As soon as Iruka-sensei announced the end of the school day, the classroom erupted into a chaotic mix of chatter, laughter, and students hurriedly packing their things. Most were eager to rush home, while others loitered around, making last-minute plans. Shouta Kazuki, however, had something else in mind. His gaze drifted toward a particular classmate—Uchiha Sasuke.
Sasuke, still catching his breath from their earlier battle, was about to leave when Haruno Sakura suddenly rushed over. Her expression was filled with worry, her emerald eyes scanning him for any signs of injury.
"Sasuke, are you okay?!" she asked anxiously, leaning in closer.
But Sasuke barely acknowledged her. His focus remained locked on Shouta Kazuki, his Sharingan eyes flickering with unyielding determination. He clenched his fists, his pride refusing to accept what had happened.
'You may have won this time, Shouta… but don't get ahead of yourself!' Sasuke thought to himself, his mind burning with the frustration of defeat. 'I will not admit defeat. I bear the pride of the Uchiha clan, and I will definitely surpass you next time!'
Shouta, on the other hand, simply raised an eyebrow at Sasuke's intense gaze.
'This guy is taking it way too seriously,' he mused. But then, another thought crossed his mind—the Uchiha clan's wealth.
Sasuke was the last surviving member of one of the most prestigious and powerful clans in Konoha. Even if much of their wealth had been seized by the village council, there was no way he was left penniless. If anything, Sasuke had more than enough money. And right now, Shouta needed money. A lot of money.
His system only recognized wealth as a means of growth, and if he wanted to summon a truly powerful entity, he would need at least a million ryo. That was the equivalent of a high-ranking Jounin's salary over multiple years. A ridiculous amount for an ordinary Genin—but not for someone like Sasuke.
Shouta's mind worked quickly. There were multiple ways to make money in Konoha. He could start a business, maybe even write books like Jiraiya's infamous Icha Icha series. But that would take too long. The fastest way? Finding someone rich and borrowing—or "borrowing"—from them.
And Sasuke… he was practically a gold mine.
His eyes gleamed with interest as he subtly shifted his approach. If he played this right, he wouldn't just gain a sparring partner—he'd gain a financial backer.
An Invitation to the Uchiha Compound
As the other students prepared to leave, Shouta suddenly raised his voice.
"Hey! Everyone!!!"
His words instantly caught the attention of his usual group, as well as a few curious onlookers. Even Sasuke, who had been about to walk away, stopped in his tracks and turned toward him.
"What's up, Shouta?" Kiba asked, tilting his head.
"Something going on?" Choji questioned, pausing mid-bite from his bag of chips.
"Are we planning another dinner party?" Ino added, her eyes shining with interest.
Shouta grinned, stepping forward. His gaze landed directly on Sasuke.
"Well, we've all hung out at each other's houses before, right? Had dinners together, spent time together… so I was thinking, shouldn't we continue that tradition?"
There was a moment of silence before realization struck.
Everyone's eyes slowly turned toward Sasuke.
Sasuke stiffened. "Wait… you're not saying—"
"That's right!" Shouta declared, his voice full of confidence. "Sasuke, my guy, you're part of the group now, and it'd be really weird if we never got to visit your house, don't you think?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere changed. The rest of the group, now fully invested in the idea, began nodding eagerly.
"That's true!" Naruto chimed in, grinning mischievously. "We've been to almost everyone's place, but we've never been to the Uchiha compound!"
"Yeah! I've never even seen the inside of that place!" Kiba added.
"It must be huge!" Ino said, practically sparkling with curiosity.
Sasuke hesitated. He had lived alone in the Uchiha compound for years. After the massacre, the massive estate had become a place of solitude, a cold and silent reminder of what he had lost. Inviting people over… wasn't something he had ever considered.
But at the same time… the thought of having company, even just for a while, wasn't entirely unpleasant.
As Sasuke mulled over it, Naruto took the chance to push him further.
"What's wrong, Sasuke? Don't tell me you're stingy or something!" Naruto teased, picking his nose with an exaggerated motion. "Even I treated everyone to instant ramen when they came over!"
That did it.
Sasuke's eyebrow twitched. He snapped his gaze toward Naruto, his pride flaring up.
"Tch! Stingy? Me?! Don't be ridiculous!" he scoffed. "I was just thinking about what to treat everyone to! Unlike you, I actually have money!"
Shouta's ears practically perked up at that statement. Jackpot.
He quickly stepped in, placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder in a friendly manner.
"That's the spirit, Sasuke! I knew you weren't the kind of guy to hold back when it comes to hospitality!" he said, grinning. "Alright, everyone! Looks like we're having a feast at the Uchiha compound tonight!"
The group burst into cheers, excitement spreading like wildfire. Sasuke, realizing he had just been outmaneuvered, sighed in defeat. But deep down… he didn't actually mind.
A Glimpse of Uchiha Wealth
As they walked toward the Uchiha district, Shouta casually observed Sasuke's demeanor. The Uchiha was carrying himself with a mixture of reluctant acceptance and mild exasperation. But there was something else—something only Shouta noticed.
Sasuke wasn't just rich—he was filthy rich.
During their stop at the market, Sasuke had casually pulled out his wallet to pay for some extra snacks. And when he did, Shouta caught sight of what was inside.
The smallest bill in Sasuke's wallet was ten thousand ryo. And there were dozens of them.
Shouta's heart nearly skipped a beat.
'This guy… he's sitting on a fortune!'
It was at that moment Shouta solidified his next move. Befriending Sasuke wasn't just about rivalry anymore. If he played his cards right, he could borrow some of that wealth. Maybe even… convince Sasuke to invest in him.
As the group finally arrived at the Uchiha compound, they marveled at the sheer size of the estate.
"This place is huge!" Naruto exclaimed, spinning around.
"It's like a ghost town," Shikamaru muttered.
Sasuke, arms crossed, simply exhaled. "Come on. Let's go inside."
As they stepped through the gates, Shouta smirked to himself.
'This is just the beginning…'