Uchiha Kurohane knew why Danzo had given him that assessment.
Danzo had found out that the Pineapple Head trio had been stabbed in the kidneys. Since this involved the war in the Land of Rain, Danzo would definitely go running to the Third Hokage to complain.
However he reported it, the facts were clear.
Uchiha Kurohane had faced three opponents alone and won despite being outmatched. In the end, he had only stabbed them in the kidneys. Nobody had died, so it was a minor incident.
He wasn't worried about being punished.
Uchiha Kurohane even thought that since he had helped protect Kushina, the old Third Hokage ought to thank him instead.
After all, Konoha's future depended entirely on Kushina.
If Kushina came to resent Konoha because she was bullied, then turned against the village alongside the Nine-Tails, Konoha would be finished.
From that perspective, the old Third Hokage had failed to educate the Ninja Academy students properly and had allowed Kushina to be bullied.
He was both foolish and incompetent.
The same went for Naruto. Naruto had been treated terribly since childhood, and yet he hadn't become a rogue ninja. The Third Hokage ought to get down on his knees and thank Iruka.
Put plainly, Sarutobi Hiruzen was all talk. He knew how to say the right things, but he couldn't do anything right.
Uchiha Kurohane wasn't worried about Sarutobi Hiruzen at all. He was only worried about Danzo.
Danzo was one of the few characters in Naruto with brains, capable of scheming and plotting.
You could say he was second only to Black Zetsu.
However, Danzo was only just entering middle age and hadn't become completely twisted yet.
Besides, Uchiha Kurohane had the Uchiha Clan backing him. He didn't panic and continued eating.
Just then, a shadow flashed past the window.
With a soft thump, something landed on the windowsill.
He turned to look and saw Uchiha Mikoto crouching gracefully on the sill.
Her knees were together and her legs were spread apart. The pose brimmed with youthful charm, making her look both cute and sexy.
Her lovely legs were certainly a sight, but why had this young lady from the Uchiha Clan climbed onto a second-floor windowsill at night?
If she needed something from me, she should have knocked on the door.
Since Uchiha Kurohane was an orphan, his home was tiny. The landlord's shop, which faced the street, occupied the first floor.
He lived upstairs in a small room that served as a living room, bedroom, and kitchen all in one.
In fact, directly beneath Uchiha Mikoto's snowy-white legs was his bed.
Worried that Mikoto would get her ninja sandals on his bed, Uchiha Kurohane hurriedly asked,
"Mikoto, why did you climb in through the window?"
Uchiha Mikoto met Uchiha Kurohane's gaze, pursed her lips, and gave him a radiant smile.
"Kurohane, we're holding an emergency clan meeting tonight. Aren't you coming?"
"...I didn't know. Nobody told me."
Uchiha Kurohane was an orphan, and he was still young, just a child. Nobody had ever told him to attend a clan meeting.
Uchiha Mikoto smiled and nodded.
"I see. No wonder you've never attended one."
Uchiha Mikoto's voice was clear and melodious, like a babbling stream. Listening to her put him at ease.
"I'm still young. Don't I need to be older to attend?"
"Not at all. Fugaku attended when he was eight because he was a genius, and everyone saw him as the Uchiha Clan's future hope..."
Uchiha Mikoto paused, tucked a lock of hair behind her cheek, and gave Uchiha Kurohane a flirtatious wink.
"You're a genius too, so you're allowed to attend."
"I'm not a genius. I'm the class dead-last, so I'll pass."
The Second Shinobi World War was underway, and geniuses were sent to the battlefield.
Although Uchiha Kurohane had a cheat that had greatly improved his strength, he didn't want to risk taking part in the war.
A war wasn't a one-on-one fight. It was a massive battle, with too many unpredictable factors.
The risk was high, and the reward was low.
Rather than fight on the front lines, he'd rather stay home, spend time with his newly acquired little sister Kushina, and farm a few more Entries.
He might even get to know Tsunade through her and become Tsunade's student.
If he could win Tsunade over, he'd practically become the Hokage's man!
"I'm the one inviting you. What are you afraid of?"
Seeing Uchiha Mikoto raise her foot to step onto Uchiha Kurohane's bed, he immediately said,
"All right, I'll go."
As long as she didn't dirty my bed, I didn't care what she did!
Uchiha Mikoto didn't seem like the oblivious type. She must have realized that the soles of her shoes would dirty Uchiha Kurohane's bed.
Considering the S side she had shown the last time she threatened him,
Uchiha Kurohane thought Mikoto was using his bed as leverage. In that case, he had no choice but to go along with her.
Attending the Uchiha Clan meeting and hearing what the clan members had to say wasn't a bad idea either.
Still, Uchiha Kurohane knew what would happen in the future. No matter what these Uchiha said, none of it would matter. In the end, they would all be wiped out.
He'd be listening for nothing, but he could at least use it to raise Mikoto's affection for him.
On the outskirts of Konoha, at Naka Shrine.
In the quiet darkness, Uchiha Mikoto's long black hair fluttered in the breeze as she ran lightly up the stone steps, her slender, snowy-white legs flashing beneath her.
Uchiha Kurohane followed at an unhurried pace.
"Hurry up! We're going to be late!"
Uchiha Mikoto urged him on anxiously.
Since the clan meeting had been called at short notice, the announcement had come late, leaving everyone little time to get ready. Uchiha Mikoto had nearly been late because she had gone to notify Uchiha Kurohane.
In the bright lantern light outside the shrine, Uchiha Kurohane watched her petite, round backside sway from side to side and couldn't help spacing out for a moment.
A boy's voice came from farther up the steps.
"Mikoto, where have you been? Hurry up! You're going to be late!"
Uchiha Kurohane looked up. A boy in dark blue stood at the top of the stone steps.
He had short, shoulder-length hair, a mature face, and a fierce gaze.
He was the genius Mikoto had mentioned, Uchiha Fugaku, who would one day be known as Fugaku of the Evil Eye.
"I went to get Kurohane."
Uchiha Fugaku frowned in displeasure.
He had known Uchiha Mikoto since they were children. They had grown up together.
He had always been in love with her and thought of her as a goddess.
Seeing his goddess go looking for another man stirred complicated feelings in him.
But the other boy was the Disgrace of the Uchiha, so Uchiha Fugaku didn't take him seriously.
Uchiha Fugaku gave Uchiha Kurohane a disdainful look and spoke arrogantly.
"Why did you bring him here? He's too young to be allowed at a clan meeting, isn't he?"
Uchiha Mikoto rolled her eyes at him.
"You attended when you were eight. How can you say he's too young?"
"Hmph. He can't compare to me."
"I'm a genius of the Uchiha Clan. He's the dead-last in his class. He carries the Uchiha name, yet he ranks at the bottom of the school. What a disgrace to our clan."
Uchiha Fugaku didn't care what Uchiha Kurohane thought. He spoke bluntly and insultingly.
Clearly, he looked down on Uchiha Kurohane.
He was a genius whom the Uchiha Clan had placed great hopes in, while Uchiha Kurohane was a dead-last known as the Disgrace of the Uchiha. It was natural for him to think that way.
But for a ninja, that way of thinking was immature and naive.
Take Kabuto, for example. He withdrew from the Chunin Ninja Exams every year. He performed unimpressively, and to others, he was just a timid, weak Genin.
But in truth, his strength was on par with Kakashi's. He was an Elite Jonin.
Ninjas were full of secrets. Judging someone's strength by their outward performance alone was truly foolish.
Uchiha Kurohane thought little of Fugaku's narrow-mindedness and lack of magnanimity, and didn't bother responding.
Uchiha Mikoto glared at Uchiha Fugaku and said seriously,
"He's strong. Don't underestimate him."
Before you continue