Fugaku was baffled for a moment.
Although the clan was in a rather awkward position at this stage, it was still one of Konoha's great clans. It was not particularly short of money, either.
Looking at Haruma's determined face, Fugaku asked in confusion, "What necessary connection does making money have with the Uchiha Clan's survival?"
"Don't underestimate the power of money, you bas-"
In his excitement, Haruma nearly blurted out the rest of "bastard"!
But remembering the gap in their strength, Haruma explained instead, "The second plan is far more important than even the first! With enough funding, the Uchiha Clan will be invincible!"
Looking at the still-bewildered Fugaku, Haruma could hardly explain the specifics. He couldn't exactly say he had a golden finger in his head, and that this finger swallowed money, letting him pay his way to invincibility!
If he said that, he would probably really be sent to the hospital to have his head examined.
"In short, Clan Leader! The more money, the better!"
"Didn't we already agree that you would carry out my orders to perfection?
"I know the future. I absolutely wouldn't deceive you!"
Well, that single claim of having seen the future made Fugaku swallow his questions, leaving him unsure how to argue.
Forget it.
Since I've decided to trust him, I'll just be an obedient puppet. After all, if I lead the clan according to my own ideas, it'll end in utter tragedy a year from now.
"All right! In that case, I won't ask any more questions. You can come collect the money at this time tomorrow."
"You truly are wise, Clan Leader!"
Fugaku: "..."
Having achieved his goal, Haruma curled his lips into a smile and declared fervently, "I hereby officially announce the establishment of the Eye of Money Plan!"
The fucking Eye of Money Plan?
Fugaku's mouth twitched. Looking at the excited Haruma, he once again questioned his mental state.
"My dear Clan Leader, how much money does the clan currently have?" Having asked, Haruma looked at Fugaku with eyes full of anticipation.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but Fugaku kept feeling as though the boy's eyes had turned into a pair of dollar signs.
"Without affecting the clan's basic operations, you can collect twenty million ryo in cash tomorrow."
"What?!"
Like a dying man jolting upright from his sickbed.
Haruma, who had been so confident all along, went pale and jumped to his feet.
Twenty million was no small amount, but how could such a large clan, the prestigious Uchiha Clan renowned throughout the Shinobi World, have so little in savings?!
"A clan this big only has twenty million in cash?! Just how have you been doing your job as clan leader?! Don't tell me you've been embezz-"
Seeing chakra begin to surge again, Haruma hurriedly corrected himself. "A slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue. My dear Clan Leader, this humble one is merely curious why the clan has so little cash."
"You have to understand, money is the most important part of our opportunity to change the clan's fate! I was just a tiny bit worried, so I spoke out of turn."
"Enough! Your perspective is too limited, brat, and you haven't thought enough!" Looking at the deflated Haruma, Fugaku said, "Don't tell me you think a prestigious clan must have endless wealth and cash?"
Seeing Haruma nod instinctively, Fugaku explained irritably, "Ninjutsu reserves, strength, reputation, status, money. Those are the basic components of a great clan in the Shinobi World."
"Strength is the most important, followed by ninjutsu reserves. Money, on the other hand, isn't a necessity for a great clan."
"Ultimately, in the Shinobi World, whoever has the biggest fist is right. As long as you're strong enough, money will naturally never be lacking."
"The Uchiha Clan isn't some nouveau riche family. We don't do business or break the law, so where would all that cash come from?"
Seeing Haruma's little head droop lower and lower, Fugaku added, "Although we don't have that much cash, if money really is as important as you say and concerns the Uchiha Clan's destruction, there are still quite a few ways to obtain large amounts of it."
At those words, the dispirited Haruma seemed to receive a shot of adrenaline. He snapped his head up and asked urgently, "What ways?!"
Fugaku had originally wanted to tease the boy by deliberately saying something pointless, but remembering that this concerned the clan's fate, he said gravely, "Ninjutsu scrolls! If we intend to sell them openly, I imagine plenty of merchants would be interested."
"There are also the commercial shops and streets owned by the Uchiha Clan. Those are worth a considerable amount, too."
Haruma nodded in agreement. Indeed!
With the Uchiha Clan's ninjutsu reserves, they could take out just a few to sell, and those merchants and wandering ninja would certainly pay a high price for them.
At that thought, a smile returned to Haruma's face, and he offered Fugaku a helping of flattery. "As expected of our wise and magnificent Clan Leader. Not only are you incredibly strong, your intelligence is no joke either!"
Half an hour later,
Haruma walked out of Fugaku's room with a broad smile.
"Leaving so soon, Haruma?"
A gentle, mature woman's voice rang out, and Haruma looked toward the beautiful woman beside the corridor. She had smooth black hair, delicate features, and beautiful eyes filled with tenderness.
Even a loose brown apron could not conceal her full figure. She held a tea tray in both hands, several cups of hot tea still steaming upon it.
Even in this two-dimensional world where everyone was beautiful, she was a bona fide beauty.
Only...
Sigh... what a shame.
Such a fine cabbage. What a shame... a stupid pig had rooted it up.
Uchiha Mikoto, Fugaku's wife, Uchiha Sasuke and Itachi's mother. She was also the current nominal mistress of the entire Uchiha Clan.
"No need to go to any trouble, Sister Mikoto. I have something to do today, so I'll head back first. I'll visit you and the clan leader again tomorrow," Haruma replied politely.
Pfft.
Hearing how Haruma addressed her, Mikoto burst out laughing.
This child really has a sweet tongue. He seems to be only two or three years older than Itachi, yet he actually calls me his sister.
"All right, if you have something to do, go take care of it. Be careful on your way back. Your big sister will make you a cup of hot tea tomorrow."
"Okay, Sister Mikoto. See you tomorrow." After politely saying goodbye, Haruma strode back to the recuperation area.
Watching Haruma's retreating figure, Mikoto murmured, "What a polite child."
Inside the room, Fugaku heard his wife's words, and the corners of his mouth began twitching involuntarily again.
The Uchiha Clan's compound was located in a corner at the edge of the area covered by Konoha's barrier.
Various Anbu or Root ninja frequently passed through, ostensibly just passing by, but in reality monitoring the entire clan's every move.
The recuperation area lay at the edge of the clan compound, a corner within a corner. There were not even any ninja watching this place.
After all, a group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people offered little worth noticing and had no surveillance value.
"Brother Shui, I'm back!"
Carrying takeout boxes of grilled meat and ramen, Haruma kicked open the courtyard gate.
In the courtyard, an odd figure dressed in hemp clothing, his eyes wrapped in bandages, nodded toward Haruma and rasped, "You're back."
Smiling broadly, Haruma brought a small table out of the room, arranged the takeout, and called Brother Shui over to eat.
"You seem especially happy today. Looks like things worked out." Although the mysterious man called Brother Shui had his eyes wrapped in bandages, it did not seem to affect his ability to pick up food.
"Of course. With this young master taking action, what could that old fellow Fugaku do but obediently step aside?" Brimming with smugness, Haruma began telling Brother Shui about his negotiations with Fugaku in the room that day.
"The moment I opened my mouth and revealed these eyes, that brat Fugaku immediately prostrated himself before me, begging me to lead the clan to glory."
"Since that old brat knew what was good for him, this young master reluctantly agreed."
Brother Shui nodded. Although the boy had certainly exaggerated the reality somewhat.
Things must have worked out, though, or he would not have been so excitedly running his mouth without pause.