The room fell into a suffocating silence as Takahisa's words hung in the air. Izuku's mother looked between her husband and her son, her face pale as she tried to grasp the implications. Shige, usually calm and composed, shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"A mole?" Izuku's mother whispered, her voice barely audible, as though saying it louder would make it more real.
Izuku nodded, his expression grim. "It's the only explanation that fits. The enemy was too precise, too informed. They knew exactly where I was going to be, what route I'd take, and even how to jam our chakra communications. That kind of intel doesn't come from random chance or good guesswork—it comes from someone on the inside feeding them information."
Takahisa clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He had always known the dangers of their work, but the idea of betrayal from within the clan—the very people they were supposed to trust—was almost too much to bear.
"Shige," Takahisa said, his voice low and steady, "we need to start an internal investigation immediately. We can't let this go unchecked."
Shige nodded, already running through the necessary steps in his mind. "I'll have all agents on deployment freeze our intel network and return to base. We need to consolidate and control our communications before they're compromised any further. We still have the Uzumaki matter at hand."
Takahisa sighed, rubbing his temples as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. "Damn it, I almost forgot about them..." Suddenly, a thought struck him, and his head shot up. "Wait, could it have been them?"
Izuku shook his head, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "I don't think so. Let's approach this rationally. We can't rush into pointing fingers. The Uzumakis don't have the clearance or the operational access for something like this. Besides, I think they targeted me because of my status as heir to the clan, not because of any operational activity I've done for the clan against them."
Shige exhaled heavily, the situation growing more complex by the minute. As head of foreign affairs under the Central Shinobi Agency (CSA), he was used to dealing with diplomatic issues, but this was different. The crisis now involved internal security, something far more personal and potentially devastating.
"The Uzumakis, the strain with the Noodle Daimyo, and now this traitor… Everything seems to be falling apart at once," Shige muttered, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "Shit, can't even come close to my retirement, and I have a security crisis on my lap."
He turned to Takahisa, his expression serious. "What about the rising tensions with the Uzumakis? We still haven't figured out why they suddenly switched their behavior. Could this be connected?"
Takahisa frowned, considering the possibility. "It's hard to say. The timing is suspicious, but there's no clear link yet. The Uzumakis are indebted to us. But if there is a connection… it could mean something much bigger is at play here."
Izuku interjected, his voice steady despite the growing tension. "We can't afford to overlook anything. The Red heads may not be directly involved, but their sudden disobedience the moment of my disappearance could be a symptom of something deeper. We need to investigate all possible angles, including our recently strained relationships with the noodle Daimyo."
Shige nodded in agreement. "I'll increase surveillance on their movements and communications. We need to know if they're being influenced by an outside force or if this rebellion is a front for something more sinister."
Izuku's mother, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her voice filled with determination. "Whatever it takes, we will protect this family. Our ancestors survived worse before, and we'll survive this too."
The tension in the room eased slightly as they each absorbed her words. Even Takahisa allowed himself a weak smile, the first sign of relief he'd shown all evening.
Shige, always the steady hand, lifted his cup of tea first. "In Gott we trust, all others we monitor." His voice carried the weight of the clan's long history in espionage and intelligence. It was a motto from the first matriarch, Mariko Utsukuro, who had led their clan through dubious times with an unwavering eye on their surroundings.
Izuku's mother, Akiko, followed suit, her hand raised high, though a few droplets of tea spilled from her cup. "With swiftness, silence, and deadliness," she recited, evoking the legacy of Noboru Utsukuro, the second patriarch. His leadership had solidified the clan's reputation for their unparalleled skill in covert operations.
Takahisa, his voice steady but with a sense of nostalgia, added, "For the preservation of peace, we shall prepare for war." The third patriarch's motto was a reminder that their strength came from always being ready, from never underestimating the threats they faced. It was Takahisa's own guiding principle, one that had seen them through countless struggles.
Finally, all eyes turned to Izuku. As the heir, it was expected that he would soon carve out his own path and contribute a motto that reflected both his personal journey and the times they were living through. With a calm yet resolute voice, he recited, "As only the stars are above us."
It was a bold statement, one that resonated deeply with those in the room. It was as much a declaration of their high standards and aspirations as it was an acknowledgment of their determination to remain unmatched in their domain—no one would be placed above them except the heavens.
Takahisa couldn't help but chuckle, the light-heartedness in his voice a stark contrast to the heavy conversation they'd been having moments ago. "I've heard that one before," he teased, the smile on his face widening.
Izuku, taking the ribbing in stride, bowed his head slightly with a smirk. "You out of everyone here knows where it came from, of course you heard it before."
After the statement, everyone fell into blissful silence, taking in the moment before being overwhelmed by responsibilities.
Finally, Shige broke the silence. "Aight, we should get back to the kids. Keep things as normal as possible for them, at least for now."
Takahisa nodded. "Agreed."
As they stepped out of the room and joined the gathering, Izaku glanced over at his parents. He could tell something had changed—there was a tension in the air, a seriousness that hadn't been there before. But before he could ask any questions, his mother smiled at him, the kind of smile that told him everything would be okay, even if it was just a facade.
"Hey, how's it going out here?" Takahisa asked, his voice light and casual as he approached the children.
"Just playing some cards," Tagami replied, not looking up from his hand. "Kiyoshi's's losing, as usual."
"I am not!" Kiyoshi shot back, making everyone laugh, easing the tension more and more.
"Everything to feel good about one self," Joked Izaku, as he hit the table where the cards are, revealing his set of cards. "Sure a thing, Kiyoshi, Sure a thing."
Feeling frustrated after losing yet again and being subjected to this humiliating defeat in front of his father figure, Kiyoshi threw the cards at his friends, exclaiming, "Screw the game! You cheating rats!"
His outburst only made the others laugh even harder. But what really drove the point home was the teasing quip from Izaku that followed: "Womp womp, fix your skill issue first."
This time, even Izuku couldn't help but join in the laughter. It had been a long time since he felt this kind of joy—not only because of his recent isolation but also due to other personal matters weighing on him.
Still chuckling, Shige lightly said, "I hope you've got those cards together because we're heading home soon, Kiyoshi."
Kiyoshi looked at Shige, ready to argue, but ultimately sighed in resignation. "Aight, I'll pick them up. Sorry about that," he replied, his voice softening as he began to gather the scattered cards.
The light-hearted moment eased the tension, bringing a sense of normalcy back to the group, if only for a short while.
Izaku smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He could sense the unease, the underlying tension that his parents were trying to hide. Something big was happening, something that involved his family—and possibly, his future.
But for now, he'd play along. He'd keep his questions to himself and wait for the right moment. Because in this family, nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. And Izaku was smart enough to know that when the time came, he'd need to be ready for whatever truth was hidden.