Chương 318: CH_9.3 (318)

Takuma sat alone in Maruboshi's living room, gazing at the package that had arrived for him via courier. Maruboshi was on an overnight wilderness trip, leaving him alone at the house. Even though ANBU had given them a week to decide, the package arrived three days after the end of the exams. This could either mean they liked him enough to send him their response instantly, or that he had no chance of making it, so they didn't even take their time to deliberate.

He was surprised he had the patience to get to the living room without tearing the package open at the door to see the result. He took a deep breath, carefully cut open the white envelope's glue seal, and removed the small cardboard box with a mini storage scroll inside that held a five-page offer letter. His natural response was to set the letter on the table and lay flat on the floor with a sigh. Even though it was only noon, he felt tired enough to retire for the day.

He was happy that he had a job with ANBU, but he wasn't as elated about it as he expected. And he didn't think anything would change the next day when he would be hearing the Police Force's offer. Ultimately, either option would be just a job at the end of the day.

"Either way, I am going to be a chunin," he whispered to himself. ———. The next day, dressed in his Police Force uniform, Takuma arrived at the Police Force headquarters an hour before noon for his meeting with Setsuna. However, things happened differently than he was told. When Takuma arrived at his office, Setsuna said, "The chief wants to talk to you." In his time at the Police Force, he hadn't visited Fugaku's office once.

He had met and talked to him several times in and out of work because of his job in the Narcotics Taskforce and because of his lessons with Mikoto. They were not close, and for Takuma, he was his teacher's husband—but he was also the boss of his boss' boss. Not to mention the Uchiha clan's head, which was more applicable at the moment. So, while he was nervous, he also felt somewhat positive because he assumed that the Police Force was serious about retaining him.

"Come in," said Fugaku when they knocked. They wore the same Police Force uniform, but Fugaku looked the most dignified out of the three of them. The man had an aura around him that made people feel like they were talking to a king, which had nothing to do with his bloodline, rank or status. One look was all that was needed to tell he was someone who held himself differently than everyone else.

"Take a seat," said Fugaku as he sat behind his desk While Takuma sat in front of Fugaku, Setsuna settled on the couch in the corner of the office, making it clear that Takuma was dealing with Fugaku directly. The office had a practical feel and matched the owner's personality.

"How was your vacation?" asked Fugaku.

"Tiring, but worth it," said Takuma. Now that he had confirmation from ANBU, the exhausting testing procedure hadn't been a waste. Fugaku nodded before saying, "I see that the war hasn't left you yet." Takuma didn't know how to respond. Although he thought he maintained a normal exterior, it seemed that Fugaku could see right through it.

"There's nothing to be surprised about. I have been through a war; it changes you... it takes a lot to leave war behind and return to a new normal," said Fugaku. All of a sudden, Takuma realised that, currently, he possessed Fugaku's full focus. The Police Force chief and the Uchiha clan head wasn't thinking about his responsibilities to his work or his clan. Even Setsuna, sitting in the same room, was all but nonexistent.

It was as though only the two of them mattered in the entire world for the duration of the conversation. Takuma hadn't ever given someone that much of anything, not to the same degree. It was flattering and burdensome and he partially understood why why the Uchiha clan rallied behind Fugaku as their leader. Not knowing how to respond and uncomfortable about being seen through, Takuma lightly nodded. It was true, after all.

The war would only leave him once he avenged Rikku by killing her murderer; only then would he let it go.

"There is a difference between ' it leaving you'and' you leaving it'," said Fugaku calmly as he stared into Takuma's eyes.

"Keep that in mind." Takuma clenched his hands under the desk's shadow. He couldn't tell if Fugaku was speaking broadly or if his words were pointed at his specific experience.

"Let's move on," said Fugaku, brushing the topic aside before it dominated the conversation.

"Your contract here has all but ended; you are even listed as being on paid leave until your last day. Setsuna listened to your requirements and discussed them with me and I want you to stay in the Police Force, Takuma." Fugaku didn't say Setsuna, the Narcotics Taskforce, the Department of Organised Crimes, or even the Police Force—rather, he wanted him to stay.

It didn't feel like they were just words to appease him because Fugaku had called him into his office to converse personally instead of leaving it to Setsuna or another high-ranking officer. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. It could've been because he was Mikoto's student, but if that were true, Fugaku would've made an appearance when he was in the hospital after the assassination attempt.

"And to make that happen, I wish to give you what you requested." Takuma resisted his urge to perk up. However, the following words reminded him not to get swept away until he had heard everything.

"But with some conditions." Takuma licked his lips.

"Please proceed," he said.

"Here's what I'm offering you with respect to what you asked," Fugaku said after looking down at the document on his desk.

"You will receive a rank promotion as you desired. As it's an internal promotion, we control it entirely. Therefore, it will be immediate without any review period from the village." Takuma nodded. The Police Force was unique among the other Leaf entities. When it was created, the Uchiha had demanded and received special administrative powers. Among the various discretions granted to them, they had the authority to apply chunin rank promotions without any influence from the village.

Not many entities possessed that power; they, too, could promote anyone they desired, but it had to go through a review period, which took some time. And while the village rarely intruded on internal matters, they could always reject a rank promotion if they desired. The Police Force's rank promotion completely avoided that issue.

"You will receive access to our internal jutsu archives. However, there will be restrictions. You may study D-rank jutsu as much as you like without a limit. For C-rank jutsu, you may get access to one per month—without needing to pay, of course," said Fugaku, presenting the first deviation from Takuma's conditions.

"I believe I'm being generous, as twelve mid-rank jutsu per year is more than enough. Learning them would take time... much less training to apply them practically."

"Understood," said Takuma without further comment. He wouldn't have been able to master twelve C-rank jutsu a year in the first place, so he didn't mind this alteration.

"As for B-rank jutsu, your first one will be provided free of charge. However, it will only be dispensed to you after you have completed the standard one-year B-rank chunin restriction." All new chunin had to wait one year before they could gain access to B-rank jutsu.

However, the law was worded such that the restriction was not on learning jutsu itself; rather, it was on accessing the jutsu inside the village's archives, creating a loophole where a shinobi could learn B-rank jutsu during the restricted period so long as it came from a source outside the village's archives. This was either done intentionally or unintentionally as it allowed the clans to ignore the law by training their members jutsu from their personal archives.

But it also allowed clans to give the same treatment to outside shinobi to gain their favour. The law hadn't been changed because it would diminish the clans' power—which was something they would never allow to happen. That Takuma hadn't been offered the same privilege said everything that it needed to.

"Understood," said Takuma, but this time, he was wholly dissatisfied with the alteration to his demands. He had the confidence to learn and train a B-rank jutsu to practical application in one year. But to learn a B-rank jutsu under the Police Force, he would have to waste a year. He wouldn't say anything now, but he would surely bring it up with Setsuna later.

"You asked for a pay rise, so your base pay will start at the ' CN-3' grade along with other Police Force incentives and bonuses as time goes on." Takuma nodded, satisfied. If nothing else, the Uchiha paid well.

"Finally, there is the matter of your assignment. I will ask again, are you sure you do not wish to return to the Department of Organised Crime?" asked Fugaku.

"I am," said Takuma without a shred of hesitation. That place had been soured for him after his ousting from the Narcotics Taskforce, and he didn't want to run into 'old friends' like Enomoto, who could make life tough by overstepping.

"Very well." Fugaku nodded.

"You desired for your choice of assignment. After consideration, you will be transferred to the Department of Corruption Investigation—" Takuma's eyes widened when he heard the words leave Fugaku's mouth, who caught it because he didn't bother to hide his reaction.

"... Is there a problem?" The reason Takuma wanted to use Setsuna as a middleman to air his dissatisfaction was that he didn't want to affect his neutral relationship with Fugaku as that would influence his relationship with Mikoto—but what had just been proposed was too much.

"You're asking me to isolate myself from the rest of the Police Force and thenmake more enemies," said Takuma. The Department of Corruption Investigation handled corruption-related cases. They not only acted as internal investigators, targeting Police Force officers for their misdoings, but they also went after any shinobi in the village who were suspected of misusing their positions in any way. They were called "rats" inside the Police Force, and no one, without exception, liked them.

During his time running the Narcotics Taskforce, he had been audited by the Department of Corruption Investigation twice, which had slowed down work to a crawl. They hadn't found anything incriminating because he hid his misdoings well, never shared anything with his teams, and built legitimate systems for his team to use. He had even bitched about the rats himself with his team as a method of team building. Then, there was the fact that they took cases of corruption all around the Hidden Leaf village.

Corruption cases often involve powerful people; going against them meant making powerful enemies. He had heard stories about Corruption Investigations members who were tired of working in a place where they were treated as traitors, applying for jobs outside in want of a better work environment—but struggled to find good jobs outside as they had offended too many people. Once someone went to Corruption Investigations, it was near impossible to get out scot-free, and only became harder the longer they stayed.

It would even affect his life if he became independent afterwards. Influential people could black ball him from missions of note and kill his career progression. Takuma didn't want to get chained to the Police Force. He didn't even want to be bound to the ANBU if he went their way.

"I won't work in Corruption Investigation," he said.

"You desired freedom," said Fugaku, calmly.

"Any other department will have you follow what your supervisors want you to do until you have gained enough trust and credit to gain freedom. If you're willing to follow that route, I will transfer you to any department you desire without question."

"But the Corruption Investigation will let me run free?" Fugaku nodded. Takuma pursed his lips. Listening to that hadn't changed his opinion. He still did not want to become a fucking "rat", which would overshadow everything he had done till now.

"I chose this position personally, Takuma," said Fugaku.

"Why?" asked Takuma, clamping down on his indignation. Was Fugaku trying to push him out by offering him a terrible deal?

"Because I think you will thrive there," he replied, once again levelling Takuma with his overwhelming gaze.

"I believe this has the potential to make everything you did in the Narcotics Taskforce pale in comparison."