Chapter 155

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Within Konoha, four of the trending topics were about Homura, whose reputation was plummeting, unrecoverable even with efforts to pull it back up.

After all, which village's top official would bark continuously for an entire day? If such a person continued to hold a high position, how would others mock Konoha? Is there no shame left?

Apparently not.

Despite his plummeting reputation and the public's outcry, Hiruzen chose to handle it coldly, planning to wait for the uproar to settle before bringing Homura back into the public eye.

Moreover, Sarutobi released several hot news topics, including about Kyomu and the situation at the front lines.

Suppressing one issue while releasing other hot topics to divert the villagers' attention, this crisis management could be considered excellent.

However, such tactics only made Kyomu even more resentful.

"Such double standards," Kyomu gritted his teeth, "How come you didn't do the same for my teacher Sakumo back then? Just wait, Homura has been nailed to the pillar of shame. Even if the negative news is suppressed, when it's brought up again in the future, people will remember.

These things aren't so easily forgotten, at least I won't forget."

Kyomu shut the door, planning to lay low and let the hot topics distance themselves from him, not wanting to give Mitokado Homura any more publicity.

Crack.

Just as he lay down on his lounge chair, which had been with him since his birth, it split into pieces, nearly causing him a serious fall.

Clearly, this was the backlash of the depleted good luck following the end of his passive skill.

But the amount of good luck Kyomu had overdrawn wasn't much, or perhaps his natural luck was substantial enough that these bits of bad luck came and went quickly, barely affecting him.

Endure, and it would pass.

The new month's passive skill was ordinary, neither rule-based nor combat-enhancing.

With no benefits or detriments, Kyomu did not pay it any attention or use.

After dodging the day's bad luck, Kyomu started to refine his mastery of the Space Kekkei Genkai, considering whether he could develop a new technique.

The combination of the Space Kekkei Genkai and the Strong Fist technique should yield impressive results.

A month passed uneventfully, and by the next month, Kyomu turned 11 years old.

The passive skill remained mundane, but Kyomu's attitude remained as stable as ever.

Standing by the door frame, he placed Yoei against his scalp, leaving a mark on the frame.

At 11, he was just over 1.6 meters tall, having grown quickly.

He estimated that within another year, he would likely reach 1.7 meters—a decent height, though still shorter than in his previous life.

"I wonder how Kakashi and the others are doing," Kyomu looked towards the direction of the Rock battlefield, "They must be doing well, I haven't heard any news of casualties."

In fact, Hiruzen had unilaterally blocked all frontline news from Kyomu and also prohibited him from communicating with the frontline via summoning beasts.

The only way Kyomu could receive news was from the villagers' casual conversations. However, he also had another important indicator.

The passive skill "One for All, All for One" continued indefinitely. Initially, Kyomu had been resigned to it, but now, the lack of any gifts reassured him tremendously.

No gifts meant no deaths, a good sign.

This only covered the members of the First Ninja Brigade; others in the one-month duration of the passive skill hadn't raised their favorability to a life-and-death level.

Those who came later, due to the expiration of the passive skill, couldn't raise their favorability in time, and their deaths would not grant Aragami Kyomu any gifts, leaving their safety unknown to him.

Life went on. Kyomu watched as a troop assembled at the village gate, knowing it was just another of Hiruzen's forced recruitments, and the recruits were getting younger with each call.

A familiar figure caught Kyomu's eye.

Uchiha Shisui.

"Only six years old this year?" Kyomu mused silently, "I thought Hiruzen would pull out his forces, but this is it?"

Shaking his head, Kyomu noticed another little kid following behind Shisui, about three years old.

Recognizing the crows feet at the child's nostrils, Kyomu immediately knew who it was.

Uchiha Itachi.

"These two unfortunate brothers." Kyomu didn't approach, as Itachi was clearly there to send off Shisui. His presence would serve no purpose.

But as Kyomu didn't approach, someone did come to him.

Fugaku and his wife Mikoto, who hadn't yet been drafted into battle.

Konoha hadn't yet exhausted its war potential; elites like clan heads were still in the village, tasked with defending it against potential stealth attacks.

Recalling how a Rock Ninja attack almost leveled Konoha during the Second Great Ninja War, precautions were necessary.

If the situation deteriorated further, Fugaku would be sent to battle, and young Itachi would likely be taken along.

But that was a concern for another year or two, not yet pressing.

"Secretary Aragami."

Fugaku approached, his tone stiff but clearly trying to soften his demeanor.

No choice, the circumstances were compelling; Kyomu's strength and apparent status were now on par with Fugaku and even the entire Uchiha clan.

Moreover, they shared common ground, both being unwelcome in the village, making Fugaku and Kyomu natural allies.

"Fugaku-senpai, Mikoto-senpai." Kyomu nodded slightly in greeting, "Are you here to send off a clan member to the battlefield?"

"Yes, the situation on the frontline is grim; the Uchiha have done all we can," Fugaku said sternly, "Secretary Aragami, would you... like to walk with me?"

Kyomu had no reason to refuse, gesturing with one hand for Fugaku to lead the way, positioning himself just a step behind the Uchiha.

Such deference was well-received by Fugaku, who seemed more at ease and softened his speech further.

"Secretary Aragami, I hear you have a good relationship with Obito."

"More than good, he's like a dear friend, a brother!" Kyomu spoke with slight exaggeration, "I feel I can get along with the Uchiha."

Fugaku's lips twitched slightly, a subtle smile, but he quickened his step.

"I, Uchiha, also appreciate friendships with exceptional individuals like Secretary Aragami," Fugaku looked seriously at Kyomu, "And the gift you previously gave to our clan is highly valued and cherished."

Kyomu pretty much grasped Fugaku's intentions, smiling even more brightly.

The Uchiha indeed were a peculiar bunch, but as long as they weren't pushed into madness, and were appropriately guided and coaxed, their madness was due to outsiders, and naturally, it was outsiders they opposed.

"I also value the friendship of the Uchiha," Kyomu nodded, "Our love, some people won't understand."

Fugaku paused briefly, then cautiously asked, "Secretary Aragami, don't you think... the Sharingan is a curse?"

"Obito has proven everything," Kyomu sighed, "Only a Uchiha who understands love can possess greater potential."

Fugaku stopped and stared seriously at Kyomu for a long while, his usually impassive face melting like ice, and for once, his facial muscles showed an expression.

"Secretary Aragami, it seems you truly understand the Uchiha."

"It's just that I've spent a lot of time with Obito," Kyomu chuckled, "And Fugaku-senpai, if you don't mind, you could call me by my name."

"You can do the same," Fugaku's lips curled into a smile.

"I think I'll stick with 'senpai'; you're much older than me." Kyomu still gave Fugaku the respect he deserved.

After all, flattering people was something Kyomu excelled at, and the Uchiha weren't really that scary; they just lacked guidance, or perhaps manipulation.

Such individuals, who loved being lured by grand visions and would suffocate for their dreams or sacrifice everything, were simply adorable.

If Kyomu were a boss, the Uchiha would undoubtedly be rated as the best employees, without a doubt.

"What are you thinking about now?" Fugaku asked directly, not that he couldn't be circumspect, but he didn't want to be.

"A few old men have turned the village into a mess, don't you have any thoughts, Fugaku-senpai?"

"The Uchiha have no friends." Fugaku was blunt, "Some people we disdain to associate with, and others treat us as enemies."

The classic Uchiha dilemma...

Those with enough power feared the Uchiha as too dangerous, and those the Uchiha deemed their equals, they looked down upon, arrogantly positioning themselves in a place where, apart from during wartime, everyone despised them.

"Then my strength is obviously sufficient?"

"I, for one, would like to apologize to you on behalf of our Uchiha clan member," Fugaku suddenly said.

This was an offer of goodwill, and he had put great effort into it.

"No need for such formalities, Fugaku-senpai, I'm not so petty. When it comes to friends, apart from major issues, I don't sweat the small stuff."

Fugaku was relieved, already seeing Kyomu as a natural ally, his enthusiasm pulling him into the Uchiha territory.

"Kyomu-kun, if you wish, the doors of the Uchiha clan will always be open for you."

This progression was unexpectedly fast, leaving Kyomu somewhat taken aback.

"Fugaku-senpai, you're aware of my current situation, aren't you?"

"I am, but the Uchiha's situation isn't much better than yours," Fugaku replied.

Kyomu looked at Fugaku, "We're walking this path together, some people might become restless, aren't you worried?"

"Why should the Uchiha always walk alone?" Fugaku said sternly, "It's not our fault, but because some people are guilty."

"But Fugaku-senpai, I need friends, not just allies of convenience, I'm sure you understand," Kyomu spoke earnestly, "I don't deceive friends, nor do I let friends deceive me. The consequences are severe."

The Uchiha are too perfect for Kyomu, the fit couldn't be better!

"We, the Uchiha, feel the same," Fugaku was forthright, "We will be great allies, and very comfortable ones at that."

As he spoke, Fugaku extended his hand.

Kyomu did not hesitate and reached out as well.

Was this the alliance then?

"To be honest, it's happened so quickly I'm almost afraid to believe it."

"We've investigated you," Fugaku was straightforward as always, never finding it so easy to deal with outsiders, "And we've conducted a comprehensive analysis of you."

"Oh? For how long?"

"Since you and Obito became friends," Fugaku didn't ask if Kyomu would be upset, "We were assessing your motives for contacting Obito."

"Just to be friends, to support each other moving forward."

"You've learned a lot from our Uchiha, even though it was some of our clan's standard knowledge."

"The Uchiha really don't mince words; that knowledge could be considered precious in some clans."

Kyomu spread his hands, "Besides me, others would definitely think you're looking down on them."

"Heh, only the weak care about what others say," Fugaku shook his head disdainfully, "Because they lack it, they use anger to cover their own inner weakness."

Kyomu gave a thumbs up, Uchiha's way of talking, no wonder they had no friends.

"I'm a strong person, then?"

"You are, we recognize your strength," Fugaku nodded, then continued, "Kyomu-kun, about your learning our clan's knowledge through Obito, we initially wanted to settle accounts with you."

"But my teacher was Sakumo."

"Yes, we didn't want to make more enemies."

"But you still had reservations about me at that time," Kyomu looked at Fugaku, "Was it after Obito awakened his two tomoe Sharingan that you changed your minds?"

"Yes," Uchiha Fugaku nodded, "You remind me of Hashirama, but you are even wiser."

"Just because I shared the Dragon Veins with Obito, I'm now compared to Hashirama?"

"Yes, because there are benefits, no one thinks of a friend far away, let alone puts themselves in danger."

Fugaku looked candidly at Kyomu, "We, the Uchiha, have always longed for such relationships, always craving, and I think you can understand, Kyomu-kun."

"Who wouldn't crave such a thing?" Kyomu didn't hide his longing, "Then Fugaku-senpai, from now on, there's no turning back for you.

I hate betrayal, and I have the ability to deal with traitors."

"We, the Uchiha, are the same."

As they spoke, Kyomu and Fugaku exchanged smiles.

(End of Chapter)