Chapter 29. The Legendary Ninja's Reputation Takes a Hit

Chapter 29. The Legendary Ninja's Reputation Takes a Hit

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The Nine-Tails…

This was the Nine-Tails! 

The strongest of all the Tailed Beasts! 

Even the powerful First Hokage once spoke of how terrifying the Nine-Tails was. 

This fact is recorded in Konoha's history, and in the end, the First Hokage's wife had to personally seal it. 

This speaks to how terrifying the Nine-Tails truly is!

Yet now…

Here it was, lying on the ground, scratching its head with one paw and using a clawed hand to fiddle with the mahjong tiles. Its fearsome fox face looked oddly… troubled. 

Was this really the Nine-Tails?

Could it be that it had fallen under Yuto's genjutsu?

Thinking back to Yuto's eyes earlier… Suzune realized he truly was a genius. Even without formally becoming a ninja, he had awakened his Sharingan. 

As for why he hid it, Suzune didn't give it much thought. Since Yuto wanted to keep it a secret, she would definitely keep it!

At this moment, the Nine-Tails misplayed again, doubling its losses. Its fox face twisted in frustration, and Kushina had to calm it down—after all, the Nine-Tails' chakra was incredibly powerful. If she wasn't careful, she might lose control.

"Well… let's call it a day!" Uchiha Yuto used the Uzumaki clan's sealing technique to seal away some of the Nine-Tails' chakra.

This sealing technique wasn't something he learned from Kushina, but from Kana. Kushina knew she had two fellow clan members out there; though she wished to see them, she understood her current identity and Konoha's current state, so she decided to play it safe.

Kana's unique constitution was already an issue, and Nagato's eyes were even more so. If they came to Konoha, especially during wartime… well, someone would certainly try to recruit them in the name of the Will of Fire.

Kana might be easily swayed with her gentle nature, but Nagato was different… Konoha was the village that took his parents from him. If he unleashed Shinra Tensei… it would be disastrous. 

So, it was best that Konoha knew nothing of their existence.

"We'll play again next time!" 

Maybe one day, he could even open a mahjong parlor or host a tournament. But for now, with the war and lack of systemization, without any security or guarantees, it was simply too dangerous, so he had to put the idea aside.

"Uchiha kid, don't say I didn't warn you!" the Nine-Tails withdrew its claw, scoffing haughtily, as if it hadn't just misplayed, "I don't know what you plan to do with my chakra, but Tailed Beast chakra isn't easy to control. If it drives you mad, don't blame me!"

"Don't worry, it's just for some small research." 

This was the full Nine-Tails, possessing both Yin and Yang chakra, and its research value was second only to the cells of the God of the Ninja World. 

Next time, he could let Kana study it. 

Yuto waved his hand, "Alright, we'll be off…" 

Before he could finish his sentence— 

"Wait a minute!" the Nine-Tails shouted again. 

"???" Yuto looked at it, puzzled. 

What else? 

"Next time, make the mahjong set bigger!" The Nine-Tails turned its fox head arrogantly, "This time I was just getting started. Next time… I won't lose to any of you!" 

"…" 

Ha, this fox~

…

Meanwhile... 

On the other side... 

Minato hurried back and, seeing his team unharmed, finally breathed a sigh of relief. But when Obito proudly recounted his unusual victory over the Jonin, complete with a vivid description of the intense smell and the defeated Iwa ninja's less-than-dignified posture, Minato couldn't help feeling a bit shocked. 

That was a Jonin! 

He actually took him down! 

Then, with a slight smile, he nodded and said, "Well done, Obito! A ninja must use anything useful around them to defeat the enemy!" 

Even though the odor was… intense, he could understand it. 

He looked at Obito, who was grinning with pride, covered in smudges of something dark all over his face… actually, all over his entire body. 

Minato's mouth twitched. 

He could only imagine how intense that fight must have been! 

It had clearly been beyond anything he expected, especially considering the Iwa ninja's undignified position and the scabbed wound on… well, that spot. Internally, he sighed, 'It seems they also went through a lot!' 

Then, he looked down at Obito. "So, Obito… how about a bath first?" 

"A bath?" Obito blinked, coming out of his victorious daze from the solo kill of the Jonin. Looking down at himself, he immediately... 

"Ughhh!" 

He leaned against a tree, vomiting, while Minato and Kakashi both grimaced. 

Could this guy really not have noticed until just now? 

Rin wanted to help but felt slightly nauseated herself and was reluctant to get close. 

Especially now that things had calmed down... 

That scene kept flashing in her mind. 

Obito, alone, charging forward heroically toward the enemy, using… well, a technique she was far too embarrassed to describe. 

Blood spurted out. 

And he stood there proudly behind that Iwa ninja, like a victorious hero. 

Rin realized she could no longer look at this kind-hearted, helpful Obito in quite the same way. 

She… didn't quite recognize him anymore.

As everyone else watched with varying degrees of discomfort, Obito began to recover a bit. But between the vomit and… well, the rest, his face—or rather, all of Obito—was simply unrecognizable. 

Everyone's stomachs churned just looking at him. 

"No worries!" Obito flashed a confident thumbs-up, but his teeth… were covered in dark smudges, giving everyone an unsettling feeling in their stomachs. 

"It was just a tough battle and made me a bit dizzy!" 

"…" 

Please… just stop. 

"Obito..." Minato hesitated before finally managing an awkward smile, "In the future, if you can, try not to use this move so easily." 

If every ninja used a technique like that… he could hardly imagine the scene. There'd be no dignity left in the art of the ninja! 

With that, Obito looked at Minato in confusion. "Why?" 

This was a powerful forbidden technique left behind by the Legendary Uchiha! 

"Well… it has too much… lethality," Minato said seriously, "It shouldn't be used carelessly!" 

"I understand!" Obito nodded knowingly. It was indeed true. And just as he was ready to make a promise— 

"Idiot!" Kakashi muttered with a roll of his eyes. 

Obito, irritated, shouted, "I took down a Jonin all by myself!" 

"Idiot!" Kakashi said dismissively. 

"Ha!" Obito was unhappy. Every time he saw Kakashi like this, he was very unhappy. So, he issued his challenge with hands on his hips once again, "Let's fight now if you dare!" 

But this time... 

Kakashi didn't ignore him as he usually did. Instead, he hesitated, even reflexively tightening his legs, and said flatly, "Boring." 

"Haha! You're scared!" Obito laughed, hands on his hips, "Kakashi, you're actually scared!" 

"Obito..." Minato sighed, rubbing his forehead, "Just go take a bath!" 

These two sure had a strong bond.

However— 

"Don't worry, Sensei! This time I'll show this arrogant guy just how powerful I am!" Obito smirked, "Come on, Kakashi! If you don't dare, remember to call me 'Boss Obito' whenever you see me!" 

After that... 

Kakashi paused, turned back with a look of disdain. "Once you've had a bath, we'll talk." 

Then he ran off without looking back. 

Little did Kakashi know... 

That single remark would bring him so much trouble.