"A fine of five million ryo."
Uchiha Fugaku said calmly.
"That's it?"
Sogen raised an eyebrow, surprised.
Five million ryo sounded like a hefty sum, but for Sogen, it was pocket change. A few high-risk missions could cover it easily. Plus, his family ran a private workshop that produced explosive tags. If push came to shove, he could hole up in there for a while, churn out a batch of top-quality tags, and the fine would be paid off in no time.
Making explosive tags was a specialized craft. It required a ninja skilled in Fire Release to infuse refined Fire chakra into the tag. When used, the seal on the tag would unleash the stored chakra in a single burst, acting like a bomb to take out enemies.
The Uchiha clan's Fire Release techniques were second to none in the ninja world—no one dared claim otherwise.
Selling explosive tags had been a lucrative business for the Uchiha ever since the tags were invented. It was their biggest source of income. Even without taking on missions, crafting and selling explosive tags kept their coffers overflowing.
A single explosive tag could fetch anywhere from 2,000 to 12,000 ryo, depending on the craftsman's skill. The most powerful ones could obliterate a person, while weaker ones might only leave them injured. Naturally, the tags produced by the Uchiha were the finest in the ninja world.
Sogen, nicknamed the "Flame Demon," made explosive tags that sold for the top price of 12,000 ryo each.
Thanks to his unique ability, [Mana Release (Flame)], Sogen could produce explosive tags at several times the speed of others. If it weren't for the limits of his chakra, he could churn out thousands of tags a day without breaking a sweat.
Sogen had a sneaking suspicion about Konan's infamous six hundred billion explosive tags. He figured she must have used a secret technique to mass-produce the tag paper, then handed it over to Nagato to infuse with Fire chakra. With the Uzumaki clan's ridiculous chakra reserves—nicknamed "Chak-Tons"—they could probably crank out hundreds of thousands, maybe even a million tags a day.
Otherwise, six hundred billion explosive tags? Buying that many would bankrupt the entire Akatsuki organization, and even then, it'd be nearly impossible to source them.
Explosive tags were tightly controlled as critical military assets. Every nation and village regulated them as strategic materials. Small-scale sales were fine, but large orders would raise red flags. No one would sell massive quantities to some shady buyer without asking questions.
"But wait, there's more! The fine's just the appetizer."
Fugaku rubbed his hand over a Kiyomizu-yaki teacup. "I'm planning to send you to the Border Defense Force."
"Whoa, hold up, Clan Leader! Didn't you say five years ago you'd never pull something like this?"
"I said five years ago I *might* have done it. Never said I wouldn't do it now." Fugaku smirked. "But I'm just the head of the Police Force. The Border Defense Force is out of my jurisdiction. I'm thinking of submitting a request tonight, volunteering the Uchiha to ease the village's burdens by sending someone to the border. Your name will be at the top of the list. I'm sure the village will approve it."
"If things move quickly, you might be packing your bags for the border by noon tomorrow. No, scratch that—the approval will probably come through so fast you could be heading out first thing in the morning."
Sogen's eyes narrowed. This clan leader was sharper than he'd given him credit for.
He could brush off a verbal invitation from the Third Hokage, but he couldn't disobey an order issued in the name of the Hokage. Up until now, Sogen had been under the Police Force, an organization promised to the Uchiha by the Second Hokage himself. It was both a cage and a shelter for the clan. Even the Third Hokage couldn't meddle in the Police Force's internal affairs—that was the Uchiha's exclusive domain.
But now, Fugaku, the head of the Police Force, was planning to kick him out of the department and ship him off to the Border Defense Force as a gesture to the village. Once there, Sogen would be at the mercy of the Hokage's faction, molded into whatever they wanted.
This way, Fugaku could get rid of a potential usurper without dirtying his own hands *and* satisfy the village's demands. A perfect two-for-one deal! No, make that three-for-one!
"Tomorrow, huh?"
Sogen lingered on the word Fugaku kept repeating.
Suddenly, it clicked, and his spirits lifted.
By telling him this now, Fugaku was giving him a chance to fight back. If Sogen couldn't seize this opportunity, he'd have no grounds to complain about the transfer tomorrow.
A three-for-one masterstroke, indeed.
"Clan Leader, I used to think you were a completely irresponsible leader. Honestly, I still do. But… it seems like you've still got the clan's back, at least for now. You haven't written us off as disposable trash just yet."
As he spoke, Sogen stood up and strode toward the veranda. When he got there and looked down, he realized his shoes weren't there. With a sheepish grin, he turned back, his quick steps making the wooden floor thump loudly.
"Spouting nonsense again. I swear, I have no idea what goes on in that head of yours!"
Fugaku sighed as he heard the sliding door open and close. Shaking his head, he couldn't fathom where Sogen's grudge against him came from. Sure, he wasn't perfect, but abandoning the clan? That was a stretch.
Footsteps echoed from the outer corridor.
A woman in a beige apron entered the room.
"Fugaku, are you really going to step down and let that boy take over?"
Gentle and refined, with the air of a sheltered noblewoman, she was Uchiha Mikoto, the clan leader's wife. Contrary to Sogen's assumptions, she hadn't gone out—she'd been in the next room, listening to every word of her husband's conversation with the young Uchiha.
"It's all for the clan."
Fugaku let out a heavy sigh.
"This time, the Hokage caught us interacting with the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki and used it to rally the village's neutral clans against us. They're pressuring me to deal with Sogen. But the clan's anger and resentment are already at a boiling point. If I punish Sogen now, even with a valid reason… the clan will erupt."
"And Sogen… that kid's strong. Even I'm not sure I could beat him, or Shisui for that matter. If he's got the skills to seize the clan leader's seat tonight, then let him try sitting on this volcano. The clan's a ticking time bomb right now. Every night, I lie awake wondering where we're headed, but I haven't found any answers…"
With the kids out—Itachi on a mission and Sasuke at the Ninja Academy—Fugaku finally let his guard down. He shed the tough facade he wore for the village and the clan, revealing the vulnerability and pain weighing on his heart.
Mikoto sat beside her husband, quietly listening as he poured out his endless worries and frustrations. With the gentlest of hearts, she embraced his burdens, offering silent comfort.
(End of Chapter)