Chapter 8: The Inquiry
The next day brought an unexpected respite—a temporary truce. The constant warfare had drained both the Uchiha and the Senju, leading to a fragile, unspoken agreement to stand down, though no one knew how long it would last.
For Uchiha Raizen, however, there was no rest. He found himself summoned to the tent of Field Commander Uchiha Tamura.
"Uchiha Raizen. Third son of the late Uchiha Kenshiro. You have three older sisters, all serving in the medical corps." Uchiha Tamura's voice was flat, his eyes sharp as he recited the facts. "Your previous records show mediocre talent. You hadn't even solidified the skills of a Genin. So, explain to me. How is it that in the span of a few days, your capabilities have transformed so drastically?"
Uchiha Raizen had known this question was coming, but its speed still unnerved him. He had prepared a story, one that wove truth with necessary fiction.
"Commander, I… I don't fully understand it myself," he began, letting a note of genuine confusion color his voice. "That day, when I was with Uchiha Ryoken, we were ambushed by two Senju. Uchiha Ryoken used the Great Flame Bomb. In that moment of life and death, the knowledge of that jutsu… it just appeared in my mind. Clear as day. I raised my hand, and it was just… there. I don't know how or why."
Uchiha Tamura's Sharingan had been active the entire time, dissecting every micro-expression. He saw no overt deception. "A remarkable tale. So, you claim you can replicate any ninjutsu you see? Very well. I will perform a technique. If you can replicate it, I will believe your story."
"I will try," Uchiha Raizen agreed, his tone steady.
The commander's lack of suspicion was both a relief and a surprise. He had expected more resistance.
They walked outside the tent. Uchiha Tamura took a stance, his hands moving through a fluid, complex series of hand seals. "Fire Release: White Feather Fly!"
From his mouth erupted a stream of pure white flames that coalesced into sharp, feather-like projectiles. They shot across the training ground with a piercing whistle, striking a large boulder and reducing it to smoking gravel.
System, pick up Fire Release: White Feather Fly, Uchiha Raizen commanded.
[Pickup successful. Pickups remaining today: 2.]
He glanced at the new entry in his warehouse. It was an A-Rank technique. A part of him was reluctant to use such a powerful, one-time asset, but he had no choice.
"Your turn. Demonstrate this 'ability' of yours," Uchiha Tamura said, his gaze intense.
Uchiha Raizen nodded. He simply pointed at another training boulder. "Fire Release: White Feather Fly!"
An identical stream of white, feather-like flames erupted from his outstretched hand, slamming into the boulder and replicating the destructive effect perfectly. The surrounding clansmen, who had gathered to watch, stared in stunned silence. The most shocking detail wasn't the power, but the complete absence of any preparatory hand seals.
Uchiha Tamura stared for a long moment, then a slow, deep laugh rumbled in his chest. "Hahaha! It seems the heavens favor the Uchiha! With a secret weapon like you, why should we fear the Senju?!"
"Commander," Uchiha Raizen interjected quickly, needing to set a limit. "There's a constraint. I can only use this replication ability once per day. The rapid succession of techniques you saw yesterday… that was the result of storing them up over several days." It was a necessary lie to manage expectations and hide the true nature of his pickup system.
"Once a day? That is acceptable. A strategic weapon does not need to be used frivolously." Uchiha Tamura's mind was already racing with tactical possibilities. "Tell me, does the level of the jutsu matter? Can you replicate any technique you witness?"
"I believe I can replicate any technique below S-Rank. For anything S-Rank or higher… I am uncertain," Uchiha Raizen answered truthfully, based on his system's limitations.
"Uncertain? Then we shall test it. Observe. Fire Release: Cataclysm!"
Uchiha Tamura's hands flew through an even more elaborate and demanding sequence of seals. The chakra in the air grew dense and heavy. A giant of living flame roared into existence, towering over them. It swung a colossal sword of fire, cleaving a deep, smoldering trench into the earth with a sound like thunder.
System, pick up Fire Release: Cataclysm! Uchiha Raizen thought, his heart pounding.
[Pickup successful. Jutsu exceeds S-Rank threshold. Requires Pickup Level 2 for usage.]
There it was. The confirmation. He couldn't use the highest-level techniques yet, but he could collect them for the future.
"Commander, as I said, I can only replicate once per day. So, I'm afraid I cannot demonstrate this one for you now," Uchiha Raizen said, layering his voice with feigned regret.
"Ah, yes. Of course. I got carried away." Uchiha Tamura waved a hand, his expression thoughtful. "Return to your quarters and rest. We will continue this… assessment… tomorrow."
Dismissed, Uchiha Raizen turned and left, feeling the weight of the commander's speculative gaze on his back.
Once he was gone, the other officers gathered around Uchiha Tamura. "Commander, should we…?"
"No," Uchiha Tamura cut them off firmly. "He is a member of our clan. To possess such a gift is a boon for all Uchiha. He is our comrade. I will hear no more on the matter."
"But his father…" one officer began cautiously.
"There was never any concrete evidence of his father's treason," Uchiha Tamura stated, his voice dropping. "And because of the clan's whispers and accusations, that man took his own life in protest. I will not have us hound the son to a similar fate. The matter is closed."
Silenced by his finality, the officers nodded and dispersed.
Alone, Uchiha Tamura sat at his field desk, unrolling a scroll and taking up his brush. This development was too significant to keep to himself. He began to write a detailed report, destined for the eyes of one man only: the clan patriarch, Uchiha Tajima. The boy, Uchiha Raizen, was no longer just another soldier. He had become an asset, and potentially, a weapon of immense value.