Kurama Clan

Night

The Kurama Clan compound in Konoha

Naraku arrived at the Kurama Clan compound with his guards.

The Kurama Clan specialized in Genjutsu. As the saying went, rivals in the same trade were enemies, and the Uchiha Clan was also exceptionally skilled in Genjutsu. So at first, Naraku hadn't wanted to come.

After giving it some careful thought, he decided to see what this Kurama Clan Head wanted. Why had he secretly invited Naraku here?

The Kurama Clan Head's residence

Kurama Ryota clapped his hands, and the five dancers in the room stopped their performance and slowly filed out.

"Why do the heads of the Uzumaki Clan and the Kurama Clan lead such colorful lives? I'm the head of Konoha's foremost clan, yet I have to toil every day?"

The question flashed through Naraku's mind. Of the major clans he'd encountered, he'd only known the Uzumaki Clan. The Kurama Clan was the second.

Uzumaki Nao often arranged for dancers or musicians to perform. They either danced or played music—what a carefree life.

Naraku had thought that since the Uzumaki Clan had once ruled a country, it was only natural that they'd have some leisure activities, even if their country had fallen.

But the Kurama Clan also had song and dance, and everyone seemed to be living it up.

By comparison, he, the proud Uchiha Clan Head, lived a rather shabby life. Naraku couldn't help feeling a little inferior.

"Please have some tea, Naraku. This is some of the finest tea from the Land of Fire's capital. I hope you enjoy it."

Naraku picked up the teacup, brushed the tea leaves aside with the lid, and blew on the steam before taking a small sip. It tasted bitter at first, but once it went down, a fragrant sweetness bloomed. It really was excellent tea.

"Mm, not bad. Good tea."

Naraku nodded and praised it.

"Hahaha, if you like it, Naraku, take some with you."

After speaking, Kurama Ryota clapped his hands.

A beautiful servant brought over two large tins of tea, along with two scrolls. She set the tray down on the low table in front of Naraku, then quietly withdrew.

"What are these?" Naraku asked.

"The scrolls contain some of our Kurama Clan's insights into training in Genjutsu. The Uchiha are also a clan of Genjutsu users, so I'm giving them to you, Naraku. I also hope you'll be able to offer us some guidance in the future."

Kurama Ryota was very polite.

Naraku understood. The talk of "guidance in the future" was complete nonsense. This was clearly an attempt to curry favor for no reason. Naraku was fairly perceptive when it came to this sort of thing.

"I can't accept gifts without cause. I wouldn't dare take these, but I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Ryota!" Naraku politely declined.

Kurama Ryota's expression shifted. He waved his hand.

The servants in the room all withdrew.

After they had left, Kurama Ryota stood and walked over to Naraku. Then he suddenly dropped to his knees and prostrated himself.

Naraku was startled and hurried to help Kurama Ryota up. But Ryota pressed down hard, and Naraku couldn't get him up in time.

"Mr. Ryota, we can talk this over! What are you doing?" Naraku channeled chakra and hauled Kurama Ryota to his feet with brute force.

"Please, Lord Naraku, save me!"

The carefree look had vanished from Kurama Ryota's face. He cried out in grief.

"Mr. Ryota, how can I save you?"

Naraku was baffled. He had no idea what Kurama Ryota meant, so he guided him back to his seat.

Kurama Ryota's face was full of sorrow as he explained, "Lord Naraku, my Kurama Clan was once one of Konoha's major clans. We had thirty jonin, and nearly a thousand Genin among our clansmen."

"We joined Konoha over thirty years ago. Now my Kurama Clan has only five jonin, and around a hundred Genin. As Clan Head, it pains me to watch my people dwindle. The mission records all look perfectly normal, but that's exactly what makes me deeply uneasy. My Kurama Clan is on the brink of extinction!"

Naraku fell silent. Even the Kurama Clan before him seemed quite powerful to him. Compared to the handful of members shown in the original anime, five jonin and around a hundred other ninja made them a formidable clan.

"That rate of decline seems rather abnormal," Naraku replied slowly.

"Exactly! The rate at which our clansmen are dying is far too abnormal. But I can't find anything wrong with the records of those who've fallen. How could I not be afraid? Someone is plotting against my Kurama Clan!"

Two tears slid from the corners of Kurama Ryota's eyes. He stole a glance at Naraku, and when Naraku didn't seem to react, he began to sob, heartbroken.

"Well, Mr. Ryota, how do you want me to help?"

"Lord Naraku, the Uchiha Clan is powerful, and it also controls the Konoha Military Police Force. I was wondering if you might let some members of the Kurama Clan join the Police Force..."

Kurama Ryota continued sneaking glances at Uchiha Naraku.

The Konoha Military Police Force was controlled by the Uchiha Clan, and outsiders had no way of getting in. The only exception was the Uzumaki Clan, an outsider clan.

He'd heard that before Uchiha Naraku became Clan Head, he'd made the decision to rescue the Uzumaki Clan. After they'd been brought back, the two clans had enjoyed friendly relations, and many members of the Uchiha Clan had become skilled in Fuinjutsu. Perhaps that had something to do with it.

If an outsider clan like the Uzumaki could join the Police Force, Kurama Ryota figured that if he showed his sincerity too, it might be possible to work something out.

"Well, there are only so many positions in the Police Force. If I put your people on duty, my clansmen will have to lose their jobs. Besides, the Third Hokage has been squeezing the Police Force's budget..."

Naraku sounded hesitant, but didn't rule it out. He was just laying out the situation.

"My Kurama Clan will contribute one hundred million ryo to support the Police Force!" Kurama Ryota quickly offered.

The benefits of the Police Force had little to do with the pay. Its biggest advantage was that its members stayed in the village and didn't have to go out. They could just focus on training, and the day-to-day work wasn't too demanding.

If they stayed in the village, they wouldn't have to go to war. After the First and Second Shinobi World Wars, along with all the local conflicts in between, the Kurama Clan was nearly finished. Kurama Ryota was now afraid to let his clansmen leave Konoha.

But as Konoha Ninja and one of the clans that had joined Konoha, they'd promised to accept the Hokage's leadership when they joined.

When the Hokage's orders came and ninja were called up, the clans had no grounds to refuse.

Unlike major clans such as the Uchiha and Hyuga, the Kurama Clan couldn't afford to send its ninja off. The Uchiha and Hyuga had plenty of ninja trained within their own clans. They usually left those with less talent for Konoha to train and use, fulfilling their obligation to contribute ninja.

The Kurama Clan couldn't withstand that kind of call-up. Awakening their Kekkei Genkai was difficult, and mastering it required rigorous training. They weren't like the Uchiha or Hyuga, whose members could simply activate their special eye techniques.

"One hundred million ryo?"

"Since you're so generous, Mr. Ryota, I'll arrange for ten of your clansmen to join the Police Force. I'll adjust the positions in the unit for you over the next couple of days."

Naraku softly repeated the amount to confirm it. Faced with the offer of money, he thought it over and decided to give them ten positions.

Kurama Ryota was delighted. "I'll contribute two hundred million ryo! Could we have twenty positions?"

"Well..." Naraku hesitated.

"All right. Twenty at most. I can't offer you any more."

Naraku sighed and nodded.

"Two hundred million ryo, and he's sending twenty village overseers too! Mr. Ryota really is a good man!"

Naraku was overjoyed inside, though he kept up a troubled expression.