"What are you laughing at?"
Uchiha Toyoichi frowned. He did not like Ryun's attitude at all.
"Sorry, sorry... I'm just too happy... I got carried away..." Ryun quickly adjusted his expression.
"My loyalty can certainly be given to you, Third Elder. Since you can give me what I want, I'll state my conditions..."
As soon as he said this, Uchiha Toyoichi's face darkened. He hadn't expected this brat to actually dare make demands of him.
Given his current status, whenever he took an interest in a clan member, wasn't it normal for them to express gratitude and loyalty immediately? This brat was too ungrateful!
"First, I want 500,000 ryo in cash. Then, 3 C-rank Fire or Genjutsu techniques, 2 B-rank Fire or Genjutsu techniques, 2 A-rank Fire or Genjutsu techniques, and if possible... an S-rank Fire or Genjutsu technique."
"As for the rest, I don't need anything else for now. If I need more, I'll let you know..."
Ryun spoke seriously, as if stating something perfectly reasonable. What he was asking for wasn't much—500,000 ryo was something he could easily earn himself. He was only mentioning it now as a formality.
The Fire and Genjutsu techniques were what he currently lacked. He hadn't even dared to ask for an S-rank technique, thinking that since this was his first request, he shouldn't scare the other party off...
"Are you serious?"
Uchiha Toyoichi's old face was completely black.
"Huh? You thought I was joking???" Ryun's face was full of surprise.
Judging by the old man's expression, it seemed he wasn't planning to give anything... After all that talk earlier, was he just teasing a child?
"Do you even have the value to make such outrageous demands?" Uchiha Toyoichi drained his tea in one gulp, his gaze cold as he stared at Ryun.
"Didn't I prove my worth by defeating Fugaku?"
"And wasn't it you who said you could fulfill my requests? That you could give me anything... I didn't ask for weapons, training resources, connections, women, or even power..."
"These are just minor demands. Can't you even meet them?"
Ryun's expression also turned unpleasant.
"Have you ever seen someone demand so much before even lifting a finger? If everyone acted like you, how could I manage my subordinates?"
Uchiha Toyoichi felt that he could give these things, but this brat shouldn't have the audacity to ask for them. Ryun's attitude annoyed him—he had never seen such a shamelessly pragmatic child.
"Wait... wasn't it you who offered to give me things? How is it me making demands?"
"And what do you mean by 'before lifting a finger'? Didn't you say you only wanted my loyalty? I'm willing to follow your orders in the future..."
To be fair, were these things really too much to ask in exchange for the loyalty of a Three-Tomoe Sharingan-wielding jonin?
Ryun wasn't planning to pledge absolute loyalty, but if Uchiha Toyoichi gave him enough, he would have no problem working for him.
It all depended on whether this so-called Third Elder had the guts to invest in him.
Right now, Ryun lacked very little—apart from ninjutsu and genjutsu, he didn't need anything else.
"Uchiha... Ryun, tonight you've truly made me... 'see you in a new light.'"
Uchiha Toyoichi set down his teacup expressionlessly.
"What do you mean by that?" Ryun frowned again.
"Someone, see him out!"
Without answering, Uchiha Toyoichi stood up and directly ordered Ryun to leave.
"..."
Ryun stood up, glanced at him, then walked out without another word.
Tonight had been a complete waste of time. After all that talking, he hadn't gained any benefits—just a pointless trip, squandering his precious youth.
"That old bastard, making empty promises left and right, but when it comes down to it, he won't give a single thing... and then he has the nerve to pull that face... Do I owe him something?"
After leaving the Uchiha compound, Ryun couldn't help but mutter curses.
The old man was clearly trying to get something for nothing. Ryun wasn't some naive fool—without benefits, why the hell would he humor him? Why would he work for him?
He already had money, weapons, and plenty of ninjutsu. If Uchiha Toyoichi didn't offer him things he actually needed, why should he serve the old man?
He wasn't some clueless elementary school kid. Trying to buy off a Three-Tomoe Sharingan jonin with the kind of promises you'd use to trick a child... Was that appropriate?
He had been completely serious in negotiating, but the other party had not only been joking but had also treated him as a joke...
The Uchiha clan had disappointed him once again tonight.
The Next Morning – Ninja Academy
After a morning ideology class, the outdoor ranking battles continued.
"Number 11—Namikaze Minato... VS... Number 13—Uzumaki Kushina!"
Chūnin Instructor Koda loudly announced the numbers and names written on the slip.
Hearing this matchup, the students erupted in excitement. These two were among the strongest in the class, and now they would get to witness an intense battle!
"Remember what I taught you?"
"Play to your strengths, avoid your weaknesses, and don't get impatient..."
While Kushina hadn't yet stepped onto the field, Ryun quickly reminded her in a low voice. Yesterday, he had already told her the best strategy to use against Minato.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it!"
Kushina took a deep breath and nodded seriously at Ryun.
Though she somewhat looked down on Namikaze Minato, thinking he was just a soft, effeminate pretty boy...
Facing him now, she couldn't help but feel pressure and nervousness. After all, the title of the academy's top-ranked genius wasn't for nothing.
"Relax, don't be too tense. Just do your best. Winning or losing doesn't matter!"
Ryun stood behind her, massaging her stiff shoulders and giving her a few encouraging pats. His overly attentive behavior made the surrounding students speechless.
If anyone claimed Ryun wasn't Kushina's lackey, none of the classmates would believe it.
"Tch! Bootlicker!"
Satō was the first to spit in disdain, followed by Kameda, who also spat and muttered, "Disgusting simp."
"Combatants, take your positions..."
Kushina and Minato faced each other, bowing politely.
"Begin!"
As Instructor Koda's voice fell, both assumed fighting stances. Surprisingly, neither moved immediately...
"Come at me, Minato!" Kushina beckoned loudly.
Minato was puzzled by her behavior.
Based on his understanding of Kushina's personality, shouldn't she have charged at him immediately?
Why was she so composed now? And why did she seem so cautious?
After hesitating for a moment, seeing that Kushina still wasn't moving, Minato decided to take the initiative.
With a powerful push off the ground, he shot toward Kushina like a gust of wind, his speed astonishingly fast!
"So fast!"
Faced with Minato's fierce but unarmed charge, Kushina only showed a flicker of surprise before countering.
The moment Minato's fist was about to connect, she threw her own punch.
Her fist was coated with chakra, deliberately aiming for a direct clash—she wanted to test whose fist was stronger!