As the last drop of melting snow fell from the icicles under the eaves, hitting the bluestone with a dull thud, the sky was just beginning to lighten. The cold air, carrying swirling snow grains, swept through Konoha's streets and alleys, stinging like needles when it crept into collars.
The first rays of morning light climbed the Hokage Rock, dyeing the glaring white surface of the accumulated snow a pale gold. The lantern wicks under the corridor burned into curled ashes, swept by the wind towards the sky like fleeting sparks.
In the living room of the Uchiha Clan's Clan Head's residence, miso soup on the low table steamed with a milky vapor, condensing into winding water trails on the windowpane, blurring the snowy scenery outside into a hazy white.
After shoveling the last mouthful of rice, Makoto prepared to head out. He planned to stroll around Konoha properly today and gather some information along the way.
"Wait."
Itachi stood blocking the wooden door, holding a bulging cloth pouch. He lowered his eyes: "I have a special mission these next few days, so I won't be able to accept missions from the Hokage Tower to earn rewards."
As the words fell, he handed the pouch to Makoto: "This is the mission payment from the recent period. Take it for now."
Itachi's voice was flat, but the tail end held a barely perceptible tightness: "Let me know if it's not enough."
Seeing this, the corner of Makoto's mouth lifted slightly. He naturally took the pouch and stuffed it into his pocket, showing an extremely genial smile.
"Itachi, you're so reliable..."
"....." Makoto followed up with his usual praise for Itachi, a whole set of compliments like a comedy routine, almost explicitly saying 'Thanks for the gift, top donor!'.
This move was something Makoto learned from watching live streams in his previous life. Using it on Itachi was practically a dimensional attack.
Sure enough, after the words fell, Itachi's expression remained calm, but the roots of his ears quietly turned pink. No matter how tightly he pressed his lips, he couldn't suppress the slight upward curve.
When he turned to leave, his steps were even lighter. The strap of his tool pouch brushed against the entrance hall, making a soft click.
The fatigue from recent missions was swept away. If he didn't have to protect Makoto from the shadows, he would have probably rushed to the Hokage Tower to work like an ox long ago.
Makoto watched Itachi's retreating back, raised an eyebrow, and pondered inwardly: 'Special mission?'
'According to the original work, Itachi shouldn't have undertaken any special missions at this point.'
'My appearance really flapped the butterfly's wings hard enough,' Makoto clicked his tongue, excitement gleaming in his eyes. 'This is getting more and more interesting.'
He casually stuffed the money Itachi lent him deep into his pocket. With a slight mental effort, the money in the cloth pouch instantly turned into pale golden light points, rustling into the virtual panel only he could see.
In the cheat, [Naruto World Online]'s [Player Shop] page, the balance jumped, followed by a string of zeros.
Makoto glanced at the prices of various top-tier items in the [Player Shop], his brow furrowing slightly but quickly smoothing out.
The money he could get at home was still too little. Fugaku was a bit stingy, like an iron rooster, always afraid he would spend money recklessly and develop bad habits.
Itachi's current money-making ability wasn't exactly impressive either.
He only knew to stubbornly grind missions. His methods of making money were as monotonous as a straight line, showing no flexibility at all. If he, Uchiha Makoto, had the Three Tomoe Sharingan right now, he'd have at least nine fast ways to make money!
'In the end, one must rely on oneself!'
Makoto thought inwardly. After this Kumogakure incident and the arrival of the powerful being from outside the Shinobi World in Konoha, he would slip out of Konoha to make money!
Konoha's environment wasn't very suitable for his money-making plans right now, mainly because his own strength was insufficient. After tidying up at home, Makoto prepared to head out.
Just then, Sasuke, who had spent most of yesterday playing wildly with Makoto's three shadow clones, saw the former about to leave and started sneakily following him, even wearing Itachi's spare tool pouch.
The moment he stepped out the door, Makoto heard a rustling sound behind him. A glance out of the corner of his eye revealed Sasuke tiptoeing behind him.
His small shoes made soft thump sounds on the snow, yet he thought he was hiding perfectly.
Makoto passed through the bustling streets of the clan's compound, responding to the greetings from clansmen one by one, but the corner of his eye constantly tracked that small figure.
After making a sharp turn at a street corner, Makoto suddenly stopped.
Sasuke rushed over, almost bumping into Makoto, hurriedly dodged to the side, but his feet slipped, stumbling and nearly falling.
Makoto reached out, grabbed the back of his collar, and poked his forehead heavily with his other hand.
Thump!
A crisp sound. A good head.
"Sorry, Sasuke," Makoto deliberately lowered his voice, imitating Itachi's usual tone about seventy or eighty percent, a faint smile flashing in his eyes.
"I have things to do. Go back and play with mud by yourself… this is not the last time."
Sasuke covered his forehead, glaring at him, his cheeks puffed up like a little pufferfish, the strap of his tool pouch sliding down to his calf. "And I wanted to protect you! You're so ungrateful!"
"Beat my shadow clones first before saying that."
Hearing this, Sasuke stamped his foot, turned, and ran towards home.
But when he reached the alley entrance, he stopped again, peeking at Makoto's figure through a crack in the wall, the tool pouch dragging on the snow, leaving a crooked trail.
Seeing the sneaking Sasuke out of the corner of his eye, Makoto helplessly rubbed the space between his eyebrows, feeling somewhat speechless inwardly.
But he didn't take it to heart. If Sasuke wanted to follow, let him. If he really needed to do some 'bad deeds', one Flying Thunder God and he'd vanish without a trace. No one could easily catch him.
Exiting the clan's compound, Makoto wandered along the commercial street, bought a few sticks of dango to eat. The sugar frost condensed into a transparent shell between his fingers, and one lick made his tongue tingle with sweetness.
On the way, he ran into clansmen from the Military Police Force. Makoto chatted with them, intentionally extracting the information he wanted.
Almost all the Military Police Force's members knew this little tyrant, Uchiha Makoto. In a short while, Makoto had gathered all the information he wanted.
Then he continued strolling, found two more teams of Military Police Force clansmen to confirm the news, his peripheral vision never leaving the distant Sasuke, who was hiding behind a trash can.
He was peeking out with half his head, thinking he was being very stealthy.
Hidden in the shadows, Itachi had a thin layer of snow accumulating in his hair, but he remained completely unaware. His gaze was constantly glued to Makoto and Sasuke not far away.
From time to time, he also glanced at Shisui standing beside him. The curve of his mouth couldn't be suppressed no matter how hard he tried, even the lines at the corners of his eyes softened, like cotton soaked in snow...
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FOR EVERY 50 POWER STONES, I'LL UPLOAD ONE CHAPTER