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Chapter 2: He Who Provides
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Alpha.
Leaders. Masters. Lords.
Providers.
They stand at the top society not only because of their stronger physical attributes but also their ability to subdue omega with mere thoughts or scent alone. They don't get sick. They are immune to most poisons and they heal faster than the average human.
This alone ensured that most alpha stood at the top of any field, may it be health, academia, sports, business and sciences. As such, most top positions are given to them not because of twisted societal discrimination but simply because they tend to perform better than their omega counterparts.
Though this doesn't stop some alpha's feeling of superiority over the frailer sub-sex, it does feed their egos and in turn, their entitlement. This is offset however by the more rare presentation of omega in the populace.
This isn't a consequence of some weird biology or evolutionary quirk. This is simply because due to societal pressures, most families actually put up their omega children for adoption and over time, omega have become less and less prominent in named clans and families.
Now because of this rarity, alpha are taught to cherish, value and provide for their omega at all cost. Having an omega is a privilege, like winning the lottery. For without them, no family could ever continue its legacy. Alphas, male or female certainly couldn't get pregnant. And though there have been alpha supremacist groups working hard to develop a technology to supplant the need for omegas, their efforts have so far been fruitless.
As it stands, omega remained a sought after possession in a world where the majority is alpha and most families desire children to continue their line.
As an heir to a prestigious family, Sasuke have always been taught that. It had been so ingrained in his subconscious that it has become as instinctual as breathing, as second nature as blinking to care for and provide for his omega. And so the moment he met Naruto, an orphaned boy who presented as an omega, he immediately claimed the blond man. And he's glad that he did.
For Naruto is among the rarest of most omega. A blue-eyed blond omega is well-sought after in Konoha's society not only because of their rarity but because it is known that any child born from a blue-eyed omega will always become alpha. But more than that, blue-eyed omegas are said, in legends of old to be capable of fathering the elusive and extremely rare Enigma- an alpha among alpha, king among kings.
It also helps that when he first presented as an omega, he also presented with the rare vulpine factor, evidenced by his whisker-like markings on his face. Not much is known about this factor. But if you ask the more superstitious and older generations, it is sign that one is a descendant of a long forgotten clan that used to be known for producing an Enigma in almost every generation.
As common knowledge would dictate, Enigma are very rare individuals. It is rumored that they can take generations to appear. In fact, it has been decades now since the world has seen an Enigma that many of the current generation view them as myths. But the older generations know better.
For there used to be a time when one clan consisted mostly of Enigma and Omega. And they wielded great influence throughout all nations despite the rarity of Alpha among their ranks.
Normally, an omega fathering an Enigma would die during childbirth or while in pregnancy. The genes of an Enigma is just too strong that it overwhelms an omega completely, siphoning not just their nutrients but also their very life force.
But as legends have it, this risk is well rewarded. For an Enigma is endowed with talents and skills that even the most talented alpha could only dreamed of. Normally, an alpha can control betas and omegas through pheromones. But the power that an Enigma wields is greater than that of an alpha. They can command alphas and omegas alike and are able to impregnate all classes in the sub-sex. Even the neutral beta can be susceptible to the will and seed of an Enigma. Not only that but an Enigma is said to possess other abilities that is beyond alpha. Their life force is said to be so great that most Enigma far outlive any known alpha, becoming elders in the old society through their sheer wisdom and intellect gathered from long years of experience.
In this era, it is believed that an Alpha is simply the result of an Enigma's genes being watered down through the ages. How or why such a powerful class of sub-sex became extinct was to this day, unknown.
And so, at the encouragement of his father, Sasuke took Naruto under his wing. And because of this exciting possibility that Naruto might father an Enigma, Sasuke was quick to claim him as his own.
They were young at that time however. And Sasuke must ensure that his omega is well-educated, well-equipped to handle not just the rigors and trials of the world but the cutthroat politics within the Uchiha clan.
For the Uchiha clan is not just any clan. They form the backbone of Konoha's society. They are the Police, the Government and the top businessmen in the country. How and why this happen have been lost to history.
But it is known that such privilege carries with it a lot of responsibilities… a lot of pressure.
And so Sasuke strove to work not just to prepare and pave the way for his family but to ensure that his mate is literate and well taken care of.
Which is why when his father gave him the go-signal to take over the Uchiha's sprawling business empire, the young alpha have been elated. Though it may just be a way of his father to test him, Sasuke knew then that his father placed high hopes in him.
"It is rare for an alpha to have a blue-eyed omega mate, Sasuke. From now on, the future of the Uchiha clan rests on your shoulder." Sasuke remembered his father's words as clear as the day he was made CEO of Sharingan Industries- the leading tech suppliers to the government, the military and even other governments around the world. Its ties to Konoha's Police helped cemented it as a prominent fixture in modern society.
Yet Sasuke wasn't always prepared for such an undertaking.
The position was always meant to go to his brother, Itachi.
A prodigy unequaled in the Uchiha clan, and indeed even in and outside of Konoha, Itachi showed intelligence and talent beyond any. And as many in the elders would claim, a one in a million talent to come in their clan. In fact, his talent was so rare that many of the older generation believed him to be an Enigma. But the older he gets, it is clear that he lacks an Enigma's mark.
Still the older Uchiha have been groomed since birth. Provided with personal tutors, trainers and enrolled to the top school in the country. He had been expected to carry the Uchiha clan to new heights, to expand its reach beyond the nation's borders and carry the mantle of the clan's prestige like no other.
And Itachi did deliver. He was able to reorganize the chaotic Uchiha Police and persuaded the local government that they are best suited to handle Konoha's security. He was able to secure rights, contracts and deals not just from companies inside the country but to lands as far as Snow. His talent was praised such that the elusive and isolationist Rain country started contracting the Uchiha's mercenaries and private securities as their own private military.
He showed such promise that even the Hokage, the current ruling monarch of Konoha promised succession rights to Itachi with a unanimous support from Konoha's council.
It sounds so good to be true. And the whole clan was abuzz with Itachi's achievements.
But it all ended when Itachi fell in love with a Beta.
Not just any Beta. But a beta from the Uchiha's servitor branch. Such scandal swept the nation by storm. For a beta can only father children with another beta or the mythical Enigma. This inability to produce an heir caused the clan's elders to turn their back on Itachi and their father have no choice but to give him an option.
Leave Shisui or Leave the Clan.
All that he did for the clan meant so little. The fact that he broke a taboo was enough for the elders and the clan heads to scorn Itachi. His talent they say is useless without an heir. But Itachi remained resolute and so he quietly left the country along with his lover.
Sasuke who adored his brother saw this as a betrayal.
And the younger Uchiha swore then never to disappoint the clan the way that Itachi did. But this also meant that the bulk of Itachi's responsibilities now rested on the younger and much inexperienced Uchiha heir.
A soft sigh escaped Sasuke's lips as he watched his omega's back leaving his office. He felt guilty for his outburst and had wanted to come after Naruto then. But the clan heads have been persistent and he needs to complete the plans for their expansion to Wave. Losing their support would mean losing the empire that have been handed to him. And he's not about to disappoint his father the way his brother did.
True there may be times when he acted cold towards his omega. But he was sure that Naruto would understand him. No self-respecting alpha would allow their omega to provide for them. And so when Naruto presented him with gifts, Sasuke firmly refused. As an alpha, he should be the one giving his omega gifts. He hadn't meant to snap at the younger male. But the moment he realized the blond man's intentions, his alpha pride was, to say the least hurt.
He's not blind to Naruto's efforts to help him kept this company afloat. After Itachi's departure, Sharingan Corp, much like the rest of the clan was in chaos. But no one will ever acknowledge an omega. If people know how his omega helped him, it might weaken his position further. Besides, Sasuke have been planning to impregnate his omega for a while as the clan elders have been renewing calls for an heir following Itachi's scandal. And Sasuke had been hard at work to pave the way for that pregnancy to happen.
Skillful fingers arranged the papers neatly on his desk. Naruto can wait for a little while longer. After all, the dobe will understand it once the omega reaps the benefits of all of Sasuke's hard work. Sasuke will definitely work hard to make sure that once his omega becomes pregnant, he'll have a healthy and powerful heir to present to the clan.
He's the provider damn it, an alpha.
He won't let his burdens be carried by his omega. To do so would go against all his father's teachings.
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The meeting had been going well, Sasuke knew then that he had the investors and clan heads eating at the palm of his hand. All those sleepless nights trying to polish proposals after proposals; or sometimes even skipping meals and family events just to make sure that everything is perfect has finally paid off.
Soon, he'll secure the Sharingan Corps' place in Konoha like Itachi did and once he does so, maybe then his father won't have any doubt in his abilities. And he can finally rest easy and spoil his omega.
Sasuke's day would spiral downhill however when a beta servitor burst through the conference room.
"Uchiha-sama!"
All heads turned to the panicking servitor member.
"It's Naruto-san…"
Dark eyes narrowed at the onlooker.
"The police force found him. He's been… he's been raped!"
Sasuke gritted his teeth. All his hard work ruined. After all, an alpha who couldn't protect his omega is nothing but scum. And true enough, a collective gasp echoed through the room. And without saying a word, most of the investors streamed out, leading one fuming alpha in the now empty conference hall- simmering in guilt, anger, disappointment and embarrassment.
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Somewhere…
"It's just as expected, Orochimaru-sama. There's chaos at Sharingan Corps' conference room. The media will be on it soon. The plan worked perfectly."
Golden snake-like eyes gleamed. A huge smirk graced one man's pale face.
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Mini preview:
"They're not entirely correct Naruto. Do you want to save your child?"
A pair of knowing eyes narrowed mischievously at the smaller male before him. Desperate and have nothing else to live for, Naruto could only nod slowly, causing the other's grin to widen.
"Good. Now listen to me. All you need to do is…"
To be continued.
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A/N: I wasn't quite sure whether I wanted to make Sasukes more sympathetic here or not. But I hope he's easy to hate here but also easy to sympathize with. I'm not sure if I did it right but I'm just excited to soldier on and develop my idea for an Enigma that this came out. Oh well. I hope you still enjoyed it regardless.