Chapter 24: Striking It Rich
Inside the Sarutobi clan's territory, several shadow clones were cataloguing mountains of accumulated wealth. Next door at the Shimura residence, lights blazed similarly bright as scrolls and ninja tools were sorted and packed by category.
Yu strolled through what had once been a heavily guarded clan leader's mansion, unable to help but marvel. No wonder those powerhouses from his previous life did whatever they pleased after gaining strength—this intoxicating rush of plunder was truly addictive.
He stood in the center of the great hall, his Mangekyou slowly rotating as space twisted. A petite figure tumbled out, caught gently in Yu's arms as he held her close.
The little girl's eyes were still red-rimmed, tear tracks marking her pale cheeks—clearly she hadn't recovered from losing her parents.
Yu's heart ached as he gently stroked her fluffy hair. "I'm sorry for leaving you there for a whole day."
Sasuko kept her head down, fingers twisting the hem of her clothes without speaking.
His voice was gentle, completely different from his exterior persona: "Today you can eat whatever you want, as much as you want."
Sasuko didn't answer, only wrapped her small arms around Yu's neck, burying her fuzzy head against his shoulder.
"Yu..."
Her soft voice still carried the remnants of tears, warm droplets soaking through his collar:
"I only have you now." Her small hands gripped so tightly. "So... so don't leave me alone in that place again..."
Yu's chest tightened. He gently patted the girl's trembling back, unable to give a perfect promise, only repeating: "Unless absolutely necessary... I guarantee..."
Seeing Sasuko's emotions settle slightly, he tried changing the subject: "Didn't you always want to visit Konoha?"
His fingertip brushed her damp cheek: "Today I'll take you to try everything delicious and fun, alright?"
Normally Sasuko would have already started counting on her fingers with bright eyes, listing everything she wanted to eat. But now she only hugged Yu tighter, pressing her small face against his neck and shaking her head gently.
Yu thought perhaps taking Sasuko out for a walk would help.
As night fell, Yu concealed his aura and strolled through Konoha's bustling commercial district carrying Sasuko.
Thanks to his restraint during the day, this area remained brightly lit, completely unaffected by the battle.
Street vendors called out enthusiastically along both sides. The aroma of takoyaki mixed with the sweetness of candied apples, drifting through the air while colorful lanterns cast the stone-paved streets in dreamlike hues. Several children ran past them holding pinwheels, their laughter ringing out cheerfully.
"Look, three-colored dumplings." Yu gently squeezed Sasuko's small hand, pointing toward a nearby steaming stall. "Want to try some?"
Sasuko finally lifted her small face slightly, her reddened nose twitching.
The owner called out warmly: "Young man, buy your sister some dumplings! Today's special red bean filling..."
"Boss, twenty skewers, wrapped to go."
Yu casually pulled out a large denomination bill, making the dumpling shop owner's eyes light up. The plump aunt selling daifuku immediately crowded over, her round face wreathed in smiles: "Young man, try my daifuku? They're filled with secret strawberry sauce—sweet but not cloying!"
"Thirty of those."
Now all the street vendors couldn't sit still. The grilled fish seller pushed forward with fragrant bamboo skewers, the oden vendor lifted his steaming pot lid, and even the candied apple uncle wheeled his cart over—such generous customers were rare indeed.
Yu welcomed all comers, buying everything wherever he went. With the Kamui dimension, no amount of food was too much to store. He occasionally picked out a snack from the paper bags, bringing it to Sasuko's lips: "Try this?"
Sasuko opened her small mouth slightly, nibbling like a kitten. Though she ate little, Yu's lips had already unconsciously curved upward.
The entire street's vendors beamed with joy, looking at this pair of siblings like they were gods of wealth.
Walking and stopping along the way, Yu bought everything edible and entertaining the entire street had to offer. Sasuko finally stopped looking completely uninterested in everything. To Yu, no amount of money spent was too much for this.
As the night market's bustle gradually faded, Yu carried Sasuko into a dim alley.
His fingertip lightly touched Sasuko's earlobe, casting a sensory barrier around her.
Whoosh—
His magnetic field suddenly erupted! Seven or eight ninja lurking in the shadows were dragged out by invisible force and slammed heavily onto the ground.
"Tell whoever sent you..."
Yu's steps never paused, not even glancing at them. Sasuko in his arms was concentrating on her candied apple, completely oblivious to the surrounding commotion.
"This time I'll let it slide."
Yu gently wiped the sugar from Sasuko's mouth corner, his voice the complete opposite of cold indifference:
"Next time..."
The words were left unfinished, but all the ANBU trembled violently—they knew too well what this monster was capable of.
They'd heard from colleagues who cleaned the battlefield that chunks of Lord Danzo's body could be found dozens of meters from the combat zone.
This demon had tortured Konoha's second-in-command to death in full view of everyone, even knocking the Third Hokage unconscious and near death with a single punch.
"Y-yes!"
The youngest ninja's voice shook as he nearly bit his tongue: "We'll definitely relay the message!" The others nodded frantically, terrified that being half a beat too slow would mean following Danzo's fate.
Yu's figure disappeared into the moonlight at the alley's mouth.
But every ANBU present knew that for Konoha's leadership, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
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In the dim underground meeting room, clan heads from Konoha's major families sat in a circle, the atmosphere heavy.
"Tomorrow is the deadline," the Akimichi clan head wiped cold sweat from his forehead. "But our generations of foundation..."
"Hyuga clan head," someone suddenly spoke up. "Is there truly no one who can subdue him?"
With the Sarutobi and Shimura clans gone, the Hyuga family could arguably be called Konoha's most prestigious force. His opinion was crucial.
"Ha... still clinging to such delusions," Hiashi sneered coldly. "You'd be better off asking Lady Tsunade about that question."
His Byakugan had seen clearly—that so-called "battle" was nothing but a cat toying with a mouse. From beginning to end, all attacks couldn't budge that youth an inch.
Even someone as powerful as the Third Hokage... couldn't withstand a single punch from him.
All eyes turned to Tsunade in the corner, where three empty bottles sat before her.
"Lady Tsunade..." a minor clan head spoke hopefully. "What's your assessment?"
"Burp..."
Tsunade raised her slightly flushed face, hazy eyes sweeping across expectant expressions.
She shook her head with a bitter smile, her bottle hitting the table with a "thunk."
"Even if my grandfather were resurrected..."
"He might not be his match."
"Nonsense!"
An elderly clan head shot to his feet, his beard quivering with indignation: "The First Hokage was the God of Shinobi who suppressed Uchiha Madara! How dare that brat..."
"Then have you ever seen..."
"A brat who can casually slice through the Hokage Monument from kilometers away, torture kage-level opponents to death like crushing ants, and instantly heal fatal wounds?"
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