Ever since Clan Head Fugaku personally praised Uchiha Rìtiān's ice cream, the entire Uchiha Clan Compound had erupted.
The clansmen who had been waiting on the sidelines swallowed their pride and lined up to buy ice cream. After all, even the clan head had eaten it, so what was wrong with them having some? There was no shame in it!
A long line formed in front of Uchiha Rìtiān's little stall every day, never letting up from morning to night.
"Boss Uchiha Rìtiān, give me three vanilla ones!"
"I want chocolate! No, give me a matcha one too!"
Uchiha Rìtiān counted money until his hands went limp, feeling thoroughly pleased with himself. In his previous life, he had been a broke loser, yet after transmigrating, he had become a five-year-old business tycoon. What a huge win!
But a problem soon followed-he could no longer handle everything alone.
Making ice cream took time, selling ice cream took time, and collecting money and making change took time too. Uchiha Rìtiān was a five-year-old kid. Even with three heads and six arms, he would not have been able to keep up.
So Uchiha Rìtiān came up with a brilliant idea-hire people!
He rounded up a few kids in the clan who usually had nothing to do. They were all six or seven, the sort who spent their idle days climbing trees to raid birds' nests and wading into rivers to catch fish.
Uchiha Rìtiān offered them wages: one serving of ice cream plus ten taels of silver a day.
Ten taels of silver! To children who had not yet started earning money, that was an astronomical sum!
Once word got out, half the clan's children came running, nearly crushing the doorway of Uchiha Rìtiān's house.
In the end, Uchiha Rìtiān picked five quick, capable kids. Two helped make ice cream in the backyard, two handled sales out front, and one was dedicated to publicity-carrying a sign around and shouting, "Ice cream! Delicious ice cream! Even the clan head says it's good!"
That publicity was not to be underestimated. With this walking advertisement, Uchiha Rìtiān's business grew even hotter.
Watching his son bustle about every day, Uchiha Retsu felt both proud and a little awkward.
He was proud because his son really was impressive, earning big money at just five years old. The awkward part was... as a jonin, his monthly salary was less than what his son made in a day.
Who would believe that?
Just as Uchiha Rìtiān's ice cream business was booming, trouble came knocking.
That afternoon, Uchiha Rìtiān was sitting on a little stool counting money when his vision suddenly darkened, and an enormous shadow fell over him.
Uchiha Rìtiān looked up. Whoa, what an imposing old man!
The newcomer had graying hair and wrinkles deep enough to crush a mosquito. Dressed in traditional Uchiha clan attire and leaning on a cane, he stared at Uchiha Rìtiān with a look that said, "You're in big trouble, kid."
One of the kids beside him whispered a warning. "It's... it's Elder Uchiha Zen!"
Uchiha Rìtiān was startled. Holy crap, an elder? What brought a big shot like him to my little stall?
Uchiha Zen was an elder of the Uchiha Clan, senior even to Clan Head Fugaku. His word was law within the clan, and he was famously rigid and stern.
Uchiha Zen stared at Uchiha Rìtiān for a long while before slowly speaking. "You're Uchiha Rìtiān?"
Uchiha Rìtiān hurriedly put on an innocent smile. "Yes, Grandpa Elder, I'm Uchiha Rìtiān. Would you like some ice cream, Grandpa Elder? You can have it for free!"
Uchiha Zen's expression darkened, and he struck the ground hard with his cane. "Who wants to eat this nonsense!"
Uchiha Rìtiān grumbled inwardly. If you don't like it, fine. Why get so worked up? Going through menopause?
Uchiha Zen snorted coldly. "Tell me, who gave you permission to set up a stall and do business here?"
Uchiha Rìtiān blinked. "Huh? Do I... need permission for that? I'm just setting up a stall outside my own house..."
"Absurd!" Uchiha Zen barked. "The Uchiha Clan is a ninja clan. Our clansmen should prioritize training and respect strength! You're a five-year-old child, yet instead of training properly, you're running some ice cream business here. You're neglecting your proper duties and disgracing the clan!"
More and more clansmen gathered around to watch, murmuring among themselves.
Listening to their remarks, Uchiha Rìtiān felt a little annoyed. What do you mean, straying from the proper path? What's wrong with earning money through my own abilities?
But he also knew he could not confront this old fossil head-on. He had to outsmart him.
The smile on Uchiha Rìtiān's face stayed in place, growing even brighter. "Grandpa Elder, I have to disagree with that."
Uchiha Zen paused. "Oh? What do you have to say?"
Uchiha Rìtiān cleared his throat and began his performance. "Grandpa Elder, you said the Uchiha are a ninja clan and should prioritize training. That's true. But... doesn't training cost money?"
Uchiha Zen frowned. "Money?"
"Exactly!" Uchiha Rìtiān counted on his fingers. "Practicing ninjutsu uses chakra, right? When you use chakra, you need to replenish your body, right? To replenish your body, you need good food, right? Doesn't good food cost money?"
Uchiha Zen: "..."
"And then, don't ninjutsu scrolls cost money? Don't weapons and equipment cost money? Doesn't medicine for injuries cost money? Which of those doesn't cost money?" Uchiha Rìtiān laid out his argument clearly. "Our Uchiha Clan has a thriving population. With so many people needing to train and live, where does the money come from? We can't just rob people, can we?"
The surrounding clansmen nodded repeatedly as they listened. That... seemed to make some sense?
Uchiha Zen looked a little displeased. "The clan has public funds..."
"Public funds are money too!" Uchiha Rìtiān immediately cut in. "Those funds were saved up a little at a time. If our clansmen can earn money themselves, wouldn't that ease the clan's burden? The money the clan saves could buy better scrolls, hire better teachers, and nurture more geniuses! Isn't that a good thing?"
Growing more enthusiastic as he spoke, Uchiha Rìtiān simply climbed onto his little stool. "Grandpa Elder, I'm not neglecting my proper duties. I'm developing the Uchiha economy! Only by building up our economy can we Uchiha become stronger!"
The surrounding clansmen were dumbfounded. Good grief, how had selling ice cream turned into a matter of the clan's rise and fall?
But... didn't it actually make a little sense?
Uchiha Zen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, only to discover that he had no way to refute it.
In all his long years, this was the first time someone had talked to him about "the economy" and "development." He had never even heard these terms before, but put together... they did seem to sound rather convincing?
Seeing that he had left the old man bewildered, Uchiha Rìtiān quickly struck while the iron was hot. "Grandpa Elder, look. My business is doing well, and I've hired five children from our clan to help. They can earn some pocket money and develop their abilities. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone? Besides, once I've made money, I plan to donate a portion to the clan to help clansmen from struggling families with their training. Wouldn't you say that's good?"
Uchiha Zen was completely speechless. Donate to the clan? Help clansmen train? Such lofty commitment left him unable to argue.
The old man stared at Uchiha Rìtiān for a long while before finally letting out a snort. "Hmph, sharp-tongued brat!"
With that, he turned and left at quite a brisk pace, as though afraid Uchiha Rìtiān might brainwash him again.
Watching the old man's retreating back, Uchiha Rìtiān chuckled. You think you can take me on? I read so many clickbait articles and success guides in my previous life. Fooling an old fossil like you is a piece of cake!
The surrounding clansmen burst into laughter, giving Uchiha Rìtiān thumbs-up.
Uchiha Rìtiān waved smugly. "Make some room, everyone! Ice cream is still on sale! I'm in a good mood today, so everyone gets ten percent off!"
The crowd cheered and started lining up again.
Uchiha Rìtiān felt thoroughly pleased. Crisis averted, and I even got a boost in popularity. Perfect!
What he failed to notice, however, was a figure in a black coat quietly watching from behind a large tree not far away.
The figure wore a strange mask that exposed only a single scarlet Sharingan, an inscrutable light flickering within it.
"Uchiha Rìtiān... an interesting brat."
The low voice scattered on the wind, unheard by anyone.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Rìtiān was busy collecting money, completely unaware that a certain dangerous individual had already set his sights on him.
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