I Alone Am Worth More Than 3 Billion Taels

"Clan Head, did the Daimyo agree?" Kaito Uchiha asked with a hint of trepidation.

Just this morning, Masaki Uchiha had entered the palace and told the clansmen who had arrived at the Capital of the Land of Fire about his plan to use the pretext of Uchiha allegiance to ask the Daimyo for funding.

At the time, everyone had been worried that the Daimyo would refuse.

After all, the Hidden Leaf Village already existed; accepting an additional pledge of loyalty from the Uchiha Clan didn't quite make sense.

"Rest assured, is there anything your Clan Head cannot accomplish once he sets his mind to it?"

"We will discuss the specifics once we return to our temporary quarters; there are too many eyes and ears out here."

Masaki Uchiha scanned his surroundings; to be safe, it was better to talk behind closed doors.

Hearing that the mission was a success, the accompanying clansmen were all beaming with joy, their faces lit up as they nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Capital of the Land of Fire

Uchiha Temporary Quarters

Seeing that everyone had taken their seats, Masaki Uchiha did not waste any time.

"The Daimyo has agreed to allocate 3 billion to the Uchiha Clan, to be delivered within a week."

The group exchanged glances, and in each other's eyes, they saw only excitement and delight.

After a moment of silence, a sudden, boisterous cheer erupted.

"Furthermore, there is a stable source of income, though that will require us to go and discuss the details with the Grand Minister later."

Another wave of howling cheers followed.

"Lord Clan Head is truly a genius among geniuses; I never expected you to squeeze so much money out of the Daimyo."

Kaito Uchiha sighed in admiration.

At the same time, he was puzzled; 3 billion ryo handed over just like that—just how wealthy was the Daimyo?

He then asked, "Lord Clan Head, did the Daimyo set any conditions?"

"Not bad, Kaito, you have shown significant growth," Masaki Uchiha said with satisfaction.

"It is mostly thanks to learning from you, Clan Head."

Kaito Uchiha scratched his head, feeling embarrassed.

Seeing his bashfulness, Masaki Uchiha decided not to tease him further.

"The Daimyo has not asked the Uchiha to do anything for the moment, but there will certainly be related missions later."

"We just need to be prepared."

"When soldiers come, we block; when water comes, we earth-cover."

"Remember, the Uchiha shall never be slaves!"

This final statement acted like a stabilizing anchor, instantly bestowing a buff upon everyone present.

With the Clan Head here, who cares about some Daimyo, they all thought to themselves.

Uchiha Shisui, who had traveled with Masaki Uchiha to the Capital of the Land of Fire, asked with confusion: "Lord Clan Head, I still cannot figure out why the Daimyo gave these 3 billion ryo so readily?"

"After all, the annual funding the Land of Fire provides to the Hidden Leaf Village is only 5 billion ryo, perhaps a bit more during wartime."

Hearing Uchiha Shisui say this, Masaki Uchiha laughed heartily: "Hahaha, not to mention the Uchiha Clan, the value of my person alone is worth far more than 3 billion ryo."

The group suddenly realized the truth.

They hadn't reacted to it at first.

With the Clan Head's influence, the Uchiha had suddenly become something entirely different.

The Clan Head was a super-ninja who had earned the titles of 'Scourge Ninja', 'Tailed Beast Without a Tail', and 'Undying Body' in the ninja world.

He was also a strong contender for the position of Fourth Hokage at the time.

A powerhouse like this would be an honored guest wherever he went.

Not to mention that he was bringing the entire Uchiha Clan to 'pledge allegiance'.

If the Daimyo had any ambition, he would certainly be willing to pay a high price to buy the bones of a fine horse.

Even more so for a powerhouse like Masaki Uchiha.

Uchiha Shisui lowered his head in shame: "It was my own rigid thinking; I failed to account for a powerhouse like the Clan Head."

"No matter. Once the money is in hand, we will proceed according to the plan, and the day of the Uchiha's revival will be within reach," Masaki Uchiha declared with a domineering wave of his hand.

Everyone present was a confidant of Masaki Uchiha, and he had already revealed a portion of the plan to them.

"Kaito, you will accompany me this afternoon to visit the Grand Minister of the Land of Fire; the rest of you, rest here."

Seeing that the Clan Head wanted to take him along to meet the Grand Minister, Kaito Uchiha quickly agreed.

This was a golden opportunity to learn on the job.

"That is all for now. We will discuss other matters after I return this afternoon. Everyone, go and get some rest."

Seeing this, the others also rose to take their rest.

The black-lacquered, copper-studded gates were inlaid with precious gems depicting ancient mythical beasts, while jade chains coiled around the triple-tiered gatehouse. White jade steps stretched upward, to say nothing of the gold-leaf-wrapped glazed tiles.

"Clan Head, are the residences of the nobility always this grand and magnificent, so resplendent with gold and jade?"

Uchiha Shisui was utterly stunned by the appearance of the noble mansion.

"How much must a residence like this cost?"

Hearing Uchiha Shisui's murmurs, Masaki Uchiha laughed heartily: "Only the high nobility have the means to live in such luxurious estates. Of course, even the lesser nobles live better than we do."

It seems I should bring Shisui out to see the world more often.

This child is truly pitiful; the moment he graduated from the Ninja Academy, he was forced onto the battlefield.

He hasn't even had the chance to properly enjoy the simple pleasures of life, his existence defined only by training and missions.

If not for me, he would have eventually fallen victim to the cruel machinations of Shimura Danzō.

Fortunately, I am here now.

"Let's go, find someone to announce us." Masaki Uchiha waved a hand in front of Shisui, snapping him out of his daze.

Coming back to his senses, Uchiha Shisui's face flushed with a bashful red.

"Yes."

He then walked up to the attendant on duty.

"Please inform the Grand Minister that the Uchiha Clan Head, Masaki Uchiha, has come to pay a visit."

The attendant, who had been watching the scene with detached amusement, was long accustomed to ninja clans coming to call.

However, a noble's estate was not a place just anyone could enter.

Just as he was about to open his mouth to make things difficult, he saw Uchiha Shisui produce a thumb ring and whisper into his ear, "This is a token from the Daimyo. The Grand Minister will understand once he sees it."

Upon hearing it was a token from the Daimyo, the attendant hurriedly lowered his head and said deferentially, "Please wait a moment, guests; I shall inform my master immediately."

As expected, the Daimyo's name is still the most effective tool. Uchiha Shisui had noticed the change in the attendant's expression and changed his tone immediately, avoiding a potential embarrassment.

After all, he was representing the Uchiha Clan, not himself; if he were to lose face, it would be difficult to answer to the clansmen.

The Grand Minister, who was currently enjoying a song and dance, saw the attendant enter to report a visitor and immediately waved for him to approach and speak.

Hearing that the Uchiha Clan Head had come to visit, he was initially puzzled, but since there was a token from the Daimyo, he had to grant an audience.

"Invite him to the study for a chat; I shall be there shortly."

"Yes, I shall lead him there at once."

Having received his orders, the attendant immediately set to work.

Before long, he led Masaki Uchiha to the study.

"Please take a seat, guest; my master will be here momentarily." With that, he pulled the door shut and departed.

As for Uchiha Shisui, he remained on guard at the main entrance.

He had been seated for only a few minutes when the door was pushed open, and an elderly man of about fifty appeared before Masaki Uchiha.

"Welcome, Uchiha Clan Head. Please forgive my lack of a proper reception."