Chương 123: CH_4.23 (123)

As Takuma's mind raced in a dozen directions, Enomoto made himself comfortable on the worn-down cushion of the dining table chair. While Takuma had a frown between his brows, Enomoto looked like he was pleasantly waiting for his tea to steep at a friend's house.

"I will admit, I was surprised when I heard you transferred to the Police Force. Didn't think you would go for the job with your background." Enomoto picked up a grocery store sale pamphlet from the table.

"It was a pity, I thought. Now that you were a dog for the Uchiha, you would stop working with the old man and pull out of the Ring. I get a cut every time a fighter of mine wins; it's not a big amount, but when you have a dozen fighters, the small change adds up— and you, my friend, are fairly adept at winning." Takuma was aware of the dealings between the Ring and the scouts. Not every scout was like Enomoto, though. Most scouts who introduced shinobi to the Ring got a one-time, flat commission.

Scouts like Enomoto, who received a cut for every win, were rare and had old and important relationships with the big boss himself. He assumed Enomoto had gotten the deal due to his position as the " Head of Medical Staff."

"But to my surprise, you didn't stop on either avenue. Scars still fought; Tobi continued to deal." Enomoto glanced up at Takuma.

"A Police Force office, mostly hidden behind secret identity, still mingling in our side of the town— it was almost like the Police Force gained an undercover officer without effort. A terrible gift, if I may say. You wouldn't blame me for being cautious when you suddenly attempted to lobby for a meeting with me." Takuma tightened his grip around the kunai. Reputation was everything in the circles he and Enomoto frequented. People rarely waited long enough to gather evidence and confirm facts before taking action.

If Takuma's reputation devolved into an undercover officer, a rat, his time in the village would become problematic if the wrong people turned their eyes toward him. If someone like Enomoto spoke against him— it was Takuma's word against Enomoto— and his word meant a whole lot less.

"What changed?" asked Takuma. Enomoto wouldn't have been sitting across from him if the former thought he was an undercover officer because then there was no leverage against Takuma.

"New information and a hunch, my little friend," Enomoto replied.

"Which are?"

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with," Enomoto had the gall to laugh.

"I'm here with an opportunity you can't refuse, something that will benefit both of us immensely. A chance to become my business partner— wasn't that what you wanted before you became Ryuu's dealer— to conduct business directly with me?" That was different, thought Takuma.

"Thank you for giving me this chance, but I don't have time on my hand right now. Let's talk about this—""You don't understand, Takuma. You cannot refuse," Enomoto leaned forward, his body hunched as he rested his elbows on his thighs. He continued,"I can kill you right here, you know… and no one will know any better." Takuma felt his blood chill. He churned chakra in his body, trickling it towards his arms and legs, straining his muscles to react before a moment's notice.

"… It's always recommended to eliminate the problem from the root," said Enomoto. His black shades looked darker than ever; they looked as if they were sinking into his face as shadows deepened.

"The only reason I'm not going to do that is because I like you. You're a good kid, a better fighter. Unlike most worthless plebs that eat space in this great village, you have a future worth living for. Do not let it go to waste."' Following you would make my future worth it?' Takuma didn't let the snide thought reach his tongue. He knew about things that Enomoto could only imagine knowing. Enomoto was inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

If Takuma wanted to follow someone, then he would go kiss the asses of pre-teens studying in the shinobi academy— the real actors of the tragedy he was living in. The thought made Takuma scoff at Enomoto, but a heaviness made its way into Takuma's heart. If Enomoto was inconsequential, then Takuma, as he was right now, wasn't even worth mentioning in the drafts, much less the footnotes. He relaxed his body and let the built-up chakra dissipate. Enomoto smiled.

"Good. Now we talk business," he said.

"Now, you're smart enough to understand the type of arrangement I'm talking about with you being in the Police Force and all." Takuma sighed.

"If you're asking me to cover up for your dealings, you're asking too much. I don't have the influence to sweep things under the rug." Maiko Triad might be his first break, but it would take a lot more for him to rise among the ranks to have some real influence— and he wasn't an Uchiha, nor from an allied clan; he needed to make more deposits to have a chance at making substantial withdrawals in the future. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"I have been doing this for some time already, Takuma. I run a tight ship, but I wouldn't have survived this long if I didn't have counter-measures in place," said Enomoto. He laughed, "And you're correct; you don't have enough influence, but I can help you change that." Takuma was interested.

"How?"

"You and the people who were transferred to the Police Force, to be blunt, are publicity stunts. No matter how much the administration and the Police Force like to paint this as a new era. The sheeple might eat it up, but those with brains know that unless Uchiha all die one day, they will continue to own the Police Force." Takuma nodded in agreement. He knew that better than anyone.

"Be that as it may, getting into the Police Force is still a step up for most people. Especially you who ended up in Organized Crime— that was a promotion. Even I would love to be in your position; alas, I am but a humble iryo-nin, not someone who wouldn't fit in there." Takuma jabbed, "Uchiha Kano, my boss, is an iryo-nin and a chunin."

"I hate that bitch." Takuma was taken aback at Enomoto's venomous tone. He wasn't expecting that from the laid-back Shady Guy. Even moments earlier, when Enomoto was threatening him, he maintained a blasé attitude for the most part. Enomoto cleared his throat.

"As I was saying, you're in a great position. And your stunt with Ryuu and Maiko Triad was a spark. I'm sure you garnered some attention due to that? What I'm offering you is the chance— chances — to replicate that." It took Takuma a moment to understand what Enomoto meant. To understand what Enomoto meant any time, one needed to think about how it benefited him. Takuma had foiled an operation for the Maiko Triad and put them in further jeopardy.

To repeat what he did with the Maiko Triad was to get someone into trouble for their illegal activities.

"… You want me to go after your competitors?" Enomoto's smile turned devious.

"Smart boy. But no, I don't want to go after my competition. I want you to go after the substitutes."

"Substitutes?"

"There's only so much money people can spend on their vices; even addicts have a limit to the money they have," said Enomoto.

"The problem is that the limited money pool is split between different products. Some prefer lighter stuff like what we sell; others feel harder substances are more their alley; shinobi themselves are biased toward opium. You know the reality— competition is tough." Takuma couldn't help but agree. He had lost customers to other drugs. People were picky, and when they were chasing certain highs and experiences, they were quick to switch. Even if they didn't switch, their purchase frequency went down.

"We command a limited portion of the pie," Enomoto traced a circle in the air with his finger, "but if someone was to kick the other products, we could encroach upon the vacuum created. Repeat it enough times, reduce the offerings available, and command a larger market share. A simple but effective plan." It did sound simple, but when Takuma thought about the logistics of the plan, he could see complications.

Even if they took out a major player, say who dealt heroin, the first dibs on the created vacuum were the competitors— not the substitute. It would take substantial effort to claw market share to their side.

"Why not go after your competition?" asked Takuma. Enomoto shook his head.

"Because it's a slippery slope. Let's say I did sic you on our competitors; if you're successful too many times, the people at the Police Force will get confident. The resources towards anti-weed efforts will increase, publicity around it will rise, and eventually, my operation will come under attack. It'll be great for me for a while, but not in its long-term consequences. I prefer to deal with my competition on my own without external interference. Keep the devilish claws of the Uchiha away from me."

Takuma found the prospects of Enomoto's offer… interesting. All Enomoto was asking of him was to do his job— and do his job well. But at the same time, Takuma knew that one day Enomoto would come for the payment. The higher he rose, the deeper his fall would be. But…

"And how do you suppose you'll help me?" asked Takuma.

"Information and contacts," Enomoto replied.

"I have been playing the game far longer than you. I know a lot more about how things run and the people who run it. I can give you an inside source to all the dirt that you'd need to target the people that matter and, in turn, break down the operation, which I want you to get rid of."' I want' was the part that caught Takuma's attention. It couldn't be clearer that if he accepted, Takuma was going to turn into Enomoto's hunting dog.

"Alright, deal," said Takuma. He would let Enomoto guide him, and he would sink his teeth into whoever was in front of him. He didn't have the privilege of clan shinobi, nor was he supported by a jonin. He needed to seize this opportunity. Takuma didn't know when the Uchiha clan would be a thing of the past. However, when it happened, he wanted to be ready. He would build a reputation, and when the time came, his resume would leave the decision-makers no choice but to pull him up.

When the current Uchiha majority disappeared and with them their chokehold on the Police Force— Takuma wanted himself to be standing in the rubble as a shining choice, but for that to happen, he needed accomplishments. He was too young and even if he was free and loose with his estimations, there wasn't enough time to build significant accomplishments through traditional means. If he put his nose down and continued to simply work, Fuma and other Uchiha allies would overshadow him completely.

Enomoto talked about the vacuum and how he wanted to take advantage of it. Takuma wished to do the same; when the vacuum arrived, he wanted to be there to fill it up, and exploit it for all it offered.

"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me," said Enomoto. A glimmer flashed past his eyes as he continued, "Do this well, Takuma, and I will put you in Ryuu's chair… It's time to move up in the world, my friend. It's good up here…" And perhaps, one day, he would take Enomoto's chair from him. Takuma stood up and shook Enomoto's hand with his kunai still firmly grasped in his other hand.