them both. "Lord Orochimaru, Lord Kagenori, I shall return to Ryuchi Cave." Another cloud of smoke enveloped it, and it was gone.
Orochimaru then tossed a different, smaller scroll to Kagenori. "My personal notes and techniques are recorded here. Study them independently. Note any questions you have; I will return every two weeks to provide answers."
He then laid out the new regimen. "Your morning physical conditioning remains. Your afternoon training, however, changes. Cease practicing the basic ninjutsu. You now have the Uchiha Fire Release scrolls; your focus will be mastering those higher-level techniques. The Great Fire Dragon and Blazing Destruction require advanced shape and nature transformation. Given your proficiency with Lightning Release, you have the foundation. I expect you to deduce the principles yourself."
Orochimaru's gaze was assessing. "You will also dedicate time to mastering the Summoning Jutsu. Once you can consistently summon a creature from Ryuchi Cave, you may begin practicing the techniques in my scroll. Manage your time effectively."
He had absolute confidence in Kagenori's discipline. The boy required no external motivation; his drive was internal and relentless. The increased workload was not a burden, but a challenge Kagenori welcomed—a direct path to greater power.
"Begin immediately. I have other matters to attend to," Orochimaru said, turning to leave. "If you require me urgently, the Hokage's office will know my whereabouts, or once you master the summoning, the snakes of Ryuchi Cave can find me."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sensei."
The moment his teacher departed, Kagenori unsealed the Uchiha scrolls, his mind already racing through the intricate hand seals and chakra manipulations for the Great Fire Dragon Technique. He moved to the training ground, the familiar rhythm of intense, solitary work embracing him.
...
In the Uchiha compound, the atmosphere was thick with a different kind of tension. Uchiha Fugaku found his father in his study, the air smelling of old paper and ink.
Uchiha Masaki looked up, a thread of expectation in his stern features. "Fugaku. It is done? The boy must have been overwhelmed. Our Fire Release secrets, combined with the Sharingan treatise... he will see the value of Uchiha goodwill now."
Fugaku's expression was grim. "No, Father. He did not accept it. He... he burned the scrolls. In front of me."
The words landed like a physical blow. Masaki stared, his face cycling through disbelief, confusion, and finally, a simmering rage. "He... burned them?" he repeated, his voice dangerously low.
"He stated clearly that he does not accept our apology," Fugaku confirmed, the memory of the mocking smile and the crackling lightning fresh in his mind.
CRACK!
Uchiha Masaki's fist slammed down on the low wooden table, splintering it into fragments. "That wretched stray! That cast-off! How dare he?! Who does he think he is? He isn't even fully aligned with the Hokage yet!" His face flushed a deep red, the veins in his neck and temples standing out like cords. The sheer, insulting audacity of the act was a poison in his blood.
Fugaku stood silently, sharing the anger. The Uchiha's pride had been not just rejected, but publicly desecrated.
The room was silent save for Masaki's heavy, ragged breathing. It took a long time for the clan head to master his fury. When he spoke again, his voice was cold, forged in the fires of his humiliation.
"Since the boy has no respect for courtesy, we will offer none in return." The decision was final. "Fugaku, a new task for you."
"I am listening, Father."
"We will hold a clan meeting tomorrow. Discipline must be enforced. From now on, you will monitor the clansmen, especially the hot-headed ones. Watch them closely. If any step out of line, you report it to me directly. I will handle them." Masaki's eyes were hard. "The Uchiha must change, starting now. If we delay, we risk everything."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a grave whisper. "I am certain of it, Fugaku. War is coming. Within the year. Konoha will need our strength, our Sharingan. This war is our chance to remind the entire village why the Uchiha are indispensable. But if our clansmen behave with their current arrogance after the war is won, the Hokage will use it as a pretext to dismantle us entirely. We cannot let the foundation of our clan be destroyed by our own hands. Our time to correct our course is running out."
Fugaku bowed his head, the weight of his future leadership settling on his shoulders. "I understand, Father. I will not fail."
After Fugaku left, Uchiha Masaki stared at the wreckage of his table, the anger over Kagenori's insult still burning in his gut. But it was now overshadowed by a colder, more pragmatic fear. He couldn't touch the boy. Not directly. Kagenori was shielded by Orochimaru, by Sarutobi Hiruzen, and even by Uzumaki Mito herself, who had once sought to take him in.
The thought was galling. This half-blood orphan, this "stray," now held a position where he could one day wield significant influence. And after today's humiliation, Uchiha Masaki had no doubt that when Kagenori grew into his power, he would not forget the Uchiha. He would not simply ignore them. He would target them. And the clan, in its current state, might not be ready for an enemy who wore the face of the Hokage's favor.