Anbu: I'm a Professional, I Won't Laugh

Uchiha Fugaku's mouth twitched.

He naturally trusted Uchiha Itachi's words. If Itachi said the competition was a Kunai Throwing Technique, then it must have been a fair and square Kunai Throwing Technique.

But… losing 160 million…

The thought of that number made Uchiha Fugaku feel like he was going to faint on the spot.

Heavens!!!

Why didn't you lose your father instead?

Losing your father to be Uzumaki Naruto's dad would still be better than 160 million.

Where in the hell was he supposed to get that money from?!

His mouth twitched again, and Uchiha Fugaku asked dryly, "Itachi, are you sure Uzumaki Naruto didn't cheat!?"

Even though he already knew the answer, Uchiha Fugaku still held onto a one-in-ten-thousand hope.

Uchiha Itachi shook his head bitterly.

It's over!!!

A long while later.

Uchiha Fugaku sighed and stood up heavily. "Since it was a fair and square competition, our Uchiha Clan naturally cannot be sore losers."

"Let's go!"

"We'll sell our house and see if we can scrape together some of it."

Uchiha Itachi raised his head awkwardly and whispered, "Father, our house… I already lost it…"

"Cough, cough, cough…"

Uchiha Fugaku coughed violently, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Damn it!!!

You and Uchiha Sasuke are truly brothers from the same mother!!!

One lost his own brother.

The other was even more ruthless, losing the family home.

Damn it!!!

Are they going to sleep on the streets now???

Uchiha Fugaku couldn't hold back anymore and glared fiercely at Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke.

"Exactly how much did you two brothers lose?"

Uchiha Itachi's face was flushed as he whispered, "The things we lost include me, 160 million Ryo, our house, Uchiha Shisui's house, and our clan's Fire Release Ninjutsu…"

Uchiha Fugaku: "…"

Why didn't you lose your mother too?!

At this moment.

Uchiha Fugaku inexplicably felt a hint of envy towards his old rival, Hyuga Hiashi.

Even though he had two daughters, at least they wouldn't lose their own brother and house, right?!

As the Uchiha Clan stood dumbfounded.

A young man with Mangekyo Sharingan, a round nose, and a short sword strapped to his waist walked out from the crowd.

"Let me do it!"

The young man's voice was very steady.

Uchiha Fugaku's eyes lit up when he saw the young man, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Shisui, when did you get back?"

Uchiha Shisui smiled. "I just got back; the previous mission has been resolved."

Uchiha Fugaku let out a long sigh of relief.

"It's good that you're back."

If there was anyone in the Uchiha Clan whose Kunai Throwing Technique could surpass Uchiha Itachi's, it was undoubtedly Uchiha Shisui.

As the strongest ninja of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Shisui had gone to the battlefield at a very young age.

Now, with the Mangekyo Sharingan, hailed as the "Eye of God," his strength had reached the level of an elite Jonin.

While having him compete with Uzumaki Naruto in Kunai Throwing Technique might be a bit of overkill, Uchiha Fugaku felt very reassured.

"Good, Shisui, I'm counting on you for everything."

For the sake of our family of four not having to sleep on the streets.

You must work hard and win back the house, the 160 million Ryo, and Uchiha Itachi.

Sigh!

Wait a minute?!

Uchiha Fugaku was stunned.

Why did he unconsciously rank Uchiha Itachi last?

He glanced at the son he had once been so proud of.

Uchiha Fugaku's expression darkened.

This son of his, he could gamble away his parents' home, practically leaving them homeless. He was like a beggar's tattered clothing, full of holes.

It felt like... a house and money were indeed more important than him...

Uchiha Itachi's heart was bitter. He swallowed, then spoke dryly, "Shisui, don't go."

"Uzumaki Naruto is really dangerous. His Kunai Throwing Technique is more than twice as good as mine. You might not even win if you go."

Uchiha Shisui chuckled, patting his chest confidently. Just a kid? Defeating him will be a piece of cake!

I'll just use one Kunai Throwing Technique and finish him off in minutes.

Hokage Building.

Hokage's Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was going through documents. After a moment, he tapped his back. "I'm really getting old. My back aches just from sitting for a while. When I was young, I could sit all day and be fine."

Sighing, Sarutobi Hiruzen pulled a photo out of a drawer.

The photo showed a man with long black hair, a goatee, and a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

"Asuma, you should be back soon, right?!"

Suddenly, Sarutobi Hiruzen remembered something. He put the photo back in the drawer and frowned, asking, "Uchiha Shisui should have returned from his mission today, shouldn't he?"

Whoosh!

An Anbu ninja appeared before the desk, kneeling on one knee, and respectfully said, "Yes, Lord Hokage, Uchiha Shisui returned to Konoha Village an hour ago."

"Hmm?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's brow furrowed, feeling that something was amiss.

"He returned to Konoha Village an hour ago, and he still hasn't come to report on the mission?!"

Normally, after completing a mission, a ninja must report to the Hokage's office immediately.

But… Uchiha Shisui…

Sarutobi Hiruzen's brows knitted tightly.

"The Uchiha Clan has been clamoring about a coup lately. Could it be… that Uchiha Shisui is also dissatisfied with Konoha Village?"

"Or is he also planning to launch a coup against Konoha Village?"

"This could be a bit troublesome. His Mangekyo Sharingan's Kotoamatsukami is hailed as the strongest Genjutsu ability…"

"…"

The more Sarutobi Hiruzen thought about it, the more serious and anxious he became.

The Anbu ninja kneeling on the ground: "…"

The Anbu ninja's mouth twitched slightly. He cleared his throat, suppressing his laughter, and said, "Lord Hokage, I don't think that's the reason…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was momentarily stunned.

The Anbu ninja pinched his own thigh to keep from laughing. "Um… Lord Hokage… Uchiha Itachi gambled away Uchiha Shisui's house…"

"He has to go win it back now, otherwise, he'll have to sleep on the streets tonight…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth twitched.

He had thought of a million reasons why Uchiha Shisui might not come to the Hokage's office, but he never imagined… the reason would be so preposterous.

His house was gambled away…

Wait.

Who gambled it away?

Uchiha Itachi?!

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent. If, perhaps, it seemed he hadn't misremembered.

Uchiha Itachi… was the genius ninja set to join the Anbu next year. This…

Was it a bit rash?

Shaking his head, Sarutobi Hiruzen casually said, "That just goes to show Uchiha Shisui is too arrogant."

"Even if he lost his own house, he could just stay at the Uchiha clan leader's home."

"It just goes to show he doesn't respect me."

The Anbu ninja's grin stretched from ear to ear. He pinched his thigh until it was bruised, but in the end, he couldn't hold it in.

"Hahaha, Lord Hokage, hahaha…"

"Lord Hokage, I'm so sorry, I just can't help myself, hahaha…"

"That—that Uchiha Itachi, hahaha… he lost his own house too, hahaha…"

"If Uchiha Shisui doesn't win it back, they'll all be sleeping on the streets, hahaha…"

"…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth twitched as he watched the Anbu ninja laugh like a pig.

Indeed, he had been too hasty.

To gamble away his own house… Uchiha Itachi… is he not very bright?

"Let's go!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up, glaring at the Anbu ninja who was practically fainting from laughter. "Stop laughing," he said, his face dark. "Take me to see."

"Hahaha… Yes, I'll take you right…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen roared, his face black, "Stop laughing!!!"