I don't own solo leveling or Naruto
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I don't own solo leveling or Naruto
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"Thanks, I appreciate it mom."
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After 3 weeks of silence on Draw Sword guild's end Itachi finally received a message from them to meet up with a representative in Kyoto
The morning he woke up and went to his laptop to check his emails, a recent routine of his in the morning to scout for any raids he could join or gates he could book. He went about doing his daily exercises and then washed off the sweat with a shower. Changing into a bright white shirt and slim fitting sweatpants with black sneakers.
"Good morning, here's your coffee with a quarter cold milk and 3 sugars just the way you like." Itachi greeted his groggy mother, still fighting off the sleep in her eyes.
She accepted the coffee with a tired smile and sat down on the couch.
"It still baffles me that you're always up so early," she yawned, taking a sip from the cup.
"It's not that bad, is it?"
"3am is way too early, practically still nighttime if you ask me!"
"But it's not," her son deadpanned.
Izumi just rolled her eyes. She inspected the bag over her son's shoulder with a quizzical look.
"You never carry a bag when you go dungeon raiding. What's up, Ita?" she questioned.
Itachi blinked in surprise and then looked at his shoulder before chuckling with a twinge of uncharacteristic nervousness.
"Actually, I'm going to Kyoto today, I'll be gone for a few days."
He was met with silence for a good minute before an insane amount of bloodlust filled the room. He saw his mother calmly place the cup down on the table before she turned her head like a creaking door. Her wide red, puffy eyes and an out of place smile stabbed his heart with a little bit of fear.
"What?" she squeezed out.
Itachi forced himself not to stutter because of his pride as an Uchiha.
"I've been invited to meet up with a representative of the Draw Sword guild later today. I'll be there to negotiate terms to join the guild, it might be a few days, Mom" he explained.
"What?"
"I decided to join the continent's best guild, mom. Are you okay?" he asked, noticing that same awkward expression hadn't changed for a good long time.
She smiled a little into her coffee mug, "It's just you've yet to call me mom, casually."
Itachi blinked, adjusting one of the straps on his bag.
"Oh, uh, I guess so." he replied with an uncharacteristic stutter, looking off to the side.
"You know, when you woke up from eternal slumber I wondered how much of you I would be getting back? Considering we missed almost 3 years together and when you decided you wanted to back a hunter I feared a stranger had taken my boy away from me…" She admitted. Itachi's lips pressed into a thin line lamenting how right she was about him being a stranger.
"But I'm glad you're still that sweet little boy I raised for 15 years." Izumi finished with a kind smile that gave the younger Uchiha a warm feeling in his chest.
"I'll keep on trying to be that kind boy," Itachi said with a bit of melancholy. He's lived a hard life for as long as he could remember, but even when he was forced to be cruel he's tried to remain kind despite how impossible that was.
"Well, I can't just have you going so far away all of a sudden!" she exclaimed a torn expression adoring her features.
"Huh?" Itachi was snapped from his thoughts, confused by his mother's outburst.
"I can't let you go to Kyoto all by yourself! I should be going with you!" she clarified, getting up from the couch enthusiastically.
"It's not that different from dungeon raids, besides you have work tomorrow," he pointed out.
"I know! It's just…" she deflated, childishly. "I wish you could've told me sooner. I know you can take care of yourself but you're still my baby boy and I wish you could tell me about these things instead of just dealing with, and deciding for yourself."
Izumi enveloped him in a warm embrace that he returned.
"Ah, I see. I'll consider that next time," he replied apologetically, "I should be off soon, I want to catch the earliest train." He secured the bag on his shoulders.
"Well, can't just let you leave without inspecting your bag first! This is the first time you leave Tokyo without me," Izumi said with authority.
Itachi did relent to the inspection which ended up being 10 minutes. He ended up having to pack far more warmer articles of clothing than he was intending which ended up making his bag look a little too stuffed. But overall it had Izumi questioning when he had gotten so good at packing to which he responded with a shrug, knowing that it was due to his time as an anbu black ops member forcing him to pack the bare essentials necessary for every mission.
He bid his mother goodbye and bounded across buildings all the way to the train station in no time, making it just in time to catch the train at the last second.
It took no more than 3 hours to finally step foot in Kyoto. It was overcast today but the traditional look of this city reminded him of his time in the land of hot springs with its natural scenery and historical buildings and architecture.
Looking down at his phone to see where he would be meeting up with this representative. It was a coffee shop nearby. So, he trodden out the train station onto the bustling streets of Kyoto all the way to the coffee shop. Passing people left and right and rounding corner after corner he eventually reached the coffee shop.
It was there that he was sat down by a young waitress that was clearly infatuated with his mature looks. He regarded her with a polite smile and simple gratitude telling her that she was waiting for someone when she asked to take his order.
"Punctual. I like it." Itachi turned to regard the handsome man with light green eyes and smooth brown hair reaching the sides of his neck. This man had the second highest status in Japan, Reiji Sugimoto, vice guild master of the Draw Sword Guild.
"Hello, Mr. Sugimoto. I'm glad to have the pleasure of meeting with you," Itachi intoned politely. Reiji sat down on the chair opposite him and smiled, "And you are polite, I like that as well." Reiji smiled kindly.
Itachi noted the whispers from other people in the café about the man in front of him. He shouldn't have been surprised considering who this man was, "I didn't realise that the representative I would be meeting is actually the vice guildmaster."
"Are you saying you would have acted differently around anyone else?" He raised an elegant brow.
"No, certainly not."
"Let's get to business shall we?" he offered and Itachi nodded.
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"In recent years the growth of this country's exceptional hunters has stagnated. Throughout Asia, we have stood as the country with the most rapid growth of powerful hunters since gates started appearing all those years ago. To be blessed with 11 S-rank hunters in one country and all of them to be a part of one guild is truly a gift." Reiji explained.
He set the cup of tea that he was sipping on the table and continued, "You see, Uchiha, as the strongest guild it is our principle to snatch up the greatest talents whenever they pop up. You seem to have that talent, Uchiha Itachi."
"What makes you so sure?"
"While you are a difficult person to get a hold of, your achievements are plain as day. You've done quite a bit for an A-rank."
"Such as?"
"If I remember correctly? It was you on the news the other day that took out an entire squadron of green orcs in a rare dungeon break incident. A feat that a duo of A-rank hunters would have trouble with but you took care of them in an instant. Or more recently taking care of a group of criminals and a high profile, false ranking, prisoner named Daku. And even in your first A-rank gate, you were able to escape with the entirety of your squad, including our newly reawakened Tanaka Kenjo!"
"Your point?" Itachi bluntly questioned.
"We find you more than worthy to join our ranks and hold you in very high esteem," he explained much to Itachi's mild surprise. "And considering your list of abilities…"
"You couldn't just let me slip away as it were?" Itachi finished for him. He was already familiar with the concept of great powers wanting more to maintain their superiority. It was only natural.
'Even in a world dominated by strength there are weaklings that cling to the little power they have.'
The words of that criminal Daku popped into his head, thinking about why the government wanted him, of all people, dead? So he decided to be upfront just a little instead of beating around the bush.
"So, as the strongest guild you must have ties to the government, correct?" he asked carefully.
"Yes. Why?" Reiji answered with a sparkle of interest on his handsome face. "I'm just curious," Itachi said, looking as disinterested as possible. Reiji looked to be examining his expression trying to discern his intentions from his face, but that would be an impossible task. Itachi had been a spy for far too many years to have his poker face fractured for the slightest bit of scrutiny.
Reiji sighed, "We have just a few benefits here and there. If you sign our contract you might learn more," he answered with an easy smile on his face, likely familiar with the song and dance of these conversations as the Uchiha was.
"Perhaps…" he replied vaguely.
They sat in the café for an hour talking about the initial draft of his contract, such as his salary, working hours, PR meeting obligations, certain zone restrictions with the other surrounding guilds. Itachi had planned to deny any involvement with the public or charity events but knew such an idea wasn't possible to fulfil or grant. An organisation as big as Draw Sword wouldn't be satisfied with showing off their newest prospect to the competition like he was some kind of shiny toy. Itachi was trying to keep such a thing to a minimum especially considering his status as the only person to awaken from eternal slumber.
'I don't really like being in the spotlight…' he admitted to himself silently, walking to the hotel that Reiji had booked for him. He suspected that Reiji must have owned the building, he certainly seemed like the type. When he arrived he was greeted warmly as the staff guided him to a very impressive holiday suite that overlooked most of the city of Kyoto. He imagined once it was nighttime he'd be able to see the beautiful lights flashing from the streets below, reminding him of that one time in the hot springs village.
He walked up to his room and set his bag down, plopping right onto the king-sized bed and sinking into its covers. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind as the familiar sting of activating his Mangekyou came over him.
'I can use the armoured susanoo, I can feel it. The memory of it must be engraved onto my soul, must be why activating the Mangekyou wasn't as much of a struggle as it should've been.' He'd have to thank whatever deity that watched over him for that blessing. If he would even call it that.
'I wonder if I can obtain that unique susanoo that Madara talked about? The one he used to battle the first hokage?' he wondered, thinking about his time spent with the orange masked enigma of the Akatsuki. He still had a flash of anger reverberate through his being whenever he thought of him.
"No harm in trying it out, right?" he asked out loud. He quickly bounded out of bed and made his way to the balcony of the room. He looked out into the city looking for a good spot to train away from civilization. He jumped up onto the balcony's railing and kicked off the building, free falling to the next building over, landing with cat-like grace and running off to a clearing out of town.
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Goto Ryuji relaxed in his office after a long day of reading and approving reports. He had his head in his hands rubbing his temples to stave off a growing headache, although the attempt was futile.
"Hmm?"
He looked up when someone entered his office without notice. He was ready to give the poor soul a piece of his mind until he realised who it was that entered. "Oh, it's you," he grumbled.
Reiji chuckled at his friend's expression, "You look spent old friend. What's got you down?"
"What do you think?" he gestured to the very neat stack of signed and approved papers.
"Oh, but of course. Is my share there by any chance?" he asked playfully.
Goto scoffed, "You wish! I'm not breaking my back for you." This caused his friend to pout, "Aw man! Isn't that what best friends are for?" he cried childishly which got on Goto's nerves as the aura around him became ominous and murderous. Reiji started laughing nervously, telling him to calm down, 'He's usually very reserved and well meaning. These papers must have gotten him worked up?' he glanced at the stack, dreading his own stack of unsigned documents waiting for him.
"Anyway! I met up with our young prospect, Uchiha Itachi. He's quite reserved for one as young as himself," Reiji decided to switch topics to improve Goto's mood. He seemed to perk up slightly at this which was a good sign. Folding his hands over his mouth, "So, any progress on the initial draft of the contract?" he asked.
Reiji shook his head, "It won't be that easy with him. He is quite aware of various loophole contractual obligations it seems."
"I see." he leaned back in his chair. "Well that's certainly unfortunate," he said flatly. "Yes, quite. You don't sound concerned though?" His friend pointed out. Goto spun his chair around to gaze out the window behind him. "Why should I be? We are the strongest after all. It's simply a matter of time before he joins us, it's human nature to take the easiest path in life," he stated with supreme confidence.
'Easiest path?' He wondered why Goto would say such a thing. Reiji has Known Ryuji for quite a while and is familiar with his no nonsense attitude and intolerance for slacking behaviour. He's always expected the absolute best out of everyone around him and even more so from himself. So, it came as a mild surprise to Reiji that his partner would say joining his guild is the easiest path even if most in the guild have been coasting thanks to the might of so many S-rank hunters in one guild. 'Has he come to this realisation too? He's not as upset as I thought he would be,' he observed his friend's demeanour as much as he could with his back turned to him. It seemed that his lessons on self-restraint these past years have paid off, because he was usually the type to leak out his aura whenever he felt moody.
"Well, I did schedule another meeting very soon so don't worry about it!" he clapped, bringing their conversation to a close. "I'm not worried, in fact, I would like to meet with him in the next meeting," he answered.
"What for? I thought you'd leave the negotiations to me?" Reiji furrowed his brow in slight anger.
Goto turned to glance at him at the corner of his eye, "To invite him somewhere quite interesting is all."
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Uhhhh…. Well, months later!!
The chapter is out. I hope you enjoy it. Sorry guys but life has had me in a stranglehold and I couldn't get the time to write out this chapter at all. It was going well back then but shit happened and I was too busy to get back to writing.
Anyway I'm mostly happy with this chapter but it feels a bit rushed cuz I feel guilty about not providing any content for the past month when I said I would (forgetting that I said "it wouldn't come out any faster.").
P.S
I also headcanon that Itachi would like his coffee super sweet unlike Sasuke.