On Konoha's commercial street,
Naruto licked his lips while counting the silver notes in his hand.
"Ten… fifteen… twenty… damn, that's really a lot. I'm rich."
Standing beside him, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at the three-year-old Naruto with a strange expression.
Hadn't it only been half a month?
At the start of the month, when he gave Naruto money for living expenses, things were completely different.
Looking at the money in Naruto's hand, he realized Naruto now had 300,000 ryo.
In the currency system of the ninja world, 1 ryo roughly equals ten yuan, and the buying power is similar to yen.
So although 300,000 ryo sounds like a lot, a bowl of pork rice can cost more than 1,000 ryo.
In reality, Naruto had only tricked people out of tens of thousands.
Of course, that was still equal to the reward of an A-rank mission, so Naruto didn't mind lying down and enjoying the luck.
Hiruzen looked at Naruto and said thoughtfully,
"Little Naruto, how about I keep that money for you? I'll give it to you when you grow up. You don't need that much now."
Naruto almost blurted out what he was thinking.
Even a child's pocket money isn't safe from you?!
I earned this with my own skills.
Naruto rolled his eyes and asked,
"Old Third, didn't you say my parents were ninjas who died protecting Konoha? Did you keep their inheritance?"
Hiruzen hesitated for a moment before replying,
"Your parents were ordinary genin. I already settled all their money."
"You're living in a separate house now, and I personally give you money every month as support."
Naruto looked at him with disdain.
"Really? Then forget it. I'll keep this money myself."
"Anyway, I want to eat barbecue today. Want to come with me?"
Hiruzen smiled.
Normally, being kind to Naruto would bring benefits later.
He also wanted to ask about Naruto's visit to the Hyuga Clan, and this was a good chance to talk during a meal.
Naruto led Hiruzen to a yakiniku barbecue restaurant owned by the Akimichi Clan.
Among the ninja clans, their business was one of the few places that didn't treat Naruto badly.
Of course, because it was popular, it was also expensive. If Naruto had come earlier to eat here, he would have starved for half a month.
But today Naruto waved his hand and shouted,
"Bring me your most expensive meat!"
The Akimichi staff looked at Naruto in surprise.
Then they saw the Third Hokage behind him and immediately understood.
Another attempt to please the Jinchūriki.
Soon, many plates of high-quality beef and vegetables were brought to the table.
For the first time in more than three years, Naruto finally had a proper full meal.
He happily grilled meat and ate non-stop.
Hiruzen smiled and asked casually,
"Naruto, when you went to the Hyuga Clan's house today, did they say anything?"
Naruto raised his head and nodded.
"Yes."
Hiruzen asked,
"What did they do?"
Naruto looked confused.
"They invited me to eat and gave me 100,000 ryo."
Hiruzen fell silent.
"…What else?"
Naruto looked at him again like he was asking something strange.
"I helped protect their young lady. What else could they do? Treat me like a horse?"
Seeing Naruto's disdainful expression, Hiruzen first felt uneasy, but then he became happy.
Why would the Hyuga Clan treat Naruto so generously?
Isn't that a sign of goodwill?
As expected, the rich Hyuga Clan clearly understood the situation.
That meant only one major problem remained in Konoha now.
The Uchiha Clan.
If their strength on the battlefield hadn't increased so much, Hiruzen would have already sent them to the front lines like the Senju Clan.
But his plan was almost complete.
The once powerful Uchiha Clan had already become a group of toothless predators.
Now he only needed the right chance to deal with them.
Hiruzen was pleased with this good news and was about to eat some of Naruto's barbecue.
But suddenly a small hand raised up.
"Boss, the bill!"
Hiruzen looked down in shock at the empty plates.
Where did all the meat go?!
At that moment, a round Akimichi waiter walked over with the bill.
"Your total is 150,000 ryo. We already gave you a discount."
Naruto looked at the waiter with an innocent face.
"Why are you telling me? I'm only a three-year-old child."
"Do you really think I have 150,000 ryo to pay?"
After saying that,
Naruto turned around and ran away.
Hiruzen opened his mouth in disbelief.
He looked at the empty plates, then at the waiter holding the bill, and said awkwardly,
"…How about putting it on my tab?"
Akimichi "...."