Be a Spendthrift

This time, aside from bringing happiness to the Uchiha Clan and showering them with money so they could feel the warmth of family and stop overthinking, his other purpose was to meet the nephew he had never seen since the boy's birth—a little wolf cub.

There was no other reason, nor did he want to brainwash him while he was still young. He merely wanted to... give him some money and see if he could raise him into... a spendthrift.

What was the eldest son of the Uchiha Clan's head doing thinking about all that messy nonsense every day?

He might as well become a spendthrift and throw money around.

He reckoned that if he spread enough money around, his reputation among the common folk would surpass what he could earn by completing an S-rank mission.

"Buy whatever you want! Get anything you like! Or better yet, don't become a ninja. Come work for your uncle. It'll be easy—you won't have to do anything. Just be a spendthrift, and your uncle will give you money!"

The words had barely fallen.

As the child held a thick stack of bills with a bewildered, confused look on his face, staring at the unfamiliar older brother before him, Uchiha Fugaku slammed his hand hard onto the table. "You Uchiha disgrace! Don't lead Itachi astray! He will become an outstanding ninja!"

"Brother, listen to me on this! Being a spendthrift is definitely better than being a ninja!" Uchiha Fuyou sighed, looking earnestly at Uchiha Fugaku as he helplessly shook his head. "It's safe, free, and there won't be any messy nonsense. Really, listen to your little brother on this."

Why didn't he understand?

Would an uncle like him really harm his own nephew?

Please believe your little brother~

"Shut up!" Uchiha Fugaku glared at Uchiha Fuyou with a dark expression. What kind of uncle encouraged his nephew to become a spendthrift? His younger brother... had always thought differently from everyone else.

He vaguely remembered what an adorable little brother Fuyou had been back then. He had desperately wanted to become a ninja. Before even entering school, he would trail behind his older brother, calling, "Onii-chan, can you teach me ninjutsu?" Whenever Fugaku was busy, he would go read ninja scrolls by himself.

After entering school, he had also been an outstanding ninja student, excelling in taijutsu, ninjutsu, and theory alike. Even the Hokage had praised him for possessing the Will of Fire, saying that after graduation, he could enter the Anbu for further training.

Fugaku had originally thought he would become a mediator between the Uchiha Clan and the village. Who would have thought... that on the day he graduated, he would dive into business instead.

That day.

He had said, "Being a ninja cannot save the Uchiha!"

It had infuriated their father and the elders so much that they nearly coughed up blood. They simply could not understand what he intended to do. No matter how they tried to persuade him, it was useless. In the end, they could only threaten to expel him from the Uchiha Clan, yet it still did not work. Young Fuyou had left the ninja ranks and the clan without the slightest hesitation.

Who would have thought that only a few years later, he would have built up such a respectable business?

Although Fugaku deeply regretted that someone as talented as Fuyou had not become a ninja, as his older brother, he was also gratified by his younger brother's success.

Leaving the Uchiha Clan had been a good thing too.

But now...

Uchiha Fugaku's face darkened. "Get out of here, now!"

"Fugaku, Fuyou was only joking." The beautiful woman beside them smiled helplessly and hurriedly stuffed the money Itachi was holding back into Fuyou's hands. "The child is still young. He can't be given that much money."

These two brothers... they had not been like this when they were younger. How had their relationship suddenly become like this?

"Sister Mikoto, you're still as beautiful as ever!" Fuyou took the money, then stuffed it back into the bewildered little Itachi's hands. "Don't listen to your father. This is from your uncle. Buy whatever you want. As long as we don't bully people or act arrogant and domineering, what's wrong with spending a little money? If it's not enough, just ask your uncle for more!"

"I'll beat you to death, you Uchiha disgrace!"

"Brother! Calm down! You're breaking character! And as the head of the Uchiha Clan, you wouldn't take money from a child, would you?"

"..." Uchiha Fugaku's face stiffened as he reached out to take the money. He gave a cold snort, then resumed his stern expression. "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Giving so much money to a child?

Even the head of the Uchiha Clan did not earn this much in salary!

"Nothing. I was happy to see Sister Mikoto marry my brother, so I'm just giving my nephew a little money."

Sister Mikoto had taken pretty good care of him back then.

Unfortunately.

In the end, she was also a pitiful person.

Uchiha Fuyou smiled and patted Itachi's head. "It's fine if you become a spendthrift, but don't keep things bottled up inside. Talk to your father and mother more. If that doesn't work, come find your uncle. Your uncle will take you out and help you forget whatever's making you unhappy. But remember this." His expression suddenly turned serious. "No matter when, you must protect your parents!"

Neither of them was a terrible parent.

Apart from being a little stone-faced, Uchiha Fugaku was actually quite decent. As for Uchiha Mikoto... she was even more so, a mother devoted to her family.

However.

Uchiha Fugaku's face twitched as black lines formed across it.

Take a child who had not even entered the Ninja Academy out to have fun?

Where was he supposed to take him?

Should he bring Fugaku along too?

Uchiha Fugaku snorted again. "Get out of here. Don't lead Itachi astray."

"Fugaku, don't say that. It's rare for Fuyou to come back." Mikoto shook her head helplessly. "Stay for dinner. Why not spend the night here? Fugaku is actually very happy inside."

Although Fuyou also lived in the village, and it was easy enough to get news about him, after all these years... he had finally come home.

When Fugaku heard Mikoto's words, he snorted coldly. I'm very angry! He folded his arms and sat back down with a stone-faced expression, refusing to look at Fuyou.

Unfortunately.

"No, this time I only came back to see my nephew and Sister Mikoto." Fuyou patted his backside and stood up. "I still have things to do later, so it's time for me to leave." As he said this, he looked at Fugaku and smiled. "Brother, that's settled, then. I'll arrange for people to come later."

As soon as he finished speaking.

"Hmph." Uchiha Fugaku gave another expressionless snort. "Get out of here! Don't come back again!"

"Understood! I'll come again next time! And I'll bring gifts!" Uchiha Fuyou smiled and nodded. He ruffled Itachi's hair again. "Come find your uncle if you don't have money. Children should be happier. If you're unhappy, come find your uncle too. I'll bring you a gift next time!"

After saying that.

Uchiha Fugaku shouted for him to get out. Listening to Fuyou's laughter as he left, Fugaku shook his head helplessly. Then he looked at the stack of money in Itachi's hands, remembered Fuyou's words about becoming a spendthrift, and his mouth twitched again. He turned and gave Mikoto a slight nod.

As a husband and wife who shared the same bed, how could Uchiha Mikoto fail to understand what her husband meant? With a helpless smile, she bent down and patted Itachi's head. "Come, Itachi. Give the money to Mother. Mother will save it for you and give it back when you grow up!"

As soon as she finished speaking.

"Mm." Innocent Itachi believed her.

Meanwhile.

Amid repeated cries of "Lord Fuyou," Uchiha Fuyou walked out of the Uchiha compound. Seeing the Byakugan girl walking toward him, he smiled. "Rinne!"

Hyuga Rinne.

A girl from the same class as him.

Unfortunately.

Her talent had not been enough. She would originally have been sent to the battlefield as cannon fodder, but since they had gotten along fairly well, he thought it would be a pity for her to die like that. So later, he hired her, and she agreed.

Of course, the Hyuga Clan had initially disagreed. After all, the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan had always competed for the title of strongest eye clan. How could they allow one of their clan members to accept employment from an Uchiha?

But in the end...

He hired a large number of Hyuga Clan members who had retired from the battlefield and could no longer serve as ninjas. Coupled with the fact that he himself was a Uchiha traitor... the Hyuga Clan stopped saying anything.

Although the Hyuga Clan had plenty of old fossils even more stubborn than those of the Uchiha Clan, in the end, they could not do without... money.

Especially during this time of war, when ninjas from every clan were obligated to participate in the fighting. Though the village provided subsidies, they were merely a drop in the bucket. Now that someone was willing to bear the burden of supporting their disabled members, many clans were willing to accept it.

It could be said.

Although this was not a peaceful time for making big money, war truly was a good opportunity for the village's clans to eliminate their barriers.

He looked at Rinne beside him—her elegant long hair, beautiful face, and the curvy professional outfit that further emphasized the distinctive assets of Hyuga Clan women—and smiled slightly. "Later, send people to the Uchiha Clan according to my plan. Someone will assist you with your work." He paused, then said righteously, "By the way, has the three hundred million been delivered to the Hokage? When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. Without Konoha, there is no me—how could I peacefully do business as I do now? In these times of war, even as a merchant, I am still a merchant who graduated from the Ninja Academy. How could I not contribute what I can?"

After all, his image was that of a merchant who loved the village!

"It has already been delivered! And as you requested, we also sent along the words you wrote yourself: 'Without Konoha, there is no me.'" Hyuga Rinne nodded with a sweet, natural smile. "The Third Lord kept laughing when he saw it and slapped his thigh, saying it was good!"

"Did he say to keep it confidential? Otherwise, if the other clans hear about it, we'll become targets for everyone!" Being the first to stick one's neck out was not a good thing. If he donated, would the other clans have to donate too?

"He did."

"With you around, I can truly rest easy, Rinne! Thank you!"

"N-No, it's nothing. I'm happy... to be able to help Lord Fuyou." Hyuga Rinne's cheeks reddened as she smiled.

"Hehe." Uchiha Fuyou chuckled. Looking at Rinne, still as shy as ever, he sighed helplessly inside. Just as he was about to offer her a few encouraging words, he spotted a spiky-haired boy in goggles in the distance. His eyes immediately narrowed. "By the way, Rinne, later arrange for someone to get me a few missions from the Hokage Building. Make sure the rewards are higher."