Chapter 2. Being a Prodigal Son

Bonus chapters are available at [patreon.com/kurato6180].

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Chapter 2. Being a Prodigal Son

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This time, in addition to bringing happiness to the Uchiha clan and throwing around money to let them feel the warmth of family, the other purpose was to meet his nephew, whom he had never seen from birth until now.

There was no other reason, nor did he want to brainwash him while he was still young; he simply wanted to give him a bit of money and see if he could cultivate him into... a prodigal son.

What was the eldest son of the Uchiha clan doing all day, thinking about all sorts of nonsense? He might as well squander money. If he threw this much money around, his reputation among the common people would be higher than if he completed an S-rank mission.

"Buy whatever you want; if you don't want to be a ninja, come help your uncle here. It'll be easy; you won't have to do anything—just be a prodigal son, and I'll give you money!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the kid looked at the unfamiliar uncle in front of him with a confused and puzzled expression while holding a large stack of bills. Uchiha Fugaku slammed the table hard, "You are a disgrace to the Uchiha! Don't lead Itachi astray; he will become an excellent ninja."

"Brother, listen to me on this matter! Being a prodigal son is definitely better than being a ninja!" Uchiha Yuto sighed, looking earnestly at Uchiha Fugaku and shaking his head helplessly. "It's safe, free, and there won't be any messy things. Really, you should listen to me on this matter."

Why didn't he understand?

As an uncle, would he harm his nephew?

Please believe in your brother!

"Shut up!" Uchiha Fugaku glared at Uchiha Yuto with a dark expression. What kind of uncle encourages his nephew to be a prodigal son? His younger brother's thoughts had been different from others from the start.

He vaguely remembered how adorable Yuto had been back then, very eager to become a ninja. Before he even started school, he would follow his older brother around, asking, "Onii-chan, can you teach me ninjutsu?"

And when Fugaku was busy, he would go read the ninja scrolls by himself.

After starting school, he was also an excellent ninja student, excelling in taijutsu, ninjutsu, and theory. Even the Hokage praised him for having the will of fire. After graduation, he could enter the Anbu for training.

Originally, he thought his brother would become a bridge between the Uchiha clan and the village, but unexpectedly, on graduation day, he went into business instead.

That day, he declared: Being a ninja can't save the Uchiha!

It immediately angered their father and the elders so much that they almost spat blood; they simply couldn't understand what he was thinking.

Despite their attempts to persuade him, it was futile; they could only threaten him with expulsion from the Uchiha clan. Yet, that was still ineffective; the young Yuto left the ninja ranks and the clan without hesitation.

He didn't expect that just a few years later, he would establish a successful business. Although Fugaku felt great regret that his gifted younger brother did not become a ninja, as an older brother, he was also happy for his brother's success. Leaving the Uchiha clan was also a good thing.

But now... Uchiha Fugaku's face darkened. "Get out of here right now!"

"Fugaku, Yuto is just joking," the gentle and beautiful woman beside him said, smiling helplessly as she hurriedly took back the money that Itachi was holding and returned it to Yuto. "The child is still young; he can't have too much money."

These two brothers... They weren't like this when they were young. How did their relationship suddenly turn out like this?

"Sister Mikoto, you're still so beautiful!" Yuto took the money back and handed it to the bewildered child, Itachi. "Don't listen to your dad; this is from uncle to you. Buy whatever you want, as long as you don't bully anyone or act arrogantly. What's wrong with spending a little money? If it's not enough, ask your uncle for more!"

"I'll beat you, you Uchiha disgrace!"

"Brother! Calm down; your persona has changed, and as the Uchiha clan leader, you wouldn't take a child's money, right?"

"..." Uchiha Fugaku, who was reaching out to take the money, froze, snorted coldly, and then returned to his serious expression. "What exactly do you want to do?"

Giving so much money to a little child?

His salary as the Uchiha clan leader wasn't even this much!

"No! I was happy to see that Sister Mikoto married my brother, so I felt happy and just gave my nephew a little money." Sister Mikoto had taken care of him quite a bit back in the day.

Unfortunately, in the end, she was also a pitiful person.

Uchiha Yuto smiled as he patted Itachi's head. "It's okay to be a prodigal, but don't keep things bottled up inside your heart. Talk more with your mom and dad. If you really can't, come find your uncle. I'll take you to have some fun and forget about the unhappy stuff, but just remember this." He suddenly became serious. "No matter what, you must protect your parents!"

The two of them weren't bad parents either. Uchiha Fugaku, apart from having a bit of a poker face, was actually quite good. As for Uchiha Mikoto, she was even better… a devoted mother.

However, after hearing these words, Uchiha Fugaku's face darkened. 

Taking a kid who hasn't even started ninja school out to have fun?

Where could they go for fun?

Should he be brought along too?

Uchiha Fugaku snorted coldly, "Get out of here right now; stop leading Itachi astray." 

"Don't say that, Fugaku. It's rare for Yuto to be back," Mikoto said helplessly, shaking her head. "Why not stay for dinner? You can stay here tonight. Fugaku is actually quite happy inside."

Although Yuto lived in the village, making it easy to get news about him, after all these years, he had finally returned home.

When Fugaku heard Mikoto's words, he snorted coldly, "I'm really angry!", and folded his arms, sitting back down without looking at Yuto. 

Unfortunately…

"No, I just came back to see my nephew and Sister Mikoto," Yuto said as he stood up, patting his butt. "I have things to do later; it's time for me to leave." As he said this, he looked at Fugaku, smiling as he said, "Brother, that's how it is. I'll arrange for someone to come later."

After the words fell, "Hmph." Uchiha Fugaku, with an expressionless face, coldly snorted again, "Get lost! Don't come back!"

"Understood! I'll come again next time! And I'll bring gifts!" Uchiha Yuto smiled, nodding, and ruffled Itachi's hair. "If you don't have money, come to your uncle. Kids should be a bit happier. Even if you're not happy, come to your uncle. Next time, I'll bring you a gift!"

After he finished speaking, Uchiha Fugaku ordered him to hurry up and leave. Listening to Yuto's hearty laughter, he shook his head helplessly. Then, seeing Itachi holding a stack of money in his hand, he remembered Yuto's earlier words about being a Prodigal Son, and the corners of his mouth twitched. He turned to Mikoto and nodded gently.

As a couple who shared the same bed, how could Uchiha Mikoto not understand what her husband meant? With a helpless smile, she bent down and patted Itachi's head. "Come, Itachi, put the money with Mom. Mom will save it for you, and when you grow up, Mom will give it back to you!"

And her words…

"Yes." The innocent Itachi believed her. 

…

Meanwhile, as Uchiha Yuto walked out of the Uchiha clan grounds, he spotted a girl with white eyes walking toward him, and a smile appeared on his face. "Suzune!"

Hyuga Suzune was a girl from his class. Unfortunately, her talent was insufficient, and she would originally have been sent to the battlefield as cannon fodder. However, considering their good relationship, he felt it was a shame for her to be cannon fodder, so he later hired her, and she agreed. 

Of course, at first, the Hyuga clan disagreed. After all, the Uchiha and Hyuga clans had been competing for the title of the strongest eye clan, so how could they let their own clansmen accept employment from the Uchiha clan? But in the end...

He ended up hiring a large number of Hyuga clan members who had retired from the battlefield and could no longer be ninjas, along with himself, the Uchiha Disgrace… The Hyuga clan didn't say much after that.

Although there were many stubborn old folks in the Hyuga clan more rigid than the Uchiha clan, they ultimately couldn't escape the need for money. Especially since it was a time of war; the ninjas from each clan participated in the war out of duty. Although the village also provided subsidies, it was barely enough. Nowadays, if someone was willing to bear the burden of supporting disabled people, many clans were willing to accept. 

It can be said that while it wasn't a time for peaceful and profitable business, the war was indeed a good opportunity for the various clans in the village to eliminate their differences. 

He looked at Suzune beside him, her beautiful long hair, pretty face, and elegant professional outfit that highlighted the unique wealth of the Hyuga clan girls, and smiled slightly. "Later, according to my plan, I'll send someone to the Uchiha clan to assist you with your work."

Then he paused and said righteously, "By the way, has the 300 million ryo been sent to the Hokage? Without the village, how could I be at ease running my business? In this time of war, even as a businessman, I graduated from the ninja academy as a businessman. How could I not do my part?" 

He is a merchant who loves his village!

"It has been sent! And as you requested, I also sent your handwritten note, Without Konoha, There Would Be No Me, along with it." Hyuga Suzune nodded, smiling sweetly and naturally. "When the Third Hokage saw it, he couldn't stop laughing, slapping his thigh and saying it was great!"

"Did he say it had to be kept confidential? Otherwise, if other clans hear about it, we'll become the target!"

It's not good to stick your head out. If you donate, will other clans also donate?

"He did."

"It's really reassuring to have you here, Suzune! Thank you!"

"No… you don't have to. I'm very happy to be able to help you, Yuto-kun." Hyuga Suzune's cheeks turned red, and she smiled slightly. "I'm also very happy!"

"Hehe." Uchiha Yuto chuckled, looking at Suzune, who was still shy. He sighed helplessly in his heart and was about to encourage her a bit when he saw a boy in the distance with a hedgehog hairstyle and goggles, and he squinted his eyes.

"By the way, Suzune, later arrange for someone to go to the Hokage Building to assign me a few tasks with higher rewards."