Chapter 88
[Power Stone Gathering Week!!: 200PS=1 Chapter!!]
On his way back, Yōichi made sure to use a Shadow Clone and sensory techniques to check if Tsunade wasn't following him before daring to return home.
Otherwise, he feared the first thing he would encounter upon entering would be Tsunade's fist.
Mina wasn't at home, seemingly having gone to the medical department; she had taken the day off, probably too embarrassed to face anyone after what happened in the morning.
"This Succubus Body is just too overpowered, especially against females."
Even Tsunade couldn't withstand it. How many in the ninja world could surpass Tsunade? Perhaps only Kaguya would be in the running.
It's uncertain if it would be effective against non-human females.
If it worked, Yōichi's first choice would definitely be the loli snake from Ryūchi Cave.
But there's no rush; the ability should last around a month.
"Is Yōichi-kun there?"
While Yōichi was pondering, someone suddenly knocked on the door and called out.
It was a member of the Uchiha police force under Uchiha Masato, seemingly named Uchiha Renjin.
Upon seeing Yōichi, Renjin respectfully said, "Yōichi-kun, the Second Elder has asked me to inform you that there's a clan meeting at the Naka Shrine at 9 o'clock tonight. Many people will attend this meeting, including squad leaders of the police force. The elder also asked you to prepare."
"I understand, thank you for the effort, Renjin-senpai."
Yōichi nodded, understanding he needed to prepare to present the Uchiha Welfare System at tonight's clan meeting.
After Kenji informed him about the Uchiha clan's population and ninja count, Yōichi devised a welfare system.
After several discussions with Kenji, they finalized the Uchiha Welfare System.
With over 2,500 people in the Uchiha clan, including more than 700 ninjas and about 1,800 civilians; even if a family of three were all civilians, adults would receive 30,000 ryō per month, and children 10,000 ryō.
With around 100 non-ninja children in the clan, including adults and the elderly, the welfare expenses totaled 51 million ryō.
This amount was substantial. A typical family of three would spend between 20,000 to 30,000 ryō a month. Yōichi's plan essentially doubled their income, even covering children.
Even without working, the Uchiha Welfare System could support these non-workers.
However, not working was impossible. The Uchiha clan was proud, and being supported by the clan while capable of working would be unacceptable to them and their pride.
At this point, Yōichi had something to say. Whether it was the pharmaceutical factory or ninja games, both required a large workforce. Since they were idle, they might as well work there.
It was a way to contribute to the clan and earn a high salary, plus enjoy the benefits of the welfare system, which was more lucrative than selling vegetables or sweets.
About 700 ninjas in the clan, including 450 Genin, could receive 100,000 ryō a month for just training every day without any other tasks.
180 Chūnin, like Genin, besides their salary from the police force, could receive 500,000 ryō a month from the Uchiha Welfare System if they had no missions or village duties and just trained.
70 clan members with Jōnin-level strength could receive 1 million ryō a month.
Uchiha Yōichi's welfare system had a fixed monthly expenditure of about 260 million ryō.
This figure was high, as Konoha's annual funding from the Daimyō was less than 1 billion ryō, making the Uchiha Welfare System's annual expenditure over 3 billion ryō.
Yōichi could have set the welfare standards lower and gradually increased them to reduce pressure.
However, this idea was immediately rejected by Kenji. Lowering the standards meant that Fugaku could afford it too. If the competition was close, many would still choose the clan leader.
If they were going to give money, it should be substantial from the start. Kenji then analyzed their 'proud' clan for Yōichi.
Ninety percent of the clan would not accept such gifts without contributing. After receiving benefits from the Uchiha Welfare System, they would undoubtedly work harder for the clan.
Although ninja expenses were significant, the pharmaceutical factory and ninja games, being cash cows with continuous income, could cover the costs.
Now, with a monthly expenditure of 260 million ryō for the Uchiha Welfare System, could Fugaku, the clan leader, afford it?
Even with S-rank missions, he couldn't match this. Unable to provide funds, he also couldn't obstruct the implementation of the Uchiha Welfare System; otherwise, it would be opposing the clan.
Yōichi, contributing two profitable businesses and offering benefits to the clan, if Fugaku tried to stop this, would he still be considered the Uchiha clan leader?
Once the Uchiha Welfare System was established, Yōichi could take over the clan's arms and weapons business.
The clan leader couldn't bring any benefits to the clan and monopolized the arms and weapons business for what? Better to hand it to someone capable.
By then, the Uchiha Welfare System's acceptance would mean even the peace faction, having accepted Yōichi's benefits, couldn't oppose it.
After careful consideration, Yōichi felt tonight's clan meeting would proceed without incident and didn't seek further discussion with Elder Kenji.
---
"Before the mission starts, Obito, Rin, and Kakashi, I must remind you."
Minato spoke seriously, as taking two Genin and Kakashi on this mission already violated ninja mission regulations; Kakashi wasn't supposed to participate, but Hiruzen allowed it.
Including Obito and Rin was to prevent the three classmates from feeling a psychological gap due to the mission.
"This mission does not allow for independent action; you must listen to me. If anyone violates this rule, I will suspend the mission and send you back to Konoha!"
"Yes, Minato-sensei."
Seeing Minato's serious demeanor, the three quickly agreed, knowing this wasn't the time for jokes.
An A-rank mission, even if it's assumed not to involve ninjas, could still encounter unexpected situations.
Thanks to Yōichi info, several missions had escalated in rank, leading other ninjas to suspect the mission department of misclassifying A or S-rank missions as B-rank.
"Let's depart. Since the Land of Wind is too dangerous, we will take a detour through the Land of Rain. Due to the longer route, we need to cut down on rest to reach our destination on time."
Minato pulled out a map, a route he, Jiraiya, and Inuzuka Tsume had agreed on in advance; even with two reconnaissance ninjas, they couldn't guarantee not being discovered by the Sand Village while passing through the Land of Wind.
The best approach was to detour through the Land of Rain, then along the border of the Land of Wind, significantly reducing the chance of detection.
"If there are no issues, let's depart. Follow the formation we discussed earlier and let me know in advance if you need to rest."
After surveying the group, Minato gave the order to move out.
Team 7 might be the only new team assigned an A-rank mission, as other teams, even if they wished to quickly enhance the new Genin's strength, would at most undertake C-rank missions.
Yōichi's Team 8 was still taking on D-rank missions.
Kurenai and her teammates took on two D-rank missions in the afternoon. The first, finding a pet cat, was relatively simple and already completed; the second was more challenging.
They needed to clean a section of the wall.
Normally, using tools, the three could have finished the task before dinner. However, Yōichi, having nothing better to do, came to check on them.
After learning about their task, Yōichi took away the rope tools they were going to use, forcing them to clean the walls by walking on them.
He also gave each of them a 20-pound weight backpack.
"Pay attention to your chakra. It's best to refine and release chakra simultaneously. You can also grab the wall with your hands, so remember to catch the wall if you're about to fall."
Kurenai, hearing Yōichi constantly speaking, complained, "Yōichi-sensei, this will distract us from focusing."
Before she could finish, Kurenai's chakra faltered under her feet, and she fell without reacting in time.
"Ahh, ahh, ahh~"
Plop.
Kurenai didn't hit the ground as she expected but was caught by Yōichi's Shadow Clone. He then put her down, saying, "Continue, your team mates are very focused."
"Understood."
Kurenai, a bit embarrassed, continued to climb the wall and resumed cleaning.
Under Yōichi's guidance and urging, the three cleaned the area just in time for dinner.
Yōichi, not being stingy, took them to a barbecue restaurant, even stating they could order whatever they wanted.
Kurenai, Rumi, and the others' eyes lit up upon hearing this. Rumi ordered fifty servings of barbecue, Kazuhito scratched his head and chose three servings of sashimi, while Kurenai opted for ten servings of dango.
"Now, while doing D-rank missions, you need to quickly master control over your chakra. A strong ninja can make one portion of chakra produce ten times the effect. My requirement for you is not to waste chakra. After completing enough D-rank missions, be prepared to take on C-rank missions."
"Within a year, you must become Chūnin. Also, I don't mind you attacking me in the barbecue restaurant, but if you break anything, you'll have to compensate for it yourselves."
Rumi and Kurenai exchanged glances, somewhat embarrassed, then put away the kunai hidden under the table and picked up their chopsticks to enjoy the feast.
After eating a bit with his students, Yōichi left some money and departed early. He had a clan meeting to attend, and he had left enough money for them to order more food.
Back home.
Mina had returned. Hearing Yōichi's arrival, she only peeked out from her room, timidly greeting, "Yōichi-sama, you're back?"
"Yes, I just had dinner with my students. I have a clan meeting to attend later. Mina, about this morning, it was actually..."
Bang!
Mina immediately closed the door, then muffled from inside, "Nothing happened this morning, Yōichi-sama, let's not talk about it. I don't know anything."
The incident of wetting herself was too embarrassing. Even if Mina liked Yōichi, she didn't want such an incident to happen.
And it seemed she wet herself twice, the last time uncontrollably.
She wished she could seal away her own memory, but sealing her own memory was useless, and she couldn't seal Yōichi-sama's memory. Bringing it up again just made Mina wish she could turn back time.
Seeing Mina unwilling to come out, Yōichi had no choice but to inform her he was headed to the clan's territory and then left with the Uchiha Welfare System plan.
The clan meeting was always held at the Naka Shrine, the ancestral land of the Uchiha clan, where the stone tablet passed down by the Uchiha ancestors was kept. However, it was said only those with the Mangekyō Sharingan could see it.
This time, the meeting called many people. Previous clan meetings usually had twenty or thirty people, including the clan leader, squad and platoon leaders, and elders, representing the Uchiha elite.
However, Kenji called even the squad leaders this time to support him.
Nearly seventy people, almost the entire Uchiha elite, attended the meeting. When Yōichi arrived, he even saw Shisui.
"Yōichi-kun, come here."
Kenji, who had arrived early at the Naka Shrine's secret room, signaled Yōichi to sit in front of Masato upon his arrival.
This essentially showed his stance, and neither Masato nor Yokogawa had any objections.
And with his fame on Konoha, sitting in front was unquestionable.
After most had arrived, Fugaku spoke, "Everyone, the situation in the ninja world is troubling. The village is preparing supplies, and once war breaks out, we can't be an exception. So, I've also asked the Neko clan to purchase war supplies."
Fugaku's speech was a reminder of the impending war, followed by encouragement for the younger generation, like the recently famous Shisui.
Activating the Sharingan at an even younger age than Yōichi, he already had the strength of a Chūnin, a rare talent by any measure.
With Yōichi, as a precedent, many in the clan were optimistic about Shisui, believing he would make a name for himself in the ninja world.
After Fugaku finished, Uchiha Kenji spoke, "Clan leader, Grand Elder, and everyone, Yōichi-kun has a beneficial idea for all clan members. I think it's excellent, and this clan meeting is a good opportunity to discuss it. The clan leader and all clan members can also listen."
Uchiha Fugaku felt a sudden unease upon hearing this.
(End of Chapter)