Precarious chapter 9

Kuin was in the middle of his makeshift yoga session when a familiar knock interrupted his solitude. He opened the door to find Midori, who casually flopped down on his floor mat.

"Sup, Kuin, how are you feeling, kiddo?" Midori inquired, noticing Kuin's yoga attempts.

"Same as always, I guess. How are you?" Kuin asked, resuming his yoga poses.

Midori took a moment to sigh. "Could be better. Sorry, but today isn't exactly a social visit. I've got some good news and some bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

Kuin paused, intrigued. "Hit me with the good news first."

Midori obliged. "Good news is, your probation will be lifted in two months, and you'll be joining the academy early."

"About time. What's the bad news?" Kuin asked.

Midori's expression turned solemn. "Remember that incident with the Hyuga I mentioned? The Diplomat that was caught and returned to kumo, though not exactly in one piece? Well, it didn't sit well with the Cloud Village. There have been sightings of a significant number of Cloud ninja near our borders."

Kuin's eyes widened with a sense of dread. "We're going to war, aren't we?"

Midori nodded gravely. "Unfortunately, yes. Many tracking missions have come up, and I'm swamped with them." He reached out and pulled Kuin into a comforting hug. "Sorry I won't be around for a while, buddy."

Kuin's disappointment was palpable as he muttered, "Just when I was getting used to you."

Midori, however, had a surprise. "Seeing as I won't be here for your birthday, I got you an early gift." He presented two scrolls. "These are jutsu scrolls. One contains a clan technique, and the other holds a D-rank fire jutsu."

Eagerly, Kuin opened one of the scrolls. "Fire Style: Flame Palm?" he read aloud.

Midori explained, "It's pretty handy if you ever need to get someone off you. Second-degree burns tend to do the trick."

Kuin perused the text, fixating on a set of complex illustrations depicting hand signs. The intricate gestures left him puzzled. "What are these signs here for?" he inquired.

Midori smiled with understanding. "Ah, I forgot you're not familiar with hand signs yet. Those, my friend, are hand signs, a crucial aspect of our ninja techniques."

Kuin's curiosity was piqued as he leaned in to listen. "Hand signs? What do they do?"

Midori gestured with his free hand to clarify. "Think of them as puzzle pieces that help us channel and manipulate our chakra in specific ways. Each jutsu usually has its own set of hand signs we need to perform to make it work. The correct sequence of signs is like the key to unlocking a technique."

Kuin nodded, beginning to grasp the concept. "So, it's like a secret language for using jutsu?"

Midori appreciated the analogy. "You could say that. Hand signs are like the foundation of our ninja arts. They help us focus our chakra into the right shape and element for a jutsu. Without the proper signs, it's like trying to open a locked door without the key. Possible but pretty hard for the average ninja."

As Kuin absorbed the information, Midori continued, "You'll start learning these hand signs soon, especially when you attend the academy. It takes practice and memorization, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to perform some powerful techniques."

Kuin felt a mix of excitement and challenge at the prospect. "I'm looking forward to it. Learning this secret language sounds pretty cool."

Midori smiled warmly. "It is, Kuin. And remember, practice makes perfect. You'll get the hang of these hand signs in no time."

Kuin then opened the next scroll. "The Four Legs Technique? That sounds interesting."

Midori proudly declared, "That one's an Inuzuka classic. If you don't know at least the basics of this technique, you can't truly call yourself an Inuzuka. This jutsu helps you move around like your ninken partner, While increasing your speed and strength. Is also a prerequisite to most of our clan Justus."

"That sounds incredibly useful. Thank you." Kuin thanked his cousin with a heartfelt hug. "Be safe out there. I don't want to lose my new family."

Midori grinned, "No problem, man. I've got to prepare for a mission later today. When I get back, how about I treat you to some steak?"

Wiping away his tears, Kuin replied, "That sounds lovely."

Elsewhere in the village

Within the concealed chamber under the clan head's house, bathed in the subtle light of a single lantern, Fugaku Uchiha, the venerable leader of the clan, stood at the forefront of a somber assembly. In the gathered faces of the Uchiha, you could discern a multitude of emotions, a blend of unwavering determination and a sense of sorrow that seemed to hang in the air. The time had come for them to address the grievances, the isolation, and the turmoil brewing within the Uchiha clan.

Fugaku's voice, though laden with gravitas, trembled just slightly as he spoke. "Fellow members of the Uchiha clan, we must confront an issue that has silently eroded our sense of belonging in this village. The very place we call home has become a perilous ground for our existence."

A wave of agreement rippled through the assembly. The unity of the Uchiha was built upon a shared burden, and all present knew well the challenges they faced.

"We've all felt the isolation," Fugaku continued, his voice thick with emotion. "The discrimination, the subtle and not-so-subtle signs of mistrust that have forced us into the shadows. Our children, our future, have disappeared into the darkness of uncertainty."

The acknowledgment of this painful truth was met with a collective sigh—a shared sentiment of powerlessness.

Fugaku's gaze shifted, his eyes piercing through the dim room. "The Uchiha clan has exhausted every avenue of diplomacy and peaceful resolution. We've knocked on closed doors, grasped at empty promises, and endured disdain. Our Hokage, Danzo, has been instrumental in perpetuating our suffering. He exploits our vulnerability, aiming to weaken us further."

A chorus of disapproval echoed, a collective voice expressing their disdain for the leadership of the village.

"We have," Fugaku continued, "reached a crossroads. The suffering of our clan, the betrayals we've endured, they have become unbearable. There is a word we have hesitated to speak, but it lingers among us, a possibility that we can no longer avoid."

And then, as the room held its breath, Fugaku uttered the word that had lingered in the minds of every Uchiha.

"A coup," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of their shared burden. "The Uchiha must take matters into our own hands, or we face annihilation."

In that moment, a collective understanding and determination passed between them, a silent agreement that their path was set. The Uchiha would change the course of history for themselves and the entire village of Konoha. It was a night that marked the inception of their fateful journey, a night when the Uchiha's Fate was sealed.