A wealthy clan

"Medical Ninjutsu, cloning technology..." Cat Granny fell silent as she read the detailed descriptions on the scroll.

"What does that child want these things for?" Cat Granny pondered the question at length but could not come up with an answer.

Although she could not figure it out, Cat Granny knew that Konoha had already pocketed most of the Uchiha Clan's legacy, especially the secret techniques and ninjutsu accumulated over a thousand years.

As the Uchiha Clan's supplier of weapons and intelligence, Cat Granny would have no trouble obtaining Medical Ninjutsu and cloning technology. All it would take was paying a price.

Technological development in this world was uneven. Technology related to biology was far more advanced than that in other fields.

Cloning technology had only begun circulating on the black market in recent years.

Although Cat Granny dealt in ninja tools, she paid close attention to the new things that had suddenly appeared in the shinobi world over the past few years.

Cloning technology had initially been kept tightly under wraps, but no secret stayed secret forever. Researchers at major companies had soon managed to reproduce the technology from the scraps of information that leaked out.

Through the efforts of numerous researchers, they had even gone a step further and developed targeted cloning technology.

By now, biological cloning technology was no longer so far out of reach. Anyone willing to pay the price could obtain the complete technology and equipment.

She was not worried about being unable to obtain the technology. She was worried about Sasuke Uchiha in Konoha.

Sasuke Uchiha was only around ten years old and still innocent. Cat Granny was very concerned that he might be tricked without even realizing it.

"I hope little Sasuke doesn't end up helping someone count the money they swindled out of him." Cat Granny forcefully blew the smoke from her lungs.

"Perhaps it's that child from the Hyuga Clan who needs these things." Age had made Cat Granny shrewd, and an idea soon occurred to her. "Perhaps this is a bird unwilling to remain in its cage."

"Konoha, huh... Heh. They actually gave the Hyuga Clan that much autonomy. I doubt Hiruzen Sarutobi can even command the Hyuga Branch Family..." Cat Granny's expression darkened as her thoughts returned to the Uchiha Clan of the past.

"What a shame about the Uchiha Clan. Hiruzen Sarutobi and those others were utterly shameless, deceiving a thirteen-year-old child..." Thinking of Uchiha Itachi, Cat Granny's heart filled with regret.

She had watched Uchiha Itachi grow up and held a special affection for him.

As the saying went, an outsider saw things more clearly. As something of an outsider herself, Cat Granny could see it plainly: the Uchiha Clan had been a frog in slowly heated water from the very beginning, except this pot had an invisible lid.

When the water grew hot and the frog tried to jump out, it slammed straight into that transparent lid.

Cat Granny thought to herself, Well, so be it. It's only Medical Ninjutsu for reattaching severed limbs and replacing organs, nothing particularly advanced. I'll help them and see what these two little fellows can get up to.

Tap, tap, tap. Cat Granny knocked on the table a few times, and a black-and-white tuxedo cat soon walked in.

Looking at the tuxedo cat, Cat Granny said, "Black Rain, go fetch Orange Flame. I have something to discuss."

"Got it, Granny! I'll bring that soundly sleeping Orange Flame over right away," the tuxedo cat replied energetically.

The cat named Orange Flame was dragged over by the black-and-white tuxedo cat, still bleary-eyed with sleep.

Orange Flame protested, "Hey, don't bite my ear! These ears are a symbol of my good looks! If you damage them, I won't be handsome anymore, and I won't be able to find a lady cat!"

"All right, Black Rain, let go." Cat Granny watched the two squabbling cats with amusement.

Looking at Orange Flame, Cat Granny said, "Orange Flame, tell those two children tomorrow that everything they want will be ready in a month. The price is one hundred million ryo, to be deducted from the funds left over from the Uchiha Clan's ninja tool purchases."

Back when the Uchiha Clan had been plotting a coup, they had set aside a large sum with her to buy ninja tools. Unfortunately, the clan had been wiped out while the tools were still being prepared.

The figure of one hundred million ryo gave Orange Flame quite a fright. It was no clueless kitty—how much dried fish could that buy? At the thought, drool trickled from the corner of its mouth, and it drifted into fantasy.

One look at Orange Flame's silly expression told Cat Granny exactly what the orange cat was thinking. Helplessly, she tapped the table with her pipe and said sternly, "Orange Flame, did you remember what I just said? If you forget, you won't get any dried fish for the next month!"

Cat Granny's stern words reached the orange cat's ears and made its fur stand on end. It hurriedly nodded. "I remember! I remember!"

Cat Granny controlled every cat's supply of dried fish. She was someone they absolutely could not afford to offend.

After school the next day, Neji followed Sasuke into the Uchiha Clan's compound as usual.

"Byakugan!" Before proceeding, Neji activated his Byakugan to inspect their surroundings, just as before.

"All clear. No problems." Neji nodded, signaling for Sasuke to begin the summoning.

Without hesitation, Sasuke bit his finger, formed hand seals, and pressed his hand down. "Summoning Technique!"

With a bang, a cloud of smoke burst forth. A familiar orange cat darted out of it and jumped onto the desk.

Seeing the same two familiar people, Orange Flame immediately raised a paw and waved it in front of them.

At the orange cat's ridiculous behavior, Sasuke's face darkened with exasperation.

"Where's my dried fish? Little Sasuke, don't tell me you haven't prepared any." Orange Flame gave him its familiar sidelong look.

Speechless, Sasuke pointed at the back corner of the desk, where a bag of dried fish bought from the supermarket stood quietly.

"Sangbiao Mimi, can you tell us Cat Granny's answer now?" As Sasuke spoke, the corners of his mouth curled up almost imperceptibly.

Hearing the word "Mimi," the orange cat immediately took offense. It let out a loud meow, then stared at Sasuke. "Don't call me Sangbiao Mimi! Call me Lord Sangbiao, you Uchiha brat!"

One glance at Sasuke's upturned lips told Neji that the boy was doing it on purpose.

He's picked up bad habits! Neji silently shook his head.

"For the sake of the dried fish, I'll forgive you this time." Orange Flame bounded swiftly over to the bag of dried fish and tore it open with sharp claws.

Unable to wait, Orange Flame immediately bit into a dried fish and began enjoying it.

After eating for a while, Orange Flame was thoroughly satisfied. Looking at Neji and Sasuke, it said, "Cat Granny said there's still plenty left over from your Uchiha Clan's ninja tool purchases. Just deduct one hundred million from that, and she'll prepare the complete technology and equipment for you."

"One hundred million. As expected of a thousand-year-old elite clan..." Neji felt as though Sasuke was radiating golden light.

"One hundred million? No problem. As long as Cat Granny gets everything ready." With his deep pockets, Sasuke immediately agreed without a fuss.

Neji truly did not understand the world of the rich. That money was worth almost three Asuma Sarutobis. Sasuke Uchiha certainly lived up to his status as the heir to one of Konoha's elite clans.

If it had been him, he would definitely have haggled. Every little bit saved counted. These days, even Asuma's head was worth only thirty-five million!

There were hardly any Asumas in all of Konoha!

Sasuke really was loaded in every sense of the word!