The Fire of a Not-Uchiha

Chapter 8 - Danzo

Chat, is this real?

Now that he isn't focusing so much on surviving, he realizes how strange the technology of this world is. There are no cellphones, but there are computers. They have people who can teleport but no projectile weapons other than blades? Weird, but Shouto isn't about to introduce the idea of a gun to a wartorn civilization. 'Disastrous' wouldn't even be able to cover the fallout.

Regardless, without a phone, internet, or really most of the stuff he's used to, he gains a new appreciation for books, since they're really his only method of gaining information. Still, the main and rather obvious problem is the heavy censorship over literally every single piece of published literature.

He didn't spend much time reading in Kirigakure, but given the state of the political landscape, he's sure it's the same if not worse over there. Konohagakure, on the other hand, is a nation that seems to pride itself on teamwork and learning together (or whatever other garbage they try to spew in Academy classes), and yet the library is almost frustratingly barren. Anything history not told from the Konoha perspective is missing, all of the fiction stories are directly related to shinobi life, there aren't even any cookbooks because apparently, basic life skills are a waste of time for a population that probably won't make it past their 20s.

It's all about personal growth, mainly. Which is why he finds it so incredibly odd that the Academy is so heavily focused on collaboration when all of the other media sources say the exact opposite. Ninja codes, weapon usage, weaknesses of elemental classes, fighting on difficult terrain, poisons... Konohagakure isn't even actively at war but it seems like they're always preparing for one.

The section on medical research is notably dry as well.

Regardless, he spends most of his time reading and being generally antisocial.

The library is always dead silent, but there are shinobi of all kinds in it. The environment is nice, even if the reading selection is lackluster.

He exits the library one evening with a few more books, paying half-attention to his surroundings and the rest is dedicated to miscellaneous thoughts.

"Itsuki-kun," A voice breaks him from his thoughts and that's when he realizes that he's in an alley. Weird. He was definitely on his normal route to the compound, but okay.

He looks up to find Councilman Danzo.

That's... not good.

"Councilman Danzo," Shouto greets, bowing low even as his body protests the movement.

"You may rise, lad," the councilman says with a benign smile.

Shouto gives the old man a look, trying to gauge his intentions. He knows he's a paranoid person by nature, it's hard not to be given his... well, everything, but maybe this man is just that. An old man.

"Thank you, sir," he says, trying to keep what Shisui taught him in mind. In an isolated environment, it's easy to remember everything he learned but this is the real deal, now.

"You're quite the interesting one, hm?" the man asks, still smiling as he talks. "I don't think we've ever had someone quite like you in our ranks."

Ah. Well, definitely not just an old man, then. Shouto wonders if this spiel works on anyone else because it's so obviously a manipulation tactic. Compliments on top of compliments, trying to convince Shouto of his own uniqueness.

"Thank you, sir," he repeats, keeping his tone light as his skin crawls. The councilman gives him a once-over, eyes calculating.

"It must be boring for you, in the Academy," the councilman's voice tinges into sympathy and Shouto can't even tell if it's real or not. It must be fake but it sounds so genuine. "I've seen your test scores, you are... extraordinary."