Only Chizuru

Kirito chuckled in response to Uchiha Homura's questioning gaze. "Haha, sir, you jest. I'm sure whatever you have in mind must be of great importance if you've summoned me in person. While I'll certainly do my best to fulfill your request, I must admit that I'm just a small fry. If, by any chance, my best isn't enough, I hope you'll forgive me, mr Patriarch."

He maintained a relaxed demeanor, unaffected by the pressure from Homura's eyes. After all, this was just a shadow clone, and there was no need to fear facing the Uchiha patriarch directly.

In truth, Kirito harbored a secret hope that Uchiha Homura might destroy his shadow clone in a fit of anger. That way, he wouldn't have to repay the favor he owed to Homura, and he could avoid any further involvement. Besides, his cooperation was primarily with Chizuru, not Homura. Thus, Homura's absence wouldn't significantly impact their plans.

This arrangement wasn't his idea; it was a personal request from Chizuru. Consequently, Kirito kept his interactions with Uchiha Homura separate from his dealings with Chizuru.

But Kirito's casual demeanor didn't fool Homura. "Humble indeed. You've been causing quite a stir lately, especially within Danzo's leadership. Divisions are starting to form within his ranks."

Homura Uchiha heard what Kirito said, sneered, and withdrew the pressure on Kirito with his eyes.

As Danzo's mortal enemy, Uchiha Homura is always paying attention to Danzo and the situation of his roots. Even though he has not left the Uchiha clan for a long time, relying on the Ninja Clan, he still has a good understanding of the situation of the roots of the outside world. He knows more about it.

Today, the basic economic sources have almost been cut off, and internal chaos has fallen into great chaos due to the sharp drop in wages and benefits.

A large number of peripheral members who don't have much loyalty to the root choose traitors. Even if they don't defect, most of them choose to be bad. As for the internal members, he doesn't know much about them, but the situation is not much better.

And it was this little cunning guy who claimed to be small in stature that caused Root to fall into such a predicament.

Ever since he handed over the root member list to this little slicker, the root has been in bad luck. Basically all the people on the list who provided financial assistance to the root have been dealt with. If there is no direct connection with this little monster, Then he doesn't need to be the patriarch.

"Haha, what are you talking about, patriarch, why didn't I understand?"

Kirito laughed again, refusing to admit that he had done something to deal with the roots secretly.

After all, no matter how he deal with the root, it's a Konoha's organization. His dealing with the root is completely a personal enmity, and it can't be justified on the surface.

He didn't dare to gamble on Uchiha Homura's character.

As for the list of root members he got from Chizuru, as long as Uchiha Homura's brain is not broken, he will not tell the Sandaime about it.

Because the list was provided by Homura Uchiha himself.

He utilized the list provided by Uchiha Homura to handle the root. In the eyes of others, the man orchestrating events behind the scenes was undoubtedly the Uchiha clan, entangled in numerous conflicts with the root, and he, at best, was seen as a mere thug.

No, he was perceived as nothing more than an unwitting pawn.

"Humph."

Observing Kirito's refusal to admit anything, Uchiha Homura emitted a cold snort, secretly deeming Kirito cunning once again.

However, simultaneously, he harbored a degree of respect for Kirito. When he was Kirito's age, his demeanor was far from possessing Kirito's audacity.

As for prowess, it was incomparable.

What a formidable presence!

Such was Uchiha Homura's assessment of Kirito.

Typically, a child of Kirito's age wouldn't possess such a mature disposition.

If not for his unwavering gaze, he would have believed he was facing not an eight-year-old child but rather an ancient being that had endured as long as he had.

"Master Hamura, perhaps you should address the matter you wish to discuss with me. Moreover, the demise of the Roots should be considered a fortunate turn for the Uchiha clan, correct? Does the patriarch still aspire for the Roots to persist, or does he seek to cultivate a new adversary?"

Kirito believed it imperative to subtly remind Uchiha Homura to show some courtesy. He was a guest, even entrusted with a task, yet he had been met with coldness. It was truly unjust.

This time, his tone was slightly chilly, mirroring his expression.

Homura Uchiha, upon hearing the warning in Kirito's voice, instantaneously activated his Sharingan, locking eyes with Kirito.

In an instant, Kirito felt a greater intensity emanating from Uchiha Homura's gaze than before.

Yet, he remained undaunted, meeting the other's gaze without a hint of falter.

Uchiha Homura was undeniably formidable, and the Uchiha clan standing behind him held considerable strength, but in comparison to all of Konoha, they were merely a formidable force, not an insurmountable obstacle.

And as Konoha's prodigy, a future Kage-level powerhouse, a pillar of Konoha, Kirito now stood aligned with Konoha.

Homura Uchiha, witnessing Kirito's unfazed demeanor, felt a blow to his ego and simmered with anger. He entertained the idea of subduing Kirito with a genjutsu technique.

But ultimately, he refrained from succumbing to this alluring impulse.

Eliminating a mere shadow clone of Kirito would be effortless, yet the goodwill extended through the list previously provided would be squandered, resulting in unnecessary bloodshed.

For the sake of the Uchiha clan, he begrudgingly endured the impudence of this brat for the time being.

He deactivated his Sharingan and uttered coldly, "Boy, I had believed you to be humble just moments ago, but it appears I was mistaken. It's best for young individuals to exhibit more humility, lest they meet an untimely demise."

"The patriarch speaks wisely, but I am rather confident in my ability to preserve my own life, so there's no need for concern on your part, patriarch. Let's cut to the chase. Chizuru and I share a strong bond of friendship, and it's only natural for us to lend each other a helping hand."

Observing Uchiha Homura's persistent sternness, Kirito maintained the same cold demeanor, bluntly expressing his stance towards both him and the Uchiha clan.

Upon hearing these words, Uchiha Homura's eyes and pupils immediately contracted, rendering him silent as his aura diminished slightly.

He comprehended Kirito's message, finally grasping why he couldn't compel Kirito, a junior who had benefited from him and the Uchiha clan, to bow before him.

Throughout the interaction, Kirito had only regarded Chizuru, not the Uchiha clan, as his priority. It was Chizuru who had engaged in trade with him, not Uchiha Homura or the Uchiha clan.

Thus, Kirito didn't owe allegiance to Uchiha Homura or the Uchiha Clan, but rather to chizuru.

Kirito's visit to see Uchiha Homura stemmed solely from his connection with Chizuru.

From the outset, Uchiha Homura had misunderstood the nature of Kirito's relationship with the Uchiha clan.

At most, Kirito's attitude towards the Uchiha clan was neutral, if not outright hostile, were it not for Chizuru's involvement.

Considering Kirito's potential to disrupt the Uchiha clan's plans single-handedly, Homura Uchiha found himself deeply unsettled by the prospect of Kirito harboring the same animosity towards the Uchiha clan as the future Third Hokage.

"Kirito, Chizuru is my granddaughter and a member of the Uchiha clan. Therefore, neither I nor the Uchiha clan will be your adversaries."

After a moment of silence and introspection, Uchiha Homura unexpectedly offered Kirito a cup of hot tea and addressed him by name for the first time, adopting a softer tone.

"If that's the case, excellent. Let's proceed to the matter at hand, Lord Patriarch."

Upon hearing Uchiha Homura's words, Kirito softened the coldness on his face, though he refrained from drinking the offered tea, opting instead for a smile.

It seemed that the Uchiha patriarch had finally grasped the dynamics of his relationship with the Uchiha clan.

Indeed, he harbored no favorable sentiments towards the Uchiha clan.

In his view, the members of this clan were all potential liabilities and dangerous elements. Despite their innate talent and prowess, their tendency towards arrogance posed a significant risk.

Moreover, the Uchiha were known for their emotional volatility, often prioritizing sentiment over reason. In the face of adversity, they were prone to drastic measures, becoming a double-edged sword poised against Konoha's stability.

Classic examples such as Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Itachi.

What kind of idiot would kills babies in the name of peace ?

He could understand the necessity of killing all adult shinobi, but he even destroyed the uchiha root. Those kids could have been raised into excellent seed for konoha.

Let not even talk about obito.

Fucking neurotic.

It was no wonder the Second Hokage remained wary of the Uchiha clan.

In Kirito's estimation, this perilous double-edged sword needed to be neutralized. Even if annihilation wasn't the solution, their influence must be mitigated.

However, he had no intention of emulating Danzo's extreme measures, which would only sow panic among Konoha's ninja populace and exacerbate internal strife.

The era of the Warring States had passed, rendering the Uchiha clan incapable of single-handedly dominating the ninja world. Despite their prowess, they stood no chance against the unified and disciplined forces of the major ninja villages.

In battle, their arrogance and reluctance to cooperate with Konoha's allies would only lead to their downfall.

Similar to the fate of the Senju clan, Kirito aimed to gradually weaken the Uchiha clan through conflict until Konoha could easily manage them.

If not for Chizuru presence, Kirito would have pursued this course of action upon ascending to a leadership role in Konoha.

Eradicating unbridled power was the safest course of action.

Yet, with Chizuru, a new option emerged.

If Chizuru could lead the Uchiha clan in the future, there remained a chance for transformation.

The root cause of the Uchiha clan's volatility lay in the absence of proper ideological guidance.

Instilling correct values and providing psychological support in times of adversity could prevent future incidents like those involving Madara and Danzo.

...

Observing Kirito's unchanged attitude towards him, Uchiha Homura inwardly sighed, realizing he had missed the opportune moment to earn Kirito's friendship.

He had repelled Kirito with his unwavering demeanor, falling into the trap of Uchiha clan arrogance—believing his strength and familial ties could easily subdue the still-maturing Kirito.

Little did he know he had erred from the outset.

The young prodigy before him was a veritable enigma, possessing a mind as formidable as his own, unyielding even in the face of a Uchiha clan powerhouse like himself. Kirito was the epitome of someone who respected strength but scorned authority.

In Kirito's eyes, there was no Uchiha but Chizuru.

His interest in Uchiha Homura and the clan was non-existent.

"Chizuru, do you know how the person you've chosen perceives the Uchiha clan? He doesn't see the Uchiha clan; he sees only you. The Uchiha clan in his heart isn't the one I lead—it's the one you lead."

Lost in thought, Homura Uchiha's mind wandered to Chizuru, prompting him to come to a realization.

Recollecting himself, he turned to Kirito and posed a question: "Kirito, what are your thoughts on the current state of the Uchiha clan?"

Huh? What's going on? Why is he suddenly asking such a serious question? How am I supposed to respond?

Kirito hadn't anticipated such a weighty inquiry from Uchiha Homura, his expression momentarily frozen as he grappled with how to reply.

Had Chizuru posed the question, he would've answered without hesitation, given their close bond.

However, he and Uchiha Homura were mere acquaintances—this was their first meeting. Answering such a question would be folly.

Thus, he chose silence.

Thankfully, Uchiha Homura, as the patriarch, possessed political acumen.

Acknowledging his blunder, he extended a rare apology to Kirito: "My apologies for the foolish question. It was impertinent of me. Let's shift focus. What are your thoughts on Chizuru?"

'Is this a marriage proposition?'

Kirito felt a headache coming on at the new question, instinctively reluctant to respond.

But seeing the gravity in Uchiha Homura's expression, he understood the importance of answering earnestly.

The Uchiha clan was tangential to his connection with Chizuru—his perception of her largely shaped his view of the Uchiha.

The shrewd Uchiha patriarch likely recognized this. The initial question was a mere preamble to this more pivotal inquiry.

Refusing to answer would complicate his future interactions with chizuru.

"Chizuru is exceptional. She's a close friend with considerable strength. Though she may be a tad emotional, it's not a significant issue. Given the opportunity, I hope to collaborate with her to improve Konoha's future."

After a brief contemplation, Kirito responded sincerely.

"I understand. That's your opinion of Chizuru. She found herself a remarkable friend. Now, back to business. The reason for summoning you here is to seek your aid in a critical matter—the Nine-Tails inheritance."

Homura Uchiha fixed his gaze on Kirito, detecting no falsehood. A smile graced his typically stern countenance.

"You overestimate my abilities," Kirito replied with a wry smile.

Before arriving, he had only learned of the uchiha opinion on the Nine-Tails inheritance from Chizuru. It was a challenging task indeed.

He understood the Third Hokage's concerns.

Were he in the Third's position, he too would likely exclude the Uchiha clan from such a high-stakes operation. Who knew if they possessed a wielder of the Mangekyou Sharingan capable of controlling the Nine-Tails?

Uchiha Homura himself might possess the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Moreover, the Third Hokage's decision likely stemmed from the influence of his old comrades—Koharu, Mitokado hamura, and Danzo—who likely dissuaded him from involving the Uchiha. Persuading the Third Hokage would be no small feat..

"Just do what you can. The Nine-Tails inheritance is of paramount importance. As a Konoha member, the Uchiha clan must contribute. Regardless of the outcome, the Uchiha clan will express its gratitude for your efforts. There will be rewards."

Homura Uchiha sighed inwardly, acknowledging the difficulty of the task as he observed Kirito's uneasy expression.

Regardless, this was an opportunity to mend the strained relationship between the Uchiha clan and Konoha.

As patriarch, he was duty-bound to seize such opportunities.

He understood that personally approaching the Third Hokage would yield little success; hence, he relied on Kirito.

As a disciple of Mito, Kirito was one of Konoha's finest sealing ninjas and likely to play a crucial role in the Nine-Tails inheritance. His involvement might sway the Third Hokage's decision.

Reward ? Now we talking.

"I'll do my best. With that, I bid you farewell."

Kirito's eyes lit up at Homura Uchiha's words, a smile gracing his lips as he refrained from inquiring about the promised reward.

With a hand seal, he dissipated into white smoke, vanishing from sight.