Chapter 12: The Way to "Awaken the Eye"
"...?"
Samui froze. Confusion filled her eyes. What was Yotsuki Seiji talking about? That he would turn against the Hidden Cloud… because of her? Had she done something to warrant that?
"This isn't the place to talk," Seiji said calmly.
Left with no choice, Samui suppressed her doubts and led Seiji upstairs, into a private room on the second floor of the sushi shop. There, it was just the two of them.
"Seiji, what do you mean by that?" Samui asked, her tone tinged with wariness. She'd always heard the Uchiha were extreme, with twisted mindsets and unpredictable actions. Could it be… Seiji had inherited that after returning to them?
"I heard everything you and Samodo said that day on the third floor."
Seiji casually dropped a bombshell, his tone as relaxed as if they were discussing the weather.
Samui's pupils shrank. "What...?"
She'd seen him walk away that day—far enough to be out of earshot—and there had been no one else around. And yet... with just one activated Sharingan eye, he could observe all of it?
She stared at him in disbelief. He was just a kid, newly enrolled in the Academy, someone who'd happened to awaken the Uchiha kekkei genkai. And yet—
Seiji didn't respond directly. He merely raised an eyebrow slightly and mouthed a few words silently—the exact words she had said that day: "Yotsuki Seiji likely has no intention of returning to the Hidden Cloud."
"So what?" Samui snapped. "It was just a passing remark."
"But that 'passing remark' hurt me deeply," Seiji said, his tone soft but sharp. "I was considering going back to the Hidden Cloud, but to think someone was saying things like that behind my back… Doesn't that mean you doubt whether I truly value either the Uchiha or Kumogakure?"
Samui's face paled.
It was a stretch—a huge one. He was blowing things way out of proportion.
And yet… No matter how exaggerated it sounded, she had said those words.
Even if she personally didn't believe Seiji cared much for Kumogakure, she shouldn't have voiced it aloud.
There were things in this world that felt feather-light off the scale, but once weighed, were heavier than mountains.
If higher-ups learned that it was her careless comment that might've caused Seiji not to return—even if the chance was just 1%—she'd be the one to pay the price.
If it were only about herself, she could endure it. But she had a younger brother—Atsui. He'd be affected too. He was her only remaining family.
"No matter what, I was born in the Land of Lightning," Seiji continued softly. "You were sent by Kumogakure to win me over, weren't you? And yet you didn't even trust me. If I did return, people would whisper that I was a Konoha spy. So tell me—how could I possibly go back?"
"I do hope Samodo doesn't take offense," he added, as if sighing. "After all, he seemed very confident I'd return to the Hidden Cloud…"
He was deliberately striking where Samui was weakest—her family. In both the anime and manga, Samui's younger brother Atsui was her most important person.
Seiji knew the value of his bloodline to Kumogakure was high—but not so high that they'd sacrifice everything for it.
Compared to Kumogakure's Hachibi and Nibi—two tailed beasts—even ten Seijis wouldn't measure up.
But compared to Samui and her family? His value was clearly greater.
The air went still.
"...What do you want?" After several tense breaths, Samui finally spoke, her lips pressed tight.
At that, Seiji smiled. So easily cornered—just like a proper spy.
"My demands aren't high." His voice lowered to a whisper only the two of them could hear. "Give me another jutsu scroll. I want a taijutsu-based one, something that trains the body. D-rank is enough."
He stated his request plainly, his eyes fixed on her.
Samui was still a head taller than him, forcing Seiji to look up. Under the room's lighting, shadows framed his youthful face—two dark streaks cast by the overhang of his brows.
"...D-rank?" Samui's ocean-blue eyes briefly relaxed. Crossing her arms, she seemed to prop up the curves beneath her uniform with a sigh of relief.
Just a D-rank jutsu. Honestly, if Seiji had pushed a bit harder the other day, Samodo might've handed him a few more D-rank scrolls on the spot.
These were techniques designed for Genin—barely enough to stir trouble. Most clan-born shinobi received extra training outside the Academy anyway. Only civilian students were limited to basic E-rank techniques.
"All right," Samui said, nodding. She agreed to his request.
She pulled down her long gloves, revealing a band of white wrapping at her wrist. Beneath the wrapping were several small sealing scrolls.
Poof. With a flick, Samui opened one of the scrolls and pulled out a pale yellow one, tossing it to Seiji. "This is a Lightning Release taijutsu technique. It stimulates muscle cells and is called 'Lightning Release: Iron Body.'"
Seiji didn't open it right away. Instead, he tucked the scroll into his robes and turned his gaze back to Samui.
Her face carried an exotic charm—high-bridged nose, well-defined features, a striking sense of depth. And that curvaceous body… full hips, shapely thighs, and even just standing still, she gave off a faint, alluring fragrance.
Her figure… not bad at all.
In the depths of Seiji's mind, a strange chakra had begun to stir.
For the Uchiha clan, awakening the Sharingan wasn't solely triggered by pain. More accurately, it came from intense emotional stimulation—something that shook the mind, something that overwhelmed all other senses and thoughts, compelling the brain to secrete a special chakra.
Even awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan didn't always come from the death of a loved one. Take Sasuke, for example—he didn't awaken it the moment he killed Itachi. It only happened later, after Obito revealed the truth: the real story behind Itachi's choices, the hidden burden he had borne all along.
The revelation—that everything Sasuke had believed in was a lie—that emotional upheaval was what triggered his Mangekyō.
Or take Sarada. Her awakening came not from loss, but from deep emotional rejection—when even her own father didn't believe in her.
Seiji was no different. He didn't need pain, or guilt, or the need to protect someone. His emotions could be stirred by pleasure as well—by experiencing something truly beautiful.
And that "beautiful thing"… was someone like Samui.
Perhaps it was that unhidden, lingering gaze that made Samui furrow her brows ever so slightly.
"Isn't this enough to show Kumogakure's sincerity?" she asked, her voice slightly cool. "If you return, A-rank—maybe even S-rank—jutsu wouldn't be out of the question."
"Thank you, Miss Samui," Seiji replied, his tone calm as he finally looked away. "It seems Kumogakure is indeed making an effort."
Though in his mind, he added silently: Enough sincerity… for today.
A single D-rank technique wouldn't satisfy him for long.
He had chosen taijutsu not because it was the best, but because it was the most practical. It would help him strengthen his body quickly, and anything higher than D-rank would cost too much time and energy for now.
For the moment, it was a calculated investment. But Seiji was already thinking far beyond this single exchange.