"Do you need something from me?" Setsuna asked indifferently with a hoarse voice.
Senba lifted the takeout box in his hand and shook it slightly.
"I went to eat BBQ just now, so I packed a portion for you."
Setsuna looked at the takeout box and smiled meaningfully.
"Offering favors without a reason is either deceit or you need something from me," he mocked. "Speak up. What do you want, kid?"
Senba did not defend himself and simply placed the briefcase in front of him.
Under the moonlight, stacks of ten-thousand-ryo bills were neatly arranged in the case.
Setsuna's eyes narrowed slightly; with just a cursory glance, he could determine there was at least sixty million yen.
For a six-year-old child, this was an unimaginable fortune.
"Where did this come from?" Setsuna averted his eyes without showing any greed.
Senba closed the case and looked at him.
"I need your help to buy two chakra metal ninja swords."
Aside from kunai and shuriken, students couldn't buy ninja tools until they became an official Genin.
Setsuna raised an eyebrow. ninja swords?
Swords come in several types: ordinary steel swords cost over a hundred thousand ryo, those plated with chakra metal cost about one million ryo, and those crafted entirely from chakra metal cost about twenty million ryo each.
Setsuna looked at him, squinting his eyes. A kid brought so much money to buy ninja swords at the cost of forty million ryo.
"What are you buying ninja swords for?" He asked, "And two of them? Planning to practice dual-wielding?"
Senba shook his head and said, "I want to learn Uchiha-style swordsmanship, and the other one is for Mikoto-nee."
Setsuna's gaze flickered slightly. Uchiha Mikoto... that niece of his whom he barely had any contact with.
He fell silent for a moment, then walked into the house.
"Bring the money and come inside."
The room was even more dilapidated than the outside; the tatami looked old, the alcove was empty, and the bookshelf in the corner was crooked, holding a few old books.
The only decent furniture was a low table and a few cushions.
Senba placed the takeout BBQ on the dining table, put the briefcase on the coffee table, and then sat opposite Setsuna.
The dim light shone on their faces, casting deep shadows. Setsuna looked at him and suddenly asked, "Brat, what do you plan to do next?
A six-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl—it is almost impossible for you to master A-rank Ninjutsu. You don't look like the kind of idiot who blindly pursues high-level ninjutsu."
He stared into Senba's eyes. "Given your current age and Chakra, even if you learn Uchiha-style swordsmanship, it won't be of much help to you; it wouldn't even be as practical as a Kunai."
Senba was silent for a moment. "The ninja swords are just for future preparation."
He met Setsuna's gaze and said calmly, "For the next period, I plan to learn medical ninjutsu from the First Hokage's granddaughter, Tsunade. After graduating from the Ninja Academy, I will work at Konoha Hospital."
Setsuna's expression stiffened slightly and then laughed mockingly.
"Medical Ninja?" His tone grew sharp and sneered, "And then what? Gain everyone's recognition and become Hokage that way?"
He paused, his voice even colder, "Believing in that whole will of fire thing?"
Senba wasn't angry and nodded in agreement.
"I do indeed want to become Hokage, but..."
Before he could finish, Setsuna abruptly interrupted him.
"Dream on." He gritted his teeth. "As long as Tobirama students are still alive, it is impossible for an Uchiha to become Hokage."
Senba tilted his head. "Then... does that mean if all of Tobirama's students were dead, I could become Hokage?"
Setsuna was stunned. He stared at Senba's calm eyes.
When communicating with an Uchiha, you cannot listen to what they say; you must look at their eyes, as they don't lie!
Setsuna stared into Senba's eyes before smirking, genuinely this time.
He had originally thought that Uchiha Kagami's nephew would be an idiot just like him, but unexpectedly...
"Then what do you plan to do next?"
Setsuna asked, "Become a student of that Tsunade Hime and be a medical ninja?"
Senba nodded and said, "Although Lady Tsunade is a medical ninja, her strength is not weak; she is a Konoha Jonin and could potentially become Hokage in the future. After all, the third won't be in power forever."
He paused, a faint glimmer flashing in his eyes. "Even if I become a medical ninja, it doesn't mean my strength will be weak. I can awaken the Sharingan and learn Uchiha ninjutsu and genjutsu."
He looked up toward the window and remembered the future fate of Uchih. That cursed night has hung over his neck ever since he realized he was an Uchiha.
"Rather than hoping for the best, it is better to change things on my own."
His voice was very soft, yet it carried a sense of certainty.
"There will always be an opportunity."
Setsuna looked at the six-year-old child before him, watching his calm eyes and his peaceful expression.
Suddenly, he felt as if he saw something. Twenty years ago, he had such eyes, but later... that fire had been extinguished.
"I'll handle the matter of the ninja swords."
He finally spoke, his voice softer than before.
"Two ninja swords crafted from chakra metal will cost forty million ryo. You can take the rest."
"Thank you, Uncle."
Setsuna waved his hand dismissively. "As long as you remember what your surname is, I will always support you. After all, there is one sentence in Hashirama's will of fire that is indeed correct.
Children... are always the future; they are hope.
Later, if you want to learn Uchiha-style swordsmanship, or Uchiha fire release ninjutsu and genjutsu, you can come to me to learn."