172 Chapter 172

The extent of Uchiha Itachi's bad luck and misery really doesn't have much to do with Kaito.

On the contrary, the more miserable and unlucky this guy is, the happier Kaito might be.

But Kaito is also quite embarrassed at the moment, as the matter with Yaneko really gives him a headache, especially when Nara Shikaku directly brings it up, making him even more befuddled.

What misunderstanding could possibly exist between them? It's merely a cycle of social death and forced social death.

Fortunately, Nara Shikaku doesn't know too many of the details, and it's likely that Yaneko won't discuss this awkward matter either.

So Kaito can easily find some excuses to gloss over it, although he knows that he will have to clarify certain things with Yane in the future.

"Later on, I'll just say this was written by Jiraiya, and that he gave me the wrong document, causing the misunderstanding!"

Risking life and limb is no concern, as long as one's reputation remains intact in this world!

Kaito has a strategy in an instant—better for his friends to die than for him to die, after all. Jiraiya is a Hokage; Yaneko couldn't possibly go verify with him.

Moreover, with the existence of that lascivious book, Jiraiya can essentially be considered a highly sinful person. Creating some new, surprising stunts wouldn't be out of character for him.

Having figured out the strategy and chosen the fall guy, Kaito suddenly feels relieved. Although it seems a bit unscrupulous, he couldn't care less at this point.

After leaving this secluded meeting room, Kaito sees Hyuga Hiashi waiting for him at the door. When Hyuga Hiashi sees him emerge, he starts walking slowly forward.

Kaito ponders for a moment and then follows directly behind. He's also curious about what Hyuga Hiashi is up to.

In reality, whatever Hyuga Hiashi wants to do isn't completely undetectable; Kaito sensed something quite some time ago.

Probably the first time he met with Hyuga Hiashi alone, Kaito already detected that his demeanor was a bit off.

It was a subtle mix of envy, and a deeply hidden anger and melancholy.

The envy naturally stemmed from Kaito's control over the entire Uchiha clan. How old was Kaito when he gained control of the entire Uchiha clan?

But the strength of the Uchiha clan's cohesion is probably something all of Konoha knows.

Such strong cohesion, and everyone rallying around Kaito, enables them to accomplish things together.

As for the anger and melancholy, they're probably due to internal matters within the Hyuga clan, right?

One has to admit, Kaito guessed quite accurately. Even though he didn't personally experience all that transpired within the Hyuga clan during the "Night of Impeachment," he's not privy to these matters.

But as someone who's crossed into this world, Kaito somewhat understands just how much Hyuga Hiashi detests the clan's elders because of his own brother's affairs.

To put it bluntly, during that most exceptional and difficult situation, had the Hyuga clan been a little more forceful and insistent, would Sarutobi Hiruzen, with his temperament, really have dared to execute something like a 'clan extermination' within Konoha?

Perhaps there's a possibility of that happening after the fact, but at least he wouldn't have done it at the time. And yet, those elders helped Sarutobi Hiruzen achieve his goals.

Kaito doesn't know what they were thinking, but if one considers the idea that 'branch families serve the main family,' he could draw a relatively darker conclusion—that is, the struggle for power within the clan.

In the Hyuga clan, the number of main families is truly minimal, and the belonging of main and branch families is also exceedingly ambiguous; no one can articulate clearly how this is determined and carried out.

Kaito remembers reading some data before his crossing. The named main families within the Hyuga didn't even surpass ten.

Of course, in the real world, this would be unlikely, but neither would the number of main family members be particularly large.

Take, for example, those hidden elders; these people are definitely the bigwigs within the Hyuga clan.

Each main family would have their own affiliated branch family members. And because there are many people in these branch families, and due to the issues of power and capability, they are attached to various main families.

The elders may not individually control many branch families, but once they unite, the number becomes terrifying.

This allows them to balance the clan head, avoiding mistakes he may make. Yet, under such a numerical advantage, they could also garner more power for themselves.

Hyuga Hiashi, being the clan head, wouldn't lack branch family members under him, nor would their quality be poor.

Especially Hyuga Hiashi's brother, Hyuga Hizashi, who is the leader of all the branch families. Should Hyuga Hizashi die, it would likely severely weaken Hyuga Hiashi's control.

Considering all this, Kaito seems to understand a bit more why those elders would collaborate with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

On the surface, it's all for a noble cause, but in reality, it's all for themselves.

While the Hyuga clan was indeed weakened by Hyuga Hizashi's death, that's only the superficial issue. If you look beneath that surface, Hyuga Hizashi's death is advantageous for these elders—it significantly strengthens their own power.

"Truly an interesting zero-sum game."

Having clarified this point, Kaito couldn't help but shake his head. The Hyuga clan seems calm and stable on the surface, but their internal dynamics might be even worse than those of the Uchiha.

Such deeply entrenched and utterly despairing hierarchical domination turns all non-main-family members into mere pawns, or even slaves.

People nurtured in such an environment are bound to exhibit some neuroses and perversions, no?

Kaito recalled Hyuga Neji from the original story. That young man's initial behavior was utterly neurotic.

Always complaining about the world's unfairness while adopting a posture of helplessness against fate—wasn't he the epitome of that mentality?

Kaito wasn't sure how much time had passed, but he and Hyuga Hiashi eventually arrived at the teahouse where they had last met.

"Chief Kaito, I apologize for bothering you right upon your return, but the current situation is very serious. I think I need your assistance," said Hyuga Hiashi. Perhaps returning to a familiar setting had relaxed him somewhat; he seemed more willing to speak freely.

"Chief of the Hyuga clan seeking help from the chief of the Uchiha clan—such news would hardly be considered good if it got out," Kaito responded with a shake of his head and a smile. But he sat down and candidly asked, "Is it that you're finding some matters within the clan increasingly difficult to control, Chief Hiashi?"

"It seems Chief Kaito does understand our Hyuga clan quite well," Hyuga Hiashi didn't deny the assertion; he simply nodded calmly, casting a meaningful gaze at Kaito.

"Yes, indeed, some matters have become difficult to manage. If not properly dealt with, I fear it could affect the cooperation among everyone. After all, we have a basis for cooperation, but they do not..."

...

Hyuga Hiashi's words made Kaito raise an eyebrow involuntarily. He found that the man's level of audacity seemed to surpass expectations.

What does he mean, "they have a basis for cooperation, but others do not"?

The essence of interest is, fundamentally, within the realm of social relations—it's obtained through mutual compromise and collaboration.

This isn't specifically targeted at you, but at the value you can bring to the table. Hyuga Hiashi's approach is also designed to protect his own interests.

Of course, it's perfectly understandable; he is, after all, the true head of the Hyuga clan.

Facing a challenger—or perhaps a persistent threat to his control over the family—it's only natural that he would take countermeasures.

But for him to attribute this to the alliance of the Seven Great Families—well, isn't that stretching it?

Kaito watched Hyuga Hiashi silently, his expression tinged with curiosity. Meanwhile, Hiashi's face remained utterly calm, seemingly unswayed by Kaito's demeanor.

For a moment, the teahouse fell into a palpable silence. Clearly, Hyuga Hiashi was pondering what choices Kaito would ultimately make.

And Kaito, too, was in a similar contemplative state, weighing the pros and cons of the situation.

The solution to the Hyuga clan's problem could indeed be simple: get rid of those so-called elders, and then let Hyuga Hiashi consolidate the remaining main family members. Problem solved, and he would get whatever he wanted.

There's also a harsher method: to make Hyuga Hiashi utterly isolated.

Brand everyone else in the clan as 'caged birds,' except for him and his direct heir, thereby allowing him absolute control over the Hyuga clan.

Naturally, these actions presuppose one thing—overwhelming martial force. And this force can't involve Konoha, since Konoha mustn't intervene in family affairs. It's an unspoken rule.

After Danzo was taken down, almost all the clan's ninjas cheered. Why?

It was because he had stuck his hands into the internal affairs of the ninja clans—a surefire path to self-destruction!

Sarutobi Hiruzen was also collectively impeached by the families for the same reason. Those grand-sounding justifications are merely for public consumption. Don't the participants know this?

But Kaito had to admit one thing: cooperating with Hyuga Hiashi is indeed preferable to dealing with new, unknown characters of indeterminate disposition.

From the start, Hyuga Hiashi had considered the outcome should he fail. And what he had in mind wasn't the alliance of the entire clan but rather, just Kaito—or perhaps, just the Uchiha clan.

Hiashi was willing to cooperate with the Uchihas, even willing to provide them with ample manpower.

He had not even hinted at coveting the title of Konoha's leading family or the premiere clan in ocular techniques.

Even if he only appeared that way on the surface, at least he had made that effort, bringing stability and momentum to their alliance.

But should an old fossil, adhering to the mindset of former family rivalries, take over and mess things up—well, that would be unacceptable to Kaito.

Kaito lightly tapped the table, a gesture that caught Hiashi's attention. Noticing that Kaito was still in deep thought, Hiashi couldn't help but shake his head.

The table-tapping had essentially become a signature move for Kaito. Given their numerous encounters, Hiashi initially thought Kaito had made up his mind.

Soon, however, Kaito lifted his head, revealing a faint smile. "Chief Hiashi, the trouble you're facing may be different from mine, but I think I can offer some assistance, however..."

Hearing this, Hiashi let out a slight sigh of relief—until the word "however" was spoken, and he instantly refocused.

As is well known, whether the words before the "however" hold water depends on what follows that "however."

"So, after helping Chief Hiashi, what do I stand to gain? Or rather, what can the Uchiha clan gain?"

As expected, what must come will come. Even with mental preparation, Hiashi still couldn't help but sigh inwardly at hearing it.

Yet, Kaito's straightforwardness brought Hiashi some comfort. At least there were no roundabout tactics treating him like a stranger.

Being direct can reduce misunderstandings among one's own people. Even reserved frankness is acceptable.

"I'd like to know what Chief Kaito needs, so I can make more targeted arrangements," Hiashi pondered before finally speaking.

"And it's not that I don't trust you, Chief Kaito, but I am a bit curious about what you're planning to do."

"It's not what I plan to do, it's what you, Chief Hiashi, plan to do."

Kaito lightly tapped the table, then spoke in a calm and deliberate manner.

"In my view, your clan has only two options. The first is for you to gather those troublemakers together, and then I'll step in and eliminate them for you. After that, you handle the consequences. However, I must remain anonymous in this operation, or else retaliation will follow.

The second is simpler—announce that aside from you and your direct descendants who serve as clan leaders, every other member will be treated equally, like caged birds. If those in the main family or elders object, you can sidestep Konoha and seek help from our six families. That way, we can openly help you quell the rebellion.

The choice is yours to make, Chief Hiashi. And what I want is simple: talent. I need more talented individuals from your clan to join the Guard Unit.

Besides that, when it comes to taking sides in certain matters, I want you to side with me when you have the power to make that decision. Just these two things."

Kaito didn't beat around the bush; he spelled out his demands straightforwardly.

Talent is always the most coveted resource for the Guard Unit, a fact that will never change.

Otherwise, Kaito wouldn't have implemented the last-one-out system even before the Guard Unit was fully developed.

He's even considering making 'public examinations as the only way out,' and then recruiting staff—members of the Guard Unit—through various tests.

Only with a continuous influx of talent, and by keeping them engrossed in internal competition, can the Guard Unit thrive.

Of course, benefits matter too, and this has been the focal point of Kaito's ongoing reforms...

...

The demands Kaito put forth, as well as the two methods he provided for Hyūga Hiashi to consider, sent the latter into deep contemplation.

Clearly, Kaito's requests were acceptable, but the ways he proposed put Hiashi in a bit of a bind. The first was excessively bloody. According to Kaito, not a single elder should be spared; new ones should be promoted who would heed to Hiashi's commands. That would indeed consolidate his rule.

The second was too dominant, and while it would place Hiashi at the pinnacle of power, it would also isolate him completely. One could easily imagine how much future branch families would detest him while having no choice but to obey his orders completely.

It would create a permanent schism between him and his clan members right from the outset. Even if this were beneficial to his rule, it contradicted his inner desires.

In the end, Hiashi made no choice. He said he needed more time to think and to make preparations.

"Take your time, I'm not in a hurry over this matter. And you did agree to my terms, didn't you?"

Walking away after leaving the teahouse, Kaito pondered, while Hiashi, still inside, was lost in a whirlpool of thoughts.

He had agreed to Kaito's conditions without hesitation, for the demands were far from excessive. What Kaito wanted was manpower and allegiance at critical moments, as long as it didn't conflict with their own interests.

There was no good reason to refuse, especially when Kaito had already afforded them much face. After all, if Kaito was to lend a hand, he naturally required something in return.

Introducing more talents to the Guard Unit seemed like forced bondage between the Hyūga and Uchiha clans, but Kaito never specified a number. There was room for maneuverability.

Likewise, in the matter of allegiance, Kaito hadn't stressed they must always side with him; it had to be when their interests aligned.

Clearly, these were all courtesies Kaito extended to save face for him.

Sometimes Hiashi truly wondered—how could Kaito, appearing so young, handle matters so adeptly, grasping all the complexities of human relations?

Youth usually implies a lack of experience and is often a time of impulsive behavior. Yet none of this is apparent in Kaito.

Even if he does act impulsively at times, his actions always serve a specific purpose.

He really couldn't figure it out: how did the Uchiha clan, which seemed as mad as a hatter, manage to cultivate such a talent? And why was his own Hyūga clan slowly veering toward insanity?

As for how this related to Kaito, Hyūga Hiashi couldn't say. At this moment, Kaito was headed toward the Hokage Tower. He hadn't forgotten his appointment with Jiraiya, but even thinking about that brought Yaneko to mind and that awkward scene.

"Damn Jiraiya, insisting that my writing isn't as good as his and then actually agreeing to one of my requests. How could I not be tempted?"

Muttering to himself as he walked, Kaito was well-versed in the art of double standards; he was indeed employing them now. But he was indifferent about it, having picked up these tricks from countries on the far side of the ocean in his past life; it had nothing to do with him.

By the time he reached the Hokage Tower again, he was somewhat speechless. Hiashi had been too eager, arranging talks immediately after a meeting. This required Kaito to return to the Hokage Tower right after their conversation.

But the extra walking didn't matter; he had no intention of returning to the Guard Unit anyway.

Soon, he arrived outside the Hokage's office. The Anbu guards, recognizing Kaito, didn't even bother to intervene.

Kaito still knocked and waited for a response before entering the Hokage's office.

"Ah, it's you. What brings you here?"

Jiraiya was busy writing. Seeing Kaito enter surprised him. He hadn't seen Kaito for a week, but that was fine.

Although most of Kaito's visits generally signaled nothing good, this also instinctively aroused some worry in Jiraiya. But such worries came and went quickly. One thing he had to admit was that some of the reform measures Kaito proposed were truly excellent.

His last exchange with Kaito had enlightened Jiraiya on some matters, and he'd even gone to confirm them with Nara Shikaku.

Shikaku was surprised to see Jiraiya come to inquire, but being clever, he instantly understood this was Kaito's doing, and that Kaito had told him nothing.

So Shikaku filled Jiraiya in on the various plans, especially the changes in welfare for ninjas of all levels and the benefit scheme to keep Tsunade and the disabled ninjas.

Hearing this really got Jiraiya's blood pumping. After all, these changes would benefit the entire Hidden Leaf Village!

However, he was also somewhat puzzled: wouldn't such actions cause substantial losses to their major clans? Why would they agree to such a thing?

Nara Shikaku gave Jiraiya a rather straightforward answer—competition.

"Clan members need competition to excel, and the overall improvement of Hidden Leaf benefits everyone. If we can't even achieve that, what's the point of impeaching the Third Hokage?"

Shikaku spoke with such grand conviction that even if Jiraiya still harbored doubts, he had to admit that their reforms were genuinely beneficial to Hidden Leaf.

After gaining this understanding, Jiraiya's attitude toward these major clans had slightly changed. He even tried to do as Kaito suggested—indulging in what he enjoyed and only skimming through the key points.

He found that this approach was actually pretty good. Many things were better thought out by these clan members. Indeed, professional matters should be left to professionals.

"Is it that odd for me to visit you, Lord Hokage?" Kaito spread his hands, then said with a chuckle.

"It's not exactly odd, but you usually bring up matters that perplex me," Jiraiya replied, pursing his lips, then continued, "So, what is it this time?"

"Remember our last agreement?" Without any preamble, Kaito pulled out a scroll and walked over to Jiraiya.

"Agreement?" Confusion flickered across Jiraiya's face, but he seemed to remember something quickly. "Really? You actually wrote it? Show me, show me!"

The scroll—GHS—was undoubtedly the most exhilarating thing Kaito had produced in his past life. Given Jiraiya's typical disregard for the 'Three Prohibitions of Shinobi,' he was naturally even more interested.

The truth is, Kaito didn't know that Jiraiya didn't really believe Kaito could write anything noteworthy. Given his understanding of Kaito as a person with great ninja aptitude, how could he possibly compare with someone as experienced as himself?

Jiraiya didn't think he would lose the bet; he was merely curious about what Kaito might have written.

Opening the scroll, Jiraiya began to read intently, while Kaito simply found a place to sit down.

Not long after, Kaito noticed that Jiraiya's breathing had become somewhat heavy.

Turning to look, he saw that Jiraiya's eyes had widened, and his face was starting to turn a shade redder...

...

Jiraiya's current state and demeanor really are indistinguishable from how he looks when he's peeping on people bathing in the original story.

This comical appearance made Kaito question whether this guy truly disregards the so-called 'Three Prohibitions of Shinobi.' Otherwise, how could he behave so poorly?

Kaito couldn't quite figure it out, but what he did know was that he probably won this time.

Although Kaito was not surprised by his victory over Jiraiya, he had access to resources and information beyond Jiraiya's wildest imagination.

Therefore, writing something that even this old lecher couldn't fathom—or endure—was nothing out of the ordinary.

After Jiraiya, still in his dumbfounded state, finished reading Kaito's manuscript, the first thing he said was, "Who wrote this? Where's the rest?"

"Lord Hokage, if I said I wanted to compete with you, do you think I'd have someone else write it?"

Kaito spoke dismissively. Was this not questioning his integrity?

Although Kaito understood that denying everything would be best, especially since writing such content could be embarrassing, he saw no need to pin this on some nonexistent person. Besides, Jiraiya's promise intrigued him.

So he made no effort to conceal anything and openly admitted to it.

"You..."

Jiraiya, upon hearing Kaito's words, stood up and circled around him a few times, examining him closely.

His gaze seemed somewhat distrustful of Kaito, but even more, it appeared that he couldn't quite believe him.

Finally, Jiraiya let out an almost incredulous sigh.

"Who would've thought, Director Kaito, you're actually this impressive? Are you really that experienced despite being so young?"

"If that's how you want to see it, I can't help you. Strictly speaking, many of the scenarios in there are things I've witnessed firsthand,"

Kaito shook his head and then provided an irrefutable reason that even Jiraiya couldn't argue against.

"After all, I used to be a mission ninja. I've executed some assassination tasks. Before carrying out those missions, I would hide in people's homes.

As a result, I've seen similar things happen, and what I wrote is just my interpretation of those events.

It's precisely because I've witnessed these things that I think what you, Lord Hokage, have written..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but Jiraiya understood what Kaito meant.

This revelation left Jiraiya at a loss, but there really was nothing he could do about it. Truth be told, what Kaito wrote might even be more popular than his own work.

But what can't be denied is that Kaito's writings are audacious—so audacious that probably no one in the entire ninja world is bolder.

"Is this considered realist fiction, just with some alterations? Even I can hardly stand it," Jiraiya muttered to himself. But soon he saw Kaito extend his hand in front of him, which left him perplexed.

"What's the matter?"

"Aren't you going to give it back? I'm leaving."

Kaito quirked an eyebrow, revealing a slight smile.

"Although I wrote this, I never intended to leave it with anyone. After all, it might cause some trouble for my reputation.

And I believe, Lord Jiraiya, you should understand who won and who lost, right?"

Hearing this, the corner of Jiraiya's eye twitched, and finally, he let out a resigned sigh.

A loss is a loss; there's really no room for debate. He himself admitted that he couldn't surpass Kaito, so what more was there to say?

What really depressed him was losing in a domain he was familiar with to someone who was an outsider.

What's more vexing? He couldn't stop thinking about the content of the book and was incredibly curious about what would happen next.

For him, this was both unbearable and intolerable; he was, after all, a renowned best-selling author.

"Alright, I lost. What do you want?" Jiraiya hesitated but eventually spoke. He wasn't one to break promises.

"But you know my conditions. I'm a man of principles; there are some things I will never agree to, no matter what."

"I'm well aware, don't worry. I'm not one to make outrageous demands," Kaito said, smiling.

He then ignored Jiraiya's somewhat reluctant expression and snatched back his own manuscript.

"As for what conditions I'll ask for, let's see. Though I'd really like to know your Sage Art techniques, I realize that's not very realistic.

So, I'll seek it elsewhere. Let's leave it at that."

Having said that, Kaito turned and walked away, leaving Jiraiya frowning.

This guy Kaito is actually eyeing Sage Arts. Although Jiraiya had somewhat anticipated this—after all, Kaito had once actively requested to witness him using Sage Arts in combat—his intentions had been clear.

However, Kaito was also self-aware enough not to make that request, giving Jiraiya a way out.

After all, such a marvel really isn't possible; even if Sage Arts can't be cultivated in the outside world, Jiraiya would never spill the secrets.

Quite smoothly securing Jiraiya's promise, Kaito chose to go home directly. For him, today had been fruitful, and he needed time to digest it all.

As for Hyūga Hiashi planning something against his own clan, that's not surprising. What choice he will make, Kaito had no idea.

Perhaps he won't go to extremes, especially since Kaito's suggestions had all been extreme. The rest is up to him.

As for Jiraiya's promise, Kaito had to seriously consider how to use it.

Sometimes Kaito can't help but marvel at how lucky that idiot Naruto is—Jiraiya's sense of debt towards him, plus that prophecy or whatever.

Naruto gained substantial benefits in many ways—the Rasengan, Sage Mode, even summoning toads; he learned them all.

In contrast, Sasuke initially had Kakashi's guidance, but afterward, had to find his way mostly by himself.

Orochimaru is a good teacher, no doubt, but he's not a member of the Uchiha clan; he couldn't teach Sasuke anything about the Sharingan.

Moreover, Orochimaru's instruction was self-serving, tailored to what best suited Sasuke's physical capabilities.

In other words, Sasuke's path got somewhat twisted during his time with Orochimaru, but obviously, there was no other choice.

Sasuke had no other options, given the imbecile of a brother he ended up with.

If it weren't for Tobi figuring out the traits of the Uchiha clan, helping Sasuke activate the Mangekyō Sharingan, and later transplanting eyes for him,

Sasuke's later strength would really be a huge question mark.

"So you see, even if they're both reincarnates, the paths they walk are entirely different."

Kaito shook his head, and it wasn't long before he found himself back home.

Today wasn't a day off, and the Uchiha clan's residence seemed rather vacant.

Clan members were either at work or at school, so Kaito's abrupt return didn't attract much attention.

Back home, Kaito pondered for a moment and then simply opened his system panel.

It had been quite a while since he had last thoroughly checked his own status. Moreover, after his recent skirmish with the Akatsuki, he felt some new notifications had popped up on his system.

But when he was outside, he simply had no leisure to check these things. Even after returning, he was caught up in various tasks.

Now that he had some downtime, naturally, he needed to take a good look.

[Current Binding: Uchiha Clan]

[Current Status: Stable and Thriving—You've solved internal issues within the clan and neutralized external threats, making the Uchiha truly settled in Konoha]

[Prosperity Level: 20900 (A regular clan's base prosperity level is 10000)]

[Advice: Continue your transformation of the clan. Making the Uchiha the most powerful clan in Konoha is a goal you must achieve as the Uchiha Clan Head]

[Points reached a thousand; you can initiate a skill draw]

[Based on the current state of the clan, the host may choose one of three abilities to learn, cultivate, or adapt to]

"Hm?"

Although Kaito was mentally prepared, he hadn't expected that his points had actually accumulated to this level.

The current points might only be 20900, but Kaito remembered that his ending digits were something over 800 before.

Now that they were all added up, Kaito realized that he actually had a chance to draw a skill.

"However, it seems like I haven't really done much, so why have the points increased? Could it be because of my actions against the Akatsuki?"

Kaito couldn't help but think of this question, but surprisingly, this time the system actually provided Kaito with an answer.

[It's not as the host thinks. While the individual strength of the host can indeed elevate the prestige of the clan, the host is, after all, just one person]

[Unless there is a significant breakthrough, within a certain limit of strength, no points will be rewarded for growth in power]

The system's explanation had Kaito unconsciously stroking his chin, thinking that the reasoning seemed indeed plausible.

After all, he had grown a great deal on this journey. His current power, compared to when he had just activated the Mangekyou, was worlds apart.

And not just himself, Shisui and Fugaku's abilities had also seen improvements after being injected with Hashirama's cells.

However, such improvements didn't seem to add many points to Kaito's score—a detail he hadn't pondered before but now understood wouldn't have happened anyway.

"So what's the situation this time? Why did the points suddenly increase so much?"

Kaito questioned, somewhat puzzled. He needed to understand these things clearly so he could better and more effectively earn points to improve himself.

No, rather, it was to improve the strength of the clan, which would, in turn, benefit himself.

[It's because the construction of the host's clan has made progress. The reputation of your clan in Konoha has been continuously improving, along with the overall aspects of the clan]

[The comprehensive improvement is the most crucial—whether it's the collective strength, economic development, or even population and so on]

[Such point feedback might not be glaringly obvious, but every little bit adds up. The host is encouraged to keep striving]

This explanation had Kaito in an 'aha' moment. So that's how it was.

He had long realized that the development of the clan wasn't solely determined by the strength of one individual, and he had been acting accordingly all this while.

And now, having received this feedback, it confirmed that Kaito's thought process and efforts were correct. How could he not be pleased?

"However, I can't slack off in terms of personal strength. In a world full of extraordinary powers, one can't do without strength either.

But comprehensive development is equally crucial; this world isn't kind to lone wolves, after all."

Kaito mentally recited, and promptly, he had the system open the skill selection interface. He was curious to see what skills he could obtain this time.

[Night Song Ballad: When any of your jutsu strikes an enemy, or is blocked by them, it will leave your chakra mark on them. You can activate these chakra marks with your Sharingan, instantly trapping everyone within an illusion]

[Hero's Arrival: You can acquire the Justice Colossus Galio (pseudo) as your spirit beast. When you summon him, he can descend from the sky to protect you and assist you in combat to a certain extent.

Upon landing, Galio will form a massive chakra shield, effective only for you. Both allies and enemies within his landing range will become targets of his attack.

Galio has outstanding defense and can employ simple attack modes, including Wind Style]

Kaito's eyes lit up upon seeing this. Up until now, he didn't have any spirit beast, and suddenly here's a Galio—how could he not be tempted?

The size of that Galio is no joke; he's an absolute war machine!

Even though the system explicitly labeled this creature as 'pseudo,' not the real Galio, Kaito was still thrilled to the core.

"I wouldn't dare to take the real Galio anyway. After all, it seems that Galio only communicates with Lux, doesn't he?"

Kaito was entirely sold; unless something unexpected occurred, he would definitely choose this ability.

However, when he saw the next set of skills, he fell completely silent.

Sometimes he wondered, why did his own assumptions get proven wrong so quickly?

And for some reason, the system always presented him with such difficult choices.

//

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