Naruto: The Outsider's Resolve: CH_318

Takuma sat in Maruboshi's living room, gazing at the package that had arrived for him via the courier. Maruboshi was on an overnight wilderness trip, leaving him alone at the house.

Even though ANBU had given them seven days to a week to decide, the package arrived in three days. This could either mean they liked him enough to send him their response instantly or that he had no chance, so they didn't even take their time to deliberate.

He was surprised he had the patience to get to the living room without tearing the package open at the door to see the result. Maybe I'm more nervous than I anticipated, he thought. He took a deep breath, carefully cut open the white envelope's glue seal, and removed the small cardboard box with a mini storage scroll inside that held a five-page offer letter stating that he had the job if he wanted it.

His natural response was to set the letter on the table and lay flat on the floor with a sigh. Even though it was only noon, he felt tired enough to retire for the day. He was happy that he had a job with ANBU, but he wasn't as elated about it as he expected. And he didn't think anything would change the next day when he would be hearing the Police Force's offer.

Ultimately, either option would be just a job at the end of the day.

"I am going to be a chunin," he whispered to himself.

———
.

The next day, dressed in his Police Force uniform, Takuma arrived at the Police Force headquarters an hour before noon for his meeting with Setsuna, who was going to present an offer to him. He had some expectations he wanted them to meet.

However, things happened differently than he was told.

When Takuma arrived at his office, Setsuna said, "The chief wants to talk to you."

In his time at the Police Force, he hadn't visited Fugaku's office not once. He had met and talked to him several times in and out of work because of his work with the Narcotics Taskforce and because of his lessons with Mikoto. They were by no means close, and for Takuma, he was his teacher's husband—but he was also his boss' boss' boss and the Uchiha clan's head, which was more applicable at the moment.

So, while he was nervous, he also felt positive because he assumed that the Police Force was serious about retaining him, which meant a lot in his books.

"Come in," said Fugaku as they entered his office.

They wore the Police Force uniform, but Fugaku looked the most dignified. The man had an aura around him that made people feel like they were talking to a king, which had nothing to do with his bloodline, rank or status. One look was all that was needed to tell he was someone who held himself differently than most people on a fundamental level.

"Take a seat," said Fugaku as he sat behind his desk

While Takuma sat in front of Fugaku, Setsuna settled on the couch in the corner of the office, making it clear that he was directly dealing with Fugaku. The office had a practical feel and matched the owner's personality.

"How was your vacation?" asked Fugaku.

"Tiring, but worth it," said Takuma. Now that he had the confirmation from ANBU, the exhausting testing procedure hadn't been a waste.

Fugaku nodded before saying, "I see that the war hasn't left you yet."

Takuma was startled and didn't know how to respond. Although he thought he maintained a normal exterior, it seemed that Fugaku could see right through it.

"There's nothing to be surprised about. I have been through a war; it changes you... it takes to leave things behind and return to a new normal," said Fugaku.

Takuma suddenly had an almost overwhelming feeling that he currently had Fugaku's full focus. The Police Force chief and the Uchiha clan head wasn't thinking about his responsibilities to his work or his clan—and was just focused on him. Even Setsuna, sitting in the same room, was all but nonexistent. It was as though only the two of them mattered in the entire world for the duration of the conversation.

He didn't think he had ever given someone that much of anything.

It felt flattering and burdensome at the same time. It also made him partially understand why he made people feel as he did and why the Uchiha clan rallied behind him as their leader.

Not knowing how to respond and uncomfortable about being seen through, Takuma lightly nodded. It was true that the war hadn't left him yet. It would only leave him once he avenged Rikku by killing her murderer; only then would he let his vow off his chest.

"There is a difference between 'it leaving you' and 'you leaving it'," said Fugaku calmly as he stared into Takuma's eyes. "Think about it and keep that in mind."

Takuma clenched his hands in the shadow of the desk. He couldn't tell if Fugaku was speaking broadly or if his words were pointed at his specific experience.

"Let's move on," said Fugaku, brushing the topic aside before it dominated the conversation. "Your contract here has all but ended; you are even listed as being on paid leave until your last day. Setsuna here listened to your requirements, and he discussed them with me... I want you to stay in the Police Force, Takuma."

Takuma silently gulped. Fugaku didn't say Setsuna, the Narcotics Taskforce, the Department of Organised Crimes, or even the Police Force—rather, he wanted him to stay. It didn't feel like they were just words to appease him because Fugaku had called him into his office to converse personally instead of leaving it to Setsuna or another high-ranking officer. It could've been because he was Mikoto's student, but if that were true, Fugaku would've made an appearance when he was in the hospital after the assassination attempt.

"And to make that happen, I wish to give you what you requested..."

Takuma resisted his urge to perk up. However, the following words reminded him not to get swept away until he had heard everything.

"... But with some conditions."

Takuma licked his lips. "Please proceed," he said.

"Here's what I am offering you with respect to what you asked," Fugaku said after looking down at the document on his desk. "You will receive a rank promotion as you desire. As it's an internal promotion, we control it entirely. Therefore, it will be immediate without any review period from the village..."

Takuma nodded. The Police Force was unique among the other Leaf entities. When it was created, the Uchiha had demanded and received special administrative powers, which allowed them to control, manage, and run the Police Force as they desired. Among the various discretions granted to them, they had the authority to apply chunin rank promotions without any influence from the village. Other entities didn't have that power; they, too, could promote anyone they desired, but it had to go through a review, which took some time, and while the village rarely intruded on internal matters, they could reject a rank promotion if they desired.

"You will receive access to our internal jutsu archives. However, there will be restrictions. You may study D-rank jutsu as much as you like without a limit. For C-rank jutsu, you may get access to one per month—without needing to pay, of course," said Fugaku, presenting the first deviation from Takuma's asks. "I believe I'm being generous, as twelve jutsu per year is more than enough, as learning them would take time... much less training to apply them practically."

"Understood," said Takuma without making a comment. It was true that he wouldn't be learning twelve C-rank jutsu a year, and he didn't mind this alteration.

"As for B-rank jutsu, your first one will be provided free of cost... However, it will only be dispensed to you after you have completed the standard one-year B-rank chunin restriction."

All new chunin had to wait one year before they could gain access to B-rank jutsu. However, the law was worded such that the restriction was not on learning B-rank jutsu; rather, it was on accessing the jutsu inside the village's archives, creating a loophole where a shinobi could learn B-rank jutsu as long as it came from a source outside the village's archive.

This was either done intentionally or unintentionally as it allowed the clans to ignore the law by training their members jutsu from their personal archives. It also allowed clans to give the same treatment to outside shinobi to gain their favour. The law hadn't been changed because it would remove the clans' power—which was something they would never allow to happen.

"Understood," said Takuma, but this time, he was wholly dissatisfied with the alteration to his demands. While he was happy that he would get a B-rank jutsu for free, the one-year delay restriction was too much. He had the confidence to learn and train a B-rank jutsu to practical application in one year. The delay meant one year wasted.

He wouldn't say anything now, but he would surely bring it up with Setsuna later.

"You asked for a pay rise. Your base pay will start at the 'CN-3' grade along with other Police Force incentives and bonuses."

Takuma nodded, satisfied. If nothing else, the Uchiha paid well.

"Finally, your assignment. I will ask again, are you sure you do not wish to work in the Department of Organised Crime?" asked Fugaku.

"I do not want to work in Organised Crime," said Takuma without a shred of hesitation. That place had been soured for him after his ousting from the Narcotics Taskforce, and he didn't want to run into 'old friends' like Enomoto, who could make life tough by overstepping their bounds.

"Very well," Fugaku nodded. "You desired for your choice of assignment. After consideration, you will be transferred to the Department of Corruption Investigation—"

Takuma's eyes widened when he heard the words leave Fugaku's mouth, who caught it because he didn't bother to hide his reaction.

"... Is there a problem?"

The reason Takuma wanted to use Setsuna as a middleman to air his dissatisfaction was that he didn't want to affect his neutral relationship with Fugaku as that would influence his relationship with Mikoto—but what had just been proposed was too much.

"You are asking me to isolate myself from the rest of the Police Force and then go outside to make more enemies," said Takuma bluntly.

As the name suggested, the Department of Corruption Investigation handled corruption-related cases. They not only acted as "Internal Investigators" who targeted Police Force officers for their misdoings, but they also went after any shinobi in the village who were suspected of misusing their positions in any way.

They were called "rats" inside the Police Force, and no one, without exception, liked them.

During his time running the Narcotics Taskforce, he had been internally audited twice by the Department of Corruption Investigation, which had slowed down work to a crawl. They hadn't found anything incriminating because he hid his misdoings well, never shared anything with his teams, and simultaneously built legitimate systems for his team to use.

He had even bitched about the 'rats' with his team as a method of team building.

Then, there was the fact that they took cases of corruption all around the Hidden Leaf village. Corruption cases often involve powerful people; going against them meant making powerful enemies. He had heard stories about Corruption Investigations members who were tired of working in a place where they were treated as traitors, applying for jobs outside in want of a better work environment—but struggled to find good jobs outside as they had offended too many people.

Once someone went to Corruption Investigations, it was near impossible to get out scot-free, and it only got harder the longer they stayed.

It would even affect his life if he became independent afterwards. Influential people could black ball from getting missions of note that looked good a resume and, thus, essentially halt his career progression.

He didn't want to get chained to the Police Force. He didn't even want to be bound to the ANBU if he went their way.

"I won't work in Corruption Investigation," said Takuma.

"You desired freedom," said Fugaku, calmly. "Any other place, even Petty Crimes, will have you follow what your supervisors want you to do until you have gained enough trust and credit to gain freedom... If you're willing to go that route, I will transfer you to any department you desire without question."

"But Corruption Investigation will let me run free?"

Fugaku nodded.

Takuma pursed his lips. Listening to that hadn't changed his opinion. He still did not want to become a fucking "rat", which would overshadow everything he had done till now.

"I chose this position personally for you, Takuma," said Fugaku.

"Huh, why?" asked Takuma, feeling angry. It now felt like Fugaku was trying to push him out by offering him a terrible deal.

"Because I think you will thrive there," said Fugaku, once again giving him the gaze that made Takuma feel overwhelmed. "I believe this has the potential to turn everything you did with the Narcotics Taskforce pale in comparison..."