"Lord Patriarch! Lord Madara's son and White Zetsu-dono have arrived!" a voice reported from outside the door.
"Oh?" Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku stood instinctively and quickly responded, "Please, invite them in."
The door slid open, and Shiro and White Zetsu walked in slowly.
"Shiro-dono, it is good that you are here," Fugaku said, taking a step forward and respectfully offering the head seat. "We are just discussing the important matter of building our new village. If you have any additions or corrections, please, remind me."
Seeing this, some of the clan members exchanged puzzled glances, whispering amongst themselves.
"What is the clan leader doing? It is right to show respect to Lord Madara's son, but he is just a child, his hair not even fully grown. What could he possibly have to add to this discussion?"
"Sometimes I truly do not understand our clan leader's thinking. Shouldn't he be asking the boy to pass a message to Lord Madara? Perhaps we could secure some start-up funds that way."
"Silence! Do not speak of things you do not understand!" Yakumi immediately hissed, hushing them. "You do not understand Shiro-dono at all. He is no ordinary child. His insights and vision are more unique than those of most adults!"
"Truly?" The others were shocked, their faces filled with disbelief.
Yakumi nodded emphatically. "You will understand in a moment. Just be quiet!"
After hearing Yakumi's words, the murmuring in the hall ceased, and all eyes turned to Fugaku and the young Shiro. Without a moment's hesitation, Shiro walked to the head of the room and sat in the seat Fugaku had vacated, his posture regal and assured. White Zetsu stood behind him, a playful, knowing look on its face.
"Fugaku," Shiro began, "how is your discussion progressing? Have you formulated a detailed plan?"
"Shiro-dono," Fugaku replied, "the plan is not yet complete. We are… discussing the matter of securing funds. Building a village requires a great deal of capital. Without money, it will be difficult to proceed."
"Hehe…" Shiro chuckled softly. "I understand. And do you have a way to acquire these funds?"
"Of course!" Fugaku said, the embarrassment on his face replaced by a confident determination as he patted his chest. "I plan to contact the Ninja Cat Clan. They will surely have a source of missions. As long as I lead the clan to accept them with fervor, it should not be difficult to earn enough start-up capital within a year. We will take on any mission, no matter how difficult or dirty. Any task that pays, we will complete!"
"When you return, you may tell Lord Madara that he can rest easy. I guarantee I will not fail to meet his expectations."
Hearing this, White Zetsu interrupted, "Tsk tsk… Fugaku, there is no need to degrade the Uchiha clan in such a way. You are still a famed and prestigious family."
Fugaku's resolve was firm. "As long as we can complete Lord Dōkage's mission, we are willing to do anything!"
White Zetsu grinned. "What a commendable attitude."
Fugaku replied, "It is simply my duty."
"Alright, that's enough," Shiro said, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Since you have all chosen to follow my father, then we will not allow you to suffer any injustice."
"I have asked you to farm the land for a long time, and you have worked hard without a single complaint. I have seen your loyalty. This loyalty is not unrequited. Since you have shown us such support, my father and I will naturally not leave you behind."
"My father and I will secure the start-up capital for the village. You need only focus on the construction. After the village is officially established, it will not be too late to set up a formal ninja system and take on missions, just as we did in Konoha."
Upon hearing this, the assembled Uchiha erupted with joy.
"Truly? That's wonderful!"
"We were right to follow him!"
"Yakumi, you were right. Those are not the words of a child. Shiro-dono is indeed no ordinary boy."
The hall filled with excited cheers.
White Zetsu leaned down and whispered in Shiro's ear. "Shiro, that's quite a promise. This is no small sum of money. I know for a fact that Lord Madara has none!"
Shiro smiled and replied, "My father may not have it, but his organization does. When father Obito returns, I'll have him take me to the Akatsuki. Then the money will come, will it not?"
"Oh, right! Why didn't I think of that?" White Zetsu said. "But the Akatsuki's finances are managed by Kakuzu. It will be difficult to get money from him. I know him too well. He's a real miser!"
Shiro raised an eyebrow. "That is not 'asking for money.' The Akatsuki is my father's enterprise. He is merely an employee."
"I am my father's son, and his business is my business. It is only natural for the owner to take money from his own enterprise!"
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