Naraku looked at the letter in his hand, expression darkening. Soul-type ninjutsu—aside from the copy in the Scroll of Seals—could only be obtained from three sources: the Yamanaka clan, the Kato clan, or Orochimaru.
Naraku had already sent an emissary to the Yamanaka clan bearing a formal visiting card, but was summarily rejected.
They were all shinobi. A simple visit shouldn't have warranted such disrespect. Naraku hadn't expected the Yamanaka clan to be so blunt.
But the Ino–Shika–Chō trio had always been the core of the Hokage's faction. Though Sarutobi and his allies wouldn't publicly suppress the Uchiha, their close supporters were far less restrained.
Naraku flicked his fingers, conjuring a small flame and burning the letter into ash. He didn't want to see those words ever again.
---
Kato Clan Compound
At the gate of the clan's territory, the Kato clan head, Kato Taro, stood silently, waiting with a child beside him.
The Kato were a minor clan in Konoha, situated in a neighborhood where many small clans lived. Once, the family's fame had surged thanks to the renowned Jōnin Kato Dan, who was well-known throughout Konoha for his powerful Spiritualization Technique. On the battlefield, Dan had slain countless enemies with it.
Even more, he was known as Tsunade's first love, which gave the Kato clan brief prestige in the village.
But after Kato Dan perished in war, the family fell into decline. No one in the newer generations had been able to master the Spiritualization Technique. Today, the clan had only a few Chūnin, and most of their shinobi talent had withered.
Kato Taro, now in his fifties, was a retired Chūnin himself. He looked after the ancestral shrine and internal clan affairs. A relic of the village's early days, he still remembered the chaos of the Warring States Period and appreciated the relative peace of Konoha, however fragile.
He glanced up—finally, the one he was waiting for appeared.
A tall man approached in a black shinobi cloak embroidered with golden rice ear insignias, a purple haori draped over it. On his back was the unmistakable Uchiha fan crest.
It was Uchiha Naraku.
"Grandfather Dairo."
Naraku greeted the old clan head respectfully. Though Naraku came from the most powerful clan in Konoha, he still paid homage to his elders.
"Lord Naraku, please—this way!"
Kato Taro bowed slightly and led Naraku into the compound.
The Kato had only ten houses—clearly a declining clan. But the clan head treated Naraku's visit with the utmost care, arriving early to personally welcome him.
Naraku was reassured by the reception. If they had treated him like the Yamanaka clan had, things would've taken a different turn.
Naraku followed Kato Taro into his home and took a seat. A servant brought over tea.
"To have Lord Naraku visit our humble clan—it is a great honor,"
said Kato Taro, his tone formal, though his eyes betrayed curiosity.
He could already guess why Naraku had come. For a small clan like theirs, it could only mean one thing—Naraku had a use for them. And if the Kato could seize the opportunity, their fortunes might reverse.
Unlike the large clans, they lacked numbers. If they offended someone like Naraku and ended up harassed by the Konoha Military Police Force, their extinction would be swift.
If the Kato could cling to Naraku's side and secure roles in the Police Force, the decline could stop—or perhaps even transform into a resurgence.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Taro. The Konoha Police Force is currently short on manpower. We are seeking reliable shinobi to contribute to the village's stability."
Kato Taro was briefly stunned. If he couldn't read this message, he wouldn't deserve to be clan head.
"Lord Naraku, our Kato clan has shed blood for Konoha through the generations. Many of our kin fell during the Shinobi Wars. We would be honored to serve again, if you find us suitable."
"Indeed," Naraku nodded, fingers gently tapping the edge of the teacup. "I've heard of your relative, Kato Dan—a powerful shinobi, loyal to the end. I have no doubt his descendants will be just as capable."
Kato Taro smiled politely. Though he still didn't know why Naraku was after soul-type ninjutsu, he understood this was about more than manpower.
The Spiritualization Technique was an S-rank jutsu. Even within the Kato clan, only Kato Dan had ever succeeded in mastering it. Its difficulty was immense; many who tried suffered grave injuries or death. Most clan members viewed it as more a burden than a treasure.
Yet, if trading this dangerous jutsu could buy the Kato clan's future—it would be worth it.
After a moment of silent thought, Kato Taro pulled out a compact scroll from inside his robe.
"Lord Naraku, this contains the Spiritualization Technique, the very jutsu Dan once wielded. But I must ask: please do not allow this ninjutsu to spread within Konoha."
"As an S-rank soul-based jutsu, it is extremely dangerous. If one's control slips, it can end in death."
Kato Taro spoke slowly, knowing the Kato clan's decline was closely tied to this very technique. Soul-based jutsu were inherently unstable and unforgiving.
"I understand, Lord Taro," Naraku said solemnly. "You have my word. I have interest in the technique for study only. It will not be disseminated."
"Then I am at ease."
Taro motioned to the page standing nearby. The boy stepped forward and handed the scroll to Naraku.
Naraku unrolled it slightly—rows of densely packed, complex kanji filled the parchment. The structure of the jutsu was intricate, far beyond ordinary techniques. As expected of an S-rank jutsu.
Naraku was pleased. The visit had gone even smoother than expected.
"The Police Force is looking to expand by ten to twenty personnel. Would your clan be able to provide candidates?"
"Yes," Kato Taro replied after a moment's thought. "Including some trusted friends of the clan, we can reach twenty."
With less than ten shinobi in the clan, he'd clearly need to recruit externally—but Naraku didn't mind.
Naraku smiled faintly. He knew what Kato Taro was thinking. With fewer than ten active shinobi, the rest would be handpicked allies or civilians willing to join. In return, Taro would likely collect some compensation for arranging their entry—playing the role of a broker.
But it didn't matter. Naraku was using Uchiha clan funds to support the Police Force. An extra twenty or thirty personnel was no burden, and the addition of smaller clans was valuable for political balance.
"If the Kato clan joins the force, it may reach even greater heights. That's all for today. The Police Department awaits your clan's contributions."
"Understood! Thank you, Lord Naraku!"
The scroll was now in hand, and Naraku had no intention of staying longer. It was better to return and begin studying the technique—perhaps it held deeper insights into the soul that could serve his larger goals.
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