Collecting a Debt

Following the route from his memories, Katsuo arrived at one of the Uchiha Clan's administrative offices. This was the place responsible for household registration and issuing compensation payments, one of the important institutions within the Uchiha Clan.

After asking around, Katsuo came to the window specifically for issuing compensation. It was very quiet, with hardly anyone there.

"Excuse me, has Uchiha Osamu's compensation payment arrived? I'm his son, and I'd like to collect his death-in-service compensation."

At his words, after a brief silence, a man walked out from inside.

His name was Uchiha Kari.

He first glanced around. Once he confirmed there was no one nearby, he put on a gentle smile.

"Little brother, where are the adults in your family?"

"They've all passed away. I'm the only one left at home." Katsuo answered blandly, as if he were talking about something ordinary.

"Oh, how pitiful! Such a young child..." Uchiha Kari sighed sympathetically.

Katsuo stared intently at his face, then slowly repeated why he had come.

"Uchiha Osamu? His compensation payment? I'll need to check whether it's arrived. Come back in a few days..."

"It arrived four months ago. My mother was too ill to come collect it, so I've come today. I believe that compensation earned through dying on a mission can still be collected by the family no matter how long it has been left there, right?"

Katsuo spoke calmly. His composed manner gave Uchiha Kari an inexplicable sense of wariness, but it lasted only a moment before he recovered.

What a joke. Can't I handle a brat who's barely weaned?

At that thought, Uchiha Kari frowned slightly and said coldly, "I said I need to check. Come back another day!"

"Then check now. I'll wait right here. I'll leave whenever you finish checking!"

Katsuo's voice was icy. He had no intention of indulging the other man.

"You little brat, are you here to make trouble? Believe it or not, I'll break your legs?"

With a dark expression, Uchiha Kari threatened him. He seemed to have never intended to return Katsuo's money.

"Come on, then. When I came in, so many people in the clan saw me. If you've got the guts, break my arms and legs right now. I'll crawl out immediately!" Katsuo held out both hands.

"..."

"Hehe, you've got guts. But even if I give you the money, do you dare take it? Will you live long enough to spend it?"

Hearing this, Katsuo met Uchiha Kari's cold Two-Tomoe Sharingan. Enduring the inexplicable palpitations and fear, he said word by word:

"Give my family's compensation back. Right now, immediately. Otherwise, even if you break my arms and legs, I'll crawl to the Patriarch or the elders and demand justice!"

Uchiha Kari's expression changed drastically. He was not only shocked by Katsuo's words, but even more shocked that this brat could withstand the mental pressure exerted by his Two-Tomoe Sharingan!

This already counted as a minor genjutsu! As for using a stronger genjutsu, he did not dare. Looking at how skin and bones this brat was, he might accidentally cause a death!

That was not what he wanted to see. All along, he could only use underhanded tactics and threats against Katsuo.

But now, he finally understood that the brat was serious. If he did not return the compensation, Katsuo would probably really report him to the higher-ups.

After briefly weighing the pros and cons.

Uchiha Kari changed his expression again and smiled. "Good courage. As expected of Osamu's child. Your father and I were very good friends, you know. Why would I not return your family's compensation? Wait a moment. I'll go get it for you."

After saying that, Uchiha Kari turned and entered the office.

He had indeed embezzled Katsuo's family's compensation. Back then, the clan had sent someone to inform Katsuo's mother, but she had failed to collect it in time on two occasions, giving him the chance to manipulate things behind the scenes!

Moreover, he had happened to be chased by gambling debts at the time. In his desperation, he had used someone else's bereavement payment to settle them first... Since no one had come to claim it, he figured he could just pay it back once he had more money on hand...

He would delay this sort of thing as long as he could, but if he could not delay it any longer, he still had to obediently cough it up. After all, it could not stand the light of day. Once it became a big issue, he would become a sinner of the Uchiha Clan. Embezzling compensation for ninjas killed in service was one of the most despised crimes!

"Here. This is your family's compensation payment. It's 12,000 ryo in total."

As Uchiha Kari handed over the money, he noticed Katsuo's eyes had turned slightly red and were fixed firmly on him. Thinking Katsuo did not believe the amount was correct, he hurriedly explained:

"According to Konoha regulations, compensation for ninjas killed on missions is issued according to ninja rank. Genin receive 1,000 ryo, Chunin receive Ten Thousand Ryo, Special Jonin receive 100,000 Ryo, Jonin receive one million ryo, and Elite Jonin receive five million ryo. At that rank, one should theoretically already be capable of becoming the Kage of a village.

"As the foremost clan in Konoha, we Uchiha add twenty percent on top of the original amount. Your father was a Chunin, so that makes 12,000 ryo."

After listening to Uchiha Kari, Katsuo remained unmoved. After taking the money and steadying his emotions, he said blandly:

"Do you know? This amount may mean nothing to people like you, but my father traded his life for it. It also concerns two other lives in my family!"

After saying that, Katsuo turned and left. Uchiha Kari watched his retreating back and said in a low voice:

"Why isn't this little brat dead yet? Didn't I hear he never even stepped outside his home? Why is that meal-delivery guy still willing to travel so far to bring him food... And not only does he dare leave the house now, he even dared come here to collect a debt... Truly unexpected!"

"Still, you were wrong about one thing. Your life is still here for now. How can that count as two lives? Hehe!"

Katsuo could not hear Uchiha Kari's words. He had not yet left the institution. Instead, he circled around to another service window, where there were more people. He was now standing in line, and everyone ahead of him was a child! Occasionally, some adults were there as well, each accompanied by a child.

Standing among the crowd, Katsuo was extremely conspicuous because he was so unusual that people could not help giving him a few extra looks.

He was the smallest and frailest among them, yet he was also the calmest. He was quiet and well-behaved, unlike the other children who fidgeted and made a fuss.

His body was skin and bones, his clothes filthy, and his hair dry and messy from prolonged malnutrition. Yet his bright, extraordinary black eyes were enough to leave people shaken!

Soon, Katsuo reached the front of the line. Before the young woman in front of him could ask, he directly stated his purpose.

"I want to attend the Ninja Academy. Please help me apply."

"Little brother, where is your family? How old are you?" The staff member before him was named Uchiha Kuiko. Looking at Katsuo's pitiful, skin-and-bones appearance, she asked softly.

"I'm five. I'm the only one left in my family."

"Ah... I'm sorry!"

After sincerely apologizing, Uchiha Kuiko said:

"Little brother, you need to be at least six years old to attend the Ninja Academy. Were your parents ninjas? If they were, then family members can attend the Ninja Academy for free. If not, and both parents were civilians, then you have to pay tuition. However, Uchiha civilians only need to pay fifty percent of the fee!"

Although she knew Katsuo was only five, Uchiha Kuiko still patiently explained everything to him.