Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Departure
After the induction ceremony, the newly joined members of the Security Department returned home, cheerfully holding the ninjutsu scrolls handed to them by the Vice-Captain.
Back in his office, Miyuki sat down, only to find Fugaku sitting in his chair, his face dark with concern.
"Miyuki..." Fugaku began.
"Miyuki-sama, we need more money," Miyuki immediately anticipated that Fugaku would mention money. After all, the 6,000 ryo transportation subsidy he had promised earlier wasn't a small sum, and combined with the salaries, the money he had secured from the Yamanaka clan wouldn't last much longer. He decided to address the issue head-on.
"Which clan this time? Tōrō? Or Mito?" Fugaku asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Ninja clans? How little do you think they have?" Miyuki chuckled. "Let me be bold, Fugaku-sama. Who are the richest in this ninja world?"
Fugaku's pupils constricted. He hadn't expected Miyuki to be so daring. His actions seemed to challenge the existing rules of the ninja world. Compared to what Miyuki was about to do, the Uchiha clan's armed rebellion in the village felt almost childlike.
Miyuki's confident smile made Fugaku want to intervene. But as he thought about the future his Mangekyō Sharingan had shown him—one where the Uchiha clan surpassed even their ancestors' glory—Fugaku swallowed his concerns and merely cautioned, "Be cautious."
"I will. And while I'm away, please take good care of the Security Department, Fugaku-sama," Miyuki said.
"I understand," Fugaku nodded, rising to leave Miyuki's office.
"By the way, Fugaku-sama, have someone deliver one million ryo to me later. In cash, as I'll need it for the mission," Miyuki added.
"One million? That's a lot. What mission requires that much?" Fugaku was taken aback.
"It's not for the mission itself. The mission doesn't matter much," Miyuki explained. "What matters is that the ninja accompanying me will feel the Uchiha clan's generosity."
"Alright, I'll have it delivered to you," Fugaku nodded before leaving.
After sitting in his office for a while, Miyuki received the million ryo, which was carefully sealed in a scroll. Once secured, he packed up to head home.
However, at the entrance of the Security Department, Miyuki encountered an unexpected person—Uchiha Shisui was waiting for him.
"Shall we talk?" Miyuki raised an eyebrow, offering an invitation to the once-peerless genius within the clan.
Uchiha Shisui nodded and followed Miyuki as they walked towards the clan's land.
Under the setting sun, the two walked side by side, neither speaking, taking leisurely steps.
As children rushed by, laughing and playing, returning home after school, Shisui felt a pang of emotion. He broke the silence.
"Miyuki, what exactly are you trying to achieve?" Shisui asked, his voice heavy.
"Didn't I already tell you my goal?" Miyuki replied, buying a couple of rice dumplings from a vendor along the road. He handed one to Shisui and ate the other himself.
"You only said that to disturb my thoughts, didn't you?" Shisui said. "Everything you're doing is to bridge the gap between the clan and the village, ensuring that the clan and the village coexist peacefully."
"Is that so? Maybe everything I said back then was true?" Miyuki replied ambiguously.
"Enough with the lies, Miyuki," Shisui said, his voice firm. "What you said back then was correct. I was too arrogant, thinking that divine power in my hands was too dangerous. One wrong move could destroy both the clan and the village."
Miyuki couldn't help but smile inwardly, admiring his clan brother's sincerity and innocence.
"By the way, why are you at the Security Department today? I remember that since you joined the ANBU, you rarely visit the Security Department," Miyuki remarked.
"Lord Hokage asked me to return, to keep an eye on any unstable elements within the clan," Shisui answered.
Upon hearing this, Miyuki chuckled. "So, you finally remembered your spy mission for the clan? And unstable elements—does that mean me?"
"No," Shisui shook his head. "Lord Hokage believes you are a ninja with the Will of Fire in your heart."
Miyuki struggled to suppress his laughter. "Is that so? Well, in any case, thank you for stepping up. Without your intervention, I might not have had such an easy time."
"It's the least I could do, since you're working for the harmony of the clan and the village," Shisui said sincerely.
"Well then, since you're back, do your best at the Security Department," Miyuki said, patting Shisui on the shoulder.
The two parted ways at an intersection, and Miyuki returned home. In his study, he took out a scroll containing the addresses of high-ranking nobles and large merchants who were closely tied to the Shimura clan, obtained from recent interrogations.
After marking a few key locations that the mission would pass through, Miyuki began to check his ninja tools, preparing for the journey.
The next morning, Miyuki arrived at the clan's entrance and found Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Saito waiting for him.
The three of them set off toward the village entrance.
By the time they arrived, the other mission participants had already gathered. Though there weren't many of them, they were split into several smaller groups.
Two civilians without ninja clan backgrounds stuck together, while members of the Tōrō and Mito clans mingled. Moonlight Shikaze, a member of a smaller ninja clan, was conversing with his lover, Uzuki Yugao, while petting a large black dog.
The two Hyūga clan members who had been conscripted stood off to the side, holding themselves aloof.
As for the mission leader, Kakashi, he was squatting under the eaves of a small, unopened shop at the village entrance, flipping through his small notebook.