The next morning, Satoshi arrived at the Senju clan compound with a few other clan members.
He found a senpai in charge and handed over the note written by Tsunade.
"Donate a property under my name to Satoshi."
After reading it, he was stunned. His eyes widened, repeatedly confirming the signature and handwriting on the note.
He initially thought Satoshi had used a genjutsu. He gave himself two punches before he could believe what was in front of him.
He said in a muffled voice, "Follow me."
As the group walked, it drew quite a bit of discussion from onlookers.
"Uchiha? Why are they here?"
"Isn't the white-haired one leading them from the Konoha Military Police Force?"
According to Hashirama's arrangements, the Senju clan had gradually integrated into the villagers. By this generation, few openly identified themselves as descendants of the Senju clan.
However, everyone knew who this territory belonged to. So few people came over, and everyone maintained a certain unspoken understanding.
The arrival of Satoshi and the others today shocked them greatly.
It was well known that while Tsunade was quite wealthy, she wasn't a big fool who just gave money away.
Her gifting a property under her name to an Uchiha who had strictly reformed the Konoha Military Police Force and had a polarized reputation…
The meaning behind this was enough to make the keen-scented clan members' imaginations run wild.
They couldn't understand it. They truly couldn't understand it.
The note didn't specify a particular property, so Satoshi, fully embracing the principle of not being a fool if there's a bargain to be had, chose the largest one.
A detached house with a large courtyard, it was practically his dream villa.
The person in charge of registration couldn't be bothered. His face was expressionless, his eyes conveying an indifference that said, 'do as you please.'
There were many vacant houses in the clan compound, who lived in them didn't matter. Moreover, it was someone personally designated by Tsunade, he didn't want to cause trouble for himself.
He quickly completed the procedures, and the keys slapped into Satoshi's hand with a "thwack."
"This one is yours from now on. Don't look for me if there's nothing, and I can't solve it if there is something. That's it."
With that, he walked away, hands behind his back, swaying leisurely.
Satoshi raised an eyebrow.
Tsk, the way this old guy spoke and handled things really had a bit of a ruffian's demeanor.
The few people worked quickly, spending most of the day cleaning the long-vacant house, waiting only to purchase some furniture before moving in.
After lunch, Inaho and Tekka left first, citing Konoha Military Police Force patrol duties.
Satoshi, on the other hand, went to find Naruto.
After some time apart, Naruto had grown quite a bit taller.
Seeing Satoshi's figure from afar, his eyes instantly lit up. "Hehe, good afternoon, Satoshi-sensei."
The first thing Naruto did upon seeing Satoshi was to pull out his wallet and shake it. "My allowance arrived. I'll treat you to snacks."
Satoshi patted Naruto's head. "Alright."
The two walked on the street. Naruto like a curious child, touched everything he saw.
Naruto exclaimed, "Wow, it's Kishimoto Masashi's manga! It's finally in stock."
The bookstore owner habitually waved his hand to shoo him away. "Go away. Don't touch it if you're not buying. If you break it, can you afford to pay for it...?"
Mid-sentence, he caught sight of the young man beside Naruto.
Striking white hair, crimson eyes, and the Uchiha clan crest embroidered on his jacket.
Satoshi smiled at the owner. "What did you just say, uncle? I didn't quite catch it."
The bookstore owner nearly wet his pants. He recognized this white-haired man.
That old fox who sold fishing gear next door was arrested by this Vice Captain of the Konoha Military Police Force himself for swindling people.
It was said he was beaten so badly in the interrogation room that he cried for his parents, and his sentence was very harsh. He never showed his face on the street again.
Rumors in the market said he was beaten to death by this lunatic.
"N-nothing. Take whatever you like. Today we have a promotion, this child doesn't have to pay for anything he buys."
Sweat poured down the owner's face, afraid that saying one wrong word would get him stabbed to death by the lunatic from the Konoha Military Police Force.
Naruto blinked in confusion, looking at the nervous owner, then at the manga in the display window.
"No money? Really?"
The bookstore owner nodded profusely. "Yes, no money. Just take whatever you like."
Naruto tilted his head, staring at the manga he had been longing for, which was a bit expensive. Then he looked down at his wallet.
After thinking for a moment, he still took out a handful of coins and placed them on the counter.
"Thank you, boss, but I always pay when I buy things."
Saying that, Naruto grinned widely and chuckled for a while.
Satoshi didn't know what he was laughing about, only that Asura's genes were truly too powerful.
"Let's go check out other stores."
After that, the two left the bookstore.
The bookstore owner plopped onto the floor with a thud. "That was close. My life is saved."
Meanwhile, at the other end of the street.
"Brother, do you want some dango?"
Itachi looked down at Sasuke's bright eyes, and a rare gentle smile appeared on his usually serious face.
Today was a hard-won day off he had squeezed out of his heavy Anbu duties, specifically to fulfill his promise to take Sasuke out to play.
Originally, he was infected by his brother's happiness, and his mood was quite relaxed. However, he keenly noticed that some merchants who had previously treated him quite well now unconsciously showed fearful eyes.
After several attempts, he found that this fear came from the Uchiha clan crest embroidered on his clothes.
Itachi was very puzzled as to why things had turned out this way. He quickened his pace imperceptibly, pulling Sasuke into a relatively quiet alleyway.
Outside the alley, the hushed discussions of the shop owners they had just passed clearly reached his ears.
"This guy doesn't seem to be from the Konoha Military Police Force, why are they so scared?"
"Shh, those guys from the Konoha Military Police Force are all unreasonable murderers, how much better can the other clan members be?"
"Yes, it's always right to stay away from them."
Itachi slowly lowered his head. It was hard to imagine that his clan had become like this after he had only joined Anbu for a short time.
No, it had always been like this, actually. It was just that today it was blatantly exposed before his eyes.
"Nii-san, here you go."
Sasuke handed Itachi his favorite sweet treat, his eyes smiling into slits.
As long as Sasuke was together with his brother, he would be happy with anything they did.
Itachi took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions in his heart. "Let's go. Let's see what's up ahead."
"Okay."
The two brothers walked out of the alley and continued down the street.
Just at the next corner, four people, two pairs of figures, unexpectedly met face to face.
Satoshi and Naruto had just come out of a ninja tool shop, Naruto excitedly fiddling with a pair of goggles.
And Itachi, holding Sasuke's hand, had just bitten into a dango.
Satoshi and Itachi's steps halted simultaneously.
"What a coincidence, young clan head." Satoshi greeted him with little sincerity.
"Satoshi…"
Itachi had many questions for Satoshi, such as why he held the will of fire, yet turned the Konoha Military Police Force into a feared monster among the villagers.
Itachi said, "You shouldn't solve problems this way."
Satoshi sighed. Itachi was starting to get obsessed.
He couldn't be bothered with Itachi. This brat was incredibly arrogant and didn't even realize it.
The two stood there, until Naruto broke the tense atmosphere.
He poked his head out from behind Satoshi, curiously observing the aloof Itachi opposite him, and the cool-looking little boy beside him.
"Satoshi-sensei, are these your friends? If so, I can treat them to snacks."
Saying that, Naruto pulled out a bag of potato chips and stuffed them into Sasuke's arms.
"Hey, what's your name? I'm Uzumaki Naruto, the man who will become Hokage."
Sasuke looked at the potato chips, then at Naruto.
Why does this blond kid always grin? Are we close?
"Uchiha Sasuke."
The gears of fate quietly turned in an unnoticed corner.
The two boys destined to meet, learned each other's names for the first time.