Chapter 54: That Depends, Hazuki-neesan... Am I Clan, or an Outsider?
"Mikoto-neesan brought me here to pick up a ninja blade. I also need a decent set of chainmail."
Uchiha Hazuki was slightly taller than Seiji, but now that he had cornered her, backing her into a wall with nowhere to go, he continued to close the distance.
At this proximity, Seiji could even catch the faint scent of her perfume.
"Not asking for much. Just get me three sets."
He braced his hand against the wall, looking up at Hazuki.
Beneath his high-collared coat, he wore a simple white undershirt.
Graduates from the Ninja Academy were only issued basic gear: a forehead protector, tool pouch, shuriken holster, gloves, and foot wraps. Scroll pouches had to be obtained independently.
Only upon promotion to chūnin would one receive a green tactical vest with integrated scroll storage—six slots in total.
As for chainmail? That was something the ninja had to acquire themselves.
The pricier the armor, the better the protection—it could block many injuries. That's why even in the late stages of Shippuden, almost every shinobi had their own.
"You…"
Hazuki's expression twisted in frustration as she listened to the boy essentially blackmail her.
She stared at Seiji's still-young face—decent-looking, sure—but never imagined he'd be this manipulative underneath.
Figures. Must be because he's from the Land of Lightning.
Taking a deep breath, Hazuki forced herself to calm down.
"Fine—"
"Five sets."
Before she could speak, Seiji raised the number.
"You—! Didn't you just say three?!"
Hazuki ground her teeth, furious.
"Is this how you show sincerity to a fellow clansman? Petty. Hesitant. Calculating."
Seiji suddenly grabbed her wrist.
The grip was far too strong for someone his age—unexpectedly so. Her fair wrist turned red from the pressure.
She had to channel chakra to her arm just to resist the discomfort.
Such strength!
Hazuki was taken aback.
She was still taller than him, looking down at Seiji from above.
Yet at this moment, she felt as if he were the one towering over her.
Then she felt it—subtle, but unmistakable.
A faint electrical current was crawling up from his hand.
It wasn't strong enough to harm, but wherever it touched, it left a tingling, numbing sensation.
Hazuki's heart sank further.
He's talented at manipulating Lightning Release chakra too…
As long as one could transform chakra—neutral in nature—into elements like electricity, water, stone, or wind, it was known as nature transformation.
The two of them stood in silence, saying nothing. Only their Sharingan eyes remained locked on each other.
"Hazuki, let's go."
A voice called faintly from a distance. It was Yamada Hiroshi.
Uchiha Hazuki's expression shifted slightly. Biting her lip, she muttered:
"Fine—five sets it is!"
She just wanted to pay him off and be done with it.
With any luck, she'd never have to cross paths with Seiji again.
"Heh. So Hazuki-neesan does see me as an outsider after all. No sincerity at all. If you didn't want to give, you could've just said so."
Seiji released her wrist and turned with a regretful look, ready to leave.
"Wait! How many do you actually want?!"
Hazuki called after him.
"That depends—do you see me as clan, or not? I imagine Lord Fugaku would be curious about that too."
Seiji turned his head, catching sight of Hazuki's deeply furrowed brows.
She seemed torn, seriously debating how many to give—clearly conflicted.
A heat swirled behind Seiji's eyes.
Yes… That's the look.
Reluctant, yet utterly helpless.
But Seiji didn't linger. He simply walked away.
In the dim underground passage, only Hazuki remained.
How many should I even give him? Ten sets? That'd be a significant expense…
And even if she sent them over, knowing how quickly Seiji changed his mind, it might already be too late.
Hazuki gritted her teeth in frustration.
If only he were just a regular brat. But no—he has absurd talent.
He could very well become an important figure in the clan one day.
"Hazuki?"
Yamada Hiroshi approached, his arm still in a cast.
He'd just run into one of Hazuki's kin—seemed like an honest kid, none of that usual Uchiha arrogance.
He was just about to ask Hazuki for the boy's name when he noticed she was frozen in place. He called out to her a few times, but she didn't respond.
"Something on your mind?"
"Just lost in thought. Let's go."
Hazuki snapped back to reality and forced a smile.
She took two steps forward—only to realize her legs felt a little weak.
It was the lingering effect of the lightning current.
It wasn't much, barely noticeable. She didn't dwell on it.
But as she neared the exit, she noticed an odd stickiness clinging to her skin...
---
"If you run off too far, you'll get lost."
Mikoto gave Seiji a reminder when he finally returned after disappearing for a while.
She was tidying up a sealing scroll, slipping it neatly into the scroll pouch of her green flak vest.
"Got it, Mikoto-neesan."
Seiji's black eyes quietly reflected her movements.
The heat swirling behind his gaze still hadn't completely faded.
His vision seemed a little clearer than before. He could see Mikoto's soft pink nails deftly securing the clasp of her pouch.
His ocular power had grown during that earlier moment.
If the one-tomoe Sharingan was like a cup, then that moment had poured in a generous amount of water. Another one or two such incidents, and the cup would overflow.
And once that happened—he would awaken his second tomoe.
The two-tomoe Sharingan.
A full upgrade—sharper, faster, stronger.
"Let's go. Time to get your ninja blade."
Mikoto didn't think much of it. She gave a light wave of her delicate hand, motioning for Seiji to follow.
He nodded and quickly caught up.
Kurenai was still in training. Samui was waiting for him to come exploit her again. As for the icy Hazuki…
She'd already received her punishment.
She's probably still racking her brain, trying to figure out what I want to make this all blow over.
Everything was moving according to plan.
But Seiji wasn't in a rush.
He'd take his time.
Right now, his body was still growing. He wasn't about to do anything that might harm his development.
Besides—
"Tasting the finest things in life" means watching them fall from their pedestal with your own eyes.
Making a connection was just the first step.
What followed was slow, steady corruption.
Only then would Seiji feel true joy.
What makes something beautiful… is how vividly it shatters.
The brighter the light, the more exquisite its corruption.
Yes—the best days were still ahead.
In the flickering torchlight of the corridor, Seiji's shadow stretched long and twisted—
As though a demon was being born.