Does the Clan Have Widows?

Torn!

There was no doubt about Uchiha Nan's thirst for power, but those golden reward tasks were currently impossible to complete due to various issues.

Yet these ten-draw reward tasks only required him to sacrifice his dignity.

Uchiha Nan sank into thought. That was ten draws—nearly a year's worth of accumulated chances. Maybe he'd pull something good.

Someone always got lucky. Why couldn't that European Emperor be him?

Outside the door, Uchiha Tomita heard the desk-slapping stop. He crept in and found Uchiha Nan with his eyes shut, clutching his head in deep contemplation.

"Lord Uchiha Nan, the luggage is packed."

"Ah, Tomita! The luggage is ready?"

"Well, well..."

"How are the widows in the clan doing?"

Uchiha Nan coughed once or twice and asked in a low voice, his shame nearly exploding inside him.

"Widows?"

"Rest assured, Lord Uchiha Nan. When Uchiha clan champions fall in battle, the clan naturally cares for their wives. Though the clan isn't wealthy, at least three meals a day with meat is manageable."

Uchiha Tomita didn't know why Uchiha Nan suddenly asked this, but he answered honestly.

"Good, good!"

"We must never let Konoha's heroes bleed and weep!"

Uchiha Nan wanted to slap himself. How could he have said something like that?

A clansman died for Konoha, and here he was coveting his wife—what a beast!

Uchiha Nan decided to set aside those ten-draw tasks for now.

To break the damn awkwardness, he changed the subject and planned to search the room with Uchiha Tomita for important documents left by Tobirama Senju.

After rummaging through boxes and cabinets, Uchiha Nan successfully found the Scroll of Seals.

Along with a pile of correspondence between Tobirama Senju and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, which clearly recorded the funds Tobirama had negotiated.

A full 31 billion ryo, but the budget reported to Konoha was only 30 billion.

That bastard Tobirama Senju had definitely been lining his own pockets!

The question was whether the extra 1 billion went to the Senju Clan or was pocketed by the old man for experiments.

Experiments weren't cheap—especially high-end ones. Later on, Orochimaru had to run his own village just to fund his research.

"Lord Uchiha Nan, this 1 billion?"

Uchiha Tomita's eyes were already red. Swallowing that much money would clear the clan's debts!

And leave some left over!

This was the benefit of having a Hokage from the clan!

"Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know!"

Uchiha Nan smiled. This money was staying with the Uchiha. Who knew how much Tobirama had embezzled for experiments during his years as Hokage?

"Got it!"

After briefing Uchiha Tomita on everything, Uchiha Nan planned to set out tomorrow for the Capital of the Land of Fire to demand money from the Daimyo!

The next day

Uchiha Nan traveled alone, light and fast, without a single guard. He intended to go and return quickly.

With his strength, any enemy he couldn't handle would only make guards a burden. He didn't want to learn from Tobirama Senju, who brought a squad of shadow guards and still died.

After a long journey, Uchiha Nan arrived at the Capital of the Land of Fire.

The protracted war had devastated the Land of Fire's capital. Along the way, Uchiha Nan saw countless refugees struggling to survive, and bandits and rogue ninjas blocking the road—all of which he dealt with on the spot.

The Land of Fire was still an agricultural nation. Technology showed signs of budding, but who knew how far it had developed? It was surely a mess.

Farming relied on human and animal labor, travel was by horse-drawn cart or oxcart—no different from an ancient feudal society. Productivity was probably at Ming or Qing dynasty levels, or even worse.

Yet some technology was ahead of its time. Konoha had electric lights, for instance, with a few scattered utility poles that clashed with the village's aesthetic.

By Naruto's era, refrigerators, TVs, lights, and all kinds of modern appliances would appear—just a few decades from now. What absurd technological progress.

At the Capital of the Land of Fire, Uchiha Nan saw few refugees. The officials were probably too kind-hearted to tolerate them and had "dealt with" them all.

But Uchiha Nan had no time for that. The world was what it was—in poverty, one looked after oneself; in prosperity, one helped all. He wasn't capable of helping all yet.

Uchiha Nan arrived at the Imperial Palace and presented his visiting card. Seeing him in the Hokage's haori, the guards immediately recognized him as the new Third Hokage.

No one doubted his identity. In the Capital of the Land of Fire, impersonating Konoha's Hokage to swindle the Daimyo was a crime that would keep you from seeing tomorrow's sun.

Uchiha Nan was led straight into the palace, where a portly attendant arranged for him to wait in a side hall. The Daimyo would arrive shortly.

Luxury!

Utter luxury!

Uchiha Nan considered himself a man of the world, but even he was awed by the sheer grandeur of the Imperial Palace.

The palace grounds were nearly half the size of Konoha itself, a sprawling complex of high-walled corridors and courtyards that nearly got him lost on the way in. He only managed to find the Side Hall because someone guided him there.

The Side Hall was so lavishly decorated that even a single wooden beam could be sold for over a hundred thousand ryo, not to mention the countless jewels and treasures Uchiha Nan couldn't even identify.

Truly a freakish combination of a feudal society and a supernatural world—so rotten and decadent, yet still sitting securely on its throne of rule.

Kishimoto, you heartless bastard!

Rebellions formed by refugees were nothing before shinobi. Any Elite Jonin leading a squad could slaughter them to the last.

What? I'm also one of the beneficiaries?

Then never mind!

Uchiha Nan's thoughts wandered aimlessly as he waited. After a while, he saw a middle-aged man in strange attire approaching, surrounded by a crowd of guards escorting him forward.

"Truly, a hero emerges in youth! The Uchiha Clan has produced a Hokage!"

"How auspicious and worthy of celebration!"

The Daimyo wore a warm smile as he flattered Uchiha Nan.

Uchiha Nan smoothly exchanged pleasantries with the Daimyo, his tone neither servile nor arrogant.

Between himself and the Daimyo lay a lord-vassal relationship. For Konoha to select a Hokage, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire's endorsement was needed to complete the process.

But the Daimyo of the Land of Fire knew his place. He had no intention of meddling in Konoha's Hokage election. Whoever was chosen, he would simply nod in approval.

After all, they were all just hired muscle under his command. As long as they were useful, that was enough.

"Hokage, you've come from afar. You absolutely must attend the banquet tonight."

"I'll host a feast to welcome you!"

I fell asleep halfway through, haha. Please throw me a monthly ticket!