Clinging to a Thigh, Signing a Written Agreement! (Seeking Collections, Seeking Follow-up Reads!!)

"Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya, help me!!!"

The moment Uchiha Chen saw Tsunade and Jiraiya appear, his eyes lit up. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan instantly dissipated, reverting to the pupils of an ordinary person.

Uchiha Chen's eyes shone with excitement as he waved his arms incessantly.

Just kidding—with two such powerful backers here, why would he ever need to lift a finger himself?

When it's time to borrow the tiger's might to intimidate the foxes, one must do so; when it's time to wave the banner, one must wave it.

Whoosh!

Tsunade and Jiraiya, who had been leaning against either side of the gate, exchanged a glance the moment they heard Uchiha Chen's cry for "help."

As if afraid the other would beat them to it, they appeared on either side of Uchiha Chen in the very next second.

"Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya, having you two by my side always gives me such a sense of security!"

Uchiha Chen looked at the pair with excitement, nearly reaching out to grab their hands.

Even Uchiha Itachi, standing behind him, nodded imperceptibly, as if agreeing with Uchiha Chen's sentiment.

Although Uchiha Itachi had gained some understanding of Uchiha Chen's strength, the opposition was, after all, quite numerous.

Now that Jiraiya and Tsunade were here, such concerns no longer existed.

"Chen, don't worry. With me, the Toad Sage, here, who would dare to hurt you?"

Jiraiya turned to look at Uchiha Chen, raised his eyebrows, and said with a grin.

Jiraiya was more than happy to take this opportunity to grow closer to Uchiha Chen.

"Hmph, if anyone wants to touch Uchiha Chen, they'll have to ask my fist if it agrees first!"

With Jiraiya having made his stance clear, Tsunade refused to be outdone. She raised her fist directly and swept a sharp, piercing gaze over Uchiha Sanhe and his men, looking ready to throw hands at the slightest provocation.

The sight sent the surrounding jonin and chunin scrambling backward in fear.

Seeing his subordinates act so cowardly, Uchiha Sanhe was so angry he could barely speak. He could only flick his sleeves in frustration, feeling utterly helpless.

"You lot, sigh!"

Stamping his foot in exasperation, Uchiha Sanhe looked at the grinning Uchiha Chen in front of him.

The fire of rage in his chest burned ever brighter, yet he could only ask with deep resentment, "The brat has already refused to be your disciple, so why are you still protecting him?"

Uchiha Sanhe truly couldn't understand what Uchiha Chen had done to make Tsunade and Jiraiya protect him to such an extent.

"Heh, that's none of your concern. I just happen to like the kid. Even if he isn't my disciple, he can be my friend. I, Jiraiya, cannot stand by and watch my friends get bullied by others!"

Jiraiya glanced at Uchiha Sanhe, maintaining his nonchalant air, yet an invisible pressure began to radiate from him toward Uchiha Sanhe and his men.

"You'd best leave immediately, or I'm afraid I won't be able to control my fists."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, an aura of danger emanating from her entire being.

"Fine, fine, fine. The Legendary Sannin—very good. I will remember today's events. Let's go!"

Feeling the overwhelming pressure from Tsunade and Jiraiya, Uchiha Sanhe couldn't help but shrink back and take a step away.

Though he had chosen to yield, Uchiha Sanhe still habitually threw out a harsh threat, signaled his subordinates, and turned to slip away.

"Hold it. Did I say you could leave?"

However, at that moment, Uchiha Chen's voice suddenly rang out.

"Uchiha Chen, what more do you want?"

Uchiha Sanhe turned around in a fury, his eyes practically spitting fire, his teeth nearly ground to dust.

"You broke my gate and promised to pay me one billion ryo, but you haven't paid yet. Trying to welch on the debt?"

Uchiha Chen pointed at the ground, looking at Uchiha Sanhe with a mocking smile.

"I don't have that much money on me! Once I return, I will naturally have someone send the one billion ryo over!"

Uchiha Sanhe's body began to tremble uncontrollably—he was shaking with rage!

This... was it actually true?

Just a moment ago, Tsunade and Jiraiya had assumed Uchiha Chen was just looking for trouble to annoy Uchiha Sanhe. After all, it was just two broken doors; how could the compensation possibly be one billion ryo?

But Uchiha Sanhe's response left them both stunned.

Following that, the way Jiraiya and Tsunade looked at Uchiha Chen changed, and they simultaneously gave him a thumbs-up.

As for their expressions, how should one describe them?

Shock mixed with a hint of... admiration?

"Heh, empty words are no guarantee. If you go back and play dumb, wouldn't I be the one taking a huge loss?"

Uchiha Chen crossed his arms, having no intention of letting Uchiha Sanhe off the hook.

"My word is gold; I never go back on it!"

"Is that so? I don't believe you..."

"What... what exactly do you want?"

"Unless you draw up a written agreement, sign it, and press your thumbprint!"

"You!!!"

At this moment, Uchiha Sanhe desperately wanted to throw caution to the wind, lunge forward, and trade his life for Uchiha Chen's in a final, desperate act.

But seeing Jiraiya and Tsunade standing there like two immovable mountains, that budding impulse was snuffed out instantly.

In the end, he could only grit his teeth and force the words out through his clenched jaw, "Fine! I'll draw up the agreement!"

"That's more like it. Go ahead, write it!"

Uchiha Chen could no longer suppress his mirth; his mouth was stretched wide enough to reach his ears.

"But... I don't have paper or a pen..."

Looking at his empty hands, Uchiha Sanhe froze, his tone filled with helplessness.

"Heh, paper and pen? I've got those!"

Jiraiya chuckled, flipped his hand, and a pen and scroll appeared in his grasp.

Taking the scroll and brush, Uchiha Sanhe heaved a deep sigh.

"Hmm, very good. No tricks, no wordplay, and the thumbprint is here. You may go!"

After carefully reading the scroll handed over by Uchiha Sanhe, Uchiha Chen tucked it away with great satisfaction, then beamed as he ushered Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Uchiha Itachi into the inner residence.

Staring daggers at their retreating backs until they vanished from sight, Uchiha Sanhe finally turned and walked toward the gate without a word.

Every step he took felt incredibly heavy, and the wound on his thumb, bitten open to provide the print, throbbed with a dull ache.

His subordinates dared only to carry the still-unconscious Uchiha Hikari and follow slowly behind, silent as the grave.

It wasn't until they stepped outside the gate that Uchiha Sanhe's face suddenly turned ashen.

He had just realized that since he hadn't brought Uchiha Chen before that lord, he would have to pay the one billion ryo out of his own pocket.

There was no way that lord would ever reimburse him.

One billion ryo—that was the savings of half his life!

It hurt, it hurt so much!

"No!!!!"

"My money!!"

Uchiha Sanhe let out a hysterical howl toward the heavens, his eyes rolled back, and he nearly fainted on the spot.