Money Release

"Have we been discovered?!"

The three animal-masked ninja exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the others' eyes.

Uchiha Fuyou.

A genius ninja of the Uchiha Clan.

Yet after graduating from the Ninja Academy, he had abandoned the path of a ninja and gone into business for many years. Still, perhaps a genius truly was a genius?

In just a few years, he had opened branches across most of the Land of Fire. Even they, specially trained ninja, sometimes felt tempted to stop in and try something whenever they passed by.

They had initially suspected that the milk tea contained some special substance, but after researching and analyzing it, they found that it was simply a fairly tasty cup of milk tea.

Therefore, without a doubt... Uchiha Fuyou was a business genius.

But after all these years, they did not believe that a merchant who had graduated from the Ninja Academy and neglected his training for so long could detect their concealment.

Had his guards told him?

Impossible!

The three ninja disguised as Anbu immediately dismissed that possibility.

They had seen it just now!

Uchiha Fuyou had noticed them first!

Even before his guards had!

"It seems Uchiha Fuyou is hiding some secret," the cat-masked ninja crouching in the lead said gravely. "If he can detect us, his strength should not be weak!"

"Could it be the Sharingan?"

"To detect us without working as a ninja or taking on any missions... no matter what, we must report this to Lord Danzo!"

Moreover.

Uchiha Fuyou had ninja from other villages outside the village with him!

Did he not trust his own village?

That was a major taboo in the village!

Especially since he was from the Uchiha Clan!

The Root Shinobi understood the Uchiha Clan's situation within the village better than anyone.

"What do we do now?"

"Since we've been discovered..." He swept his gaze over the five people surrounding Uchiha Fuyou. Two were guards brought from the village and posed no concern. The other three... were unknown for now. "Bring him back to the village for interrogation! If we cannot defeat them, gather intelligence and retreat immediately!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

After a brief exchange, the three revealed themselves and faced Uchiha Fuyou. "Uchiha Fuyou! Come back with us. The Hokage wishes to see you!"

"..."

The Hokage?

That was Danzo, wasn't it?

Because Root Shinobi hid in the darkness, they usually carried out their missions under the Anbu's name. That was why they had invoked the Hokage's name.

Nonō had mentioned the night before last that Danzo seemed to have his eye on his money.

A village-loving man with more money than sense—that was his persona.

So he had not paid it much attention. He had been waiting for Danzo to come discuss investment, but even as he was about to leave, no one had shown up. He had thought they would have to talk after he returned to the village.

Who would have thought?

Danzo had directly sent three Root Shinobi to secretly follow him out of the village?!

Uchiha Fuyou immediately understood.

That old man was planning to make him join Root, turning him into a money bag—or simply taking over his milk tea business throughout the Land of Fire.

They did not care about short-term profits at all. They intended to take everything!

These people simply did not know that if he fell, all they would inherit was a complete mess.

Uchiha Fuyou smiled slightly and looked at the three ninja. He opened his mouth, and just as the three Root Shinobi thought he would ask why the Hokage wanted to see him, Uchiha Fuyou's expression changed. He said calmly, "Attack! Leave none of them alive!"

At this point, he had never intended to let them return.

Whether it was because of his strength or Daibutsu and the others, neither could be exposed at this stage. He was merely an ordinary village-loving merchant with a bit of money.

As for what Danzo would think if they disappeared?

He could think whatever he wanted.

As long as he remained a village-loving merchant, it did not matter what Danzo thought. He was not some merchant from another village who had come to Konoha and could simply be labeled a spy. Suspecting him without evidence... did Danzo think he threw away hundreds of millions every year just for show?

Would he not fear chilling the hearts of the other clans in the village by openly stealing money?

So, three Root Shinobi had gone missing while following him?

Sorry.

He knew nothing about it!

And besides, he was merely a merchant who had abandoned being a ninja for business. Why had Root Shinobi been secretly following him?

The moment Uchiha Fuyou spoke, Daibutsu grinned viciously and charged forward. The Root Shinobi exchanged glances and swiftly prepared to fight back!

"Uchiha Fuyou! Defying the Hokage's orders in public—does the Uchiha Clan intend to betray the village?"

"What do you mean, defying the Hokage's orders?" Uchiha Fuyou said righteously. "Sneaking around behind me and trying to deceive a village-loving merchant like me in the Hokage's name? Do you think the hundreds of millions I throw away every year are for nothing? Would the Third Lord, such a kind and reasonable Hokage, truly do something so chilling?" His eyes narrowed, seeming to shine with divine light. "You are definitely enemies from another village in disguise, intending to murder me, a village-loving merchant, undermine Konoha's unity, and seize my wealth."

As soon as he finished speaking.

The Root Shinobi were immediately left speechless.

They were Konoha's Root, hidden in Konoha's darkness and silently protecting Konoha. Therefore, Lord Danzo's orders were the Hokage's orders!

But they could hardly nod and say, yes, we really came to steal your money!

Daibutsu roared and attacked without mercy, swinging the massive club in his hand. "Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"

Unfortunately.

The ninja who could enter Root were no ordinary ninja. Or rather, Danzo simply did not think much of ordinary ninja.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!" With rapid hand seals, an earthen wall rose before them and blocked the man-sized sphere of water. Then, the three ninja swiftly used the Body Flicker Technique to leave their positions.

Another ninja then formed hand seals and said calmly, "Mind Body Switch Technique!"

They truly were elite ninja with formal training. With a single coordinated move, they trapped Daibutsu, a wandering ninja.

But Daibutsu was not fighting alone. Though the other two were somewhat weaker, they still possessed Chunin-level strength. They quickly interrupted the attack, and in the blink of an eye, Daibutsu was able to move again.

Unfortunately.

Chunin were Chunin. The moment they intervened, they fell into a trap. Two figures appeared behind them and were about to finish them off when—

Clang!

Two kunai flew toward them.

Uchiha Throwing Technique!

The two Root Shinobi had no choice but to halt their attack and swiftly retreat a step, avoiding the strike.

Then.

They stared in horror at Uchiha Fuyou, who stood where he was with a harmonious, wealth-bringing smile on his face.

That throw just now... this man's sense of timing was exceptionally good!

He did not seem like someone who had only received compulsory ninja education.

The three gathered together once more and exchanged glances. "Retreat!"

The Uchiha Clan had concealed Uchiha Fuyou's strength and recruited ninja from other villages. Combined with the Uchiha Clan's situation, they were definitely plotting something. They had to report it to Lord Danzo.

However.

Uchiha Fuyou had no intention of letting them escape.

He did not want anyone following him, nor did he want his secrets exposed, so...

His eyes turned crimson, and three tomoe emerged within them, spinning without pause.

The three Root Shinobi immediately widened their eyes at those scarlet pupils.

The Sharingan?

And the Three Tomoe Sharingan!

"There's no time! Let's end this now!" Uchiha Fuyou looked at them with a harmonious, wealth-bringing smile. "I make hundreds of thousands a minute, you know!"

"Retreat!"

The three made their decision without hesitation!

Hiding his strength, refusing to become a Konoha ninja, recruiting ninja from outside the village... the Uchiha Clan was definitely conspiring to do something!

They had to inform Lord Danzo!

They had to get the intelligence out!

Unfortunately!

It was already too late.

The moment the Sharingan appeared, they were destined not to leave.

Though it was merely the Three Tomoe Sharingan and had yet to reach the level of the God of Shinobi, combined with the attributes gained through earning money and leveling up, his strength was not something ordinary people could contend with.

A surprise attack!

Genjutsu and ninjutsu used together!

At the same time, Daibutsu stepped forward to intercept them.

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

The Uchiha Clan was not only proficient in Genjutsu; its Fire Release was famous throughout the ninja world as well!

The qualitative change brought by his extraordinary chakra sent three enormous dragons roaring from his mouth, charging toward the three men beneath their horrified gazes!

The strength of a powerful Jonin!

However.

It was not over yet.

"Money Release: Exploding Tag Barrage Technique!"

He threw Explosive Tags across the sky, instantly covering the area around the Root Shinobi!

The unending explosions and fiery dragons engulfed them in an instant. Daibutsu's mouth twitched as he hurriedly retreated and shouted, "Boss! Stop throwing them! They're definitely finished!"

This technique of using Explosive Tags like they cost nothing... there were only three enemies! What ninja would fight like this?

Only Boss Fuyou could afford to be so extravagant!

And fighting like this... he might blow them up too!

When the dust settled, Daibutsu and Fuyou dispersed their defensive ninjutsu and looked at the three ninja in the center, standing back-to-back in a triangular formation.

At that moment.

Not a single part of their bodies remained intact. Their clothes were in tatters, blood poured from all over them, and two of them had even lost arms or legs. Beneath their feet... lay a massive, grotesque crater!

The outcome had already been decided!

"Uchiha Fuyou..." The leading Root Shinobi lowered his voice as he stared at Uchiha Fuyou. "You don't play..."

Before he could finish.

"Money Release..." What are you babbling about?

"..."

After pulling his kunai from the neck of the last barely breathing enemy, he said, "Burn them all! Clean up the surrounding area too!"

Interrogation ninja could obtain intelligence from corpses.

"Yes, Boss!" Daibutsu answered. His mouth twitched as he looked at his boss. This battle... had been utterly unexciting!

After arranging for the ninja to handle it, he hesitated before asking, "Boss, you killed Konoha ninja. Are you preparing to defect and come to the Land of Rain?"

"What Konoha ninja? What are you talking about?" Uchiha Fuyou looked at Daibutsu in confusion. "Who killed anyone? Let's go. It's time."

"..." Daibutsu nodded in understanding.

Indeed.

They had killed no one!

However.

After taking only a few steps, Uchiha Fuyou suddenly stopped. He narrowed his eyes and leisurely said to Daibutsu, "Oh, right! Later, go put up a bounty on the black market for me!"

"???"

Who did he want to put a bounty on?

Why go through the trouble of issuing a bounty?

Could they not simply arrange for someone to assassinate anyone who had offended the boss?