In the end, Kikyo didn't step forward to face off with the gossiping aunties in a royal showdown.
Not because Uchiha Kei stopped her, but because another woman joined the group.
This new auntie clearly belonged to the Nara Clan—she wore their clan crest and imdiately issued a warning: "Hey, hey! Don't go spreading things if you don't know the truth. You might get hauled in as spies by the Interrogation Division."
That startled the gossipers. They grew uneasy, though still resentful. All they did was talk about what everyone else was discussing—why should they be treated like spies?
The Nara auntie, with a "you clueless amateurs" expression, huffed, "If this genjutsu ga really was a problem, would the Hokage let the Uchiha distribute it publicly? No way! We're talking about the Hokage-sama!"
"In fact, this genjutsu ga is a masterstroke by the village leadership—a joint effort between the Hokage-sama and the Uchiha to make the Hidden Leaf even greater."
"Everything was done for the greatness of the village."
At that, the gossipers were struck with realization and admiration—of course! Everything the Hokage-sama does is for the village.
Still, one woman asked in confusion, "If it's such a good thing, why threaten to arrest us just for talking about it?"
The others nodded. They couldn't accept that logic.
The Nara auntie sneered, "Can't you use your brains? Who'd slander sothing that benefits the village? Obviously, enemy spies!"
"I heard there's been a surge of negative rumors about the genjutsu ga and the Uchiha. Clearly, that's the work of enemy spies. Only outsiders want to see the village suffer! You parroting their lies just gives the Anbu a reason to drag you off as spies too!"
Now the gossipers were truly spooked—and angry. The nerve of those cunning enemies, using them to spread slander against sothing as vital as the genjutsu ga—and dragging the village's largest clan into it? Unforgivable!
They nearly got labeled as spies!
Right then, they all swore that next ti they heard such talk, they'd stay vigilant and never spread such nonsense again.
In the distance, Uchiha Kei and Kikyo Uzumaki witnessed the scene. Kikyo looked dumbfounded. Kei simply smiled, as if he'd expected this all along.
Afterward, they continued strolling through the village. Along the way, they encountered more chatter criticizing the Uchiha and the genjutsu ga—but in each case, soone would appear to correct the record and scold the loose tongues.
These defenders didn't always act like the Nara auntie. So used intimidation, others calmly explained, and a few used roundabout talk to confuse and disarm the speaker.
Among them were mbers of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio clans, as well as other shinobi—often fringe mbers or retirees. But all of them stepped in voluntarily to defend the Uchiha and the genjutsu ga.
Kikyo grew more puzzled the more she watched. Her cute face twisted with confusion, clearly baffled.
Kei noticed and chuckled. "You're wondering why all these clans are suddenly defending the Uchiha, huh?"
Kikyo nodded quickly. "Kei-nii, I've only been in the village for a few years, but the Uchiha never had great relationships with the other clans. In the past, when the Uchiha got slandered, people just watched. Why are they so proactive now? Is this... so kind of conspiracy?"
At the end, worry crept onto her face.
She wasn't concerned for the Uchiha Clan—but because Kei was one of them, she feared he was being targeted.
Despite her easygoing nature, Kikyo, as a rescued Uzumaki orphan, understood the darkness of the shinobi world. She knew people weren't as pure-hearted as the Will of Fire claid. Unity in the village? Not likely.
She wasn't afraid to assu the worst about others.
Kei smiled and gently patted her head. "Thanks for worrying. But you don't have to. The clans are helping the Uchiha because, by doing so, they're helping themselves."
Kikyo only looked more confused.
She clearly hadn't studied economics. And why would she? The Academy taught only shinobi skills.
So Kei explained the concept of mutual economic interest. Despite her lack of formal education, Kikyo quickly grasped it thanks to Kei's simple and clear explanation. Her eyes lit up in understanding.
"Aha! So that's why the Uchiha have suddenly been so nice to you lately. And why all the clan heads approached the Uchiha at the press conference! That was when you guys shared the genjutsu ga's benefits with them, right?"
"Wow, Kei-nii... you're amazing! I didn't know you could do things like that!"
Pure admiration radiated from her—genuine and wholehearted. Like a devoted fan eting her idol.
But instead of basking in pride, Kei felt a bit lancholic.
Amazing? Hardly. None of this was taught in school—not even in universities unless you majored in finance.
He only knew because he'd read countless webnovels and lived in a money-driven society. That's how he learned the ga of economic entanglent.
In a world as "simple and rustic" as the shinobi world, it was a high-level strategy—usually passed down only among nobility and daimyō.
Thousands of years of systematic ignorance had reduced shinobi to tools. Ordinary citizens were even worse.
Frankly, even on Earth, this level of understanding was rare. In the West, decades of shallow education left most citizens clueless about these things. Talking to them often made you wonder if they were from the modern era at all.
In truth, what's considered "common sense" in one bubble becos arcane knowledge in another.
Still, Kei knew that understanding this changed nothing—he had limited power. Even if he resented the system, he couldn't change it.
As for these recent rumors? It was obvious Danzo Shimura, that crusty old fossil, was behind it. Sa playbook as when he targeted the White Fang—blunt and idiotic.
The difference? White Fang stood alone. Though many wanted to help, no one had the ans to stop it.
But now, the Uchiha were economically tied to every clan. If Danzo tried the sa trick, he wasn't just attacking the Uchiha—he was threatening everyone's profits.
So the other clans stepped in to shut it down themselves.
Driven by self-interest, their response was terrifyingly effective. In the future, even Lord Third would only manage such rumors with brute-force gag orders. Yet here, the major clans solved it quietly, behind the scenes.
Still, Kei wasn't the type to sit back and take a hit without striking back.
Danzo's ploys couldn't hurt them—but they were annoying.
So Kei decided to retaliate—just a little.
Let Danzo rember that so weapons cut both ways.
The next day, a brand-new rumor surfaced.
That the elder of the Hidden Leaf, Danzo Shimura... had once sold his own butt in his youth!
And that... was just the beginning.
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