The Kurama Clan

Night.

Konoha Village, Kurama Clan compound.

Uchiha Nara arrived at the Kurama Clan accompanied by his guards.

The Kurama Clan were masters of genjutsu. As the saying goes, rivals in the same trade are natural enemies, and the Uchiha Clan was also a clan highly skilled in genjutsu. For this reason, Nara had originally intended to decline the invitation.

After careful consideration, however, he decided to come and see what the Kurama Clan head wanted by secretly inviting him over.

Kurama Clan head's residence.

Kurama Ryota clapped his hands, and the five dancing girls in the center of the room stopped their performance and slowly retreated.

Why is it that the clan heads of the Uzumaki and Kurama clans live such colorful lives? While I, the head of Konoha's premier clan, have to toil away every single day?

The thought flashed through Nara's mind. The only major clans he had interacted with were the Uzumaki, and now the Kurama.

Uzumaki Nao also frequently arranged for dancing girls or musicians; if they weren't dancing, they were playing music. It was quite the carefree lifestyle.

Nara had originally assumed that since the Uzumaki Clan had once been the rulers of a nation, even though their country had fallen, it was understandable for them to have some leisure activities.

Yet, this Kurama Clan was also filled with song and dance, a scene of peace and prosperity, looking incredibly comfortable.

Comparing the two, he, the dignified Uchiha clan head, felt rather shabby, and Nara couldn't help but feel a touch of inferiority.

"Nara-kun, please have some tea. This is first-class tea from the capital of the Land of Fire. Please, do taste it."

Nara picked up the teacup, used the lid to brush aside the tea leaves, blew away the steam, and took a light sip. It was bitter at first, but after sliding down his throat, it turned fragrant and sweet. It was indeed good tea.

"Hmm, not bad. Good tea."

Nara nodded and praised it.

"Hahaha, if Nara-kun likes it, take some with you."

After saying this, Kurama Ryota clapped his hands.

A beautiful servant presented two large canisters of tea leaves, along with two scrolls. After placing the tray on Nara's low table, the servant slowly withdrew.

"This is?" Nara asked suspiciously.

"The scrolls contain some of our Kurama Clan's insights into genjutsu cultivation. The Uchiha are also a genjutsu clan, so I am gifting these to you, Nara-kun, in the hope that you might offer us some guidance in the future."

Kurama Ryota was extremely courteous.

Nara understood immediately. All that talk about future guidance was complete nonsense; this was clearly an unprovoked attempt to curry favor. Nara was quite sharp when it came to such matters.

"One should not accept rewards without merit. I dare not accept this, but I thank you for your kindness, Ryota-san!" Nara politely declined.

Kurama Ryota's expression shifted, and he waved his hand.

The servants in the room retreated one after another.

Once the servants were gone, Kurama Ryota stood up, walked over to Nara, and suddenly knelt down, performing a full prostration.

Nara was shocked and hurriedly stood up to help Kurama Ryota to his feet. However, Kurama Ryota knelt with force, and in his haste, Nara couldn't lift him.

"Ryota-san, let's talk this over. What are you doing?" Nara channeled his chakra and used brute force to pull Kurama Ryota up.

"I beg you, Nara-sama, save me!"

The initial elegance of Kurama Ryota had vanished, replaced by a sorrowful cry.

"Ryota-san, how am I supposed to save you?"

Nara was bewildered, unable to grasp what Kurama Ryota meant, and pulled him back to his seat.

With a sorrowful expression, Kurama Ryota began to recount: "Nara-sama, my Kurama Clan was once a major clan in Konoha, with thirty jonin and nearly a thousand chunin and genin among our ranks."

"After joining Konoha over thirty years ago, my clan now has only five jonin and about a hundred chunin and genin. As the clan head, watching the demise of my people is agonizing. Those mission reports, while they seem perfectly normal, are precisely why I feel such deep unease. My Kurama Clan is showing signs of extinction!"

Nara remained silent. To him, the Kurama Clan before him still seemed quite powerful. Compared to the handful of people they were in the anime, five jonin and a hundred or so chunin and genin was already a formidable force.

"This rate of attrition is indeed somewhat abnormal," Nara replied slowly.

"Exactly! The rate at which my people are dying is far too abnormal, yet I cannot find a single flaw in the mission reports of those who fell. How can I not be terrified? Someone is plotting against my Kurama Clan!"

Two tears rolled down the corners of Kurama Ryota's eyes as he secretly glanced at Nara. Seeing that Nara seemed unmoved, he began to sob, appearing deeply aggrieved.

"This... Ryota-san, how do you want me to help you?"

"Nara-sama, the Uchiha Clan is powerful and controls the Konoha Military Police Force. I was wondering if... you could allow members of our Kurama Clan to join the Police Force..."

Kurama Ryota continued to steal glances at Uchiha Nara.

The Konoha Military Police Force was under the control of the Uchiha Clan, and outsiders could never get in. Except for that foreign clan, the Uzumaki.

It was rumored that even before Uchiha Nara became the clan head, he had made the decision to rescue the Uzumaki Clan. After bringing them back, the relationship between the two sides became harmonious, and many Uchiha ninjas who excelled in sealing jutsu appeared—perhaps that had something to do with it.

If the foreign Uzumaki Clan could join the Police Force, Kurama Ryota felt that as long as he showed his sincerity, it shouldn't be impossible to negotiate or communicate.

"This... the positions in the Police Force are limited. If I let your people in, my own clansmen would have to step down. Besides, the Police Force's funding is heavily suppressed by the Third Hokage..."

Nara hesitated, but he didn't shut the door completely, merely pointing out the situation.

"My Kurama Clan will provide one hundred million ryo to support the Police Force!" Kurama Ryota quickly stated his position.

The benefits of the Police Force weren't just the salary; the most important thing was that the Police Force stayed within the village and didn't go out on missions. As long as one practiced diligently, the daily work wasn't particularly busy.

Staying holed up in the village meant avoiding the battlefield, but after the First and Second Great Ninja Wars, along with the various skirmishes in between, the Kurama Clan was on the verge of collapse. Kurama Ryota had become somewhat afraid to let his clansmen leave Konoha.

However, as Konoha ninja and members of one of the village's ninja clans, they had pledged to accept the leadership of the Hokage upon joining.

When the Hokage's decree arrived to mobilize ninja, the clans had no grounds for refusal.

They could not compare to great clans like the Uchiha or the Hyuga. Those clans had numerous ninja trained within their own ranks, and they generally handed over those with lower talent to Konoha to be trained and utilized, which counted as fulfilling their duty to contribute ninja.

The Kurama Clan could not withstand such mobilization. The Kurama Clan's kekkei genkai was difficult to awaken and required rigorous training to master. They were not a dōjutsu clan like the Uchiha or Hyuga, who could simply glare and activate their powers.

"One hundred million ryo?"

"Eh, since Mr. Ryota is so generous, then let's arrange for ten clansmen to join the Police Force. I will adjust the positions within the team for you over these next two days."

Naraku gently asked to confirm the amount. Under the offensive of money, Naraku thought it over and decided ten spots would suffice.

Kurama Ryota was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "I will contribute two hundred million ryo! Would twenty spots be acceptable?"

"This..." Naraku hesitated for a moment.

"Fine, twenty people at most, no more than that."

Naraku sighed upon hearing this and nodded in reply.

Two hundred million ryo, and he's even sending twenty village administrators! This Mr. Ryota is a good man!

Naraku was inwardly ecstatic, though he maintained a troubled expression on the surface.