Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 240 Mikoto's Resolve, the Unlit Flame

Morning. Study.

Yecang stood in front of the desk.

Sosuke opened the drawer, took out a thick envelope, and pushed it to the edge of the table.

"What is this?" Ye Cang asked.

"Your first month's salary. Advance payment."

Yecang picked up the envelope.

She opened the seal and took a look. Inside was a stack of brand-new Fire Country banknotes, each with a face value of ten thousand taels.

"Five hundred thousand taels?"

Yekura's pupils contracted slightly.

In Sunagakure, this is the reward a Jonin could earn by risking his life to complete two A-rank missions. And the village would take a cut of that reward.

"This is just the basic salary. Bonuses will be paid separately if there are missions," Sosuke added.

"You're giving me so much money, who do you want me to kill?"

Yekura's first thought was about buying his life.

"I don't want you to kill anyone. That's the treatment an advisor receives."

Sousuke smiled.

"Takaya Trading Company is not short of money. But we need someone with a strong presence to back us up."

"Take this and spend it. Buy some clothes and some things you like."

"There's nothing I need to buy for now."

Yecang put the envelope back on the table.

"I look fine in this. The food farm has it too. I don't need to spend any money."

She was a pure ninja. Growing up in poverty, she had little desire for material things.

"Then you can keep it for now."

Sousuke wasn't surprised. Kaori was the same.

After finishing his official business, Sosuke left the Takaya Manor.

He went to the "Ganwei Chu" restaurant on Hongshan Street.

"Boss, these are freshly made this morning: thundercloud milk pudding and sea salt daifuku."

Hazuki handed the food box to Sousuke, gently instructing him, "It's hot, so there's ice inside. Please hold it carefully."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Sosuke took the food box and turned to walk towards the central area of ​​Konoha.

He came to deliver new sweets to Kushina, though much later than the time they had agreed to meet last time.

After walking through several streets, we arrived at the villa.

"Slap! Slap!"

A dull thud came from the courtyard.

Sosuke stopped in his tracks.

Through the low wooden fence, he could see the scene inside the yard.

Kushina stood in the sunlight.

She was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and loose-fitting pajamas, and was using a bamboo pole to beat the quilts on the clothesline.

"Snapped!"

Dust particles danced in the sunlight.

"Kushina."

Sosuke called out with a smile.

Kushina turned her head.

She wiped the sweat from her brow, leaned the bamboo pole against the wall, and walked to the fence.

"You're here!"

Her smile was radiant.

"The weather is nice today, let's take the blankets out to air them and get rid of the musty smell."

"Yes, the sunshine is nice."

Sosuke handed the food box he was holding over the fence.

"A new item from the shop, a specialty dessert from the Land of Thunder. I promised to send it to you."

"Wow! That's great!"

Kushina took the food box with both hands and eagerly opened the lid.

A cool breeze wafted out. The milk pudding was crystal clear, and the daifuku was plump and round.

"It looks delicious. Thanks, Sousuke."

The two chatted across the fence.

"How have you been lately? Is the latest round of scholarships being distributed smoothly?" Sosuke asked.

"That's good. Those children are all very well-behaved."

Kushina leaned against the wooden fence, her tone relaxed.

Just then, a series of rapid breathing sounds came from the wooden corridor in the corner of the courtyard.

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

Kakashi sat on the floor, his hands supporting his knees, his black bodysuit soaked with sweat, and his mask completely drenched.

A three-pronged kukuwa was stuck in the ground at his feet.

That was Minato Namikaze's relic. The Flying Thunder God Kunai.

"Kakashi, don't train too hard."

Kushina turned her head.

"The Flying Thunder God Technique requires an extremely large amount of chakra to construct spatial coordinates. Your current chakra level is insufficient; forcing its activation will damage your meridians. Rest for ten minutes!"

"Yes, Madam!"

Kakashi responded weakly and picked up a towel to wipe his sweat.

He looked up and saw Sosuke outside the fence.

"Mr. Sosuke." Kakashi nodded as a greeting.

"How's the progress?" Sosuke asked.

"Still a long way off."

Kakashi looked at the kunai in his hand, his eyes showing some frustration.

"Flying Thunder God Technique—it's too difficult. I can barely sense the coordinates, but I can't instantly teleport my body there."

"Don't rush."

Zongsuke comforted.

"Space-time ninjutsu is the most difficult. How old are you? Take your time."

"No, I can't slow down."

Kakashi gripped his kunai tightly.

"The war is not over yet. I must become stronger to protect those I want to protect."

Looking at this stubborn boy, Sosuke smiled.

"That's good. If you need any supplementary medicine, just go to the Chamber of Commerce and get it. It'll be on my tab."

"Thank you, Mr. Sosuke."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Sosuke didn't go inside and disturb their lesson.

"I'm heading back now. Remember to eat the snacks while they're still cool."

"Okay, bye!"

Kushina waved, her red hair gleaming in the sunlight.

Sosuke left Kushina's villa.

Behind them, they could hear Kushina and Kakashi exchanging the Flying Thunder God Technique.

"Kakashi is desperately trying to get stronger."

Sosuke sighed.

Danzo was killed by him. In this timeline, Sakumo was not driven to death by public opinion.

But Minato's death changed Kakashi, and he began to grow wildly in his own way.

He ultimately could not escape the fate of being prematurely matured by war and death.

Unbeknownst to him, Sousuke's footsteps deviated from the route back to the manor and he ended up in the Uchiha clan's territory.

"Takaya-sama."

The guards at the gate saw him and saluted respectfully.

Sosuke nodded slightly.

Sosuke arrived at Mikoto's mansion.

"Knock knock!"

"Knock knock!"

The crisp sound of the wooden target striking came from the backyard.

Sosuke followed the sound and went over.

On the training ground in the backyard.

The sun was blazing overhead.

Mikoto Uchiha was wearing the traditional dark blue high-collar combat uniform of the Uchiha clan, and her long hair was tied up in a neat ponytail.

He had a ninja tool pouch strapped to his leg.

Sweat soaked her back, outlining her voluptuous and toned figure.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Her hands flew across her chest, and several streaks of cold light shot out from them.

The shuriken traced bizarre arcs in the air, colliding and refracting against each other, striking several human-shaped targets in the distance from a completely physics-defying angle.

"when!"

The last two kunai landed firmly on the bullseye.

The movements were clean and efficient, without a single unnecessary action.

She demonstrated her true strength as a Jonin.

"Slap, slap, slap."

Sosuke clapped.

Mikoto stopped what she was doing. Her forehead was covered in glistening beads of sweat.

She turned around, and her scarlet Sharingan with its three tomoe appeared before her eyes, revealing Sousuke.

"Mr. Sosuke."

She closed her Sharingan and wiped the sweat from her brow with a towel.

"His skills haven't deteriorated."

Sousuke walked down the corridor.

"But the weather is too hot, and you've only recently finished your postpartum period, so you're prone to heatstroke."

"It's better to be a little hot."

Mikoto smiled slightly, her eyes bright.

"Sweating a little can help you concentrate and prevent your mind from wandering."

Mikoto clearly wasn't planning to just sit at home waiting. She was preparing to reclaim the ferret in the future.

She led Sosuke back into the shadows of the corridor.

The old servant brought in chilled barley tea and then quietly withdrew.

The two sat down on the cushions.

Sousuke looked at Mikoto.

Her eyes changed. They were no longer empty.

It became clear, even sharp. That was the gaze of a ninja.

"very good."

Mikoto smiled slightly.

"After taking your medicine, I can sleep well every night now."

She took a sip of her herbal tea.

"Mr. Sosuke, Soji came to see me a few days ago."

Mikoto suddenly said.

"He told me about the special operations team."

"I heard that you used a special drug to change their physical constitution, giving them a qualitative leap in chakra reserves and eye power, and even eliminating the side effects of the Sharingan."

Sosuke nodded.

"That's the life essence of the Uzumaki clan. Yin and Yang complement each other, making up for the Uchiha's weaknesses."

Mikoto remained silent for a moment.

Her hands, resting on her knees, slowly clenched into fists.

"Mr. Sosuke."

She raised her head and looked directly into Sosuke's eyes.

"I want that kind of medicine too."

Sousuke was stunned, and quickly tried to dissuade her: "Lady Mikoto, this won't do. That kind of strengthening process is extremely painful and full of unknown risks—"

"Mr. Sosuke, I am Itachi's mother."

Mikoto interrupted him.

She looked directly into Sousuke's eyes.

"I can't just sit here and wait for you to bring the child back. I'm going to Daming Prefecture myself and snatch my son back."

"If I can't even bear that little bit of pain, what right do I have to face the samurai and guardian ninja of the Daimyo's mansion?"

""

Sosuke was speechless. He sensed her determination.

Unshakable.

He sighed.

"Alright—your body is in good condition, and your meridians are resilient enough to withstand the infusion of vortex factors."

"However, Lady Mikoto, I must remind you."

Sosuke looked serious.

"That drug will forcibly catalyze your cell activity. While it will grant you immense power, it will also alter your constitution. You might become—no longer like a traditional Uchiha."

"What does it matter if I become a monster, as long as I can become stronger?"

Mikoto's answer was without hesitation.

"it is good."

Sousuke nodded.

"Come to my lab tomorrow night. I will personally prepare the mildest and purest medicine for you."

Meanwhile, in the capital of the Land of Fire.

Deep within Daming Prefecture lies a heavily guarded villa.

This place was given the name "Shin-Nanka-in" by the daimyo and was a residence specifically allocated to the Eighth Hokage of the Uchiha clan.

The villa features artificial hills and flowing water, and its level of luxury far surpasses that of the Uchiha clan's estate in Konoha.

The Eighth Hokage of Uchiha, dressed in a magnificent kimono, knelt in the corridor.

He wore a black eyepatch over his right eye. That was because he lost his Mangekyou Sharingan when he used Izanagi.

On the carpet in front of him.

A baby lay there, its big black eyes wide open, looking curiously at everything around it.

Uchiha Itachi.

-

Several wet nurses and maids dressed in court attire were carefully attending to the "distinguished guest" from Daming Prefecture, afraid of hurting him.

"Lord Yashiro, the young master has just finished drinking his milk and should rest now."

"A wet nurse said respectfully."

"Step back. I'll hold him."

Yatsushiro waved his hand.

The maids, relieved, quickly withdrew. They were terrified of the gloomy, one-eyed man.

Yashiro clumsily picked up Itachi.

He looked at the baby with a fanatical gaze.

"Look, Itachi. This is power."

Yashiro pointed to the luxurious courtyard outside, his voice hoarse.

"In Konoha, we can only be treated like watchdogs, ordered around by the higher-ups."

"But here, you are a nobleman personally looked after by His Highness the Daimyo. You are the future head of the new Uchiha clan."

"I will teach you all my ninjutsu and all my knowledge without reservation."

"You will no longer need to compromise like your father, nor will you need to disguise yourself with business like Sōji. You will use pure power to make the Uchiha name once again reign supreme in the ninja world!"

The baby seemed not to understand what he was saying, but simply reached out his little hand and grabbed a strand of Yashiro's hair.

"Eeya————"

The weasel let out a childish murmur.

Just then, the gate to the villa was opened.

Princess Enna walked in.

"Lord Yashiro, you care for this child even more than your own son."

Yuuna walked over with a smile, her gaze falling on Itachi.

"What a beautiful child. If he grows up and awakens the Sharingan, those eyes will definitely charm many girls."

Yashiro looked at Madoka warily.

"Your Highness, what brings you here?"

Yatsushiro remained wary of this scheming princess. He knew that the Daimyo's family had taken them in only to use them as pawns to control Konoha.

"It's nothing, I just came to deliver some things to you."

Yuanna clapped her hands.

Several warriors carried in several large boxes.

The box was opened, revealing it filled with high-quality chakra-conducting metals and various precious ninjutsu scrolls.

"Father said that if we are going to establish a new Uchiha clan, we can't do it empty-handed. He also recruited some wandering ninjas for you to train."

Yuuna covered her mouth with a folding fan and said softly.

"These resources are enough for you to train a group of elites."

"but----"

Yuanna changed the subject.

"Things in Konoha haven't been very peaceful lately."

"That Takaya Sousuke, citing a factory fire, cut off the supply of crossbow parts to the Daimyo's capital. This has brought our current samurai regiment's equipment maintenance to a standstill."

"My father is very unhappy about this."

Yashiro sneered.

"That merchant is a scoundrel. He's putting pressure on Daming Prefecture."

"Yes."

Madoka looked at Yashiro.

"Therefore, Father hopes that you can demonstrate some value."

"Now that Takaya Shokai has cut off our supply chain, shouldn't we cause them some trouble in return?"

"For example—hijack a few of their merchant ships? Or sabotage some of their secret warehouses located on the border?"

Yashiro remained silent for a moment.

He is now all alone, with no one under his command. If he were to confront the Takaya Trading Company head-on, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock.

But he had no right to refuse. Once you take the bone, you have to bite.

"I see."

Yashiro put Itachi down and stood up.

In his only remaining left eye, the three tomoe slowly rotated.

"I will lead the team myself."

"Takaya Sousuke—he destroyed the fighting spirit of the Uchiha clan, and I've wanted to settle this score with him for a long time."

Yuanna smiled with satisfaction.

"Then I wish you good fortune in battle, Lord Hachidai."

She turned and left.

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