Chapter 32: Kizaru Lectures His Uncle (Please Follow!)
Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Nothing major happened in the village or at school during that time, just one minor disturbance.
Uchiha Inabi's parents and a clan elder had gone together to the Hyuga Clan to pay their respects.
The Uchiha Clan elder wore a bright smile as he offered his heartfelt thanks to Hyuga Toda and his father. He also "warmly" invited Toda to spend more time interacting with the younger generation of the Uchiha Clan.
He encouraged Toda to speak up, keep working hard, and achieve even greater things!
After that visit, the Hyuga household was filled with loud voices for the entire night. The echoes lingered and rang in their ears without end!
The next day, an upperclassman from the Hyuga Clan, bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, came to Kizaru's class to request three days of sick leave for his younger cousin.
A joyful atmosphere instantly swept through the classroom. The students who guessed the reason all wore cheerful smiles, and Uchiha Inabi was the happiest of them all.
Meanwhile, the news that Uchiha Inabi had awakened his Sharingan at the age of six spread throughout the village. Alongside Kizaru's challenge to a Uchiha Jonin, it became a hot topic of discussion.
Some members of the Uchiha Clan even claimed that now that Inabi had awakened his Sharingan, his potential and talent surpassed Kizaru's, and that he would soon overtake him.
Whenever Uchiha Inabi heard those words, he blushed and felt guilty.
All he could do was shout in his heart, I didn't! I haven't!
For several days in a row, whenever Uchiha Inabi saw Kizaru at school, he kept his distance.
He couldn't help it. The Demon King Kizaru had been far too monstrous during the last monthly exam!
In truth, though, Uchiha Inabi's worries were clearly unnecessary.
Kizaru paid no attention to those rumors. He'd had a very relaxing half month: he slacked off at school during the day, trained the four little ones after class, and stayed home in the evenings to work on the Rasengan.
With Kizaru's deliberate arrangements and guidance, Zen-hiko and the others quickly grew closer to Namikaze Minato.
Nowadays, after school, Minato would go with Kizaru and the others to the Shimura Clan residence to train and have dinner together. He was practically living with the Shimura Clan already.
Minato and Kizaru were so close, training and eating together every day, that Danzo naturally took notice.
After secretly watching Minato train a few times, Danzo, with his keen eye, also recognized the boy's outstanding talent.
And so, Danzo—who had nothing in his head but iron-blooded resolve and extremism—came up with a new idea.
"Kizaru, that boy Minato is pretty good. I want to bring him into Root and train him."
"Cough, cough!" Kizaru, who had been lounging in his chair and sipping tea, was startled by Danzo's words.
"That's a frightening topic!" Kizaru set down his teacup and quipped.
At Kizaru's remark, Danzo furrowed his brow and continued, "You have a good eye. That boy's talent is worth cultivating."
Kizaru stared at Danzo as if he were an idiot, once again speechless at his uncle's shortsightedness and narrow-mindedness.
Their teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, played the good guy when recruiting people, winning their hearts and bringing them in with his grand, righteous Will of Fire.
And his uncle?
He recruited people in the most brutal way possible. No inviting them to dinner, investing in them, or arranging marriages—just brainwashing, beheading, and making them his dogs. Pure hard-core methods!
No wonder he couldn't win the people's hearts!
Maybe this was why Hiruzen Sarutobi trusted Danzo so much.
With a good friend like that, who would do whatever it took and take the blame, Hiruzen Sarutobi was practically Qin Shi Huang touching an electric wire—winning so hard it hurt!
"Uncle, please don't say such terrifying things again. You're really frightening!" Kizaru continued grumbling.
"Kizaru, don't let your emotions cloud your judgment!" Danzo said sternly, dissatisfied with Kizaru's answer.
"Hey, hey, hey, Uncle!" Kizaru paid no attention to Danzo's lecture. Instead, a smile appeared on his face as he said in a flippant tone, "Your methods belong underground. In the sunlight, they're just too much of an eyesore."
Danzo's veins nearly bulged as Kizaru angered him yet again.
"Then what brilliant idea do you have?" Danzo asked sarcastically.
"Follow my teacher's example: win their hearts first, then bring them in!" Kizaru replied with a smile.
Danzo took a deep breath, suddenly feeling a pang of sourness in his heart.
They hadn't seen each other since the last exam, so why did Kizaru say the word "teacher" with such affection?
"Then go listen to Teacher Sarutobi! I'm done meddling!" Danzo stood up in a huff and started toward the door.
"Uncle, wait a moment!" Kizaru called out languidly, picking up the teacup in front of him as Danzo turned to leave.
Danzo had already stepped outside with his right foot. Hearing Kizaru, he stopped and turned around to look at him.
"If you really think highly of Minato, make him your adopted son!" Kizaru drained the hot tea in one gulp, then set the cup down with a smile.
An adopted son?
Danzo frowned and thought it over. Kizaru's suggestion suddenly seemed pretty good.
He'd seen Minato's talent for himself. It was truly outstanding.
Setting aside his own nephew Kizaru, a monster among monsters, Minato's talent was definitely among the best of his generation.
Danzo was just about to voice his agreement when he saw Kizaru's handsome smile, with its hint of sleaze and smugness, and felt his chest tighten.
"I'll give it some thought!" Danzo said stiffly, putting on a show of resolve.
"Then I won't see you out! Take care, Uncle!" Kizaru waved dismissively as Danzo turned to leave and said with a smile.
"No need!" Before the words had even left his mouth, Danzo had already walked out of the room.
Danzo stormed out of the house and was about to leave the courtyard when he suddenly stopped.
Still fuming, he remembered that he hadn't come to see Kizaru about Minato at all. He'd come to pass along a message for an old dog!
Although he was extremely reluctant, he knew the matter at hand was important, so Danzo had no choice but to turn around and head back.
Kizaru had been looking down as he trimmed his nails when he heard movement at the door.
He kept filing his nails and raised his head.
"Uncle, we meet again!" Kizaru said with a beaming smile.
I'm so mad. I want to leave!
Danzo's cheek twitched. Then he said, "Hiruzen asked me to tell you to meet him beneath Kage Rock after school tomorrow."
"What does Teacher Sarutobi want with me?" Kizaru asked curiously.
"He's prepared some ninjutsu materials for you and wants to hand them to you in person," Danzo replied coldly.
"What a good teacher! Wouldn't you agree, Uncle?" Kizaru said, feigning heartfelt gratitude.
Danzo felt even more bitter. He wanted to ask, Am I not good to you?
But Danzo was proud of his status as an elder and liked to put on airs. He could only ignore Kizaru's remark and continue, "When you see Hiruzen tomorrow, mind your manners. Don't bring shame to the Shimura Clan!"
"What a hassle," Kizaru sighed, blowing on his nails.
A hassle?
Danzo, furious, shot Kizaru a look, then turned and left without another word. He didn't want to stay a second longer!