Read ahead of public release on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley
Check out Chapter illustrations on Pixiv at unhinged_uchiha
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Sora-ku, the 'abandoned' city, Land of Fire
Since Sora-ku lay not far from Konoha, Kanzou and Mikoto reached it after only a few hours of travel at a steady, unhurried pace.
"The atmosphere here… It's as desolate as I remember," Mikoto murmured, raising a hand to shield her face from the dust-laden wind.
Unlike most of the Land of Fire, which was lush and green, the region surrounding Sora-ku was completely barren and unforgiving. Jagged rock stretched in every direction around the city, devoid of vegetation, only a few steps away from becoming a true desert. The wind never seemed to rest, carrying grit and dust through the air at all times.
"Come on. Let's head inside," Kanzou said, stepping forward.
"Hai," Mikoto nodded, adjusting the hood of her cloak to keep the dust from tangling in her hair as she followed him.
Before long, they reached the city's entrance and saw Sora-ku up close. Different most towns of the era, Sora-ku featured unusually modern architecture, tall concrete buildings, some rising as high as ten or perhaps even fifteen stories, giving the city a strangely contemporary feel.
Of course, if one were to speak of truly modern cities, the Land of Rain, and Amegakure in particular, stood apart with its almost cyberpunkish dystopian aesthetic.
Even so, Sora-ku remained undeniably modern in design, yet unmistakably abandoned, at least by ordinary civilians. A very different kind of crowd occupied the city now, something Kanzou and Mikoto quickly noticed as they felt multiple gazes settle on them from the surrounding darkness.
"Kanzou-sama…" Mikoto murmured, her body tensing slightly in caution, though she didn't panic.
"They won't do anything once they notice the emblem on our cloaks," Kanzou replied quietly. The Uchiha Clan visited Sora-ku from time to time, and their reputation was well known across the shinobi world. Most people preferred to avoid any trouble involving Uchihas; the clan's name and emblem alone carried enough weight to inspire fear in most people…
"Hmm…" she hummed lightly and continued walking with him.
Just as he expected, as Kanzou and Mikoto walked hand in hand through Sora-ku's desolate streets, the unseen eyes continued to watch, but no one made a move.
Mikoto wasn't surprised. This wasn't her first visit to Sora-ku. She knew that most observers here would limit themselves to watching. Still, she didn't let her guard down. In a place like this, caution was always wise.
It was only after they crossed a few more streets and drew closer to their destination that trouble finally found them.
"Ohhh, onee-chan~ you're really something!" one of them laughed crudely. "Why don't you come over and keep us company for a while, huh?"
Kanzou was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected anyone to have the nerve to harass Mikoto while she was clearly with him, still holding his hand, no less. The men doing the catcalling didn't even look particularly strong, and were definitely not ninjas. They weren't tall or muscular, just a couple of scruffy figures with cheap tattoos, reeking of alcohol.
"Drunk, huh?" Kanzou murmured with a frown. "No wonder…"
That explained it. Only drunk idiots would have the courage to pick a fight despite recognizing the Uchiha emblem.
"Tsk, tsk… what's wrong, onee-chan?" a third man slurred, eyes glued to Mikoto as he waved dismissively at Kanzou. "No need to be afraid of this big brute. He won't dare do anything." He grinned lecherously. "Why don't you come hang out with us for a bit? This brother promises to treat you gently~"
He then turned toward Kanzou, only to realize he had to crane his neck just to meet his eyes. "Hah? What's with you standing so high and mighty?"
"If you've got the guts, come down here and talk man-to-man!" He cracked his knuckles exaggeratedly. "I'll make sure you learn what it means to respect your elders—"
"Kanzou-sama… I'll—" Mikoto started, preparing to deal with them herself.
"Forget it," Kanzou said calmly, stopping her before she could move. "It'd be too much trouble."
Keeping her hand firmly in his grasp, Kanzou fixed the drunks with an icy stare.
"What—huh? You wanna fight?" one of them slurred, puffing out his chest arrogantly. "Heh… good, good! Then don't blame this father for not giving you face!" He jabbed a thumb at himself, wobbling. "I am the number one martial arts genius of the Drunken Fist Sect of Mount Tai! Once I move, heaven and earth tremble! If you insist on courting death, then this great one will be merciful and personally send you on your way—"
"Scram." Kanzou's voice was flat, almost bored.
The moment the word left his lips, an overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him.
Zzzzzz…
It swept outward like a crushing tide. The drunk man froze mid-gesture, his body trembling violently as his eyes rolled back. White foam bubbled from his mouth before he collapsed unconscious onto the street.
Thud!
He wasn't the only one.
Every drunk who had accompanied him suffered the same fate, dropping one after another like felled trees, mouths foaming as their bodies hit the ground.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The invisible pressure continued to spread outward, rippling through the surrounding streets. Even those hiding in the shadows felt it and trembled slightly. As it traveled farther, its force gradually weakened; most people merely shuddered, goosebumps rising along their skin, unaware of what had caused it.
But those who witnessed what happened to the drunks couldn't help but gulp nervously.
Without breaking stride, Kanzou slipped his free hand into his pocket and drew out several kunai. One by one, he flicked them forward with casual precision.
Dug.
Thud.
Thud.
Each kunai pierced straight through a heart. By the time the last blade struck, every man lay dead.
Kanzou felt nothing. Killing carried no weight for him, and these men had crossed a line by harassing Mikoto right in front of him. That alone had sealed their fate. After all, the only person allowed to harass her was him, and no one else.
'No Evil Points, huh?' he thought. That was expected.
Shaking his head, he said calmly, "Come on."
"Mmm…" Mikoto hummed softly and stepped forward. She walked past the corpse of the man who had tried to touch her, blood spilling from his lifeless mouth as she crossed over him.
Hand in hand, they continued down the street, leaving the bodies behind as if nothing of consequence had happened.
As they disappeared down the street, the tension gripping the onlookers finally eased. Yet when their eyes fell on the corpses, kunai buried deep in their hearts, foam mixed with blood spilling from their mouths, they couldn't help but murmur, "Uchihas… messing with them is never a good idea."
Unbothered by everything else, Kanzou and Mikoto stopped before an underground passage and stepped inside. The tunnel was dark and oppressive, the kind that would unsettle anyone entering it for the first time. But they had passed through it many times before and moved forward without hesitation.
Moments later, something streaked past them at blinding speed, a shadow skimming the walls and whipping up a sharp gust of wind as it vanished.
"That was…" Mikoto murmured, slowing to a stop.
A pair of golden eyes suddenly flared to life in the darkness, floating in midair and glaring down at them. A cold, echoing voice followed.
"Begone, strangers… You are not welcome here."
Kanzou rolled his eyes. "Yoru… do you really want me to turn back?"
"Tsk… it didn't work at all, nya~" the same voice replied, clicking its tongue.
Mikoto smiled. She reached out, lifted the speaker into her arms, and gently stroked its fur. "Yoru-chan… I brought catnip for you and the other cats."
The 'speaker' was clearly a nin-neko, a ninja cat, and nin-nekos were notoriously easy to win over with catnip. Mikoto had prepared some in advance.
As expected, the moment she mentioned it, Yoru's eyes lit up. "Really, nya~? Then give it to me, Mikoto-sama…"
Mikoto nodded and took a few balls of catnip, offering them to Yoru. The ninja cat immediately perked up and eagerly began chewing on them.
Yoru was busy eating, Kanzou asked, "Yoru… why did you come out to greet me?"
"I sensed your chakra, boss," Yoru replied happily, her words slightly muffled as she enjoyed eating.
"Boss?" Mikoto blinked, clearly not expecting a ninja cat to address Kanzou that way.
"It's a story from several years ago," Kanzou said with a shrug, clearly uninterested in revisiting the past.
Mikoto puffed out her cheeks. She wanted to know, and somehow felt it had to be something adorable.
Ignoring her reaction, Kanzou turned back to Yoru. "Neko-baa is here, right?"
"Yeah-nya, she already knows that you are here," Yoru nodded, her golden eyes flicking back to Mikoto, silently asking for more catnip.
Mikoto complied as Kanzou nodded and continued deeper down the passageway.
As they moved along, Yoru spoke up, curiosity clear in his voice. "By the way, boss… what was that thing you used earlier, nya~? It gave me chills and made all my fur stand on end…"
Mikoto glanced at Kanzou as well. Compared to Yoru, who had only sensed it faintly, she had felt its full weight while standing right beside him. She hadn't collapsed like the drunks earlier, but that was only because Kanzou hadn't directed it at her.
That didn't mean she hadn't felt it.
She wanted to believe it had been a genjutsu, one powerful enough to affect many at once. But it clearly wasn't. A genjutsu would have interfered with her chakra, placing it under his control, and that hadn't happened at all.
What she had felt wasn't the manipulation of her Chakra, but presence… sheer, overwhelming, dominating presence.
The sheer sensation of that presence had sent a shiver through her body, making her tremble despite herself. It felt as though her will had been pressed down, as if she were being compelled to submit all over again. Her instincts screamed at her to kneel before him, and she might have, if the force hadn't clearly been undirected, not aimed at her.
"It's called Haoshoku Haki," Kanzou said with a shrug, playing it off casually. "Just a small trick to deal with noisy people. That's all."
"Hmm… is that so…?" Mikoto murmured, clearly unconvinced that it was just a little trick. She smiled and asked softly, "And just how many of these little tricks do you have, Kanzou-sama?"
He chuckled, "How many, you ask?" his hand sliding reassuringly along her back. "There might not be an end to them… these little tricks of mine."
"Really?" she asked, half-thinking he was just showing off. Yet deep down, she knew the truth: there probably was no end to his tricks at all.
As they stepped into the light, the air filled with the shrill cries and constant chatter of countless cats. A young brown-haired woman stood nearby, doing her best to calm them, while a middle-aged woman smoked her pipe, her expression thick with annoyance.
When Kanzou and Mikoto entered, both women turned toward them. The older woman fixed her gaze on the pair, as though she had been waiting for their arrival.
"Did you really have to make such a scene out there, boy?" the woman snapped at Kanzou. "You frightened all my cats. And the other people in the city would also have a word to say about this. Now I'll have to smooth things over with the others, what a headache."
Kanzou shrugged. "What else did you expect me to do?"
"You could have handled it without causing such a disturbance," she shot back. "We felt that chakra all the way here. Half the city must have sensed it."
Mikoto bowed lightly in greeting. "Chiaki-oba-san," she said respectfully, then added in apology, "Kanzou-sama was protecting me. Please ignore this."
"Hmph. At least someone here knows how to apologize," Chiaki snorted, waving a hand as if dismissing the matter. "Still… I didn't expect to see the two of you together."
Mikoto glanced at Kanzou, then smiled as she gently stroked Yoru's fur. "A lot has happened."
"So I've heard," Chiaki replied, turning her sharp gaze on Kanzou. "And you, boy, you've become the Patriarch of the Uchiha Clan." She took another puff of her pipe and scoffed. "I can't say I'm surprised. The fire of ambition was always burning in your eyes. I knew you'd come out on top eventually."
"I'll take that as praise," he replied.
"You should, because I am praising you," Chiaki said with a light smile. She then turned to her daughter. "Misaki, I'm sure you'd like to catch up with Mikoto-sama."
Misaki was Chiaki's daughter. In the original canon, had events unfolded as they were meant to, she would eventually have given birth to a daughter named Tamaki. However, with Kanzou's presence altering the course of events, that future might no longer come to pass, or maybe it'll, nobody knows the future.
For now, there were only Chiaki and Misaki. Misaki was around Mikoto's age, and the two had been on friendly terms for quite some time.
'The one I'd really like to catch up with is Kanzou-sama…' Misaki thought. But she knew it was pointless to seek him out unless he wished it himself. Considering he hadn't even spared her a glance since walking in, it was obvious he had no such intention. So she said nothing about it.
"Hai, Okaa-san," she replied obediently. Stepping forward, she took Mikoto's hand and smiled. "Come with me, Mikoto-sama. I'll show you the new kittens that were just born."
Mikoto glanced at Kanzou for permission. He patted her back and nodded. "I'll join you after I finish discussing a few things with Chiaki-san."
"I see," Mikoto replied softly. She followed Misaki, with Yoru trotting along at their side.
Left alone with him, Chiaki extended her smoking pipe. "Care for a smoke, boy?"
"No. Not needed," Kanzou replied, shaking his head as he took a seat.
"No?" Chiaki raised a brow. "I thought you picked up the habit young. Did you quit?"
"Not really," Kanzou said lightly. "It's the kind of thing you never fully quit. I just keep it rare. Not good for health."
"Haaah, not good for health?" Chiaki scoffed, not believing in that stupid excuse… but she didn't push it since he refused, and after taking a slow drag, she shifted the topic to Mikoto. "So, what's going on with her, Mikoto-sama? Is she the new girl you picked up? What about the previous one, the silver-haired girl? Or the one with glasses? Or that one from the Land of Bears… what village was she from, Hoshigakure, right?"
Chiaki was well aware of Kanzou's habits. Mikoto wasn't the first woman he had brought here, and likely wouldn't be the last.
Kanzou didn't answer. He remained silent.
"If you don't want to talk about it, fine," Chiaki said, exhaling smoke. Then her gaze sharpened. "But what about my Misaki?"
Kanzou paused and sighed. "So… did she tell you?"
"She didn't," Chiaki replied calmly. "But do you really think I wouldn't notice? Every time you come and leave, she disappears for a while. And when she comes back, she carries your scent. She tries to hide it, but I'm her mother."
"Hm…" Kanzou hummed, accepting her explanation without comment.
"Do you intend to abandon her? Is that it?" Chiaki pressed, her voice tightening. "I won't accept something like that. It would break the girl's heart, and I couldn't bear it."
"What do you want me to do?" he asked calmly.
"Take responsibility. What else?" she shot back. "You took her virginity. Now marry her. Make her your wife." She spoke as if stating an obvious fact.
Kanzou scoffed. "Marry her? Do you think she's worthy of marrying me?"
Chiaki fell silent. She didn't know how to answer. Kanzou wasn't an ordinary man, or an ordinary shinobi. He was the Patriarch of the Uchiha Clan, and with that position came obligations: a proper marriage, ideally to someone of pure Uchiha blood. Her daughter, on the other hand, although distantly related to the Uchiha Clan, didn't really carry any Uchiha blood at all. How could she ever be accepted as the Uchiha Patriarch's wife?
She understood that reality.
But as a mother, how could she accept it? Her gaze hardened as she asked coldly, "Then who is worthy of marrying you? Mikoto-sama? Is she worthy?"
"Hmm… maybe," Kanzou replied with a nod.
Chiaki froze. "You… boy, are you serious?"
"What do you think?" Kanzou replied, meeting her stare without flinching.
Chiaki already had her answer, but that didn't make it any easier to accept. Still, she asked, her voice tight, "Then what about my daughter? Do you truly intend to abandon her…?"
"I could keep her around, as a mistress or something," Kanzou replied casually. "Visit her from time to time." He paused before adding, "She knew what she was getting into when she came looking for me. She understands her own limits, the kind of man I am, and the kind of future seeking me out awaits her. Still… I suppose I'll talk to her about it."
Chiaki couldn't accept that answer, but what choice did she have? She had been without real choices for a long time now.
"Fine… just don't break her heart," she said at last, relenting as she clung to the fragile hope that her daughter's heart wouldn't be completely shattered.
Kanzou gave no response, neither affirmation nor denial. He simply set the matter aside and turned to what truly mattered, the reason he had come in the first place. Reaching into his pocket, he took out a folded sheet of paper and handed it to her.
"This is an order for tools," he said calmly. "Nothing unusual, just the standard equipment the Uchiha Clan has always purchased from your Clan. I'm placing the order again."
Chiaki took the list, scanned it, and nodded. "It'll be done and delivered." She placed the paper on the table, then looked back at him. "But this isn't why you came here, is it?" After all, if this were the only reason, there was no need for him to come personally. He could have easily sent one of his subordinates instead.
Kanzou nodded. "I need a few cats, not ninja cats, ordinary ones… roaming around Konoha. Eventually, I'll need them active beyond the village as well, but for now, Konoha is enough."
"You need cats in Konoha?" Chiaki frowned. "What are you planning?" His tone and timing told her this wasn't a trivial request.
"That's not your concern," Kanzou replied evenly. "And I'm not planning anything major. I just want information to reach my table. That's all."
He wasn't lying. For now, at least, he truly wasn't planning anything grand, only ensuring he wouldn't be caught off guard later.
"Alright… I'll make sure they stay active," she nodded, then asked, "Anything else?"
"No… that's all," he replied as he stood up. He paused, then turned back. "Wait, there is one more thing."
She frowned. "What is it?"
There was no subtle way to say it, so he spoke plainly. "Fugaku may, or may not, come here in my absence. Be careful."
He didn't think the chances were high. Fugaku wouldn't risk angering him or drawing Kanzou's attention upon him unless he believed he could handle the consequences. Still, if Fugaku thought Sarutobi Hiruzen was protecting him, especially after being hidden away, he might grow bold and try to interfere here… maybe even try to kill her to cut off the Clan's weapon supply.
Chiaki's expression darkened instantly. "What do you mean, he might come here? You expect me to be able to handle him?"
"You don't need to deal with him," Kanzou said calmly. "If he shows up, tell him this has nothing to do with Uchiha's internal affairs. Your Clan is just a supplier of weapons. Your Clan supplied us with weapons in the time of Madara, you did so the same under Douma, and you are doing the same under me, and you'll do the same for whoever comes after me. You're a businesswoman. Touching you would be pointless… and it would also break the alliance between your Clan and the Uchiha Clan… because I can always look for other suppliers…"
"That only makes me more worried, it's like I am disposable…!" she snapped. "Should I be worried or not? And why didn't you just get rid of him? You left him as an enemy. That can come back to bite you."
"I think keeping him around could be entertaining," Kanzou replied with a shrug.
Chiaki stared at him, deeply unsettled. "Maybe for you. Not for people who can't deal with him. My Clan definitely can't deal with someone like him… Now I really am worried. I might need to go into hiding."
Kanzou could crush Fugaku if it came to that. She couldn't, nor can anyone else in her Clan. If Fugaku decided to target her or her Clan, it would be a serious problem.
"Hm… not a bad idea," Kanzou nodded. "You could change your base of operations… or you could call some members of your Clan to protect you…"
"Don't be stupid… no one in my Clan can fight against Fugaku!" Chiaki immediately shook her head. Although members of her Clan were also Shinobi… and there were two or three Jōnin Class as well…
With that, he turned and walked off, heading to find Mikoto.
Chiaki exhaled sharply, tension coiling in her chest. She hoped it wouldn't come to that. Her reputation was rooted here, and Sora-ku, being a black-market city, offered its own protection from the government and other things. Abandoning it would be a nightmare.
"Brat!" she shouted after him. "I'm not moving my base! You caused this problem—so fix it! Fix it for me, damn it!"
"Hm… I'll see what I can do," Kanzou replied absently, already walking away.
It wasn't as if he lacked ways to protect Chiaki. He had options.
'Should I send a message to Hiroku? Or maybe Natsuhi?' he wondered.
As for Hiroku, he wasn't confident. 'He probably hasn't made much progress with his jutsu. He might not be a match for Fugaku. But Natsuhi, on the other hand… Hmm…'
Lost in thought, Kanzou continued on his way.
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Click here for Misaki's image.
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Now, let's also set up some Power Stone goals. The current target is 100 PS within the next 24 hours. So drop your damn Power Stonessssssssss!
Read ahead of public release on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley
Check out Chapter illustrations on Pixiv: unhinged_uchiha