Chapter 86: Teaching Begins, Ruthless Punishment
Early the next morning, Uchiha Tonan disguised himself as Abe Seimei and arrived at the Daimyō's mansion. Taking in the grand architecture and meticulously kept grounds, Tonan clasped his hands behind his back and strolled inside deliberately.
"Seimei-sama, this way, please." The guards stationed at the gates had been informed in advance of his arrival and escorted him to the study hall. Naraku and Nahara hadn't arrived yet.
"Seimei-sama, please have some tea and wait for a moment."
Tonan sat down and took a careful sip of the steaming tea. Then, with a calm yet commanding voice, he instructed the attendant, "Bring me a whip, rope, wooden stake, bucket of cold water, a candle, and a katana."
The attendant blinked in surprise, unsure why the elderly man requested such unusual items. But he said nothing and bowed, "Understood, Seimei-sama."
Soon the attendant returned with the items. Tonan ordered that the wooden stake be set up in the courtyard, while the other tools were placed just outside the study hall's corridor.
Half an hour later, both young lords entered the study hall together. Nahara was in a playful mood, fidgeting and touching whatever caught his eye, showing little interest in the lesson ahead.
In stark contrast, his older brother Naraku was much more composed. Nahara barely glanced at Tonan, who was seated with his eyes closed, while Naraku respectfully bowed at the door and greeted, "Seimei-sensei."
Only after Tonan gave a slight nod did Naraku take his seat properly. Tonan then opened his eyes slowly and said with calm authority, "From today onward, I will teach you both for three hours each day, followed by an hour of testing. Now, the lesson begins—pay close attention."
Immediately, Tonan launched into his lecture. Naraku listened intently, occasionally furrowing his brow in thought or nodding in understanding. Nahara, however, was already drooling on the edge of the table, his attention completely lost.
...
Time passed quickly, and the lecture concluded. Tonan handed out the test papers and nodded for them to begin.
Naraku picked up his brush and carefully recalled the day's teachings, adding his own reasoning as he earnestly wrote his answers.
Meanwhile, Nahara's test paper was soaked through with drool…
After an hour, Tonan glanced at the blazing sun outside—it was already noon. He rose and began collecting the papers.
His movement startled Nahara awake. He straightened himself and wiped drool from his mouth. "Is class over?"
Tonan, now seated again, laid Nahara's blank test aside and picked up Naraku's paper.
Examining it, Tonan said bluntly, "Second Highness, you may return and rest."
Hearing this, Nahara quickly got up and left the study hall, relieved.
"As for the First Highness…" Tonan's expression darkened considerably, his frown deepening as he held up Naraku's paper.
Then, with a sudden, sharp motion, he balled up the test and flung it directly at Naraku's face. "Look at this mess! Your answers are absolute rubbish! Even a three-year-old could do better!"
Naraku was stunned. He couldn't understand why the teacher was so furious. He had taken the test seriously, thoughtfully answering every question.
Still, he was always polite and well-behaved. Faced with Tonan's harsh rebuke, he stammered, "Seimei-sensei… I—"
Tonan drew in a deep breath, as if forcing himself to control his anger. Then, pointing at the wooden stake in the courtyard, he said with a grave tone, "Take off your shirt and stand there, back against the stake."
Naraku hesitated but obeyed. He removed his shirt, stepped into the courtyard, and stood against the stake.
Tonan picked up the rope and tightly bound Naraku to the stake, winding the coarse rope around his torso until it was so tight Naraku struggled to breathe.
"Seimei-sensei, why are you tying me up?" Naraku's voice trembled with panic.
Tonan picked up the whip and smiled coldly. "If you don't study properly, you must suffer the consequences."
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
"Help! Someone, save me!"
Tonan was relentless. The thick leather whip lashed down, tearing into Naraku's flesh. The pain was unbearable. Anyone would break under such punishment, especially someone like Naraku, who had been spoiled all his life.
"The Daimyō has authorized me to punish you both as I see fit if your studies don't improve."
Naraku gasped between lashes, "But why me? At least I wrote something! Nahara turned in a blank paper! Why am I the one being punished?"
"You dare question me? Today, I will teach you the meaning of respect for your sensei."
Crack!
...
After half an hour of whipping, Tonan finally dropped the whip. "Report to the study hall at four o'clock tomorrow morning. Be punctual."
The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly. Naraku's face was pale, sweat mixing with his wounds, making the pain sting even more.
"Yes…" Naraku gasped, then fainted.
Tonan glanced at him coldly before leaving the courtyard. He summoned an attendant and instructed, "Take the First Highness to rest."
The attendants had heard Naraku's cries of pain but, following the Daimyō's orders, they did not enter the courtyard without Tonan's permission.
As for the First Highness's safety, they had no cause for concern—secret guards were stationed throughout the mansion.
The attendants hurriedly untied Naraku and helped him away.
The next day, just before dawn at four o'clock, Sarutobi Shinnosuke hid in the shadows, staring boredly at the stars.
Suddenly, footsteps approached. He immediately raised his guard and peered toward the noise. He recognized Tonan disguised as Abe Seimei.
"He's the First Highness's tutor, Seimei-dono…"
Remembering the Daimyō's strict instructions, Shinnosuke stayed hidden.
Tonan strode straight to Naraku's quarters and kicked the door open.
Startled awake from a deep sleep, Naraku fell from his bed, hitting his head on the floor and becoming dizzy.
"Do you know what time it is? Disobeying your sensei's orders deserves punishment."
Tonan grabbed the half-dressed Naraku and dragged him to the study hall courtyard.
He tied him firmly once again to the stake.
"Since you enjoy sleeping late, you can sleep here." Tonan splashed a bucket of cold water over Naraku.
After yesterday's brutal whipping and now this freezing dousing, who could endure such treatment?
Naraku was shocked awake instantly. Seeing the white-haired man looming over him, he trembled uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Tonan retrieved the katana and candle from the corridor, plunged the sheathed sword blade-first into the ground, then lit the candle.
"If you want to resist me, pick up this sword and kill me. But right now, you're not even worthy to hold a sword."
With slow, deliberate steps, Tonan approached Naraku. The boy's pupils shrank in terror as he struggled and screamed, "Let me go! I don't want to study! I don't want to study!"