"They're cowards. They only pick on the weak. If they want revenge, they'll definitely come after you."
Knowing the story, Uchiha Kurohane had said this with absolute confidence.
But soon after parting ways with Kushina Uzumaki, he took those words back.
Uchiha Kurohane had been wrong. Pineapple Head really did want revenge on him.
It wasn't because he was brave, but because he was too stupid to realize that Uchiha Kurohane was strong.
Pineapple Head still thought Uchiha Kurohane was a dead-last loser, a weakling.
Uchiha Kurohane hadn't beaten them with his own strength; he'd just used his crow summon.
Feeling he'd been cheated, Pineapple Head went to his older brother, Pumpkin Head, and asked him to help get revenge on Uchiha Kurohane.
After hearing how the fight had gone, Pumpkin Head was wary of Uchiha Kurohane's crows and didn't dare go alone.
Instead, he brought along his two teammates, Watermelon Head and Winter Melon Head. The four of them followed Uchiha Kurohane together.
Uchiha Kurohane spotted them through his crows and smiled helplessly. Then he changed his plans and headed for the woods outside the village.
Uchiha Kurohane was a kind and considerate soul. He thoughtfully went somewhere with no one else around, giving them a chance to take their revenge on him.
Once he reached the edge of the woods, Uchiha Kurohane decided the time was right. He abruptly turned and asked,
"Why have you guys been following me?"
As soon as he spoke, three boys appeared in front of him.
They were relatively tall, looked about fourteen, and had the same bizarre, unconventional fruit-shaped hairstyles as the three delinquents from before.
One had an orange pumpkin-shaped head, one had a green winter-melon-shaped head, and one had a black watermelon-shaped head.
Though their hairstyles were ridiculous, they all wore Genin Forehead Protectors, which meant they were Genin.
Watermelon Head ignored Uchiha Kurohane's question and said to Pumpkin Head,
"The kid never once looked behind him, yet he still noticed he was being followed. Looks like he's got some skill."
Winter Melon Head sneered from the side.
"So what if he's got skill? No matter how good he is, he's still just a student. Do you really think he can beat the three of us at once?"
Just then, another person jumped out. His head was wrapped in bandages. It was Pineapple Head, the one whose head Uchiha Kurohane had crushed underfoot yesterday.
"Watch out for the crows he summons. Their beaks are sharp, and their claws are like blades. Yesterday, one of them nearly bit my little guy off!"
Pumpkin Head grinned confidently.
"Don't worry. Your brother's a professional Genin. Those cheap tricks won't work on us."
Pumpkin Head slowly approached Uchiha Kurohane.
"You hurt my little brother and his two friends yesterday. They're still lying in hospital beds. You went too far, and I'm going to avenge them!"
Uchiha Kurohane retorted coldly,
"Your brother and those two idiots teamed up to bully a new girl. You think scum like that didn't deserve a beating?"
Pumpkin Head frowned. He agreed that what they'd done was despicable and that they deserved a beating, but the boy was his little brother. He couldn't admit that.
"That girl's an outsider. Who cares about her? You attacked your fellow Konoha Ninja for her. You're a traitor to Konoha!"
"You're wrong. Kushina is from the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools, our ally. Now that she's come to Konoha, she's one of us. Helping her is the right thing to do."
"Pah! The Village Hidden in the Whirlpools? Those weaklings are worthless. They don't deserve to be Konoha's allies!"
"Those weaklings don't deserve to be Konoha's allies!"
After Konoha's young ninjas learned that the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools had fallen, they didn't reflect on why Konoha hadn't helped. Instead, they mocked the village for being weak and useless.
They even blamed it for holding Konoha back.
That was why the delinquent students bullied Kushina.
Deep down, they believed the village's destruction had humiliated Konoha, so they hated its people with all their hearts.
Uchiha Kurohane retorted,
"Foolish. An ally is an ally, no matter how strong or weak they are. As long as they're allied with Konoha, they're our comrades."
"If you abandon someone just because they're weak, do you even have any humanity?"
"Or let me put it another way: your little brother is so weak. Why don't you abandon him?"
Uchiha Kurohane's words struck two of them where it hurt.
The first was Pineapple Head. He clenched his teeth in anger, his face turning purple.
"Idiot! Who are you calling weak? You didn't dare fight me one-on-one. You ganged up on me with your summons. That's a cheap win!"
The other was Pumpkin Head. He was humiliated that his little brother had been beaten up by a classmate who'd been outnumbered three to one. A savage glint flashed in his eyes as he snapped,
"Idiot! Do you understand the political situation? Not sending ninjas to support the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools was Lord Hokage's decision. Are you questioning Lord Hokage?"
Pumpkin Head thought invoking the Hokage's name would scare Uchiha Kurohane half to death.
But in Uchiha Kurohane's eyes, the current Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was weak and incompetent.
Only someone like him could win a war and still end up paying reparations.
As a leader, incompetence and weakness were sins. Uchiha Kurohane wasn't afraid of him at all.
"We signed an alliance treaty with the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools. That makes them our allies. It's an objective fact, and no one can deny it!"
"Anyone who does is a shameless, despicable scoundrel—and an enemy of justice!"
The four boys all sucked in a sharp breath.
Had he just implied that Lord Hokage was a shameless, despicable scoundrel?
Did he have a death wish?
Uchiha Clan members really were crazy!
Pumpkin Head idolized Sarutobi Hiruzen. Hearing his idol insulted filled him with fury.
"Wrong! That's complete nonsense! You dare disagree with Lord Hokage? Uchiha brats really are all evil. You'll pay for your ignorance!"
Pumpkin Head pulled a Kunai from the pouch at his waist and took a fighting stance.
Hidden nearby, Kushina Uzumaki had heard their entire conversation. Uchiha Kurohane's words had deeply moved her.
Kushina Uzumaki had never understood why Konoha Ninja hadn't sent anyone to support the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools. Even when she asked her grandmother, Uzumaki Mito, she remained silent.
Now she knew the answer. This was how the current Hokage and Konoha's ninjas viewed the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools.
They were all shameless oath-breakers.
Only Uchiha Kurohane was different.
He was just a little boy, yet he stood up for the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools in the name of justice, even daring to challenge Lord Hokage's decision.
He was incredible!
Kushina Uzumaki was won over by Uchiha Kurohane's noble convictions, her eyes welling with emotion.
At the same time, she made up her mind: from now on, she would follow Uchiha Kurohane and willingly become his underling!
With a swish, Kushina Uzumaki leapt out of the woods and bravely stood in front of Uchiha Kurohane.
"Kurohane, thank you for standing up for me and the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools. I caused all this, so let me protect you this time!"
Kushina Uzumaki looked utterly resolute, her gaze fierce, as if she were ready to die for Uchiha Kurohane.
But to Uchiha Kurohane, it looked like she was trying to steal his kills.
After earning Uchiha Mikoto's favor, Uchiha Kurohane had gained Sasuke's bloodline and awakened the Sharingan.
He wanted to test the Sharingan's power, but Kushina Uzumaki had run out and was getting in the way.
He put a hand on Kushina Uzumaki's shoulder and pushed her aside.
"You're my underling. Just accept my protection and stay over there."
Kushina Uzumaki was a little dazed from the push and felt rather aggrieved.
Why does he never listen to me?
Before you continue