Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha is not motivated.

"We ordinary people are truly, truly happy!"

On the streets of Konoha, Fugaku Uchiha, tossing a jingling money bag behind him, strode confidently toward the fried chicken shop, seemingly oblivious to everyone around him.

"I've made money! I've made money! But I don't know how to spend it. In my left hand, I have a glass of lemonade, and in my right, a bucket of secret-recipe fried chicken!"

hum!

So what if I don't get any New Year's money?
I have hands, feet, and a mouth, so making money is a piece of cake for me.

Humming a tune, he wore a smug expression, showing absolutely no remorse for his slanderous and defamatory behavior.

"I wonder if they still have the limited-edition fried chicken flavor that Misaka loves the most."

Fugaku's only worry now is whether the New Year's limited-edition honey mustard fried chicken will sell out like it did yesterday.

"Oh!"

Just as he was picturing himself enjoying a delicious fried chicken and successfully going on a date with Mikoto, a large, imposing figure suddenly bumped into him, and the money bag he had tossed high into the air was about to fall to the ground.

Fortunately, Fugaku Uchiha reacted quickly, catching his wallet, which was almost gone, with a swift and skillful catch.
"Hey kid, can't you see where you're going?"

Relieved, he glared menacingly at the reckless passerby who had nearly knocked him over, his notoriously fierce eyes flashing in his eyes.
"Excuse me! You're a scammer! Give me my money back! Give me my money back now!"

The chubby boy, who had been knocked over, immediately apologized, explaining that he hadn't been watching where he was going in his haste and had bumped into someone. However, upon seeing that the person he had bumped into was none other than the menacing-eyed Fugaku, who had sold him false information, the boy, born in Shimura, immediately turned bright red with anger.

If it weren't for Fugaku Uchiha's false information, he wouldn't have been cornered by Gin Uchiha in the bathroom and had such a close encounter with the legendary Strawberry Tower.

"Money? What money?"

Based on the customer's distinctive physique, Fugaku quickly recalled him. Feeling a little guilty, he quietly hid his money bag behind his back, feigning ignorance of what he was saying.

"My ten thousand taels! That's money I've saved up for fried chicken for so long!"

Shimura had no time for arguing with Fugaku; he simply reached out his hand and requested a refund for being a minor.
He thought he could use this news to get a few free fried chicken meals from his friends, but his plan backfired before he even got to eat the first meal. He was caught red-handed by the person involved in the gossip.

"Ah~ it's you. I'm sorry, but it's the rule of ninjas: once information is sold, it is never returned."

Fugaku Uchiha secretly curled his lip, then feigned a look of realization before shaking his head righteously.

He'd be selling that level of intelligence for ten thousand taels of silver, which would be dirt cheap. There's no reason for him to give a refund.

"I've never seen such an unreasonable person as you!"

Shimura sniffled hard, his face full of grievance.

"Oh, now you've seen it. I'm definitely not going to give you your money back. If you don't like it, go find the police."

I, Fugaku, don't cause trouble, but I'm not afraid of trouble either!

"you!"

Upon hearing this, Shimura paused, for who didn't know that the Konoha Security Team was also known as the Uchiha Security Team?
If he reports it to the police, he might become the defendant instead of the plaintiff. He only recently became a genin and doesn't want to have a criminal record because of this.
"Hehe~ How about this, I'll let you know as soon as I have any inside information. If there's nothing else, I'm going to buy some fried chicken now."

Knowing he had successfully intimidated his opponent, Fugaku chuckled slyly, fiddling with the jingling money pouch in his hand, practically screaming "I have connections!"
Still trying to lie to him?

Knowing he was outmatched, the disheartened Shimura lowered his head and vowed that if he ever bought information from this guy again, he would be a dog!

Wait, fried chicken?
However, upon hearing that Uchiha Fugaku was going to buy fried chicken, a strange smile suddenly flashed across his face, and he then reminded him in a very sincere tone,

"If you want to buy the limited-edition flavor of fried chicken, hurry up, I just came from over there, the honey mustard flavor is about to sell out."

"Sure, sure, you're a VIP from now on. I'll give you a 20% discount on the next intelligence report."

Seeing how sensible the young man from Shimura was, Fugaku Uchiha couldn't help but nod. He liked clients who repaid evil with kindness.

"You're too kind~ You're too kind~"

Saying goodbye to the beaming Shimura, Fugaku hurried to the crowded fried chicken shop. Sniffing the enticing aroma, he couldn't help but swallow hard.

"That's the taste! Authentic!"

"Is the prison big?"

Just as he was happily preparing to open the door of the fried chicken shop, a slightly surprised voice sounded behind him. Hearing the familiar honorific, Fugaku's expression turned serious.

"Watergate Prison? You're here for fried chicken too?"

The one who called out to Fugaku was none other than his number one underling, Minato Namikaze, known as the Little Golden Hair of Konoha.

"Yes, it's been a long time, Lao Da!"

Shuimen, carrying a large bag of small sweet drinks, had just come out of the Honey Ice Cream shop across the street.

Because he accidentally became a trainee knight, Minato, busy with his studies, hadn't seen Fugaku and the others for a long time.

“Perfect timing, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, so let me treat you this time.”

Fugaku proudly shook the money pouch in his hand and waved his hand generously.
"Uh? Sir, where have you been making your fortune lately?"

Minato looked curiously at the heavy money bag in Fugaku's hand. Although the amount of money wasn't much, it was enough for Fugaku to flaunt it so openly; the person in charge must be someone important.
"Me? Cough cough, I'm not like that idiot Rope Tree. I, Lao Da, no longer make money by working hard."

Under the "admiring" gaze of his underlings, Fugaku, feeling somewhat smug, coughed twice. He first made his usual attempt to belittle his competitors, then mysteriously revealed a part of his money-making secrets.

"See all this money? I just talked and I made this much in just one morning!"

"Huh? All morning!?"

Minato was shocked to hear this. What kind of way is it to make money so quickly? Could it be that they've been involved in some illegal activities?

"Hmph~ Times have changed. The era of fighting and killing is long gone. This is the information age, don't you understand?"

"I don't understand~ I don't understand~ Please enlighten me, Master."

Completely bewildered by the arrogant and eloquent speech, Minato could only humbly shake his head repeatedly.
"For the sake of our brotherhood, I'll take you with me next time so you can have a good New Year too. But let's buy some fried chicken first, or the limited-edition flavors will be sold out soon!"

Since it involved trade secrets, Fugaku naturally wouldn't say anything more in such a crowded place. After waving to Minato, he turned around, opened the shop door, and went inside.

"Uh, limited edition flavor? Wait a minute!"

Minato blinked in confusion, wanting to offer a word of advice, but it was too late.
Isn't the honey mustard flavor already sold out?
Inside the store, in a slightly secluded corner, several beautiful women with vastly different personalities squeezed a handsome, curly-haired man with an awkward smile in the middle.

Sensing the complex gazes from all sides, Uchiha Gin, caught red-handed, didn't know what expression to make except a smile.
Unlike the filthy adults, two girls, around ten years old, were happily eating honey mustard fried chicken, their little mouths covered in grease.
"Luckily we met Grandpa Yin, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to eat this limited-edition flavor of fried chicken!"

With a chicken wing in one hand and a chicken leg in the other, Kushina ate with gusto, thoroughly enjoying herself. Of course, she hadn't forgotten who had treated them to such delicious fried chicken.
"Hao Chi! Hao Chi!"

The taste buds of the woman next to her had long been conquered by the fried chicken. Even though her cheeks were bulging from eating, she still didn't forget to stuff chicken strips into her mouth.

Is this stuff really that delicious?

Reimu, who had never eaten fried chicken before, looked on with skepticism. She casually snatched a piece of fried chicken with honey mustard sauce from her disciple's mouth, smelled it, and then took a small bite with some doubt.

"Crunch~"

The crispy skin makes a satisfying crunch, and the tender chicken inside requires almost no chewing, sliding down your throat and leaving only an unforgettable aroma on your lips and teeth.

"Hmm, I vaguely remember!"

Reimu covered her mouth, her eyes shining, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.

Does this otherworldly delicacy really exist?

How about we change the cash box to a food box that only accepts fried chicken?

"Eat slowly, I'll order more for you if you're not full."

Watching the two children wolfing down their food, along with Reimu, whose size was almost the same as a child's, Uchiha Gin gently patted Miroku's head with a look of tenderness.

Look how hungry this child is, it looks like he hasn't eaten for days.

"Glug~ Glug~ I haven't eaten meat for half a month. All I've eaten with my master along the way is tasteless fried rice."

Feeling the warmth from Uchiha Gin's large hand, Miroku, who had swallowed the fried chicken with difficulty, raised his head, revealing a childlike smile. However, his words caused a pang of pain in everyone's hearts.
"Wrist-baring shrine maiden, I remember I left you some travel money, didn't I?"

Uchiha Gin's expression tightened, and he turned his gaze to Reimu, who was showing off her fried chicken. Before he left, he had secretly given the master and disciple pair gold bricks; even if they ate delicacies every day, they shouldn't have been able to spend it all.

"Travel expenses?"

Reimu, with a chicken bone dangling from her lips, smacked her lips, as if recalling something.
"The flowers have already been spent."

"You wouldn't be secretly keeping a gigolo, would you?"

You can't judge a book by its cover; the seemingly ordinary Reimu turns out to be a spendthrift woman who squanders money like water.

"I don't have that kind of spare money."

Reimu rolled her eyes at Uchiha Gin upon hearing this. With her strength, even raising Miroku would be a struggle.
"That"

"Gulp~ Uncle Yin, please don't blame Master. She took all that money to help people in need."

Seeing that Uchiha Gin was determined to get to the bottom of things, Miroku, who had just stuffed the last piece of fried chicken into his mouth, stood up and explained timidly,

"In recent years, the master craftsman has been helping poor families in the village who couldn't afford medical treatment to get their medicine and get treatment."

"what?"

After hearing Miroku's words, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, looking Reimu, who exuded stinginess and poverty, up and down with a surprised expression.
"Really, Maitreya, why are you saying so much? A flower is a flower, it doesn't matter where it is."

Reimu saw things very clearly. Since the money disappeared through her hands, then she must have spent it.
"No, no, no, this is different."

Uchiha Gin gently shook his head. Spending money on people in need and spending money on gigolos are worlds apart.

"I thought you were playing a pay-to-win otome game, but it turns out it's a charity mobile game."

"I never expected that someone with such a flat chest would have such a big heart."

Uchiha Hikaru, who had interacted with Reimu before, also had a complicated expression. This armpit-baring shrine maiden, who was more like an ally than an enemy, was someone she had thought of as a poor and mean-spirited person when they last met. She never expected her to have such noble awareness.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Reimu, her eyes drooping, secretly glared at Uchiha Hikaru. Knowing she was no match for him, she curled her lip, then turned and wiped her greasy hands on the unconscious Hydrangea beside her.
"Why is Minato so slow today?"

As everyone's gaze followed Reimu's movements to the still unconscious Hydrangea, Uchiha Gin, whose expression was somewhat unnatural, quickly feigned confusion and asked,

"Don't try to change the subject, Ah Yin. You still haven't explained to us why this woman is looking for you."

Although the rumors of the orphan and widow searching for their family across thousands of miles have been clarified, another little-known secret that has been revealed has become the focus of attention for all the women.

"Ah, I swear on the name of my ancestors, I really don't know this girl who grew up on my XP."

Faced with the intense gazes of the girls, Uchiha Gin raised his hands in surrender, even invoking the name of his cousin who lived thousands of miles away.

"Stop saying all this nonsense, just tell me the truth. It's the New Year, so maybe I'll give you a chance to start anew."

Uchiha Hikaru tapped her long, slender fingers lightly on the table, looking down at the trembling prisoner with undisguised authority.
How to be a person?

Under the threatening gaze of Uchiha Hikaru, Uchiha Gin instinctively squeezed his legs together. As an old married couple, how could he not know the meaning of "being a person" that Hikaru spoke of?
He now truly hated the guy who spread rumors about him. If it weren't for that bastard, he would be sitting here happily munching on fried chicken and drinking a sweet drink right now.

"I"

"What? Sold out? Say it again?"

Just as Uchiha Gin was preparing to appeal again with a bitter expression, an extremely shrill shout rang out from inside the fried chicken shop.
Judging from the speaker's exasperated voice, he must be really itching for a beating.
"Sorry, sir, the limited-edition flavors are sold out. Please come early tomorrow to queue up."

The shop assistant nodded to Fugaku, who was just a little taller than the counter, with a perfunctory apology.
To date, he has lost count of how many similar guests he has dealt with.

However, on the other hand, the marketing strategy of the mysterious shareholder behind the fried chicken shop was quite effective, attracting many customers and doubling the sales revenue during the Chinese New Year.

"Damn it, that fat pig-headed brat from the Shimura family actually dared to fool me!"

Fugaku, who had been full of anticipation, was now filled with anger. Looking at the wealth he had gained by betraying his great-uncle, his initial fervor subsided, and he suddenly felt the money was burning his hands.
If it weren't for wanting to buy Misaka some limited-edition fried chicken on this important day, he wouldn't have taken the risk of creating and selling a scandalous rumor based on his cousin.

A sudden gust of cold wind swept by, and Fugaku, feeling a chill, shrank his neck and muttered in a not-too-loud voice,

"Hiss, my great-uncle only has two nephews, my eldest brother and me. He shouldn't hold my prank against me, right?"

"Of course, my dear nephew!" (End of Chapter)