Funds Secured

"I heard the Police Force has been conducting a secret operation recently."

"It probably wouldn't be appropriate to build a hospital around there."

The moment Danzo spoke, the Uchiha Clan Head understood.

"Indeed. Lord Danzo truly is well-informed."

"Even such confidential news reached your ears."

The two old foxes smiled and raised their teacups for a sip.

"When the time comes, my Root will cooperate with you. A pleasure working together."

"A pleasure working together."

The Uchiha Clan Head warmly saw Danzo out, as though they were old friends of many years.

"Take care."

"Thank you."

After exchanging pleasantries with the Uchiha Clan Head, Danzo vanished into the moonlight with the two Root members.

"Hmph, Danzo is going too far."

"It's time to make some moves at the sentry posts."

The Uchiha Clan Head's face darkened, his earlier smile nowhere to be seen.

"Yes, Clan Head."

Fugaku bowed behind him and accepted the order.

"Uncle."

"Hmm?"

Fugaku was clearly not yet seasoned enough, lacking the foresight he would have as Clan Head in the future.

"When has our Uchiha had any secret operations lately?"

"You really need to use your brain more."

As he spoke, the Clan Head jabbed Fugaku's temple with the middle finger of his right hand, disappointed that he had failed to meet expectations.

"It's just a pretext. If any commotion breaks out and the Third Hokage questions us, we'll have an excuse."

"Do you think the Senju Clan will just let us knead them however we please?"

"I understand, Uncle."

Fugaku's head swayed from the pokes. His uncle had spared no effort in teaching him, yet he had disappointed him time and again.

He felt terrible inside, and his resentment toward Kawafune deepened further.

"Then what about the cooperation with Root?"

"He thinks he can use our Uchiha as a weapon. Is he worthy?"

"When the time comes, we'll find an excuse and have Root lead the charge."

Shaking his head, the Clan Head left first. This nephew was still too young. He could only hope to hold on for a few more years and wait for him to grow.

Under the moonlight, Uchiha Fugaku's gaze hardened.

He decided that the moment he saw Kawafune, he would run. As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn.

The Hatake Clan spent a quiet night.

Without making any arrangements, Kawafune still slept soundly and ate well.

Breakfast was another feast. For Tsunade's sake, Kawafune had raised the household's food standards.

Sakumo learned that breakfast could actually be even more lavish.

In private, he complained to his wife that raising a younger brother was worse than raising a Ghost Mastiff; the boy did not care for the family at all.

Nayuki laughed at him. "Tsunade can carry on the family line. All you can do is sulk with him."

Sakumo had no reply after that.

"Tsunade, the funds have arrived."

"You can take them to the Third Hokage later."

Kawafune did not take the money seriously. He even wanted to wipe the remaining milk from the corner of Tsunade's mouth.

Blushing, Tsunade took the tissue herself and did not let Kawafune get his way.

"I'm going by myself?"

"Do you need someone to escort you?"

They were clearly thinking of different things. Tsunade felt that the sum was enormous—could he really trust her with it so easily?

What Kawafune thought was, Could anyone possibly rob you in Konoha?

"No need. I can go alone."

"After we eat, I'll take you to get it."

Unable to wipe her mouth, Kawafune handed Tsunade another fried dough stick.

Nawaki watched his big brother fawn over his sister with a look of disdain. If the Hokage had a label called "simp," he would have slapped it on Kawafune long ago.

"Big Brother, isn't my sword finished yet?"

"Don't rush. A wooden sword is enough for you."

"A real sword would just be decoration in your hands right now."

Kawafune was not trying to put him down. Nawaki's reach simply was not enough yet; he needed to grow taller.

"That's right. Practice with the wooden sword first. Listen to your big brother."

Tsunade also sided with Kawafune. Her fierce glare made Nawaki decisively swallow the words he had been about to say.

Seeing Nawaki pitifully gnawing on a rice cake, Kawafune's heart softened.

"Nawaki, I have a sword I used for practice when I was young. I'll have my sister-in-law find it for you later."

The material was ordinary, and Kawafune had long forgotten where he had tossed it. Nayuki had only found it after marrying into the family and put it away.

Keeping it as a memento was not a bad idea either.

"Big Brother, you're the best."

Nawaki put down the rice cake, a smile spreading across his face as excitement filled him.

How could a real weapon possibly compare to a wooden sword?

Nayuki was also willing to tease the sunny little boy. "That was Kawafune's treasured possession, so make sure you use it well."

"I will."

Nawaki gave Kawafune a grateful look. This brother-in-law was as good as his.

Sensing Nawaki's sincerity, Kawafune laughed heartily and waved a hand.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

After breakfast, Nawaki followed Nayuki to look for the sword.

Kawafune took Tsunade to get the money.

Sakumo went to the Training Hall alone. His short sword had already been delivered.

After passing through several mechanisms and arriving at the Hatake Clan treasury, Tsunade finally realized just how wealthy Kawafune was.

Entering the treasury, Kawafune walked straight over and opened a chest filled to the brim with banknotes.

"This is exactly 100 Million Ryo. Take it."

Tsunade had yet to recover from the sight of all the antiques and luxury goods.

Those things were enough for her to lose for a very, very, very long time.

"Do you like them? Take whatever you want."

Seeing that Tsunade did not react, Kawafune deliberately wrapped an arm around her waist from behind.

"They'll all be yours someday."

He lowered his head close to Tsunade's ear, his breath filled with the pleasant scent of milk.

Then came a scream.

"Ah—"

With a shoulder throw from Tsunade, Kawafune made intimate contact with the treasury's solid floor.

"Hmph."

"Don't think you can take advantage of me just because you're handsome."

Tsunade's face was crimson, and her heart raced wildly.

In a panic, she grabbed the entire chest of banknotes and rushed out of the treasury without looking back.

Kawafune climbed to his feet. The bruise on his face had already healed, but Tsunade was nowhere in sight.

"Monster Strength Cow, just you wait..."

He closed the treasury door and slowly headed toward the Training Hall.

Nawaki had already gotten his real sword. Though it was still a little long for him, it was no longer a problem. It also showed that Kawafune had been taller than him even as a child.

He swung the real sword with vigor, putting in far more effort than he ever had with the wooden one.

Only when he saw Kawafune approach did he stop.

"Big Brother, my sister ran really fast just now."

"I called to her, but she ignored me."

"Cough, cough."

Naturally, Kawafune was not going to say that he had tried to take advantage of her and gotten thrown over her shoulder.

"She was in a hurry to deliver the money to the Third Hokage."

He casually made up an excuse and sent Nawaki off to practice horse stance.

Watching his big brother wield the newly forged short sword in the distance, Nawaki felt that its momentum seemed even greater than before.

A barely noticeable wicked smile crossed his lips.

He stretched out his hand, and the sword appeared in his grasp.

Using Flying Thunder God, he instantly appeared before Sakumo.

The two began to fight.

The new weapon was indeed of better quality than the ancestral short sword. Though Sakumo was still at a disadvantage,

he could genuinely withstand the sharp edge of the Eight-Faced Han Sword.

Without the advantage of his weapon, Kawafune stopped holding back.

Flying Thunder God activated repeatedly. Before Sakumo's astonished eyes, the Eight-Faced Han Sword silently rested against his neck.

"Big Brother, do you want to learn it?"

"I do."

Sakumo agreed without hesitation. If he did not learn a ninjutsu like this, he would be struck by lightning.

"Good. Call me Big Brother."

Kawafune sheathed his sword and threw back his head in wild laughter.

With dark lines all over his face, Sakumo gave him a hard knock on the head.

"I've been calling you that for years."

"Will it kill you to call me that once?"

The moment Sakumo raised his hand again, Kawafune ran off.

Not far away, Nayuki, who was walking the Ghost Mastiff, could no longer hold it in. Leaning against the Ghost Mastiff, she burst into laughter.