You Need My Help? First, Give Me a Million

"I want to change this world, to rid it of war, so that people can live together in peace, and coexist peacefully with the Tailed Beasts."

"You were separated from the body of the Ten-Tails by the Sage of Six Paths; each of you Tailed Beasts is now an independent individual."

"You have done nothing wrong. It is just that once you are discovered, countless people will seek to obtain your power to rule the world."

"You have no choice but to fight back with all your might, eventually becoming things that humans speak of with terror. I understand that you only want to live a stable life."

Senju Fujima sat atop the head of Kurama, stroking his soft fur as he spoke slowly.

"That is why I want to be your friend. Only if we become friends can we rely on my power to allow everyone to live in peace."

"I do not like a world filled with war; I simply want a world of peace."

"So, Kurama, are you willing to become my friend?"

Senju Fujima looked at the Nine-Tails with the most sincere gaze he could muster, his "Talk no Jutsu" beginning to take effect, possessing a subtle magic that threatened to sway the beast.

"Peace? Friends?"

"Humans wanting to be friends with us Tailed Beasts? Are you sure you aren't hallucinating?"

Upon hearing Senju Fujima say this, the Nine-Tails—or rather, the entire fox—was stunned, looking at him and asking indifferently.

"No, I am working hard to achieve this goal, and you are my first target."

"I want to be your best friend, because I have no friends either."

"Don't look at me as the young clan leader of the Senju Clan, as if my status in the village is noble; in truth, I do not have a single friend."

"Are you willing to be my first good friend?"

"Heh!"

Senju Fujima then appeared directly in front of the Nine-Tails, looking at the beast before him with sincere eyes and a sunny smile, extending his right hand.

"Hmm?"

The Nine-Tails felt a stir in his heart. For a thousand years, countless people had hunted him for his immense power—some discovering him by accident, others lured by legends in ancient books.

But without exception, every one of them had been killed by the Nine-Tails; those who attempted to strip him of his freedom and turn him into a weapon of war had all perished.

This was the first time in history he had ever heard someone speak of becoming friends with a Tailed Beast; it was utterly preposterous.

"I do not need friends."

After hearing Senju Fujima's words, the Nine-Tails pondered for a long time, a flicker of struggle crossing his eyes. Finally, he lay lazily on the ground, spoke indifferently, and closed his eyes.

"Heh!"

Senju Fujima was not in a hurry. He withdrew his hand and sat quietly on the Nine-Tails' head. This time, the Nine-Tails did not move, as if he had tacitly accepted it.

"Not entirely without effect. One step at a time, then! Heh!"

Senju Fujima then lay down on the Nine-Tails' head, gazing into the sealing space and murmuring to himself.

I do not know how much time passed, but Senju Fujima actually fell into a deep sleep right on top of the Nine-Tails.

"Asleep? This brat has some real nerve. Is he not afraid that I might kill him right now?"

The Nine-Tails opened his eyes to see Senju Fujima sleeping on his head. For some reason, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he thought this, but he did not strike. He closed his eyes again, and the two of them fell asleep together within the sealing space.

"Oh...!"

When Senju Fujima woke up, it was already night. Seeing that he was still safe and sound, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"I'm leaving now, Kurama. It's getting late. I'll come back to play with you tomorrow."

Senju Fujima stood up, stretched, and said to the Nine-Tails.

"Get lost."

The Nine-Tails did not even lift his eyelids, speaking to Senju Fujima with cold indifference.

"Heh heh! Still so fierce, but I believe we will be good friends soon enough."

Senju Fujima smiled at the Nine-Tails, then left the sealing space, his consciousness returning to his physical body.

"Tch, what an interesting little brat."

After Senju Fujima left, the Nine-Tails slowly opened his eyes, a hint of amusement flashing through them as he shook his head.

"Ninja Academy, Father? With my level of strength, I need to go to school? You aren't joking with me, are you?"

Tomorrow was the opening day of the Ninja Academy in Konoha. The school had finally been built and was beginning to accept students; it was open to all, and anyone who wanted to study could attend.

Senju Fujima was now ten years old. If he lacked strength, he certainly should have attended the Ninja Academy, but given his current power, aside from Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, even Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha might not be able to defeat him.

Now, Hashirama Senju was actually telling him to go to school, which was why he was so surprised.

"That's right, heh!"

"Our own Ninja Academy has just been established, and there aren't many people in the village yet, so the classes aren't full. Why don't you go and make up the numbers?"

Hashirama Senju looked at the astonished Senju Fujima before him and smiled slightly. This was the first year of Konoha, the village had just been founded, and the school had just opened its doors.

Many civilians wanted to attend, but the physical requirements were a hurdle that many found difficult to overcome.

When it comes to screening for physical aptitude, many commoners fail to meet the standard, which is why it is so difficult for commoner ninjas to ever get ahead.

Ninjas from established clans have their children soak in medicinal baths to enhance their physiques, but where would commoners find the money for such things?

"Old Man, are you saying you want to use me to fill a quota? Are you sure you're so short-handed that you need me?"

After hearing what Hashirama Senju had to say, a bead of sweat the size of a bean dripped down Senju Fujima's forehead; this excuse was simply incredible.

"Well, as the young clan leader of the Senju Clan and the son of the Hokage, you must set an example."

"Only then will the heads of those great clans feel at ease handing their children over to the school for instruction."

Hashirama Senju looked at Senju Fujima and nodded as he spoke.

"Oh? So that's it. It turns out those clan heads aren't giving you any face, are they, Old Man?"

After Hashirama Senju's explanation, Senju Fujima finally understood; it seemed those great clans were unwilling to send their children to the Ninja Academy.

After all, these great clans had their own legacies, their own secret techniques, and personal guidance from experts within their own ranks—could a school possibly be better than that?

However, since Hashirama Senju wanted everyone to participate actively, he needed someone to set an example.

"Ding! Detected that the host is facing a choice. God Selection System activated."

[Option 1: Refuse to enter the Ninja Academy. You're too old for school; it would be embarrassing to go in, and you must shout three times at Hashirama Senju: "I just won't go!" Reward for completion: Kicked out of the house and sleeping on the streets for a month.]

[Option 2: Refuse to enter the Ninja Academy on the grounds that you have no need for learning. If Hashirama Senju refuses, Mito Uzumaki will appear immediately. Reward for completion: A mixed doubles beating.]

[Option 3: Agree to enter the Ninja Academy. As an obedient child, you unconditionally accept your parents' arrangements. Reward for completion: A fart in the wind.]

As the incident regarding Hashirama Senju wanting him to attend the Ninja Academy erupted, the God Selection System was instantly activated, and three options appeared before him.

"Pfft...!"

"System? Are you messing with me?"

"Option 1 and Option 2—one means sleeping on the street, the other is a mixed doubles beating...!"

"And the third option actually rewards me with a fart in the wind? You...!"

"Fine, you win...!"

Seeing the three options before him, he felt like he could spit blood. There wasn't a single benefit to be found; it would have been better if it hadn't appeared at all. Wasn't the whole point just to get him to go to the Ninja Academy?

"Well, they all have their own clan legacies, so they are unwilling to let their children come here to learn."

"That is why our Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan must set an example."

"We must ensure everyone goes to the Ninja Academy so that we can better handle registration and mission distribution in the future."

Hashirama Senju nodded slightly. The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan had no issues with this, but the other clans that had joined—such as the Hyuga, the Sarutobi, and the Ino-Shika-Cho—all possessed their own unique secret techniques.

Almost none of them were willing to send their children to the Ninja Academy, so he and Madara Uchiha had discussed having both their clans send everyone to school, hoping that would encourage the other clans to follow suit.

"Hehe! Since the system won't give me a reward, can't I earn one myself? Old Man, I'm going to make you work for this."

Although the system hadn't provided any rewards, this could be considered a situation where Hashirama Senju needed a favor from Senju Fujima. Naturally, he could demand some benefits; since the system wouldn't give him any, he would just have to ask for them himself.

"Old Man, I understand. I'll go to school, but what's in it for me? Hehe!"

Senju Fujima extended his right hand and looked at Hashirama Senju with a grin.

"Uh...!"

"What is it that you want?"

Seeing Senju Fujima's gesture, Hashirama Senju was stunned for a moment before asking.

"One million ryo."

Senju Fujima opened his mouth wide and demanded the sum.

Money in the world of the Hokage was never particularly stable, lacking a fixed value, but in these early days of war, one million ryo was an enormous amount.

When Naruto and Jiraiya went to find Tsunade, Jiraiya took all the money, leaving Naruto with only three hundred ryo. Yet, Naruto was able to buy plenty of food and toys, suggesting that three hundred ryo at the time was roughly equivalent to a hundred bucks in our world.

For Senju Fujima to demand one million ryo was like a little kid asking his father for three or four hundred thousand yuan—the amount was by no means small.

An S-rank mission only paid upwards of one million ryo, and an S-rank mission was something only a Jonin could accept.

"What? One million ryo?"

"What does a little brat like you need so much money for? No way. Besides, you don't need to go to the Ninja Academy."

Hearing that Senju Fujima had the audacity to ask him for one million ryo, Hashirama Senju couldn't fathom how he could just hand over such a massive sum of money.