Another chapter here guys.
Hope u enjoy.
Aannnd... START:
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*Smack!*
A deafening clap resounded throughout the gathering chamber, comparable to the roar of the thunder.
It was no ovation.
His face snapped to the side and he almost stumbled.
*Drip*
*Drop*
Something warm trailed down from the corner of his lips.
He didn't need anyone's help in deciphering what it was.
He cupped his cheek and felt the burning sensation from the slap. Slowly, he forced his face back forwards as his eyes once more, saw the dead silence that filled his father's eyes, however a pang of defiance stroked his confidence.
Logic that the pride of a clan numbering roughly six hundred people should and will not be able to outweigh the lives and egos of over a hundred thousand.
Determination that there was no room for negotiation after all...
'What is wrong can still be done I guess...
However, what's wrong and improbable? sugarcoating doesn't make it any better. Especially if its likely to get everyone killed. Its a dumb and painfully optimistic plan anyway. What if it goes south? What then huh?
We have no allies outside!'
"This is the decision of the clan. Do you have any idea how hard the clan has been for the past four years? Is this is your way of contributing to the clan? After failing to awaken the Sharingan at this age, at least make yourself useful. You have the duty." Father explained voice almost pleading but definitely growling. However, it did not sound like an explanation, more of a forced argument.
It was just a feeling, but I could tell...
He knew how this was going to end.
It seemed like he had made up his mind too.
"Remember, from this moment on, he is no longer my son." Father announced.
*Gasp*
The peanut gallery bore witness to this exceedingly rare occurrence in the Clan. No member here had ever said "No" to the Clan before, the doctrine was just that deep.
The words were spoken at a low volume but they might as well have been thunder in my ears. Regardless, the blows continued.
"He's not an Uchiha anymore."
Turning in outright dismissal, he then addressed the Elders and Patriarch-sama
"Is this acceptable to you Fugaku-sama?"
...A pregnant pause...
And then...
(Sigh...)
"Himura... You are my lifelong friend, the last still alive and one I trust with my life." He started. Taking a glance over the room from his lofty position and then resting his chin on his hand.
'He lied.' I remarked.
But I obviously kept it to myself.
He's a good liar like any ninja or Patriarch was likely to be however, I have always had this uncanny ability to sense lies.
I'd get this nagging feeling.
It wasn't always spot on, but I'd made sure to hone it as much as I could. Now I could tell apart most lies.
Even if I couldn't detect a lie, it was alright.
A liar never lies once. Anyone who got away undetected was likely to lie again.
Eventually they'd slip up.
Never worked on Father though.
The Patriarch shifted in his seat as smoothly as smoothly as he shifted stances during the Clans yearly "Shared Sparring".
This stance was primed for murder. The vengeful sort.
His eyes then hardened as he continued to speak.
"Despite all, at this moment I cannot say that you do not deserve this outcome.
This was foreseen by everyone except you it seems. Your visual prowess never did seem to pull through whenever it mattered the most." Patriarch-sama forced out with gritted teeth. His fist faintly clenched in anger before that too was smothered beneath an immense amount of self-discipline.
Was there some history here?
Father made an attempt at a response, but was silenced by a palm gesture.
"I would rather not hear your words now and believe we not would not be lacking any wisdom as a result anyway.
History has proven exactly how much you should be believed when it comes to things like this, hasn't it?"
'Yup definitely a story there.' I remark inwardly. Still a bit surprised at almost seeing the Upright Patriarch sneer.
He then sighed with a tone of regret along with a bit of acceptance while shaking his head, stopping as his poker face returned.
Father gritted his teeth at the verbal lashing but said nothing, remaining with his head bowed low in the presence of the Clan.
I did feel a bit bad though. I had just tarnished his reputation before the entire clan.
And now he was down here enduring the judging stares along with a likely convict instead of up there next to the Patriarch himself.
He would likely be demoted from his position as an Elder after this.
He valued his reputation very much.
Perhaps it was the most important thing to him.
He was the Clan's foremost General after all.
Might as well have been the direct brother of the Patriarch.
In fact, if I was a bit more impressive and co-operative and patriotic with the Clan, I could have competed with the Princes for right to succeed the Patriarch. However now...
My eyes wandered and I could already see the eyes filled with carefully concealed delight and greed staring at the empty spot at the Patriarch's right side.
They weren't fooling anyone.
"I did warn you Himura... The dangers of floundering around with Courtesans.
Now look what you have wrought...
Now... (pause)
Now I shall do as I must."
Father only nodded. Spitting in my general direction before respectfully resuming his bow and remaining silent before the council.
'What he must?' Rai wondered. 'I'm already probably being expelled. What else do they hope to do?'
The Patriarch then turned a bit to the side, addressing the guarding elite Jonin.
"Drag him and throw him out!" He instructed the elite Jonin guard.
"Hear now my Brothers and sisters of the Prestigious Uchiha Clan. From this moment and till his eventual unimportant death,"
"Rai is a clan-less outcast. The esteemed Uchiha Clan renounces his kinship."
He then turned to address me.
"Rai the Pariah, take solace in the fact that we have not strung you up like the traitor you are. Here is your mercy." The Patriarch delivered his verdict.
The Jonin Guards faithfully carried out his instructions, eventually dragging me past Father.
"You complete disgrace. Live like the coward you are..." He whispered the last words I ever heard from him as I was dragged by.
'Coward?'
Was I particularly afraid?
Well, a bit.
Not of the blade mind you, But of the blood that would flow as a result of these actions.
Plus it would most likely be for nothing in the end...
A roar of support from the peanut gallery immediately followed along with several nods of approval from the Patriarch and the Elders.
I never knew an ongoing Exile could be so entertaining.
'Is it truly that fun?' I wondered
However.
*Drip*
My stern and always unflappable father...
A tear slipped down his face.
Not of sadness...
'Is that relief?' I wondered, still in shock as I was forced out of the premises, conveniently ignoring all slurs and tomatoes thrown my way.
The Uchiha always did love their tomatoes.
Thankfully no saliva though.
Small mercies that they were much too "Well mannered" and "Noble" to spit in public like their "barbaric commoner" counterpart.
Such behaviour was simply beneath them.
They would probably make the world's most "Aristocratic Protesters".
"And now you Himura..." the Patriarch's voice trailed off addressing father as I left the vicinity.
///////////// End flashback ///////////////
[*Stab*
*Shlllk*
The warm liquid slowly flows into the grass...]
My eyes snap open at that last scene, the dream coming to an abrupt end.
*Blink*
Not gonna lie, waking up to an unfamiliar ceiling sure felt immensely… unusual.
As in alarming and slightly disorienting.
Which was why my now activated Sharingan were rapidly scanning every inch and corner of the room leaving red blurs from the rapid and ever-changing motions.
They stop lose their glow, and return to their default Onyx hue.
No threats were found.
Not within this room at least.
Deciding that it was safe for the moment and sighing in relief, I deliberated on my current situation.
I now lay on a Futon vested in a white Toga. I had confirmed with my last scan of the room the fact that my usual clothes were missing.
These vestments were foreign to me.
It was warmer and more comfortable than what I was accustomed to after spending two winters on a tree.
'It's a bit nice I guess.'
However my cloak, and ninja tools were missing meaning I was very exposed.
Ignoring a pang of pain at the lost very expensive items, I further explored my situation.
'At least I don't seem to be restrained.' I note while stretching my arms and tentatively circulating Chakra.
'My Chakra wasn't sealed either. An overconfident Captor?' I wondered.
This was good.
This gave me a few more venues to follow should things turn for the worst.
*Plack*
*Plack*
*Plack*
*Plack*
The sound of approaching sandals interrupted my thoughts.
'Not too heavy, the owner must be rather young... Ambush and Interrogate.' I studied the scenario and decided that information gathering should once more take priority.
"[Bunshin no Jutsu]." I whispered. A regular clone would do.
The copy replaced me in the Futon without the usual smoke. It was faithfully pretending to be asleep as I vanished to take my place in a particularly dark corner of the ceiling carful not to displace anything or make any sound.
And with that, an ambush was prepared.
A figure opened the rooms sliding door and stepped in. Revealing itself to be a short girl perhaps a few years older than him who walked in and stood next to the clone with a hint of arrogance on her face.
As if looking at a lower lifeform.
//////////// POV Change /////////
Suzaku Himejima was annoyed.
She had finally gotten some time to herself from her training. She had been spending it with her grandfather when he suddenly stared off in the direction of a nearby lake and said that he had to go and attend to a matter.
She asked if she could follow but he refused.
Now imagine her surprise when her grandfather brought home an unconscious boy. Perhaps a few years younger than her.
Obviously concerned with her grandfathers burned sleeve but failing (to her relief) in finding any injury beneath, she then asked who he his and her grandfather had responded with:
"It's the pickpocket that has been notorious around these parts recently. It seems today he got careless."
Despite not showing it, she was furious. Her grandfather had left her alone to go and find some thief.
Couldn't someone else have done it? Why did her grandfather have to invite some lowborn criminal into his home? And to top it all off, he made her nurse him from the wound which he rightfully deserved.
And now this morning, while setting up her grandfather's Tea set, looking forward to spending a peaceful morning with him, he had suddenly told her that "their guest was awake" and she should invite him to tea.
The thought of the interloper had immediately plunged her into a bad mood this morning but she would still fulfill her instructions and invite the little rat to tea.
"He might still be jumpy so please be on your guard." her grandfather's voice trailed over as she left the room
Although she didn't know why her grandfather had told her to be on guard while awakening the guest.
Wondering how best to carry out her instruction, she stared coldly at the figure still wrapped in the Futon. Now that she was taking a closer look, he looked faintly peaceful as he slept. His skin was paler and and smoother than what she had expected of a lowly gutter squatting thief.
Now he looked more like some Nobles pampered son than some delinquent.
Dismissing these thoughts, she then crouched in order to awaken him.
'The lazy bum isn't awake after all grandfather.' She thought as she reached out.
The first hint that something had gone awry came when her fingers phased through the boys arm. Suddenly at alert she made an attempt to back off however she stopped and carefully relaxed when she felt the teasing touch of a sharp object on her neck. Knowing that this was now an issue of finesse not brute strength, she froze in her movements. If she was right in her assessment, it was the Carotid Artery that her combat tutors had always told her to guard.
She had been careless in assuming she could handle anyone her age and had walked in with her guard down. After all she had been trained ever since she could walk. What caution does she need to show to a mere thief that her grandfather had randomly picked off the street?
"Who are you?" A voice asked from behind in a flat tone.
Raito POV:
Deciding that this was the right moment to speak she replied
"I have not come to cause you harm." she carefully said tone still calm but very wary of her armed assailant.
The teasing turned into a threatening prick. It didn't yet break skin but the meaning was there.
She seemed to shiver for a moment, her icy facade cracking a bit.
I felt a bit of disappointment at that.
'Seems that I expected too much. Too young I guess.'
"You didn't answer my question. Breathe in and calm yourself." I say.
I allow her a deep breath.
She seems to have calmed down though to regain her wits.
I then begin.
"Now Name yourself."
"My name is Suzaku." she says.
I frown.
I can still notice how she left out her second name. Must be important.
"Clan name."
She freezes.
"Do I have to repeat myself?"
"Himejima." she informs.
I pause and ponder.
'Himejima Himejima... where have I heard that before?'
I cannot recall any clans named Himejima.
"What is your significance in this Himejima Clan." I ask.
I am trying to assess whether or not I should take her hostage.
'Will it make my escape easier or is she just some unimportant branch member?'
She pauses. She looks on the verge of tears.
"Speak." I say tone on the verge of freezing.
"I-i am t-this generations Vermilion Bird."
.
.
.
"Huh?" my disbelief escapes my usually disciplined lips.
I can tell she's not lying.
Which now brings me to the next question...
'What the h*ck is a "Vermilion Bird"?!'
//////// End chapter