Having made his decision, Kyohaku Uchiha did not hesitate any longer. He knew full well that delay would only bring more variables. Early the next morning, he changed into his cleanest clothes, carefully tucked the 100,000 ryo death benefit against his body, and made his way toward the Konoha Administrative Department's Housing Management Center, one step at a time with his cane.
The journey felt especially long for his current body. The steady, stubborn tap-tap of his cane against the ground drew quite a few glances from passersby. He ignored those looks mixed with sympathy, curiosity, or simple indifference, devoting all his focus to keeping his balance and planning his route.
The administrative hall was crowded, with villagers and ninja constantly coming and going to handle all manner of business. His appearance made him stand out sharply. He headed straight for the window marked "Real Estate Affairs," where several people were already waiting in line.
When it was his turn, the middle-aged clerk behind the counter saw a black-haired child with a slightly pale face, leaning on a cane but possessing unusually calm eyes. He could not help but pause.
"Kid, what do you need? Where are the adults in your family?" the clerk asked instinctively.
Kyohaku raised his head and spoke in a tone he had deliberately practiced, carrying a trace of timidity and sorrow. "Hello, sir... I-I'm Kyohaku Uchiha. My parents... passed away not long ago. I want... I want to sell our house." He carefully took out the property deed and his identification from inside his clothes and handed them over.
"Uchiha?" The clerk accepted the documents and examined them closely, his expression growing more serious. He looked at Kyohaku's right foot, then at the child standing alone, as though he understood something. His tone softened considerably. "I see... My condolences, kid. Are you sure you want to sell the house? This isn't a small matter."
"Mm..." Kyohaku lowered his head, his voice becoming softer. "That place... is full of memories. I'm a little scared. I want to move somewhere smaller." The reason was perfectly reasonable, flawlessly explaining the impulsive yet grief-stricken decision a child might make.
The clerk sighed and showed his understanding. He quickly reviewed the documents and confirmed that the ownership was clear. "A detached property on the edge of the Uchiha Compound... It's in a good location," he assessed. "At current market prices, it should be worth around 1.2 million ryo. If you're certain you want to sell, we'll need to complete some procedures, and there will be a small brokerage and registration fee. The proceeds will be deposited into a designated account, or... with such a large sum, it would be better to have a guardian handle this with you."
Kyohaku calculated quickly. 1.2 million ryo—far beyond his expectations. He raised his head, his eyes pleading. "Sir, I can handle it myself. Please help me process it. The money... could I have most of it in cash? I want to keep it for myself." He needed to control as much cash as possible and avoid having the funds "managed" or frozen again.
The clerk looked troubled, but seeing the child's stubborn yet sorrowful gaze, along with the Uchiha surname on the documents, he finally nodded. "All right. The rules don't actually require it... But kid, make sure you hide that money well. Don't spend it recklessly." Still muttering advice, he began processing the complicated paperwork.
The entire process went more smoothly than Kyohaku had expected. The Uchiha name worked once again. No one deliberately made things difficult for an orphan who had just lost his parents, especially over such a reasonable transaction. In the end, after all fees were deducted, he received a cash draft for a full 1.15 million ryo and a small amount of physical currency. Added to his original 100,000 ryo, his total funds reached the enormous sum of 1.25 million ryo.
Without stopping, he immediately checked the listings for properties on sale in the same hall. His criteria were clear: secluded, quiet, with a courtyard, and cheap. Before long, he settled on a small house for sale near Konoha's eastern gate. It was far from the clan districts and bustling areas, close to the village outskirts, where the residents were a mixed group with relatively high turnover. It was exactly the low-profile environment he needed.
The price negotiations went smoothly. The old detached house with its small courtyard was ultimately sold for 750,000 ryo. After handling the transfer procedures and paying the property tax, he was left with a full 500,000 ryo when he held the freshly issued deed to his new home. It was an enormous sum, enough to support his life and training for a long time.
He told no one. He did not even return to the home that would soon no longer belong to him for one last look. Instead, he hired a passing porter for decent pay and had him carry a small bag he had packed long ago to the new house. The bag held only a few changes of clothes, every scroll and note his father had left behind, several photographs of his parents, and the heavy iron box containing 500,000 ryo in cash and the remaining loose change. He abandoned all other furniture and belongings. A clean break, swift and decisive.
When he stood outside the low wooden gate of his new home with his cane, the setting sun stretched his shadow long behind him. This place was entirely unlike the orderly bustle of the Uchiha Compound. The streets were narrow and quiet, and the houses looked somewhat old, but every household had its own courtyard and kept a certain distance from the others.
He pushed open the creaking gate, revealing a small yet fairly tidy courtyard. There was even a half-dead old tree in one corner. The house itself had only one floor and looked rather aged, but its structure seemed reasonably solid.
The porter set down the luggage, curiously looked over the strange child and the secluded house, then took his money and left.
Kyohaku stood alone in the middle of the courtyard and looked around. The air carried the scent of grass, trees, and earth. In the distance, he could vaguely hear the muffled sounds of the eastern gate guards changing shifts, while farther beyond lay the continuous mountain ranges in the direction of the Valley of the End.
There were no Uchiha fan crests here, no familiar gazes, no old possessions filled with memories. Everything felt strange and distant.
Yet when he took a deep breath, what he felt was an unprecedented sense of ease.
He was safe. At least for now, he was safe. He had successfully separated himself from the shadows of the past, gaining a relatively independent starting point and a considerable sum of money.
Leaning on his cane, he walked into the empty, dust-covered house. His footsteps echoed through the rooms.
From this day onward, this was Kyohaku Uchiha's new beginning. A nest far from his original environment, where he could quietly accumulate strength.
The enormous sum of 500,000 ryo and the knowledge his father had left behind were all the cards he held.
And all he had to do was make good use of them, survive this brutal game called life, and then... win.
Before you continue