When I had made the proposal, Advisor Koharu had a complicated expression on her face. The village was short on medical-nin. It always was. Especially during recovery from a war. But training 30 of them in one go. That was considerable. But she had given in simply because the village was too short on them to play politics.
That's how the summer legion found itself in a conference room in the hospital getting checked for Chakra control for Medical Ninjutsu. The Yami ensured they passed. Most would never progress beyond average medical-nin. But their numbers meant a lot.
My plan for the clan was going splendidly. What it was, you ask? It was simple. To become integrated into Konoha's power structure in a way that doesn't force us onto the frontlines. This meant logistics and medical, because here, power was based on war potential. Or they could have had elections like us.
In any case. As their first class started. I pulled Haruto aside into a side room. I wanted to know.
"Haruto, tell me." My meaningful gaze made him sigh.
"Clan head, that stunt with the Yamigami has actually drawn a lot of resentment."
"But why, I told you what it was. And I gave you the option to opt out of it."
Haruto just stared. Then his expression went, Oh, what the hell, let's do this!
"Lord Ren, from your perspective, it might have felt a unanimous and harmonious decision. But from ours. It was a shock. With all due respect, one speech is not enough to truly describe all the implications of it. Most just stepped forward out of loyalty. The rest was because others were stepping out. And those that disagreed. Stepped forward because not doing so would create an outer and an inner faction. In which they will be outside. I know you gave us that option. But we couldn't take it at that time."
I was flabbergasted. I had been completely blindsided. Is this what they call shadows under the lamp? I had been thinking that I was so smart. But the truth was looking a lot more ugly. When had my warm, sweet family turned into this? Power struggles, schemes, and hidden resentments? Had I done something wrong? If yes, then what?
"Also, Lord Ren, some other actions of yours seem illogical."
I raised my head. "Like?"
"For example, the new clan location. I surveyed and analyzed it. It is not bad, but it is nowhere near as cheap and good as many of the other options we have. You always say that there has been due consideration. In what regard?
Or like the fact that you said that very tough times are ahead. But according to what I can tell. The next war should be at least a decade or more away. What are we preparing for that the Yami were considered necessary?
Sometimes you just do stuff without due consideration and spontaneously. And you do not understand that even the smallest of your decisions affects the whole clan. Like that night you came back drunk. Now, half the clan thinks getting blacked out drunk is cool."
He went on to list a lot of stuff. At one point, I realized with the amount of mistakes I had made, and understood why those born to lead were trained rigorously since they can toddle.
I made a decision then and there. I will make Haruto the deputy clan head. The boy had clearly shown political talent and management ability. The problems he told me weren't told in the average blame gossip way. But in a critical way, with a possible solution. But I would think about it hard this time. No spontaneous decisions.
I sent him back and went out for a walk. I needed to clear my head. I was slowly realizing that my political dealings had been subpar within and outside the clan. I hadn't suffered yet because of the Hokage's support and my own identity as a genius. But they won't protect me always, especially since I was nearing a stage of Major clans.
(I would later come to realize how stupid I had been to think that.)
I decided to visit Handa, and later, my team. I wanted to talk to someone. And also restart the missions. With that surprise upgrade. It was better to go all the way to Jonin by raking in achievements. I should be pretty near right?
-----
"What changed?" Kagenori Sensei questioned.
"Nothing." I brushed him off. As a sensor Shinobi, he could always sense the major changes in me. But he had never asked seriously. All shinobis have their secrets. He knew I wouldn't tell him. But he shot his shots anyway.
"Well, I could ask the Hokage to put us on missions again. But this time, I'm not asking what you did to increase your strength so fast. But what changed in the situation? It's still the same as before."
"Yes, I could hide. But for how long? I am a shinobi. And if I want to grow, I will have to fight."
He rubbed his chin. "Fine. But no guarantees."
"I wouldn't ask for any."
"By the way, are Rina and Souta okay now?"
They had been avoiding each other. I had told Souta what he did. Rina already knew. Now it was all awkward.
"No Sensei, but I am guessing that a few missions hunting missing genin. And they will be just fine."
"Or they will be too fine and we'll have a problem on our hands."
Relationships between the same team Shinobis were problematic. It introduced a factor of emotions into the cold, hard logic on which Shinobi operated. Especially during high-risk missions.
But oh well. It's not as if I could do something about it.
I took my leave and returned to the clan. After that meeting and that review. I had things to do over the next few months. A lot of things.