Returning to Konoha

Kakuzu, hearing this, looked astonished and said, "Who exactly are you, and why are you robbing me? The Uchiha Clan and I have no animosity whatsoever."

Qingcheng, seeing Kakuzu's panic, said with a serious expression, "Your assets are my target. If you want your money back, exchange high-level Ninjutsu with me. One A-rank Ninjutsu for a hundred million Ryo, and one S-rank Ninjutsu for two billion Ryo. How does that sound?"

As a notorious rogue in the Ninja World, robbing others' Ninjutsu and money was as easy for Kakuzu as an old woman eating glutinous rice balls—a piece of cake.

Kakuzu thought for a moment, then nodded directly, saying earnestly, "We have a deal. As long as I steal an S-rank Ninjutsu for you, you'll give me two billion Ryo. We can't go back on our word."

Then Kakuzu continued, "What's your name? How can I contact you?"

Qingcheng pulled out a Three-pronged Kunai and handed it directly to Kakuzu, then said seriously, "If you manage to steal an S-rank Ninjutsu, or three A-rank Ninjutsu, you can use this to contact me directly. Just infuse Chakra into the shuriken, and I'll sense it immediately and appear by your side."

Kakuzu took the Three-pronged Kunai and said with a straight face, "You're Uchiha Shimada, right? Since you're Madara's father, how could you be short on money?"

Qingcheng, hearing this, immediately explained, "That good-for-nothing son of mine actually tried to commit patricide. He put me through a lot. Anyway, don't ask too many questions. Just contact me once you find the Ninjutsu, and I'll give you the money."

Qingcheng impersonated Uchiha Shimada, not just to target Obito. That guy is going around the Ninja World pimping and bragging under Madara's name, so I definitely need to use Uchiha Shimada's name to suppress him.

Kakuzu heard this and his face filled with mockery. He said, "Your family is truly chaotic. It's always about brother complexes or patricide."

Qingcheng, hearing this, shouted loudly, "Kakuzu, you've overstepped! Do you want me to kill you right now and kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?"

Kakuzu heard Qingcheng's words and his face immediately paled. He said in terror, "Mr. Shimada, don't be angry! I misspoke just now. Do you have any preferred Ninjutsu? I'll go steal it for you right away!"

Qingcheng thought for a moment and said seriously, "Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique, or Magnet Release, or Lightning Release. As long as it's an S-rank Ninjutsu, I'll take it all."

Kakuzu said with a serious expression, "I'll make a trip to the Hidden Sand Village first. Mr. Shimada, please prepare the two billion Ryo."

Qingcheng took out fifty thousand Ryo from his pocket and handed it directly to Kakuzu, saying seriously, "Once you're out, buy some decent clothes. Consider this my personal sponsorship."

Kakuzu heard Qingcheng's words, and his face filled with disappointment and helplessness. He shouted, "If I couldn't beat you, I'd definitely fight you to the death! That was my life's savings, and you just robbed it all! You're only giving me fifty thousand Ryo? That was one hundred and fifty billion Ryo!"

Qingcheng heard that Kakuzu actually had one hundred and fifty small goals and was overjoyed. He thought, How much land can I buy with this? I'm already Konoha's wealthiest landlord.

Qingcheng looked at the pained Kakuzu and said directly, "If you don't want it, I'll take it back. You can go to the Hidden Sand Village naked then!"

Kakuzu tearfully took the fifty thousand Ryo, looking utterly dejected. He mumbled softly, "I will definitely steal all the Ninjutsu in the entire Ninja World and make them pay for my savings!"

Qingcheng, seeing the depressed Kakuzu, immediately started to paint a picture: "Don't be angry, little Kakuzu. Your savings are just temporarily with me for safekeeping. Once you collect seven S-rank Ninjutsu, I'll give you back your money. And if you collect eight S-rank Ninjutsu, I'll even add more money!"

Kakuzu looked at the triumphant Qingcheng and thought, I can't beat you, but can't I beat Chiyo?

Then Kakuzu asked again, "Mr. Shimada, do you have any other requests? I'll fulfill them all for you. You just need to have the money ready."

Qingcheng thought for a moment and said seriously, "If you see girls from the Uzumaki Clan or other Ninja Clans, be sure to protect them and then bring them to me."

Kakuzu directly shook his head and said sternly, "Mr. Shimada, that's beyond my scope of business. I can't do something like that. I only steal money; I don't protect people."

Qingcheng heard Kakuzu's words and said directly, "For a girl from the Uzumaki Clan, I'll give you a ten million Ryo reward. For girls from other clans, I can only give five million Ryo."

Qingcheng emphasized again, "Girls with Kekkei Genkai get priority."

Kakuzu heard "ten million" and instantly looked excited. He said directly, "This task isn't difficult either. When I get out, I'll ask my friends in the underworld and see where there are girls like that who need my protection!"

Qingcheng looked at the changing expression on Kakuzu's face and said seriously, "If I don't push you, you won't even know where your potential lies. You could be so excellent, so why say you can't?"

Kakuzu, hearing this, said with a serious expression, "Thank you, Mr. Shimada, for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely protect any girls with Kekkei Genkai for you."

Then Kakuzu said seriously, "I'll head to the Hidden Sand Village now. Goodbye, Mr. Shimada." After saying that, Kakuzu used the Body Flicker Technique and immediately fled towards the Hidden Sand Village.

Qingcheng looked at Kakuzu, who was charging forward for money, and thought, He truly is someone who'll do anything for money. The title of the Ninja World's top workaholic is well-deserved. The only one comparable to Kakuzu is Kabuto Yakushi, both are people who can do good things even without being paid.

Qingcheng then complained, Back then, Kabuto Yakushi was a spy in the Four Great Ninja Villages, working tirelessly without compensation, gathering intelligence for Danzo. But then Danzo betrayed him, accidentally killing Nonō Yakushi with his own hands.

If Qingcheng were to meet such workaholics, he wouldn't bear to harm them. He knew that such workers put their lives on the line, just like the liver-destroying workers at Buwanja Brick Factory.

Qingcheng then walked to the Exchange Office's storage room, looking at the large pile of bounty posters, several dozen boxes of Ninja Currency, and several large boxes of gold ingots inside.

The total value was roughly over seventy billion Ryo. Qingcheng said with a smile, "This trip was truly worthwhile. Not only did I establish an unbreakable friendship with Tsunade, but I also obtained several high-level Ninjutsu, gained seventy goals, and even acquired the Flame Kusanagi."

Qingcheng then shouted, "This is incredibly satisfying! If I rob a few more wealthy individuals, we'll immediately become Konoha's wealthiest!"

Qingcheng directly took out a Ninjutsu scroll, placed all the Ninja Currency and gold ingots into the storage scroll, and then carried the storage scroll on his person.

Qingcheng then said seriously, "It's time to return to Konoha. Kurenai Yuhi and the others should be arriving at Konoha soon, right? That mission was completed long ago."

Qingcheng immediately activated Yomotsu Hirasaka. A black void rift appeared before his eyes, and Qingcheng leaped directly into the Yomi Space. Seeing the twenty million Explosive Tags hanging inside the Yomi Space, Qingcheng felt a great sense of satisfaction.

He then began to search for the Shadow Clone's coordinates, and activated the Yomotsu Hirasaka in his right eye again. Within the Uchiha Clan's compound, a void rift appeared out of thin air.

Qingcheng's Shadow Clone was still reading Icha Icha Paradise. Seeing a void rift appear above the Three-pronged Kunai, he said with a smile, "Main body, you're finally back! See what I've been doing!" After saying that, he immediately dissolved the Shadow Clone Jutsu with a poof, turning into a puff of smoke.