13. Fooling, and more fooling

He explained, "And several years ago, during the Nine-Tails' Rampage."

"Many ninjas saw with their own eyes that within the eyes of the Nine-Tails, there was a pair of crimson, strange Sharingan!"

His voice was calm, yet it struck like a thunderclap!

Uchiha Itachi's pupils constricted; he suddenly realized something.

He couldn't help but say, "The Nine-Tails' Rampage was instigated by the Uchiha Clan?!"

"How is that possible!"

"Countless ninjas died in the village during the Nine-Tails' Rampage. If the Uchiha Clan truly did this... they would inevitably be ostracized by everyone!"

Uchiha Itachi's breathing grew rapid, his eyes filled with shock!

He had figured out the reason.

"The Nine-Tails' Rampage is the reason the Uchiha Clan is being ostracized!"

His dark eyes couldn't help but fill with despair, gradually dimming.

Because of the Nine-Tails' Rampage, countless ninjas in Konoha had died.

Countless families were shattered because of the Nine-Tails' Rampage. These lives were crimson evidence of sin. If the Nine-Tails' Rampage was truly the work of the Uchiha Clan, then no matter what the Uchiha Clan did... it would all be in vain!

Sin was a heavy shackle!

"But there is no actual evidence for any of this."

Hyuga Kagami's lips curled upward.

His gaze flicked toward the System Mission Panel.

[Mission Five: Sign in at the Uchiha Clan Land Secret Room!]
[Mission Reward: Mangekyou Sharingan!]
[Mission Six: Sign in at the Uchiha Clan during the Clan Annihilation Night!]
[Mission Reward: Rinnegan!]

Both of these missions required contact with the Uchiha Clan.

Especially the Uchiha Clan Land Secret Room.

That would require Uchiha Itachi's guidance.

Tsk.

It seemed he would have to bamboozle the King of Bluffing, Uchiha Itachi!

"Without evidence, all speculation is groundless."

Hyuga Kagami's lips curled upward: "Just like those few people in the Ninja Academy who are always picking on you, saying you are ignorant and useless—but is what they say true?"

Uchiha Itachi looked stunned.

He was somewhat confused.

"There is no evidence... but that was indeed a Sharingan. Only the Uchiha Clan possesses the Sharingan."

Hyuga Kagami's mouth twitched.

Uchiha Itachi was great in every way, but he was just so damn stubborn! Uchiha Stubbornness!

"Controlling the Nine-Tails isn't something just anyone can do; the Three-Tomoe Sharingan doesn't have that kind of power."

Hyuga Kagami said indifferently: "If the Uchiha Clan could really control the Nine-Tails, why wouldn't they just revolt?"

"With the power of the Uchiha Clan and the might of the Nine-Tails, becoming Hokage would be a certainty."

He scoffed: "But your father not only didn't do that, he was constantly pushed aside, and in the end, he had no choice but to relocate the clan land."

"Everyone knows the Nine-Tails has nothing to do with the Uchiha Clan; it's just an excuse."

"Some things are not as simple as they appear to you."

Having said that, he offered no further explanation.

Some things are better left in moderation.

Planting a seed in Uchiha Itachi's heart was enough. A genius like Uchiha Itachi needed to discover the 'truth' for himself.

That would make him trust it even more!

"Things... are not that simple?"

Uchiha Itachi seemed to understand, yet not quite. He felt as if he had gained some insight, but upon closer inspection, he was confused again.

However, his dark eyes had become much deeper.

As if... they held a bit more contemplation!

What Hyuga Kagami didn't expect, however, was that as soon as he arrived at his doorstep, he saw a beautiful figure.

With flowing purple hair, a well-endowed figure, and delicate features, she was gentle and paced back and forth, clearly having waited for a considerable time.

"Hyuga Kagami!"

Uzuki Yugao's beautiful eyes lit up, she stood on tiptoe, and waved with a bright smile.

When she smiled, it was as if the surrounding scenery took on different colors. Sunlight shone on her delicate, pretty face, and her watery, beautiful eyes seemed to speak.

"I didn't know where to find you, so I had to come to the Hyuga Clan."

A hint of apology on her pretty face, "Thank you for what happened last time. If it weren't for you, I would have really been bullied by Uchiha Lengfeng."

As she spoke, Uzuki Yugao's small face blushed.

Her onion-like small hands offered a lunchbox.

She looked at Hyuga Kagami's tall figure and his sharp, untamed White Eyes, and inexplicably felt a flutter, her heart beating faster.

"Here, this is the bento I made. I hope you don't mind!"

"That matter."

Hyuga Kagami was unconcerned. "There's no need to be so polite; it was just a small thing I did casually."

"Anyone else would have probably done the same."

He hadn't expected Uzuki Yugao to come and thank him.

This was different from the women in his past life who only knew how to eat and never treated others.

Or perhaps, the ninjas in this world were truly equal between men and women.

Uzuki Yugao tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her beautiful eyes lowered. "Not necessarily. Some things that you, Kagami, consider normal, others might see but not necessarily help."

"After all, offending the Uchiha Clan is not a wise choice."

She smiled brightly. "Some people... might hide nearby and watch secretly, then pretend nothing happened after it's over."

If not for Hyuga Kagami.

Perhaps she would have been truly moved by such concern.

"Is that so?"

Hyuga Kagami mused, but said nothing more.

"You don't need to do this in the future. We're ninjas from the same village, and besides, I'll be home much less often from now on."

After becoming an Anbu ninja.

His missions would be extremely demanding, meaning he would have very little free time in a day!

This was why Hatake Kakashi was so leisurely and lazy after leaving the Anbu, precisely because of the high-intensity missions of Anbu ninjas!

Konoha was indeed peaceful, but the ninja world was not!

There were undercurrents surging between the great nations and the great ninja villages!

Just as Uzuki Yugao was about to say something, a furious roar suddenly came!

"Yugao! Is this why you rejected me?"

From a distance, Gekko Hayate roared, looking at the two, his eyes almost spitting fire!

"We've been friends since we were little!"

"Do you think someone you just met is more important than me!"

Gekko Hayate's chest heaved violently, and he couldn't help but cough.

He and Uzuki Yugao had grown up together!

They weren't just classmates, but now they were both Anbu ninjas. A future together was practically a match made in heaven!

Yet now, Uzuki Yugao had rejected his invitations more than once!

And now she was making bento for someone else!!

"We've known each other for so many years, and even I haven't eaten a bento made by you, Yugao!"

Gekko Hayate sneered, his face extremely ugly.

Uzuki Yugao's eyebrows shot up, her beautiful eyes like frost. "You were following me!"

"We've been friends since we were little, but what business is it of yours what I do?"

Gekko Hayate panicked.

He quickly said, "I, I was worried you'd be bullied by others."

"No one will truly protect you except me. Only your childhood sweetheart can protect you with all his heart!"

Uzuki Yugao's beautiful eyes showed disappointment. "Protect me?"

"Can you really do it?"