P2W 15 - Prohibited

"Shisui, do you remember what I told you? Orochimaru-sensei is the official commander at the border, but he is also responsible for a covert research project."

At this moment, Uchiha Yoru hesitated briefly, then looked up at Shisui and spoke his mind. Yes! He had rehearsed these words countless times.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Shisui nodded solemnly, a hint of admiration on his face. "You've already mentioned all of this before. Has something changed?"

"Due to the ongoing turmoil in Konoha, Orochimaru-sensei's research has been suspended due to insufficient funds. The clan's resources can now be used to support him."

"But... but!" At this moment, Uchiha Yoru felt troubled and somewhat awkward. Under Uchiha Shisui's questioning gaze, he sighed helplessly and said, "Orochimaru-sensei asked me to sign the Ryuchi Cave Summoning Scroll. It's about Uchiha Itachi. He mentioned that considering the current turmoil in Konoha and his own secret mission, he would allow Itachi to adapt to the frontlines for a while."

Yoru didn't explicitly reject or accept the proposal. Essentially, Orochimaru was too busy at the moment, juggling his responsibilities as the border commander and his secret missions. He simply didn't have the time to evaluate Itachi's abilities. When he had the opportunity, he would assess Itachi's talents.

"So, that's what Yoru meant," Shisui said, his shock turning into overwhelming joy. "The Ryuchi Cave Summoning Scroll! Yoru-niisan, you... You've become Orochimaru-sama's disciple!"

Shisui was visibly amazed and couldn't believe it. After all, Orochimaru was one of the Legendary Sannin and a valuable political asset.

"Yoru-niisan, what the Uchiha clan needs right now is a member who becomes Orochimaru's disciple. It could be Itachi or someone else, as long as they're from the Uchiha clan."

Shisui was excited, envisioning a bright future for the clan and the village.

However, Yoru let out a sigh. "I just hope the clan head won't be disappointed."

Those words ignited a determination in Shisui. He nodded firmly and said, "Yoru-niisan, don't worry. When the clan head learns that you've become Orochimaru-sama's disciple, he won't be disappointed. He'll be thrilled."

Shisui believed that he was the true genius fighting for the Uchiha clan.

Seeing Shisui's reaction, Yoru nodded approvingly. Then, he revealed his true intention, a plan he had prepared and set up for a long time.

"Well, even though Orochimaru-sensei can now resume his research, there is still a significant shortage of funds. He mentioned that the village has suffered losses due to the Nine-Tails incident and the turmoil at the border. Konoha cannot provide substantial funding at the moment, and the resources provided by the clan can only sustain us for a month."

Yoru first mentioned the turmoil caused by the Nine-Tails incident. Although it wasn't a conspiracy by the Uchiha clan, they were being unjustly blamed for it.

Shisui felt somewhat uneasy upon hearing this. While it wasn't their doing, there was nothing they could do about it now. But as Yoru continued speaking, Shisui secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as Orochimaru-sama didn't suspect or resent the Uchiha clan because of this, it would be a stroke of luck. The research might face difficulties, but it would be manageable.

"Don't worry, Yoru. I will report this issue to the clan. The clan will ensure a continuous flow of funds."

Shisui felt relieved. While the Uchiha clan had other problems to deal with, finances were relatively easier. Ninjutsu was the foundation of the clan and might be difficult to compromise, but finances were merely external. If they were lost, they could be earned again.

Yoru smiled with relief upon seeing Shisui's response. "Shisui, with this, Orochimaru-sensei can continue his secret missions for the village. Once he becomes the Fifth Hokage, he will not forget the Uchiha clan."

Indeed, that's what the Uchiha clan needed the most. Money and ninjutsu were not lacking for the Uchiha clan. What they truly lacked was reestablishing their influence in Konoha and regaining power.

Yoru narrowed his eyes and whispered to himself, "Today, I provided half of the funds to Orochimaru-sensei. Now, let me check my balance."

[Gold: 1,530,000]

After checking his balance and seeing Shisui's smile, Yoru couldn't help but feel happy. He had earned, truly earned. What was the point of undertaking missions that were not only arduous but also poorly paid?

Earning money like this was much faster. With over 1.5 million gold coins, it was equivalent to the full payment for an S-rank mission. And remember, the village would deduct a portion of the reward for any mission.

S-rank missions were usually completed by elite jonin teams or carried a great risk if undertaken individually. They also required more time and resources, including the consumption of various tools during the mission.

Moreover, he had no ability to undertake S-rank missions himself. But now, he could leverage the clan's resources, completing one S-rank mission at a time. He hoped Orochimaru wouldn't defect too soon, so he could continue reaping the benefits.

It wouldn't take much, just two or three years. With the help of the system, he would undoubtedly become an elite jonin and a standout member of the Uchiha clan.

Thinking about this, Yoru couldn't help but mutter to himself, "For the clan, for the Uchiha!"

"Oh, by the way, Shisui," Yoru said cautiously, glancing around before taking out a mission scroll. He spoke in a low voice, "The village's secret missions are in jeopardy due to the turmoil at the border. We can't spare our elites. Orochimaru-sensei urgently needs these missions to be completed, and it seems that some morally questionable tasks will require the expertise of the Uchiha clan."

He slowly unrolled the scroll, and Shisui's eyes widened in astonishment upon hearing this. However, he quickly composed himself, frowned, and carefully examined the mission scroll.

"Yoru-niisan, this...!"

Yoru nodded firmly. "Yes, as you can see, this is the material Orochimaru-sensei needs for his research: human experimentation. With the turmoil at the border and the presence of spies from other countries and small nations, we have an opportunity to utilize them as test subjects."

But upon seeing Yoru's shameless expression, Shisui was taken aback. Wasn't human experimentation prohibited?