A Mother's Insight

"How much!?"

The spoon in Uchiha Hideki's hand nearly tumbled into the pot.

He couldn't even bother with the fish soup, staring at Kazuhiko with a face full of shock.

"What could you possibly be doing that costs 150,000 ryo!?"

150,000 ryo represented a low-intensity A-rank mission.

As a perennial chunin, Uchiha Hideki felt that kind of money was enough to buy his life.

Of course, he didn't think this way because the family was short on cash.

In fact, it was quite the opposite; the family head, Eri, was a rare medical jonin within the Uchiha clan who controlled top-tier medical resources, making money faster than a bandit.

And as the Uchiha Succubus, Hideki himself possessed considerable family assets.

As an administrative officer for the Police Force, his salary wasn't low either.

The fact that Kazuhiko's family could build their own house in the center of the clan compound spoke volumes.

After all, in the Uchiha clan, one talked about influence and background.

However—

As a house-husband, Hideki's low status in the family left him simultaneously impoverished and resentful of the wealthy.

So, hearing his son open his mouth to ask for 150,000 ryo was truly hard for him to accept.

He even thought he was hallucinating.

150,000!

That's enough for ten years of my pocket money. You're my son, sure, but what gives you the right!

Uchiha Hideki screamed internally:

Can't give it to him, that's all my money!

His father's reaction was entirely within Kazuhiko's expectations, and he remained very calm:

"Dad, calm down. I actually need this 150,000 ryo for an investment. Do you understand what an investment is?"

"I don't understand a damn thing!"

Hideki rarely cursed, rushing over to the table:

"All your old man knows is that day after day, you only know how to ask the family for money. You don't do any real work at your job, just idling away all day!"

He turned to Eri, filled with righteous indignation:

"Wife, you can't keep spoiling this brat!"

"That 'Psychology Clinic' he started—to put it nicely, it's a new field of medicine. You don't know what people outside are saying about him. They say he only got into the medical system through the back door, he... he..."

Father Hideki was putting on an acting performance, looking utterly heartbroken:

"He's even tarnishing your glorious image, wife! Now when I go out and people ask me, 'What does your son do for a living?', I'm too embarrassed to say he's a medical ninja!"

Black Charcoal had opened its eyes at some point, its amber pupils watching the zookeeper's impassioned speech, and decided to offer a fair assessment:

"150,000 ryo is enough for Lady Eri to eat watermelon for three years, meow~"

And enough for this young lady to eat fish for a year, meow~

The family members had finished expressing their respective opinions.

The decision-maker, Eri, finally raised her beautiful eyelids. Ignoring her husband Hideki, she cast her gaze toward Kazuhiko, her eyes calm but filled with scrutiny.

"Reason."

One word, concise and powerful, fully displaying the demeanor of a family head.

Kazuhiko cleared his throat, knowing it was time to put his own acting skills to use.

"Mom," he took a deep breath, flashing what he considered a sincere and slightly shy smile.

"Actually, I want to date Kurenai Yuhi."

Most of the time, lies are the truth.

"Pfft—"

Hideki nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

The wooden skewer in Eri's hand paused slightly, and a piece of watermelon slid off it, falling back into the fruit platter.

Black Charcoal turned toward Kazuhiko without blinking, its tail stopped swaying, and its cat ears "whooshed" upright, instantly entering gossip-mode.

The ninja world cannot exist without gossip, just as the West cannot exist without Jerusalem.

"Mom, you should have heard of Kurenai Yuhi, right?"

Asking for money made Kazuhiko feel embarrassed, so he spoke at a rapid pace:

"The leading figure of the Konoha genjutsu department, a special jonin, single, three years older than me, mature and intellectual, and just as beautiful and moving as you, Mom—"

"Stop."

Eri set down her wooden skewer and wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin in a slow, measured manner.

"Continue."

Kazuhiko's eyes lit up; he knew he had a chance.

In the precocious world of Naruto, if not finding a partner and getting married were written into the criminal code, a single 18-year-old like Kazuhiko would be looking at a ten-year sentence as a conservative estimate.

"I want to hire Kurenai Yuhi for 150,000 ryo to tutor me in genjutsu, which will create an opportunity for us to get to know each other."

"At the same time, I want to use our clan's Genjutsu Seal secret technique to trade for the Yuhi clan's family genjutsu."

"Think about it, Mom. This money isn't being wasted; it's essentially giving money to your future daughter-in-law—that's a win. And the ninjutsu we trade for will eventually be learned by our own Uchiha—that's another win."

Kazuhiko looked certain:

"Your son is a genius. I'm winning on all fronts!"

From the kitchen, Hideki's heartbroken voice drifted over:

"I think you're just throwing meat buns at a dog! As an Uchiha, hiring an outsider to teach you genjutsu and even trading secret techniques? You call yourself a genius? What a disgrace to the family..."

Eri ignored him, staring at Kazuhiko for a few seconds before suddenly speaking:

"You like women older than you."

It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Kazuhiko was stunned, then said sheepishly:

"Older women know how to take care of people, right?"

In truth, age didn't really matter to him. He was a true fan of Hinata, but at three years old, she was still a bit too young.

Of course, Kazuhiko wasn't picky; Tsunade wouldn't be a bad choice either.

Hmm... the Tsuchikage and the Mizukage were also quite nice.

Eri stared at her son without a word, clearly finding this reason insufficient to convince her.

Kazuhiko felt the pressure mounting. He scratched his head and continued to organize his words:

"Kurenai Yuhi is a genjutsu expert, and she would be a great help with my psychological diagnosis. Mom, you know me—there are many Sharingan genjutsu that I simply cannot learn. Learning the Yuhi clan's genjutsu will help me improve my strength, right?"

He spoke with high-sounding rhetoric, but how could Eri not know what kind of person her son was?

Three months was nowhere near enough time for Kazuhiko to change the image he held in Eri's mind.

In Eri's eyes, Kazuhiko was still that 18-year-old medical genin, a "mediocre" friend who needed to ask the family for money, and also...

"Not obsessed with Tsunade anymore?"

Eri raised an eyebrow, carefully observing her son's reaction.

Kazuhiko was a bit startled.

I'm a seasoned fan, and I observe the "game" very rationally, okay? There's no such thing as being obsessed with anyone.

As long as the "skills" are superb, I appreciate them all.

He didn't blush or skip a beat:

"Mom, that was appreciation, pure appreciation. Lady Tsunade is one of the legendary Sannin with immense power; it's perfectly normal for me to admire her."

"Normal enough to shout 'Big Sister Tsunade' in your sleep?"

"..."

Sweat beaded on Kazuhiko's forehead; he felt like his toes were curling hard enough to dig out an entire house.

Snow in June—I am so wronged!

Why am I the one paying the price for what the original body did?

I never thought about conquering Tsunade, raising Hinata, or falling in love with the beauties of the ninja world.

Hiring Kurenai Yuhi to "date" was just an excuse I made up.

I have no interest in women!

My mother's misunderstanding of me is truly too deep.

Hideki poked his head out at this moment, looking gossipy: "There's more to this?"

"Dad, shut up!"

Eri finally revealed a hint of a smile, carrying a playful tone that suggested she saw through everything, and delivered her verdict:

"You have a preference for older members of the opposite sex."

"I do not!"

"You like mature women, namely Tsunade. That's why you publicly declared your 'support' for her, and now you've set your sights on Kurenai Yuhi."

Eri counted on her fingers, "Kurenai is three years older than you, she is also a mature woman, and she is powerful—she has the shadow of Tsunade in her."

Kazuhiko opened his mouth, only to find he couldn't refute it.

Because his predecessor had indeed admired Tsunade; after all, liking someone is impossible to hide.

"However," Eri shifted the tone of her conversation, "Kurenai Yuhi is indeed a decent choice."

Kazuhiko's eyes lit up; was he about to get money again?

"Born into a minor ninja clan, she lacks a complicated family background, possesses outstanding talent for genjutsu, and has a gentle, easily manageable personality."

Eri spoke as if she were evaluating a piece of merchandise.

"If a marriage alliance can truly be formed, it will be beneficial not only to you but also to our Uchiha clan. I can provide the funds."

Kazuhiko: ...

Mother's insight is profound!

But don't just talk about money—what about the copyright for the ninjutsu?