At the edges of the training ground, the Kumogakure's Shinobi who had fought the Uchiha Clan to the death on the battlefield had the most solemn gazes.
Yuu was a publicly acknowledged genius of their generation in Kumogakure. Yet now, he had been utterly crushed by an Uchiha half-grown boy significantly younger than him, in a completely overwhelming manner.
They had witnessed the terror of the Sharingan, but never imagined someone could translate talent into actual strength so rapidly at Makoto's age.
This had already surpassed the category of so-called 'genius'!
What was most heart-palpitating was his age. It meant he still had a despairingly long period of rapid growth ahead.
If no accidents occurred, his future strength would definitely surpass that of successive Raikage, perhaps even reaching the level of the legendary Asura of the Shinobi World, Uchiha Madara.
If they encountered such a terrifying genius during wartime, they would have to eliminate him early at all costs. But now, this monstrous genius had 'joined' Kumogakure.
Thinking of this, the corners of the mouths of those previously solemn-faced Kumogakure's Shinobi couldn't help but turn upwards.
The dull ones were still shocked, while some quick-witted scions of Kumogakure's great clans already had gleaming lights in their eyes, silently retreating backwards.
Their steps grew faster and faster, until they were almost using Body Flicker Technique to speed towards their clan's compounds… they had to report this immediately!
The astonishing potential displayed by this Uchiha boy! And he seemed quite interested in feminine beauty, getting along well with Samui and Mabui... They must immediately send the most outstanding, most beautiful women from their clans to befriend him!
If they could secure his bloodline, their clan's future prosperity would be guaranteed.
The joys and sorrows of people are not interconnected. The delight of the onlookers outside the arena formed a stark contrast with the deathly stillness inside.
Yotsuki Yuu stood dejectedly in place, staring blankly at the black-haired boy who was more than a head shorter than him, his eyes dazed and empty.
He had started cultivating arduously from the age of two and a half, enduring countless days and nights of training. Six years of glory and pride as the top student were completely shattered in this brief duel.
Shattered by the other using Kenjutsu, Taijutsu, and Ninjutsu in a relaxed, even somewhat mocking manner!
The other hadn't even used the most dreaded aspect of the Sharingan, Genjutsu.
'Is this... the true genius of the Uchiha Clan?' Only boundless desolation remained in Yuu's heart.
Footsteps approached. Yuu looked up blankly, meeting those calm crimson eyes.
Makoto stood before him, looking at this Kumogakure genius whose belief was almost shattered, and suddenly spoke. His tone was unexpectedly sincere, his voice clear, spreading across the abruptly quiet training ground.
"You are a genius."
Yuu's body trembled, disbelief flashing in his eyes. In Kumogakure, after a spar between peers, wasn't the victor supposed to thoroughly humiliate the loser?
According to Kumogakure's rules, the winner should mercilessly mock the loser, and the loser should think of every way to improve their strength and win back later.
It wasn't like some villages where if you beat the young one, the old ones come, unable to accept loss.
Makoto gazed at him calmly, as if merely stating an indisputable fact.
"But," He paused slightly, each word like a heavy lump of lead crashing onto the hearts of Yuu and all the listeners, "Genius... is merely the threshold to see me!"
As the words fell, he turned away indifferently, no longer looking at this petrified 'statue'. His gaze swept indifferently over the surrounding Kumogakure's Shinobi with their varied expressions… shock, awe, complexity.
Those slowly rotating crimson Sharingan flowed with a kind of bone-deep indifference and absolute confidence.
"So, losing to me, there's no need for unwarranted self-abasement."
"Even," Makoto spoke again, his tone carrying a prophetic certainty, "In the near future, you will feel supreme honor because you once sparred with me today."
"Just like those who fought the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, and lived to boast about it!"
"Don't even talk about losing, even throwing a single kunai from eight hundred miles away would still be an supreme honor!"
As the words fell, a strand of golden sunlight broke through the clouds, falling uniquely upon Makoto's upright figure, outlining his silhouette radiantly, forming a stark contrast with the bleak surroundings.
A mountain wind swept across the training ground at the right time, whispering as it stirred up the dust on the ground and the lingering scorched smell, swirling up into Kumogakure's high, azure sky, as if the whole world was responding to his declaration.
Samui had, at some point, lowered her crossed arms. Her pupils, unblinking, were fixed intently on Makoto in the arena, her fingertips subconsciously curling slightly.
Mabui beside her lightly covered her mouth, ripples of light swirling in her eyes, actually seeming entranced.
It wasn't just them.
Almost all the Kunoichi present had their gazes firmly locked onto Makoto as if by an invisible magnet, scorchingly sticking to him. Their stares were hot enough to melt solid steel.
Kumogakure revered strength. The heart that admires the strong was deeply ingrained in everyone's blood and bones.
Such a young age, terrifying, shudder-inducing talent, absolute strength that crushed a Kumogakure's genius, coupled with impeccable handsome features, and at this moment, that contemptuously confident, shocking peerless demeanor...
The superimposition of these many factors undoubtedly held the most intense, most irresistible attraction for these kunoichi who grew up in the towering mountains of the Land of Lightning.
A restless, fiery hot atmosphere spread in the air. There was no concept of pedophilia in the Shinobi World. Their appreciation at this moment was direct and blatant, even without the slightest concealment.
Yuu, feeling the surrounding gazes, felt more and more that the joys and sorrows of people are not interconnected.
…
A short while later, in the Raikage's office.
The atmosphere was completely different from the fiery restlessness of the training ground.
Makoto lounged deeply in the spacious guest armchair, a stark contrast to the sharp, outspoken figure from the arena moments before.
He held a piece of fruit he had somehow 'procured' from somewhere, contentedly munching on it with crisp crunching sounds that were particularly clear in the quiet office.
Makoto was in a period of rapid physical development and always paid great attention to nutritional supplementation.
Yondaime Raikage, Dodai, as well as Samui and Mabui standing quietly to the side, found their gazes involuntarily drawn to this boy with such extreme sense of contrast.
For a moment, they were speechless, unsure how to start the conversation.
Finally, it was Makoto who broke the silence. He didn't want to waste time on useless probing.
He swallowed the fruit in his mouth, sat up a bit straighter, his expression becoming quite serious. He looked directly at Yondaime Raikage and got straight to the point.
"I want to join Kumogakure, become a member of the Land of Lightning!" He paused, emphasizing his tone as if making a solemn vow: "Loyalty!"
Immediately after, as if remembering something, he added very fluently: "Fight for the Will of Lightning for life!"
As the only player in the Shinobi World, Makoto was a Konoha's person in Konoha, and a Kumogakure's person in Kumogakure. His main feature was seamless switching, without any psychological burden.
Yondaime Raikage and Dodai looked at the 'sincere' Makoto, the muscles on their faces twitching slightly.
'This Uchiha kid's talent was astonishingly good, a peerless treasure Kumogakure had never possessed before. But his personality and thought processes were also truly... exceptionally unique.'
'He had just been 'snatched' from Konoha yesterday. As a genuine, blue-blooded Uchiha Clan's second young master, landing in Kumogakure for less than twenty-four hours and he was already shouting about loyalty and the Will of Lightning?'
This was a scene they hadn't even dreamed of.
'Wasn't his adaptability a bit too strong? It even made people feel a bit... abnormal?'
'Were the geniuses of the Uchiha Clan really like the rumors said? The higher the talent, the more abnormal the brain?
Yondaime Raikage couldn't help but raise a thick finger to forcefully rub his throbbing temples, suppressing the feeling of helplessness inside.
He guessed this kid definitely had some objective, so he tried to use as amiable a tone as possible.
"Speak plainly. What do you want by coming to Kumogakure?"
Hearing this, Makoto raised an eyebrow, put down the half-eaten fruit, and then responded in a tone so frank it was almost self-righteous.
"I enjoy fine clothes and good food, love fragrant grass and beautiful women, admire luxury and wealth," He paused slightly, finally emphasizing with extreme weight: "Among these, I especially favor wealth!"
"I wonder if Raikage-sama can grant my wish?"
The dagger was unsheathed after the map was unrolled.
After fully displaying his own talent and strength, Makoto didn't beat around the bush and directly stated his price.