The Time of Meeting Demons

Konoha was completely devoid of yesterday's panic, with every corner filled with a festive air. However, some Anbu ninja were clearly not part of this joyous atmosphere.

The Uchiha's sudden resignation had been abrupt, and since Konoha could not function without someone to manage the lower districts, the Anbu had been forced to step in and shoulder the responsibilities that originally belonged to the Uchiha.

The Anbu, who spent their days either eliminating enemies or gathering intelligence, found their brains turning to mush under the weight of such trivial matters.

If these were enemies, they could simply draw their blades and strike, but now they were facing unreasonable villagers who refused to listen to logic.

They couldn't hit them, they couldn't scold them, and they couldn't out-argue the stubborn-as-mules villagers. With their professional skills effectively at zero, the Anbu were on the verge of a mental breakdown.

Uchiha Yuji ignored the few Anbu who looked as if their souls were about to leave their bodies. After arriving nearby via the Body Flicker Technique, he walked silently down the center of the road, the iconic fan crest on his cloak clearly identifying his status.

He said nothing, but the sound of his footsteps and the "cold current" he naturally radiated caused the noisy environment nearby to instantly quiet down.

Two villagers who had been arguing suddenly awakened the instincts dormant within their cells. The enemies who had been spitting and shouting at each other just a moment ago turned into best friends gripping each other's hands in an instant.

It wasn't until Uchiha Yuji had walked far away that the two of them let out a long sigh of relief. Having lost all interest in their quarrel, they exchanged a few perfunctory curses before hurrying away.

The Anbu watched this scene, completely bewildered.

The Uchiha were a proud clan; they had no time for sophistry or lies. They handled matters with impartiality—since both sides were causing trouble, they would punish both. This "one-size-fits-all" approach was indeed effective, and it had made the environment much better.

Yet, no matter which side was released from confinement, they would only emerge to curse the Uchiha Police Force. Silently and imperceptibly, the hearts of those who had been arguing would draw closer, and the environment would become much more harmonious.

All of this was the Uchiha's contribution!

But in this foolish Konoha, not a single person could see it clearly. We Uchiha have sacrificed too much.

Feeling a small amount of fear being absorbed by Zetton, Uchiha Yuji did not stop his pace. However, upon seeing the red-haired girl lingering at the entrance of the Uchiha compound, his long strides suddenly slowed, and he came to a gradual halt.

Why would Uzumaki Kushina appear outside the Uchiha compound?

Did that monkey Sarutobi Hiruzen actually indulge Uzumaki Kushina enough to let her seek out the Uchiha? Is Sarutobi Hiruzen's brain already broken, despite him still being in his prime?

Or does he have some other scheme?

Whether it was the unique sensory ability of the Uzumaki clan or simply Uzumaki Kushina's intuition, before Uchiha Yuji could figure out the situation, she turned her body and happened to catch sight of him standing there.

Her slightly troubled expression vanished in an instant. A brilliant smile bloomed on her face, and in the blink of an eye, she darted in front of him, her leaning body folding into a perfect ninety-degree bow.

"My name is Uzumaki Kushina. Thank you for your help last night."

A massive share of admiration, a small amount of longing, and joy.

So, this is the composition of the Bloody Habanero.

No one would show an annoyed expression toward a beautiful girl who liked them, and Uchiha Yuji was naturally no exception; he was just that simple of a young man.

Uchiha Yuji nodded slightly, a gentle smile appearing on his stern face, his voice carrying a hint of magnetism. "I think anyone who encountered such a situation would have chosen to help you."

"We are comrades from the same village, aren't we?"

Just comrades from the village?

The smile on Uzumaki Kushina's face remained unchanged as she desperately tried to maintain her gentle expression. "I still don't know your name, Senior."

"Uchiha Yuji, the current head of the Uchiha clan."

"The Uchiha... clan head?" Uzumaki Kushina couldn't maintain her smile, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.

She carefully sized up Uchiha Yuji's appearance—handsome, dashing, and heroic, yet his features were quite youthful. He wasn't much older than her, and he was already the head of the Uchiha clan?

A silent wail echoed in her heart.

"Whether I am a clan head or not, I am still a resident of Konoha. I have never thought of using this status to bully the weak or to wield that power. In that sense, there isn't much difference between you and me."

"If you don't mind, please treat me as a friend and just call me Yuji." Humility is a virtue—a virtue sufficient to change one's perception of a person.

The Uchiha's bad reputation was widespread, and Uzumaki Kushina had heard of it. Before coming here, she had been very worried that the person who saved her might also have some bad habits.

After this brief contact, she felt only comfort and peace. The smile she had struggled to force out became incredibly sincere, and the flush on her cheeks matched the evening glow, making it impossible to tell if it was the sunset or a blush.

"Please, call me Kushina as well."

"Very well, Kushina."

Uchiha Yuji said, glancing at the sky.

The scorching sun had already dipped halfway behind the mountains, and the blinding white light had turned into a vivid, flawed red. The drifting white clouds were rendered into a rosy glow; it was the hour of the demon.

"It is getting late, and it is time for dinner. If you don't mind, how about having a simple meal at my humble abode?"

"Eh?"

Things had slightly exceeded the processing capacity of Uzumaki Kushina's central processor; she had stalled for a moment.

"We are friends now, aren't we? You've already reached my doorstep; if I let you go back now, others would say I am an inhospitable host."

"Th-then, I'll be intruding!" Uzumaki Kushina stammered, her body slightly stiff as she followed Uchiha Yuji into the Uchiha compound.

Is it too fast to meet the family on the very first day?

The crimson flush on her face appeared even more charming against the backdrop of the sunset and her red hair, and this beauty was gradually cut off by the closing of the Uchiha gates.

In this hour of the demon, just as Uzumaki Kushina encountered Uchiha Yuji.

The Nine-Tails also bumped into its own demon.

What is this thing! What is this! Why does such a thing exist in this world!

The Nine-Tails, representing the pinnacle of power and the collective embodiment of hatred, stared through the iron bars with an expression of utter disbelief, looking at the Zetton Egg that pulsed in rhythm with a beating heart.

Since the era of the Sage of Six Paths, what kind of monster had it, the Nine-Tails, not seen?

Asura, Indra, the Sage of Six Paths—it knew every one of these legendary figures, yet what in the world was this thing before its eyes!

"Yin and Yang chakra, an abundance of the five elements, a massive physique, and a reserve of chakra that doesn't pale in comparison to my own; if it weren't in an egg state, I would have even suspected this thing was the husk of the Ten-Tails."

"Hey, hey, hey, since when did such a dangerous thing appear in the Shinobi World!"

The Nine-Tails wore a look of sheer horror.