Tomorrow

"Five million ryo in fines."

Fugaku Uchiha answered.

"That simple?"

Sōken raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Five million ryo in fines seemed like a huge sum, but for Sōken, it was just a matter of running a few high-difficulty missions to scrape together. Besides, there was a private workshop at home for making Explosive Tags. At worst, he could hole up there for a while, produce a batch of high-quality tags, and easily make up the five million ryo.

Making Explosive Tags required a ninja skilled in Fire Style to infuse refined Fire Chakra into the tag. When used, the sealing formula detonated the sealed Fire Chakra all at once like a bomb, injuring the enemy.

The Uchiha Clan's Fire Style claimed second place in the shinobi world, and no one dared claim first.

Selling Explosive Tags had been the Uchiha Clan's livelihood ever since tags first appeared in this world. It was also their biggest source of income. Even without taking missions, just making and selling tags could rake in a fortune.

After all, the price of a single Explosive Tag ranged from two thousand to twelve thousand ryo, divided into tiers based on the maker's skill. High-power tags could blow a person to pieces, while weaker ones might only injure them. The tags produced by the Uchiha Clan were unquestionably the finest in the shinobi world.

Sōken, nicknamed the Flame Demon, could sell a single handmade tag for the top price of twelve thousand ryo.

On top of that, Sōken had a cheat called Magic Release (Flame), which let him make tags several times faster than others. If not for his Chakra limits, churning out tens of thousands of tags a day would be no problem.

Honestly, Sōken suspected that Konan's six hundred billion Explosive Tags were made by first producing the paper with a secret technique, then having Nagato infuse the Fire Chakra.

With the Uzumaki Clan's "tons of Chakra," they could probably make hundreds of thousands or even millions of tags in a single day.

Otherwise, six hundred billion tags—

even selling off the entire Akatsuki Organization might not raise that kind of massive funds.

And it might not even be possible to buy that many.

Explosive Tags were strictly important military supplies, regulated strategic materials in any country or village. Small-scale sales were fine, but large-scale purchases would definitely draw attention. No one would sell huge quantities of tags to unknown individuals.

"That's not all! That fine is just a side dish!"

Fugaku Uchiha stroked the Kiyomizu-yaki teacup in his hand. "I'm planning to send you to the Border Defense Force."

"Hey hey, Lord Clan Head, didn't you say before that only the you from five years ago would do something like this?"

"I never said the me from five years later wouldn't do this... But I'm just the head of the Police Force. I can't meddle in the Border Defense Force's affairs. I plan to submit a request tonight, saying the Uchiha are willing to share the village's burdens and serve, sending people to garrison the border. Your name will be at the top. The village should approve it."

"If things go fast, you might be packing your bags for the border by tomorrow noon. No, approval will definitely be quick. If I send the request tonight, you might even set off tomorrow morning."

Hearing this, Sōken realized this Clan Head really had some skill.

He could refuse the Third's verbal invitation, but he couldn't defy an order issued in the Hokage's name. Originally, he was nominally in the Police Force—an authority the Second Hokage had personally promised the Uchiha Clan. It was both a cage for the Uchiha and a hut that sheltered them from wind and rain.

At the very least, even the Third couldn't overstep and interfere in Police Force internal affairs. That power belonged exclusively to the Uchiha Clan.

Now, Fugaku Uchiha, the Police Force chief, planned to kick him out of the Police Force, hand him over to the village as an explanation, and send him to the Border Defense Force. There, the Hokage's faction could mold him however they wanted.

This way, he could eliminate a would-be usurper without dirtying his own hands, and still satisfy the village. A perfect two birds with one stone! No, make it three birds with one stone!

"Tomorrow?"

Sōken savored the word Fugaku kept repeating.

Suddenly, his spirits lifted as he realized something.

Telling him this in advance gave him a chance to struggle. If he couldn't seize it, he'd have no reason to kick up a fuss over the reassignment tomorrow.

Three birds with one stone—nothing more than this!

"Lord Clan Head, I originally thought you were a clan head who hadn't fulfilled his duties at all. In fact, I still think so now... But it seems you at least have the clan in your heart. At the very least, you haven't thrown the clan away like worthless trash yet."

As he said this, Sōken stood up, strode toward the veranda, and looked down at the edge. Seeing no shoes there, he realized his mistake, turned back, and walked quickly, the wooden floorboards thumping under his feet.

"There you go again, talking nonsense. I don't know what goes on in that head of yours all day!"

Hearing the sliding door open and close, Fugaku Uchiha shook his head helplessly, completely unable to understand where Sōken's prejudice against him came from. He knew he hadn't been perfect, but how could he ever abandon the clan?

Then, footsteps came from the outer corridor.

A woman in a beige apron entered the room.

"Fugaku, are you really planning to step down and let that child take over?"

This graceful, elegant woman with a gentle face and the air of a sheltered noble lady was the Matriarch of the Uchiha Clan—Fugaku Uchiha's wife, Mikoto Uchiha. She hadn't gone out as Sōken had guessed. She'd been sitting in the next room, clearly hearing her husband's conversation with that boy named Sōken.

"Everything is for the clan."

Fugaku Uchiha sighed.

"This time, the Hokage caught us on the clan's contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, using it to pull all the neutral families in the village onto the same side. He forced me to deal with Sōken. But now, the clan's anger and resentment are almost impossible to suppress. If I really punish Sōken, even with a legitimate reason... the clan members will riot."

"Besides, Sōken... that child is strong. I'm not sure I could beat him or Shisui. If he really has the skill to take the clan head's seat tonight... then let him taste how hard this volcano crater is to sit on. The clan really is a volcano about to erupt right now... Lately, I've been thinking every night about where the clan should go, but I haven't found any way..."

Just then, the children were away—Itachi was out on a mission, Sasuke was at the Ninja Academy... The overwhelmed Clan Head, rare as it was, poured out his worries and gloom to his wife, shedding the tough mask he wore before the village and the clan, revealing the weakness and pain in his heart.

Mikoto Uchiha sat beside her husband, quietly listening to his outpouring, embracing his seemingly endless sorrow and bitterness with the gentlest of hearts.