Subjugation

Hiroya suspected he'd misheard. "What did you say?"

Even he knew that Water Release: Water Severing Wave was an S-Rank Ninjutsu developed by the Second. Among Water Release Ninjutsu, its attack power was second to none.

There was no need to explain the Flying Thunder God Technique. Namikaze Minato, whose reputation in the village had been growing by the day, was widely known for his S-Rank Space-Time Ninjutsu, the Flying Thunder God Technique!

"I want Water Release: Water Severing Wave or the Flying Thunder God Technique, plus some extra money. I'm a little short on cash right now."

Byakuya spoke clearly and without the slightest embarrassment, as if his demands were perfectly reasonable—a fair deal.

Hiroya burst out laughing. "Senkaku Byakuya, did you hurt your head on that mission? I know what it involved, too. At most, you can exchange your reward for one A-Rank Ninjutsu. As for money, that's no problem. I can still give you tens of thousands of ryō."

He couldn't be bothered to waste words on that old fox. Though he remained respectful, his voice was brimming with confidence. "Principal, just report to your superior that I can provide intelligence worth as much as an S-Rank Ninjutsu."

"What?! What intelligence? Tell me, now!"

Hiroya's face flushed red. He grabbed Byakuya by the shoulders and stared into his eyes, trying to use his authority to pressure Byakuya into handing over the precious intelligence.

If Byakuya really were a ten-year-old boy, Hiroya might have intimidated him.

"Why act in such a disgraceful way, Principal?"

"What are you talking about?! I'm your superior. Your achievements are mine, and your success is my success. If you fall, I fall! Senkaku Byakuya! Don't forget, I'm the one who got you the job as Ninja Academy Warehouse Manager. Without me, the village would have sent you to the battlefield to die!"

Hiroya was red-faced with agitation. He desperately wanted to know what intelligence Byakuya had. If it really was worth that much, the principal's position at the Ninja Academy wouldn't be the end of his rise. He could climb much higher.

Byakuya scoffed inwardly. It was time for some things to change.

Lying low didn't mean he had to endure humiliation like this.

He shoved Hiroya, who was fidgeting like an ant on a hot pan, aside and shut the door.

Just as Hiroya flew into a rage, Byakuya effortlessly threw him to the ground. In the blink of an eye, a Kunai was pressed to his throat. One firm push was all it would take to kill the vice principal, the man who held the Ninja Academy's real administrative power.

Byakuya's expression was blank, and his composure sent a chill through Hiroya.

"Principal Hiroya, I advise you not to move. Don't gamble on me not daring to kill you."

Hiroya had been about to struggle, but at those words, he immediately forced a smile more miserable than a grimace. "Byakuya, I was friends with your parents. They were heroes of Konoha, and you're a hero's son. Don't tarnish their reputation over a moment's impulse."

"Enough. Don't treat me like a child." Byakuya nudged the Kunai forward, its sharp tip touching Hiroya's throat.

A moment later, Byakuya caught the smell of urine.

The vice principal, who had held a position of authority at the Ninja Academy for years, had wet himself in terror.

Byakuya sneered. "From now on, do as I say, and you'll get your share of the credit. Just like now: I'm not greedy, so I've given you some of the credit. You'll submit those four scrolls containing Sealing Jutsu. The rest has nothing to do with you."

Watching Hiroya's expression change, he coaxed him along. "Why be so shortsighted and focus only on the present? My strength is nothing like it used to be. If we work together, we'll both have a bright future. Principal Hiroya, you're no fool. I understand your ambitions, and you should understand mine by now."

"I—I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"You've been pretending all this time?"

"That's right. I just didn't expect you to force me into becoming an unaffiliated member of Root."

Hiroya forced a smile. "Isn't being in the organization pretty good, though? Still, what exactly happened to you in the Land of Rivers?"

"You don't need to know. Principal Hiroya, are you willing to work with me?"

Hiroya raised his hand, wanting to shake Byakuya's as a way of sealing their agreement.

But Byakuya gave it a disdainful glance and pulled the Kunai away from his throat. "You aren't my benefactor. On the contrary, I'm yours. We both stand to gain by working together. Oh, right. You may have no idea how strong I am now. To put your mind at ease..."

He formed Hand Seals.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Byakuya controlled his chakra and spat out a small stream of water. It spun at incredible speed, like a blade, while faint popping sounds came from bursting bubbles.

Only after widening his eyes did Hiroya see the Water Formation Wall spinning in a barrier around Byakuya, leaving no blind spots. Tiny, twisting bolts of lightning covered it.

Those strange popping sounds came from the lightning.

"Principal Hiroya, did you see clearly?"

"I did! I did!"

Byakuya dispelled the Storm Release version of the Water Formation Wall, leaving some water behind to wash Hiroya off.

Though Hiroya was soaked to the skin, he didn't dare blame Byakuya at all.

That display of Ninjutsu had shown how Byakuya, a genius, had infused the Water Formation Wall with Lightning Release Chakra, transforming the defensive technique into one that could both attack and defend. It had the impact and deflection of Water Release, as well as the paralysis and piercing power of Lightning Release.

Hiroya didn't know how Byakuya had done it, but the display proved that his worth exceeded even that intelligence.

Hiroya stood up and let out the breath he had been holding. He glanced back at the desk. Everything on it had remained dry, untouched by the water. That, too, showed that Senkaku Byakuya's chakra control had long surpassed that of his peers.

Words alone had no binding power.

He could have played along for now, then reported Byakuya to Root for insubordination, making up a story that he planned to defect from Konoha with the intelligence.

But with Byakuya's real strength as a guarantee, Hiroya decided to work with him.

As for the small matter of being humiliated, there wasn't a third person there to witness it.

Since no one had seen it, compared to the power and status he stood to gain in the future, this wasn't humiliation. It was Lord Senkaku Byakuya demonstrating a newly mastered Ninjutsu to him.

Hiroya didn't hurry to change clothes. Instead, he stood before Byakuya and bowed respectfully. "Byakuya, we're both smart men. I know what you want."

"Oh?" Byakuya asked with a smile. "And what do I want?"

"You're still young, and you don't want too much attention. But to grow stronger, you have to prove your worth. Someone like you is perfect for Root. I'll protect you. I won't say a word against you, and I'll do my best to handle anything that might cause you trouble."

"Principal Hiroya, sorry for the trouble."

Hiroya bowed again. "Not at all. It's my honor to serve Lord Senkaku Byakuya, who will one day become famous throughout Konoha."

Byakuya watched him calmly and thought, He fears power but feels no gratitude.

After changing into clean clothes, Hiroya gathered the four scrolls from the desk and hurried out of the Ninja Academy to report to Shimura Danzō.

The cold wind outside the Academy cleared Hiroya's mind. Only then did he realize that Byakuya had deliberately tempted him with the intelligence, making him lose control of his emotions before naturally revealing his strength and achieving his goal of overpowering his superior.

He shook his head, unable to stop himself from laughing. Then he sighed softly. "You were right. I really shouldn't have treated you like a child..."