Summary: Uchiha reactions to the recent public revelations.
...ooO The Uchiha Clan Ooo...
Uchiha Fugate winced as he went over the condensed summaries of the Uchihas assigned the duty of going through the Clan Archives. The miko was right. She knew details no one outside a select group of Uchihas were even aware of. Information passed down to each Heir and Clan Head.
Fugate himself did not believe in the Old Ways, neither had his father. In the past thirty years the practices had gradually fallen into disfavour and more and more Uchiha became unstable. Fortunately most died in the field before their aberrant behaviour became evident. And now this miko comes and tells them to revive the Old Ways.
"Uchiha-sama?" Black eyes snapped up cursing silently for allowing his guard to slip. "Yondaime-sama is available to speak to you."
Fugate quickly stuffed the scrolls into his canvas bag and stood up to follow the Chuunin-aide.
To his surprise he was not led into the formal Council Chambers but a smaller meeting room set with a tray of drinks and eats. The only occupants were the miko, the Yondaime and his son.
Hiragushi Kagome did not rise or speak any greetings. She was more interested in the child she was feeding. Fugate had heard the miko had used a potion, to lactate so she could feed the Namikaze heir during the turbulent days of the Hunt for traitors. There had been too many attempts to incapacitate or kill the Yondaime and his supporters. Attempts that included poisonings.
The miko had prepared her own meals and gave no second chances to those who attacked her or her charge. Even though now the traitors were dead or awaiting their fates she still remained the sole caretaker of the Yondaimes son. It was a common sight to see her toting the baby around in a sling, even when she accompanied the Yondaime.
No one was quite certain of what type of relationship she had with the Yondaime. Respect and friendship for certain, but the comfortable intimacy between them could only come from shared pain or being lovers.
"Fugate." Minato was always a casual bastard. "I presume this meeting has more to do with Kagome and your Clan history."
"Hai." Fugate sipped at his drink before looking squarely at the woman. "You are right. Miyagami is the originator of the Sharingan kekkai genkai. It was custom to take a newborn child to the Clan Shrine to be blessed. The more devout make a visit at least once a year, usually on their birthday. The most religious stop by during difficult times, before hard missions. My father saw no use in such practice so he encouraged the practice to stop, saying it was sacrilege, praying to one not of the kamis."
Kagome snorted. "Kamis are intent on the greater picture, on the heavens and rarely respond to prayers. It is the lesser spirits and youkai that pay attention to Ningenkai. Most kitsunes and yoko youkai are aligned to Inari who is probably the only kami whose agents actively interfere in ningen life."
Fugate growled. "You do not understand Hiragushi-san. My clan has always kept the shrine a secret because we were accused of being demon worshippers before Konoha was founded!"
Kagome blinked mildly. "But you are demon worshippers; in the mildest of sense. You Bargain to pledge your blood and kills to Miyagami. The shrine visits renew the ties so he can feed upon the energy released when you kill. An Uchiha who does not have that link keeps absorbing the energies until he or she becomes unstable and erratic." Her expression turned shrewd. "But you already know that. You've noticed your shinobis turning psychotic."
Fugate sighed. "It has become more common in recent years though I never suspected a break in tradition would have caused it."
"Traditions usually exist for a reason." Kagome pointed out as she shifted the baby to her other breast. Fugate felt a tad uneasy. Even his own wife preferred to feed their sons in a private room by herself in the months after birth.
"Is this true?" Minato inquired in unexpectedly unaccusing of tones.
"Hai. I've noticed Uchihas who become active shinobi duty snap much quicker. It is why I've encouraged the Uchihas to join the Konoha police force but still Uchihas join the ranks of jounin and ANBU. The Clan Elders insisted running a mere police force brought no real prestige to the Clan." Fugate smiled sourly. "They were pressuring me to enroll Itachi in the Academy, to accelerate his training. Frankly I'm grateful for this mess; it gave me the leverage to dissolve the Elder Council when more than half of them were implicated in the conspiracy."
"But now you do not know what to do." Minato murmured softly.
"Hai. I do not know about the Hyuugas Bargain but ours has religious overtones. With the demon scare going around I an concerned. Already some of my fathers contemporaries are muttering about Konoha and the foolish young ones committing sins against the kamis."
"Then do not make it religion. Make it a clan ritual to leave an offering of onigiri under a tree. Perhaps one of special significance to Konoha."
"The Shodaimes Gardens have one tree that grew from his last battle. It is very close to the Uchiha District." Minato pointed out helpfully.
Kagome nodded absently. "Gift every Uchiha with a talisman, a tanto or pendant etched with Miyagamis emblem; or etch it on the underside of an Uchiha shinobis hitae. When blood is spilled it will resonate and act as a focus." She slipped Naruto out from under the blanket and handed him to his waiting father to be burped Then she stepped away and turned her back to the two men. "Perhaps those in ANBU or active field duty would be willing to have the sign tattooed." She shifted and dropped her blanket to the ground and allowed the haori to slip down to her elbows laying her upper back bare. Her skin was white and unmarked but for several images (leaf, lightening bolt, top, crescent moon, tornado, feather) surrounded by kanji tattooed about both shoulderblades. "I carry such markings myself so my allies can always find me." She shrugged the haori back on and secured the ties before turning around. Her eyes were very cold. "If they still protest or refuse keep an eye on them. If their control lapses I can easily purify them, as a temporary measure. If they persist in refusing to fulfil their part of the Bargain I shall call on Miyagami to take back his Gift. If they deny him, he should deny them." Her expression softened and she spoke in more encouraging tones. "If you get them young and ready to believe it will not matter. The old ones will be dying soon enough anyway."
Fugate bowed his head. "Thank you. I will be discussing your suggestions with my Advisors. Hopefully we can restart the traditions."
Kagome blinked. "You have a son, do you not?"
Fugate started. "Two sons. My youngest is a few months older than Naruto-kun here, my eldest is almost six."
Kagome nodded. "Bring your eldest to me. Tomorrow morning. I will take him to the park and show him what he needs to know." Fugate hesitated. "He will not be hurt. If all goes well he will gain great wisdom."
The Clan Head was in conflict with the Father. Fugate glanced at his old teammate who smiled and nodded encouragingly.
"Kagome will probably give him a nature lesson and a little show."
Fugate nodded quickly. "One of the genins will bring Itachi tomorrow after breakfast."
Kagome nodded. "Minato-kuns house. There will be fewer eyes."
Uchiha Fugate rose and briefly bowed before leaving the couple and the now sleeping baby.
After some time Minato spoke.
"Those tattoos. They are a form of Summons."
"I cannot compel them. I can only Call, but they hear me more clearly."
"Who are they?"
"The top is for my first foster son Shippo, he is kitsune himself. The feather is for Kagura-chan. The crescent moon is for Sesshoumaru. The lightening bolt is for Souten, Shippos mate. The tornado for Kouga an old friend who is now long deceased though I keep in touch with his descendants. The leaf is for Bokunetsu, my old teacher."
"What are you going to do tomorrow?"
"I am going to make a similar mark for Uchiha Itachi. He is young enough to accept change, and he will be in a position to influence the future."
"Aaah." There was a long silence.
"Is that all?" Kagome inquired pointedly.
"Oh yes. Do you want a lift?"
"Oh yes. Do your Flash thing."
She stepped close to him.
He wrapped his free arm around her.
They both vanished in a yellow flash.
...ooOoo...
TBC…
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