"Chakra is never the source of evil; it's the heart!"
Uchiha Genya's eyes locked with the Nine-Tails. For the first time, the Nine-Tails experienced a strange sense of connection.
They called the Nine-Tails an evil demon fox, but how was the Uchiha clan any different?
In the eyes of those people, anything powerful and uncontrollable was evil, and they themselves represented justice. It was truly disgusting!
Sealing the Tailed Beasts meant bearing the consequences of their rebellion. The costs and benefits were intertwined. Every Tailed Beast hated being controlled, trapped in a sealing space.
If the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, who proposed sealing the Tailed Beasts, were sealed in the mental world, he'd probably go mad!
"Haha, kid, I like you!"
The Nine-Tails hadn't laughed in a long time. The Tailed Beasts were fine on their own; if no one provoked them, they wouldn't trouble the ninjas.
These people were trying to seal them!
And they claimed to be just, sealing the dangerous and evil Tailed Beasts?
To them, the Tailed Beasts were always symbols of evil!
"I like your personality too!" Genya said, looking at the Nine-Tails without the slightest hesitation.
Man and beast enjoyed their conversation.
However, the black flames were extremely out of place!
They continued chatting for a long time.
Time passed slowly in the mental space, and they talked for a long time.
This time, Genya didn't disappoint Shukaku's request and unleashed the black flames without holding back, his mental strength rapidly weakening.
"You brat, can't you suck a little slower?" The Nine-Tails looked at the black flames covering its body, feeling the chakra within it still rapidly draining.
"Haha, I'm just fulfilling my promise to the Shukaku!" Genya replied boldly without hiding anything.
They kept chatting while absorbing the chakra.
It seemed like a long time had passed outside. Genya felt his mental energy almost breaking down. Only then did he slowly pull back the flames.
"Nine-Tails, I'm leaving!" His mental energy was almost depleted, and his body began to fade away slowly.
"Go away, I'm going to sleep!" The Nine-Tails scoffed and turned its head, as if trying to push Genya out.
As he was about to leave, Genya added, "Naruto is actually pretty good. If you get the chance, you can talk to him. At least it won't be so boring!"
"Hmph, I'm not bored!" The Nine-Tails responded arrogantly, then lay back down on the water's surface, slowly closing its eyes.
"Heh, really a tsundere (proud and aloof) guy!" Genya's mental energy returned to his body. His eyes showed the black flames mixed with the Nine-Tails' chakra, and he muttered softly to himself.
The more he chatted with the Nine-Tails, the more he felt it was easy to get along with, though it could be a bit proud!
And, its personality was even better than some people!
After absorbing so much chakra from it, the Nine-Tails didn't show any anger!
It seems like it's already considering me a friend!
"Genya, it's getting late. I should go back!" At this moment, a tipsy Naruto slowly stood up and waved to Genya.
Grandpa Third Hokage said not to stay out too late! He needed to stop or he'd get scolded.
"Take care, come find me again when you have time!" Genya waved with a smile, watching Naruto leave.
The ninja accompanying Naruto also slowly walked away.
Genya didn't rush to leave. Instead, he sat down, beginning to slowly absorb the chakra he had taken from the Nine-Tails.
A terrifying chakra started exploding in his eyes, then was devoured by his Sharingan!
Four spinning tomoe appeared rapidly in his pupils.
Genya could feel his eye power growing stronger, and some chakra that wasn't fully converted yet surged into his body, enhancing his physical body and cells!
By the time Genya fully absorbed the chakra, the stars were already twinkling in the sky.
If he activates his Dual Pupil, he can see up to 2.4 kilometers around him. If he focuses his chakra, he can even extend it to over three kilometers!
This kind of detection already exceeds the limits of regular reconnaissance ninjas!
"It's time to head back!"
Glancing at the sky, Genya Ran headed home.
Over the next period of time, there were occasional rumors coming from the Sarutobi clan in Konoha, mostly about Sarutobi Hiruzen losing his temper!
There were also whispers saying that some members of the Sarutobi clan had gone missing, but it was said that they disappeared while on a secret mission for Konoha, and they were heroes!
As the news spread, it became more and more sensational, and the village was filled with gossip!
"Did you hear? The Sarutobi clan sent a team of jōnin on a mission for Konoha, but none of them returned!"
"I thought the Hokage was in a bad mood lately, now I understand—it's because some of his clan members are missing!"
"Hmm, what mission was it?"
"I don't know, it seems classified!"
"Shh! Don't talk too loud. This could be a secret mission, but somehow the news got out!"
"The Sarutobi clan members are heroes!"
"Shh, don't say that! They might still be alive. Don't speak in despair!"
The villagers began to discuss, their tone filled with respect and awe for the Sarutobi clan members!
Merchant Association, the Police Force...
When Genya heard this news, he scoffed!
They came to kill him? This was supposed to be a secret mission for Konoha? Heroes?
Now he finally understood why Sarutobi Hiruzen had managed to become Hokage for a second time. His marketing tactics were truly impressive!
He had sent people to kill him, and now that those people hadn't returned, they were using this story to give the Sarutobi clan a heroic reputation. He was shameless, even using the dead to make the clan look good!
"Hmph, Sarutobi Hiruzen is truly laughable. Those people were clearly sent to assassinate us, and he claims it was a secret mission for Konoha!" After hearing the gossip spread in the village, Uchiha Shin slammed his fist on the desk in anger!
He had never seen anyone so shameless!
As he spoke, Uchiha Shin began to laugh coldly: "Heh. During the war, he would only send his clan members on low-risk missions, and now he sends them on dangerous secret missions? I wonder how many of the other great clans actually believe this!"
Uchiha Shin was so angry, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Uncle Shin, calm down. Besides, this news only needs to be accepted by the common people. He just needs to stand on the moral high ground!" Genya smiled and said, feeling a sense of admiration for Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Are we just going to let him promote things so recklessly?" Uchiha Shin glared at Genya, furious.
"Tch! This old man is shameless! He just knows how to deceive people. With someone like him, the Hokage position has been completely disgraced!"
"He's really shameless!"
"How could he even have the nerve to send people to carry out secret missions? Tch!"
The frustration was unbearable. Genya believed that if Sarutobi Hiruzen were standing in front of them right now, Uncle Shin wouldn't just be angrily shouting, but would even go so far as to slap him two times!
At this moment, Uchiha Shin was completely speechless.
But amidst all this, there was also the 'Ant-Man'—Genya's father, Uchiha Kinya, who held even more contempt for the Sarutobi clan.
"Heh, since the Sarutobi clan considers itself so righteous, let's make their righteousness even bigger!" Genya's eyes turned cold. "From now on, Uncle Shin, send someone you trust to investigate the tasks the Sarutobi clan has been accepting. Any missions that leave the village—investigate them thoroughly!"
Since the Sarutobi clan wanted to take action against him, he wouldn't hold back!
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