The Ninja Cat Clan

Thinking of the Ninja Cat Clan, Uchiha Fugaku's eyes lit up.

Although the Uchiha Clan couldn't show their faces while buying the goods, they could have the Ninja Cat Clan acquire them in secret. After all, it was much harder to keep an eye on cats than on people.

With that thought, Uchiha Fugaku prepared to head to the Ninja Cat Clan's habitat.

But before he went, he should prepare a few gifts. Otherwise, those cats might lose their tempers...

Some unpleasant memories surfaced in Uchiha Fugaku's mind.

Although Uchiha Fugaku now possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, the Ninja Cat Clan were loyal ninja beasts of the Uchiha Clan, so he still had to be careful.

Uchiha Fugaku then asked Uchiha Fujino for two bottles of silvervine and began summoning a ninja cat.

As Uchiha Fugaku performed the Summoning Technique, pressing his hand to the ground,

a puff of smoke appeared, and the ninja cat Denka once again materialized in front of Uchiha Fugaku.

"Meow. Clan Head Fugaku, what do you need me for this time?"

"But let me say this first: don't even think about asking to borrow money. Unless you go to Granny Cat."

As the ninja cat before him spoke, Uchiha Fugaku smiled and said,

"Before we talk about anything else, take a look at this."

With that, Uchiha Fugaku took out a bottle of silvervine and shook it in his hand.

The moment ninja cat Denka saw the bottle in Uchiha Fugaku's hand, his eyes went wide.

"E-even if you have silvervine, you can forget about borrowing money."

Uchiha Fugaku's tempting voice reached him.

"It's bottled silvervine, you know?"

Ninja cat Denka could only force himself to hold back and turn away.

Don't look. Don't look. Uchiha Fugaku is a jerk...

I'm ninja cat Denka! How could I possibly fall for a bottle of silvervine?

Seeing how hard he was trying to resist, Uchiha Fugaku stopped teasing him and said,

"I'm not here to borrow money. This is a little gift for you."

As he spoke, Uchiha Fugaku tossed a bottle of silvervine to ninja cat Denka.

Denka leaped up and caught the silvervine at once. He excitedly tasted some, then stowed it away on his person.

"If you're not here to borrow money, Clan Head Fugaku, what do you need me for?"

Hearing his question, Uchiha Fugaku said,

"I have some business with Granny Cat. I'd like you to use the Reverse Summoning Technique to bring me to her."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's request, ninja cat Denka, who had just received his gift, agreed without hesitation.

As ninja cat Denka used the Reverse Summoning Technique, Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the Ninja Cat Clan's habitat.

Uchiha Fugaku then followed Denka to Granny Cat's ninja tool shop.

"Clan Head Fugaku, what brings you here?"

Granny Cat was a little surprised to see Uchiha Fugaku. After all, ever since he'd become the Uchiha Clan's leader, he'd barely visited.

After all, the Uchiha Clan's leader also had to serve as Captain of the Military Police Force, leaving him almost no time to leave Konoha.

Upon seeing Granny Cat, Uchiha Fugaku didn't bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"I have a favor to ask you, Granny Cat."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's request, Granny Cat didn't agree right away. Instead, she asked,

"Clan Head Fugaku, what is it you need my help with?"

Hearing Granny Cat's question, Uchiha Fugaku answered directly,

"The Uchiha Clan plans to buy a batch of medicinal ingredients, so I was hoping you could help us collect them."

"Of course, the Uchiha Clan will pay the full price for them."

At Uchiha Fugaku's words, Granny Cat breathed a sigh of relief. After all, this was much easier to accept than the previous purchase of ninja tools and supplies to prepare for a coup.

Granny Cat then replied,

"Certainly. But could Clan Head Fugaku show me the formula first?"

"I'll need to see it before I can tell you how much we can collect."

Uchiha Fugaku didn't hesitate. He handed Granny Cat the written formula for Body Nourishing Powder. After all, without the detailed methods for developing it, the formula alone wasn't much of a problem.

Besides, even if someone could make it, ordinary ninja couldn't afford the long-term costs.

Granny Cat took the formula and studied it carefully.

Gastrodia, Chinese raspberry, salvia...

Granny Cat then agreed,

"Clan Head Fugaku, most of these are rather uncommon medicinal ingredients. I can help you collect them."

"How much do you need?"

Hearing Granny Cat agree, Uchiha Fugaku smiled and said,

"Let's start with ten million ryo's worth, Granny Cat. Don't worry, I'll tell the Great Elder, Uchiha Setsuna, to send someone with the money tomorrow."

"Don't worry, you'll be paid in full."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Granny Cat looked surprised. Then she said happily,

"If the Uchiha Clan is so well-off now, I wonder..."

Before Granny Cat could finish, Uchiha Fugaku left her with two remarks and immediately ended the Reverse Summoning Technique.

"Someone will come see you tomorrow, Granny Cat. I have something else to do, so I'll be off."

"Oh, right. I brought you a gift, too. It's on the ground."

Granny Cat sighed helplessly.

I thought you'd changed, but it seems you're still just as shameless.

However, Granny Cat did spot a bottle wrapped in paper on the ground.

She slowly stepped forward and picked it up.

"What's this?"

Uchiha Fugaku, fleeing at top speed, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The main issue was that the Uchiha Clan owed Granny Cat a tiny bit too much. Although the clan could afford to pay her back now, his plans still needed funding.

He couldn't possibly pay her everything back right now.

For now, he could only leave Granny Cat waiting. But the gift he'd given her should be more precious to her than that tiny bit of money, right?

At the very least, it should more than make up for the interest owed all these years.

After all, it was a Youth-Preserving Pill!

And the Youth-Preserving Pill could restore one's youthful appearance.

He wondered what Granny Cat would look like the next time he saw her.