Kapitel 91: **Chapter 92: You're Not Even as Good as Your Brother**
"Hancock refused? Just as I expected!"
"Lord Reijin, I've already sent Hinata to the island to gather intel and create a detailed map. We'll have complete knowledge of the Kuja Pirates."
"Good. If you need more help, you can have Izumi assist you."
Reijin hung up the transponder snail, his face showing no particular emotion.
He had already anticipated that the Kuja Pirates would reject his offer. If they had agreed, Reijin would have been suspicious. After all, the conditions he proposed were so harsh that they didn't even consider them human. No reasonable person would accept such terms.
So from the start, Reijin had planned for war with the Kuja Pirates. He didn't trust them enough for an alliance or marriage arrangement. There was always a chance that Hancock might betray the Uchiha clan for her own gain. Besides, in Reijin's view, the Uchiha had no true allies. To become his ally, one would need to have equal strength. Hancock, in Reijin's eyes, was best suited as a subordinate.
Reijin left the palace, and the maids who saw him quickly bowed in respect. After walking for a while, he reached a flower field and entered a residence.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
He gently knocked on the door. A beautiful woman slightly opened the door, her eyes filled with anger as she peered through the small gap at Reijin.
"Uchiha Reijin!"
Mikoto positioned Sasuke behind her protectively. Right now, Sasuke was her only reason to keep going, the only thing that kept her from ending it all in this strange world. If it weren't for Sasuke, she might have done something drastic already.
"Mikoto, aren't you going to invite me in?"
Reijin's usual cold demeanor softened as he returned to his more amiable self, like he was back in Konoha. A faint smile appeared on his face, and he spoke in a gentle tone.
"…Come in."
Mikoto hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped aside. Even though she had countless times wanted to kill this detestable man, she knew she didn't have the power to do so and could only survive with Sasuke by her side.
"Where's my brother? Why didn't he come with you? What happened between you two?"
Sasuke immediately rushed to Reijin, grabbing his clothes and demanding answers. The last time he heard Itachi's voice was when Reijin killed him. Sasuke never even got to see his brother's face, only hearing his voice. After that, no one mentioned Itachi. Whenever Sasuke asked others in the clan, they remained silent. Even when he asked Izumi, she wouldn't say a word. Sasuke felt like the entire clan had changed. His father had disappeared, Reijin became the new clan leader, and his brother's whereabouts were unknown. The clan members refused to talk about it.
"Your brother? Your brother was a traitor to the Uchiha clan."
"As a traitor, I don't need to tell you his fate, do I?"
Reijin smiled as he spoke, leaning down to get closer to Sasuke's face.
*Slap!*
Sasuke felt as if he'd been struck by lightning and collapsed to the ground. He couldn't believe that his kind, gentle brother was a traitor to the clan. From a young age, Sasuke had been taught by Fugaku that the Uchiha clan was everything, making Reijin's task much easier.
"Impossible! There's no way my brother betrayed the Uchiha clan!"
Sasuke stubbornly lifted his head, forcing himself to meet Reijin's gaze.
"Sasuke…"
Mikoto tried to step forward, but Reijin trapped her with a genjutsu, leaving her frozen, forced to watch as this dangerous man spoke to Sasuke.
"You don't believe me? Then you can ask Izumi! She can tell you everything."
"Itachi killed the clan members! He tried to wipe out the Uchiha clan."
"She can tell you everything, but even if you know, what can you do?"
"As the son of the former clan leader, do you understand the responsibility you carry?"
"Are you willing to repay the debts your father and Itachi owe the Uchiha?"
Reijin's cold eyes stared at Sasuke, the Mangekyō Sharingan glowing. The intense pressure from Reijin's chakra left Sasuke struggling to breathe.
He didn't understand what Reijin was talking about. Why did his father have debts? What had Itachi done to betray the Uchiha clan?
"If you're willing… go find Izumi. She'll tell you everything."
"She can even use the Sharingan to show you the entire sequence of events."
"But you'd better be ready to become the executioner."
"The Uchiha clan doesn't tolerate weakness."
"We fight until the last drop of our blood is spilled."
Reijin's harsh words echoed in Sasuke's ears. Sasuke, as the reincarnation of Indra's chakra, was meant to achieve the highest in the Uchiha clan. Reijin was willing to invest in him, but only if Sasuke was ready to bear the Uchiha clan's hatred.
Sasuke took a step back and looked at Uchiha Mikoto, who was standing there.
He had no other thoughts and immediately pushed the door open, running outside.
In Sasuke's heart, the answer was more important than anything else.
Fugaku's education was still pretty good; at least it instilled in Sasuke a belief that the family was above all.
"Uchiha Reijin, what are you trying to do?"
After the genjutsu faded, Mikoto saw everything with her own eyes.
She rushed at Reijin, grabbed his collar, and shouted angrily, as if she had gone mad.
To her, Reijin was nothing less than a demon from hell.
He had torn her family apart, and now he filled her son's eyes with hatred.
"If his father and brother are intent on leading the Uchiha clan to destruction..."
"Then he has to bear the responsibility of those two."
"And Sasuke has great potential."
"Mikoto, I don't think you want Sasuke to live here as an ordinary person for the rest of his life, do you?"
"There's nothing wrong with being ordinary, but he won't be able to control his own life or death."
"This vast sea is far more brutal than the ninja world ever was."
"Sasuke could die a violent death if he's not careful."
"You need to think it through."
Reijin's face returned to its usual calm expression. To him, Uchiha Mikoto had nothing of value.
As for her charm?
There were many women more beautiful than Mikoto on the high seas.
Plenty of them! If Reijin really wanted to, he could find countless women to fall into his arms.
As for Uchiha Mikoto, she was nothing more than a wilted flower.
She hadn't reached the level where Reijin would take her seriously.
What Reijin wanted to see now was Sasuke's potential.
How far could Sasuke's talents be pushed under his provocation?
"You..."
At that moment, Uchiha Mikoto didn't know what to say.
She wanted to say that she just wanted Sasuke to live an ordinary life.
To get married and have children in this world.
But after spending some time here, how could Mikoto possibly say something like that?
This sea was overrun by pirates, and powerful pirates could destroy an entire island.
Pirate invasions were countless, and it was impossible for her to expect Sasuke to live a peaceful life.
But the environment wouldn't allow them to live so peacefully.
The two sat in the room, Reijin casually sitting on the sofa.
He admired the flower field outside; the scenery here wasn't bad.
At least during this time, Uchiha Mikoto hadn't caused any trouble.
Originally, Reijin had planned to wait for Uchiha Mikoto to come looking for trouble herself.
Now he had to personally try to awaken Sasuke.
Mikoto, too, stood there, anxiety in her eyes.
Her palms were sweaty, unsure of how she felt.
As for what Itachi had done, she had heard some things from Izumi.
And Fugaku...
Among the Uchiha, he was considered a traitor.
Because of his weakness, Reijin had called him a traitor.
If he had been stronger, Uchiha Reijin wouldn't have split the Uchiha clan.
He might have even fought alongside Fugaku against Konoha, allowing the Uchiha clan to thrive under Konoha's protection.
But as Fugaku's wife, she knew his character best.
He was too easily led by the nose.
And that's why the Uchiha clan found themselves out of place on all sides.
She had no complaints, especially seeing the Uchiha clan living well here.
Now, Mikoto didn't even know how to speak for her husband.
"Bam!"
At that moment, the door was pushed open.
A child with bright red eyes walked in.
In his eyes, a single tomoe Sharingan was clearly visible.
Chakra was raging around him.
This was the sign of an Uchiha just awakening the Sharingan.
"Sasuke!"
Mikoto was extremely surprised. She had originally thought Reijin's claims about Sasuke's potential were lies.
But unexpectedly, Sasuke awakened the Sharingan at such a young age, almost as early as his brother.
He might even have the talent to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Uchiha Reijin, I will take responsibility for what my brother and father did."
"I will work for the prosperity of the Uchiha clan, but... I will eventually kill you."
Uchiha Sasuke's eyes glowed red, his small chest heaving.
The killing intent in his eyes was brewing as he locked onto Reijin as his target.
In his eyes, Reijin had done nothing wrong, even correcting the mistakes of Fugaku and Itachi.
And he led the Uchiha clan toward a new life, once again on the path to revival.
But his brother was dead, and his father's fate was unknown.
Sasuke's mind was in turmoil, his beliefs shaken.
These words were forced out of his mouth.
Accept Reijin?
Sasuke couldn't do it!
But if Reijin could lead the Uchiha to revival...
Then Sasuke, once powerful, could do the same.
At that time, Reijin would no longer be needed.
He could be discarded at any time!
That would be when his own revival would begin.
"With just you?"
Reijin grabbed Sasuke's head with one hand.
The single-tomoe Sharingan met the Mangekyo Sharingan.
In an instant, Sasuke's mind went blank.
The genjutsu invaded his brain; he could sense everything around him.
But, like Mikoto earlier, Sasuke couldn't do anything.
Reijin punched Sasuke in the stomach.
"Ugh!"
Sasuke vomited, bile spilling from his mouth.
He kept retching, trying desperately to break free from Reijin's grasp.
But it was useless; he could only dangle in midair.
"You're far weaker than Itachi."
"At least Itachi could put up a fight in front of me."
Reijin looked at Sasuke, quickly losing interest.
He tossed Sasuke away with a flick of his wrist.
Bam!
Sasuke's body flew through the air, crashing through the wooden door and skidding several meters.
He landed hard, pain shooting through his entire body.
Sasuke felt like there wasn't an uninjured part of him.
Mikoto hurried to Sasuke's side to check him over, relieved to find no serious injuries.
Reijin sneered in contempt.
Defeat me?
You're not even close to becoming Indra's reincarnation.
Sorry!
Even if Indra himself showed up, he wouldn't stand a chance.
Once I unlock the Rinnegan, even the Sage of Six Paths will have to kneel.
The future of the Uchiha clan is tied to Reijin, not to Sasuke.
Sasuke's thoughts didn't matter much to him.
What mattered was Sasuke's future, becoming another powerful force for him.
With Ashura's Sage Body, he could nourish the Mangekyo Sharingan.
In the future, once he's rewarded with Indra's Sage Eyes, he might directly awaken the Rinnegan.
But when exactly? That would depend on the Uchiha's rate of expansion.
Given the current situation, it would take at least another ten years.
"If you want to defeat me, then get stronger! I won't wait for you."
"Your admission letter will be on your desk."
Reijin's figure disappeared, leaving only those words behind.
In the flower field, the mother and son looked at each other.
Mikoto's eyes were full of pain.
In the end, Sasuke had taken on the burden of hatred.
And Sasuke was filled with frustration.
Not as good as Itachi?
Not as good as that so-called traitor?
He would prove otherwise.
"Is the Navy Vice Admiral here?"
Reijin asked toward the open space.
Shiranui Genma appeared before Reijin, a senbon in his mouth.
"He's already at the port. It won't be long before he meets Tsunade-sama."
"Tell Tsunade to be cautious, not to expose herself."
"Yes!"
Shiranui Genma's figure disappeared in front of Reijin.
Reijin looked toward the port, a smile playing on his lips.
Isn't this just the person he was looking for to bring him the Mori Mori no Mi fruit?
If Tsunade got the Mori Mori no Mi, could she recreate the glory of Hashirama Senju?
She would likely become a candidate for Admiral in the Navy.
That would give the Navy someone with real power.
As for whether the Navy would trust Tsunade, Reijin wasn't one to take such pointless risks.
And if Tsunade turned against him after getting the Mori Mori no Mi?
After all, they came from the same village!
And Reijin was the one who brought her here, so they should have some mutual respect, right?
They could work together to rule this world. If she disagreed...
Then replacing Tsunade with White Zetsu was a decent option too.
Let Tsunade become a real plant in every sense of the word.
(The end of this chapter)
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein