201-Questioning

The sun had fully set by the time Renjiro and Teuchi left Teuchi's. As they reached the point where they would each go their separate ways, Renjiro turned to Kaya, he said,

"You've got a lot of potential, Kaya. Don't let anything hold you back."

Renjiro had found some respect for Kaya, especially when he found out that he purely relied on Taijutsu. It even impressed him and he wanted to nudge him on the right path where Kaya would achieve all his dreams.

Renjiro was aware of how hard being a shinobi was, the blood and sweat required to constantly improve yourself. While his path ever since he transmigrated had not been easy, Renjiro couldn't imagine how harder it would have been if he were in Kaya's shoes. Plus he also wanted to see how far Kaya would go if he mastered the eight gates.

Kaya nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "I won't," he promised. "And I'll definitely reach out to Might Duy. Thanks for the advice, Renjiro."

Renjiro smiled, clapping Kaya on the shoulder. "Anytime," he said. "We're all in this together, after all."

With that, they parted ways, each heading back to their respective homes. When Renjiro got back home, he couldn't help but the fight he had earlier that day.

"I was kinda lucky that Kaya didn't open more gates," Renjiro muttered to himself. The fact that his victory had come not from overpowering Kaya but from simply outlasting him left a bitter taste in his mouth.

'I won because Kaya wore himself out, yes, that is a boon in my fighting capabilities but I can't keep relying on it as it is not sustainable,' Renjiro thought, his brow furrowing in irritation.

'It feels like I've been winning many of my battles through technicalities.'

He clenched his jaw, the bitterness festering. While he knew he had been holding back for obvious reasons—it was just a spar, after all—Renjiro couldn't shake the feeling that he was making excuses for himself.

'Sure, I didn't go all out,' he admitted inwardly, 'but deep down, I want more than just a victory handed to me by circumstance. I want to dominate the spar.'

Renjiro's desire to dominate wasn't born out of cruelty or arrogance but from an insatiable need for excellence. He didn't just want to be good at what he did—he had to be the best, to stand at the pinnacle in both strategy and raw combat power for what was to come.

And yet, here he was, feeling like his wins were hollow because they lacked the decisive power he craved.

"There's no point in having cards up my sleeve if I can't use them when I want," Renjiro muttered under his breath. "Or better yet, use them efficiently." He sighed, the frustration simmering just below the surface.

"I need a technique I can rely on, something I can use even with all the eyes constantly watching me in this village."

Renjiro stood, pacing the room as he thought. His mind returned to Kaya's use of the Eight Gates. The technique was perfect for what Renjiro needed—power, explosiveness, and the ability to dominate any opponent, regardless of chakra or jutsu limitations.

"The Eight Gates," Renjiro murmured to himself," That's what I need. That's the perfect technique for me right now."

As the idea solidified in his mind, Renjiro began to map out the path ahead of him.

'But how am I supposed to go about it? he wondered.

Kaya had learned the technique on his own, but was that the best approach for Renjiro?

"I could try contacting Might Duy and befriend him," Renjiro mused out loud. "Or I could try teaching myself the technique. Kaya managed it, so how hard could it be?"

The thought lingered for a moment before Renjiro nodded to himself, "Yes, that might work," he said with conviction. "If I can open the first gate on my own, then I can reach out to Might Duy for advice and guidance."

Feeling more resolved than he had in days, Renjiro began planning his next steps.

"But that said, I need to check out the private library. I'm sure there are other techniques that would be suitable for me in addition to the Eight Gates."

With his mind clear and his path forward mapped out, Renjiro felt a sense of calm wash over him. He returned to his seals, working diligently for the next couple of hours. After that, he rested. He had just returned from a mission and knew that pushing himself too hard would only lead to diminishing returns.

=====

The next morning, Renjiro rose with the dawn, feeling refreshed and ready for the day. His squad was still on break, giving him time to focus on his own training.

Once he finished his training, Renjiro made his way to the Uchiha clan's private library, eager to explore the possibilities that awaited him within its hidden depths.

The private library was tucked away beneath the clan's meeting hall, close to where Daichi's office also resided. It was an unassuming entrance, concealed within the winding corridors of the clan's headquarters.

There were no grand signs or ornate decorations marking the library just a simple, reinforced wooden door with a modest seal embedded in its centre.

'I am sure that Hiruzen knows about this, even if they try to keep it private.' Renjiro mused.

Renjiro knew that there were few things that one could hide under the Hokage's nose. Especially when he kept spying on people with his crystal ball so this was something he was sure Hiruzen knew of.

'Most clans probably have such facilities and are afforded privacy on such matters. But the way that the Village council had been ganging up against the clan, I am not sure if this will keep on being private.' Renjiro thought as he entered the room.

Ahead of him, an older man stood silently near the library's entrance. His posture was rigid yet calm, hands clasped behind his back as he observed his surroundings with an air of quiet authority. His hair was streaked with grey, and his traditional Uchiha robes were immaculate, marked with the clan's red-and-white fan symbol.

Renjiro immediately recognized him as one of the elders of the clan. He hesitated for a moment, trying to recall the elder's name.

'Was his name Toshiaki? Yes, I think that's it. Toshiaki,' Renjiro thought, his brow furrowing slightly.

Though he knew the man by reputation, Renjiro had rarely interacted with him. Elders like Toshiaki often kept to themselves, overseeing the clan's affairs from the shadows while the younger generation took care of more direct duties.

Taking a deep breath, Renjiro approached the elder. 'I should be respectful,' he reminded himself.

As Renjiro neared him, he gave a slight bow, "Good morning, Toshiaki-sama," he greeted, straightening up once again.

Toshiaki's eyes shifted to Renjiro, and though his mouth curled into a polite smile, Renjiro noticed something unsettling.

'He's smiling with his mouth, but his eyes… they haven't changed,' Renjiro thought.

The elder's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. His gaze remained cold, sharp, and calculating, a contrast to the friendly expression he tried to convey.

"Ah, young Renjiro," Toshiaki said, his voice smooth and measured. "It is good to see our youth taking interest in the library. Are you here to study some new jutsu, perhaps?"

Renjiro nodded, keeping his voice even. "Yes, Toshiaki-sama. I was hoping to broaden my knowledge and improve my skills," he replied.

"Hmm, I see. Always good to sharpen one's skills. We can't afford complacency, even within our own clan." Without missing a beat, Toshiaki gestured to a flat metal plate embedded in a pedestal beside him. It was a strange object, marked with intricate seals.

"Before you proceed," Toshiaki said, his voice now carrying a slightly formal tone, "I will need you to place your hands on this plate and activate your Sharingan."

Renjiro's brow furrowed slightly as he looked down at the plate. He noted the seals immediately— though he could not recognize any of them which was interesting.

But he didn't hesitate. He placed his hands on the cold metal surface. Toshiaki watched him closely, his sharp eyes never leaving Renjiro's face.

Toshiaki began, "What is your name and rank within the clan?"

Renjiro blinked in surprise but quickly composed himself. "My name is Uzumaki Renjiro," he answered smoothly. "I'm currently ranked as a chunin and a squad leader."

Toshiaki's gaze remained steady as Renjiro spoke. When the younger Uchiha finished, Toshiaki gave a slight nod, seemingly satisfied. "I see. Then everything is fine"

Renjiro raised an eyebrow at that, though he quickly lowered it, masking his curiosity. He didn't want to appear too inquisitive in front of Toshiaki, but the mention of contributions intrigued him. Before he could ask, Toshiaki continued speaking.

"You have earned enough contribution points to access the first floor of the library," Toshiaki explained, stepping back and gesturing toward the deeper sections of the library.

Renjiro glanced at the elder with a puzzled expression. "Toshiaki-sama if I could ask, what was the point of the questioning?"

=====

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