To avoid ruining his kind and innocent persona in front of the animators and the audience, Naraku wanted to end this dark topic quickly.
"What you've told me... I'm just an ordinary Uchiha. I can't help you."
"What I see in you is not your present, but your future."
Matsukata Seigou paused here, then seemed to make up his mind to say more.
Suddenly, sounds erupted from all around, and Naraku quickly drew his sword, staying on alert.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions of traps being triggered and destroyed came one after another. Dense footsteps approached from the distance, followed by the thunder of Kakashi activating his ninjutsu.
Despite Kakashi's obstruction, two rogue ninja slipped through the chaos into the inner room. One lunged at Naraku, while the other swung his sword at Matsukata Seigou.
Naraku dodged the attack from the rogue ninja targeting him, stepped in front of Matsukata Seigou, and with a single strike, severed the opponent's long sword along with the wielder's shoulder.
"Ahhh!"
The scream quickly faded and died out. The other rogue ninja, seeing his companion turn from a living person into a corpse, did not flee but continued to charge fiercely.
Fire Release could not be used inside the wooden building, so Naraku chose to rely on his swordsmanship against the enemy.
This rogue ninja was slightly stronger than the previous one; it took a few exchanges before Naraku cut him down.
Blood spraying from the two corpses stained half the room crimson.
"How decisive and clean, Naraku-kun~"
The person he was protecting behind him looked at the dead men and still had the presence of mind to praise him, showing no trace of fear.
Seeing him about to step forward, Naraku reached out to stop him. "Please don't leave my side. There might still be enemies."
Kakashi burst in. "Naraku, Fourth Young Master, are you two alright?"
"We're fine."
Naraku shook his head. Kakashi saw that although he was stained with blood, his clothes were undamaged, so he knew he was fine. Only then did he go to check on the employer.
After confirming that both of them were unhurt, Kakashi went to reset the traps in the surrounding area.
Silence returned to the area.
"Even my quarters were attacked. It seems the Tamai Family is quite powerful to have hired so many."
Matsukata Seigou seemed unable to sit still and walked forward again, kicking the arm of the first rogue ninja with his foot.
Naraku couldn't stop his employer from insisting on courting death, so he could only stay close by his side.
"Logically speaking, the Tamai shouldn't have such financial and material resources, but tonight they did. Do you know why, Naraku-kun?"
Naraku: Bro, can you please stop talking? My persona is about to collapse! I'm not supposed to be a schemer!
He could only reply again, "I don't know."
"No, you know. I can see it. You just don't dare to say it," Matsukata Seigou retorted with certainty.
Naraku: My guy, your intuition is too accurate! Or do you have a system that can hear my thoughts?!
[Transmigrator, after detection, the other party is an indigenous resident of this world and does not have a system installed on him.]
Naraku: Shut up! You startled me by suddenly speaking!
[Okay, Transmigrator.]
"If you don't dare to say it, then let me say it."
Matsukata Seigou pointed to the ceiling. "Without him, how could a mere Tamai achieve this? But Father still turns a blind eye, or perhaps he's unwilling to believe, burying his head in the sand like an ostrich."
"Father is unreliable. To save the Matsukata Family, I must ascend to a position with more authority to be able to resist the opposition. Only then will the Matsukata Family have a way out."
"As an Uchiha, to save your family, you will also have to do the same in the future. With your talent and wisdom, reaching that position within ten years won't be difficult."
"By then, the Matsukata and the Uchiha will each get what they need, and everyone will be happy."
...
Naraku decided to play dumb to the very end.
Matsukata Seigou thought he was hesitating, thinking that, indeed, he was still too young and had seen too little.
So he said, "It's alright, you'll understand later. In fact, none of us have a choice."
After speaking, he returned to the soft couch and lay down, calmly fanning himself.
From his appearance, it would be hard for anyone to believe that he saw things so clearly.
"By the way, Naraku-kun, you are a smart person. Of course, you know what to say and what not to say."
"Yes, I will forget everything you told me tonight."
Naraku was relieved that during this conversation, he had basically said nothing useful; it was all Matsukata Seigou performing a monologue.
If he had actually engaged in the conversation and it was released by the animators, a "treacherous and cunning" label would definitely be plastered on his forehead.
However, Naraku still carefully considered Matsukata Seigou's mention of "each getting what they need"; for the Uchiha, it was indeed a possible way out.
But there were also many disadvantages.
Firstly, the other party was offering nothing but empty promises. If the plan was completed or half-completed, Matsukata could turn around and renege, declaring the Uchiha to be rebellious traitors, and shamelessly deal with them. Who would he complain to then?
Secondly, if Matsukata and Uchiha protected each other, would the Daimyo, Danzo, the Third Hokage, and others just let it go? No, they might instead resort to more drastic measures, intensifying the conflict and potentially implicating the Hatake father and son.
Also, he had the Popularity Points System. As long as he had enough popularity points, he could become strong enough—perhaps without needing to execute this plan—and change the Uchiha's fate on his own.
He could only take things one step at a time.
Besides, even if they were to cooperate, it would have to wait until they both became Clan Heads; anything said now would be pointless.