The Uchiha clan compound was unusually busy.
Groups of Uchiha moved back and forth through the courtyard, sealing boxes and stacking medicine pill packages with practised efficiency.
The air carried a faint medicinal scent, mixed with the sharp discipline that defined the clan.
Several Uchiha kunoichi were stationed near the storage area, carefully accounting for different types of pills and medicines, separating them according to destination.
"Kageha, separate them properly," Suki said, noticing the mistake immediately.
"Some of these are being sent to the Fire Capital."
She watched as Kageha hesitated, realising she had mixed energy-fasting pills together with healing pills in the same box.
"Y–yes, Miss Suki," Kageha replied quickly, her voice timid as she corrected her mistake.
Suki paused, watching her.
It had been a year since Kageha had become an elite chūnin, yet she still moved like someone afraid of making noise.
Suki sighed softly and stepped closer, helping her reorganise the box.
"Come on, Kageha," Suki said, not unkindly.
"It's been a year already. You're still as clumsy as ever."
"Yes, Miss Suki," Kageha answered again, lowering her head without protest.
That answer alone made Suki feel defeated.
She stopped for a moment, then looked directly at her childhood friend.
"If you don't change this timid attitude," Suki said, her tone firm but concerned,
"your Thunder Sword Style will never improve. You'll be stuck repeating the same single move for the rest of your life… just like now."
Kageha flinched.
Suki clenched her fist slightly.
She had known Kageha since they were children.
From the beginning, Kageha had always been timid—hesitant, unsure of herself.
Even after awakening a two-tomoe Sharingan, her nature never truly changed.
And that worried Suki more than anything.
"I… I am trying," Kageha said softly, her voice trembling.
Tears began forming at the corners of her eyes.
She knew the truth better than anyone.
She only knew one move of the Thunder Sword Style.
Every time she tried to learn the second, she ended up injuring herself before even reaching the target.
It had been happening for a long time.
And no matter how hard she tried—
Nothing changed.
Seeing Kageha's tears, Suki panicked immediately.
"Don't—don't cry," she said quickly, her voice softening.
"I'm not blaming you. I'm just trying to make you understand your weaknesses… so you can improve yourself."
She placed a hand on Kageha's shoulder, gently comforting her.
"Mmmph…" Kageha sniffed, wiping her tears away with the back of her sleeve.
She nodded and bent down, starting to separate the pills she had mixed earlier.
That was when a lazy voice cut in.
"Wow," the voice said, amused.
"You two look like a couple."
Both Suki and Kageha froze.
They turned toward the sound and saw Toyoma standing in front of the desk, arms crossed, watching them with a smirk plastered on his face.
Kageha jumped in fright the moment she recognised his voice.
"Ah—!"
The sudden movement knocked the box over, and pills scattered across the floor, rolling in every direction.
Toyoma stared at the mess for a second.
Then he sighed.
"…I really shouldn't have tried to tease you guys."
Kageha and Suki both stared at the pills scattered across the floor.
Slowly, they lifted their heads and looked at Toyoma with identical, angry gazes.
Suki finally snapped.
"We've been doing this for more than three hours!" she said, her patience completely gone.
She stepped forward, reaching out to grab Toyoma by the ear—
Blink.
Toyoma vanished.
In the same instant, he reappeared behind them, switching places without warning.
Suki's hand caught something soft.
And she pulled.
"SUKIIIII—!" Kageha screamed as pain shot through her ear.
Suki froze.
Her eyes widened.
"Ah—!"
Before either of them could react further, Toyoma's voice echoed casually from behind.
"Sorry, you guys," he said lightly. "I'm looking for Elder Kohaku."
And just like that, he disappeared again.
When the space settled, a Uchiha shinobi was left standing in Toyoma's place, staring at the scene—Kageha clutching her ear, Suki radiating murderous intent.
"I—I was just going—" the shinobi tried to explain.
"Clear this mess," Suki said coldly, pointing at the pills scattered across the floor.
"And put them back into the boxes."
She didn't wait for a response.
Grabbing Kageha by the wrist, Suki pulled her along.
"Come on," she said. "We're going to Elder Kohaku's place."
Because someone needed to pay for this.
Inside Elder Kazuto's Residence
Inside Elder Kazuto's residence, the atmosphere was tense.
Elder Kazuto sat across from Elder Kohaku and the Grand Elder, his irritation clearly visible.
His brows were tightly knit, fingers tapping against the armrest.
In contrast, Kohaku appeared relatively relaxed, sipping his tea without much concern.
"Grand Elder," Kazuto said at last, unable to hold back any longer, "why did you agree to let Toyoma ask for something like that?"
His voice sharpened as he continued.
"It's been two months already. Our Uchiha shinobi aren't taking a single real mission. All they do is go back and forth to the Fire Capital. At this point, they look more like messengers than shinobi."
The Grand Elder didn't react immediately.
He calmly took a sip of tea, then looked at Kazuto.
"Well," he said casually, "they're earning more than they would from village missions, at least."
That single sentence made Kazuto's irritation spike visibly.
Kohaku, who had just taken a sip himself, suddenly choked.
"Cough—cough!"
He quickly covered his mouth, setting the cup down.
"S-sorry," Kohaku said, clearing his throat.
But inwardly, he couldn't help thinking—
The Grand Elder had become far more blunt with his words lately.
Elder Setsuna looked toward Kohaku and spoke calmly, but there was weight behind his words.
"What do the daimyō and nobles think about the Uchiha becoming a merchant clan?" he asked.
"Is there any rejection toward us?"
He already knew part of the answer.
Nobles had never truly liked shinobi.
They disliked the nature of their work, the blood, the secrecy.
But because they needed shinobi, they kept their opinions carefully hidden.
Kohaku glanced briefly at the Grand Elder before answering.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"On the contrary," Kohaku said. "Many nobles are eager to work with us. Our medicines for civilians have drawn significant interest."
He paused, then added casually—
"Some have even proposed marriage alliances with the Uchiha… in exchange for access to our medical formulas."
The room went quiet.
The Grand Elder's hand paused mid-motion.
Elder Kazuto's eyes widened slightly.
They had always known medicine was a treasure in noble circles—but marriage alliances?
That was beyond what they had expected.
Kazuto recovered first and turned to Kohaku.
"Is there truly no rejection," he asked carefully, "about shinobi becoming merchants?"
Kohaku met his gaze, understanding the concern.
"There are some," he admitted.
"But before they could raise any real objections, the daimyō and ministers themselves silenced them."
He took a sip of tea.
"So for now, at least, the resistance is minimal."
Kazuto exhaled slowly and leaned back.
"…I don't know how to explain this to Fugaku," he muttered.
"When he returns, I have a feeling he'll start questioning every decision we've made."
As the door opened, everyone inside turned toward the sound.
Toyoma stepped into the room.
His gaze swept over the elders before settling on the Grand Elder, a faint grin forming on his face.
"Greetings, Elders," Toyoma said casually.
"The elder group looks far more relaxed than I expected, Grandpa."
The Grand Elder chuckled, a rare smile appearing on his face.
"Hahaha… yes," he replied.
"Thanks to someone, I suppose."
Elder Kazuto and Kohaku both looked at Toyoma, their expressions easing slightly as they smiled.
"Well then," Kohaku said, setting his teacup aside, "what brings you here, Toyoma?"
Toyoma tilted his head, eyes settling on Kohaku.
"I heard Elder Kohaku just returned from the Fire Capital," he said.
"And I thought you might have something I need."
At those words, Kohaku paused.
Koji's face flashed briefly through his mind.
"Oh, right," Kohaku said, realisation dawning on him.
He formed a quick hand sign.
With a soft thump, several scrolls appeared on the table in front of them.
Elder Kazuto and the Grand Elder both looked down at the sudden pile, their expressions turning serious.
"These were given to me by Koji," Kohaku explained. "He said he would send more once he acquires them."
Toyoma stared at the stack of scrolls, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Toyoma's gaze lingered on the pile of scrolls.
He was already estimating how much gold they would contain.
One thing was certain—
It wouldn't be a small amount.
With this much… Toyoma thought, the corner of his lips lifting slightly, it'll definitely give better rewards than the last five draws.
His fingers twitched faintly.
More importantly, this meant something else.
He could finally use his Sharingan again.
The sixth summon was within reach.
The Grand Elder and the other elders watched Toyoma closely, as he barely managed to hide his excitement as his eyes lingered on the stack of scrolls.
They knew that whatever use he had for these scrolls, it would not be wasted.
More importantly, they trusted him.
And that trust was the reason why—despite their curiosity, despite their anticipation—they felt no urge to interfere.
Instead, they felt relief.
Because whatever Toyoma intended to do next, it would not be just for himself.
It would benefit the Uchiha clan as well.
.
.
.
.
.
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Author's Note:From tomorrow, I'll be rewriting Chapters 1–50.I've received many complaints that the early chapters feel different in tone, so I want to fix that.
The plot will remain the same. Only the tone and flow will be adjusted to match the current chapters.Some scenes may feel a little different, but nothing important will be changed.
Thank you for your patience and for pointing it out.
For readers asking about early access—The base tier is now complete with 10+ chapters available.
Pat***n - hear_tteeth (18+)