Sasuke's brows furrowed deeply upon hearing Shouta Kazuki's staggering request. Hundreds of millions? This wasn't a trivial amount. Even though Sasuke had inherited the entire Uchiha clan's wealth—including land, real estate, and valuable assets—most of it wasn't in liquid cash. His net worth might have exceeded a billion ryo, but a significant portion of it was tied up in property and land.
This wasn't an amount that could simply be handed over on a whim.
More than the money itself, Sasuke was troubled by the reason behind the request. What could possibly have happened to Shouta that he needed such an outrageous sum? What kind of situation had forced him into this?
Clenching his fists slightly, Sasuke turned his gaze toward Shouta. His sharp, onyx eyes locked onto his friend, as if trying to see through him.
"Shouta… what exactly is going on?" Sasuke's voice was firm, carrying an undertone of concern. "I do have money, and if you truly need it, I won't hesitate to help you. But before that… I need to know why. What are you planning? What kind of trouble are you in?"
To his side, Naruto had been listening attentively, but upon hearing the enormous amount Shouta was asking for, his jaw nearly dropped to the ground.
"EH?! HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS?! SHOUTA, ARE YOU CRAZY?! WHAT DO YOU EVEN NEED THAT MUCH MONEY FOR?!" Naruto practically jumped up, his expression filled with shock.
However, instead of backing away, Naruto quickly reached into his pocket, pulling out his small green frog wallet.
"Shouta, I don't have much… but if you really need it, take whatever I have!" He opened the wallet, revealing a few scattered silver coins and some crumpled bills. "I've been saving up for ramen and some other stuff, but it's yours if it'll help!"
Shouta blinked, momentarily taken aback.
Naruto had no idea what this money was for. He didn't know if it was a dangerous situation, a selfish goal, or even something that could bring them all trouble… yet without hesitation, he was willing to hand over everything he had.
For a brief moment, warmth flickered in Shouta's chest.
"Thanks, Naruto," he said, smiling softly. "I really appreciate it… but what I need is far more than this."
Sasuke, who had been watching closely, crossed his arms. "How much, exactly?"
Shouta scratched the back of his head, glancing between them. "Well… 120 million would be the minimum. If I could get 580 million, that would be even better."
"F-FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY MILLION?!" Naruto nearly fell backward. "SHOUTA! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO BUY? A WHOLE COUNTRY?!"
Sasuke, though not as dramatic as Naruto, was equally stunned. His sharp mind immediately analyzed the situation.
Shouta wasn't a reckless person. Sure, he had his oddities—his arrogance, his strange way of always having money despite never mentioning a source, his ridiculous strength growth—but he wasn't foolish.
If he was asking for such an absurd amount… it had to be for something serious.
"Shouta," Sasuke said calmly, his expression unreadable. "If you're willing to tell me why you need this money, I'll consider lending it to you."
Naruto nodded furiously. "Yeah! We're friends, aren't we?! If you need help, we should be facing this together! If it's that serious, we can even try asking the others. Maybe Shikamaru, Choji, or even Old Man Third can do something!"
Shouta fell silent.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then, without another word, he closed his eyes.
—Inside the psychic space—
The moment Shouta entered, he spotted Madara lounging lazily in a rocking chair, his arms crossed behind his head. The ancient Uchiha warlord cracked an eye open and scoffed.
"Hmph. Back already? What do you want this time?"
Shouta didn't waste any time.
"Madara, I need you to check something for me. Sense the area outside and see if anyone is watching or listening in on me, Sasuke, and Naruto."
Madara raised an eyebrow, sitting up slightly.
"Oh? You're being cautious, huh? Are you planning to tell those brats your secret?" His voice carried a tinge of amusement. "Hah… how naïve. What if they betray you? What if they expose your biggest secret?"
Shouta met Madara's gaze with unwavering confidence.
"They won't."
Madara clicked his tongue. "Tch. Foolish trust… But fine. Let's see just how far your 'faith in friendship' will take you."
Closing his eyes, Madara extended his senses.
Moments later, he smirked.
"Relax. No one is eavesdropping. It's just the three of you brats."
Shouta nodded. That was all he needed.
—Back in the real world—
Opening his eyes, Shouta exhaled slowly.
Sasuke and Naruto were staring at him, their anticipation evident.
"Listen carefully," Shouta said, his voice low and serious. "What I'm about to tell you… it's my biggest secret. If this secret ever gets out… I could die."
Naruto's expression tightened. "Shouta… what are you—?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Go on."
Shouta took a deep breath before continuing.
"Do you both remember that time I suddenly disappeared at the Ninja Academy?"
Naruto and Sasuke both nodded immediately.
"Of course!" Naruto blurted. "One second you were there, then poof! You were gone! And then you just randomly appeared again like nothing happened!"
Sasuke, too, had always found that event suspicious. Now, he was finally going to get an answer.
Shouta's next words changed everything.
"That incident… gave me a special ability."
Naruto blinked. "Ability…?"
Shouta nodded. "It allows me to grow stronger at an abnormal rate… but only by spending money."
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
"...Wait, what?" Naruto tilted his head, utterly confused.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his mind processing everything he had just heard.
"So that's the reason… No wonder you became so strong in such a short amount of time. When we fought, I could tell you weren't just improving through normal training… It was because of this ability, wasn't it?"
Shouta nodded without hesitation. "That's right."
Sasuke clenched his fists slightly. If this was true, then Shouta's sudden leaps in power weren't just talent or hard work—there was something else at play. A system, a method, something beyond ordinary logic.
But then, Shouta added something even more unexpected.
"That being said, if all I wanted was to grow stronger, I wouldn't need to borrow money so urgently."
Naruto, who had been listening intently, blinked in confusion. "Eh? But you said you get stronger by spending money, right?"
"That's true," Shouta admitted. "But I can always earn money over time. I don't need to rush if my only goal is strength."
Sasuke frowned slightly. "Then why are you in such a hurry? If it's not just about power… what is it?"
Shouta exhaled slowly.
"There's something else—something far more important than just getting stronger. But for now… I can't tell you what it is."
Both Sasuke and Naruto stiffened at his words.
"You can't tell us?" Sasuke's voice turned sharp.
Naruto pouted. "Oi, oi, Shouta! After all that buildup, you're just gonna leave us hanging?!"
Shouta chuckled slightly. "Trust me, I want to tell you. But I need you both to be patient. When the time comes, I promise—it'll be a surprise you'll never forget."
A surprise…
Shouta's eyes gleamed with a hidden determination.
That surprise… was the return of their parents.
If he could gather enough money, if he could unlock the full potential of his ability, he could summon them back.
Namikaze Minato—the Fourth Hokage.Uzumaki Kushina—the fearless kunoichi.Uchiha Fugaku—the former head of the Uchiha clan.Uchiha Mikoto—the mother who had been taken too soon.
Each of them possessed Hokage-level combat power. Even if Mikoto wasn't as battle-hardened, Fugaku's abilities were nothing to underestimate.
If Konoha had all of them back…
If the village still had these warriors, these legends…
Would things have turned out differently?
Shouta often wondered: If Sarutobi Hiruzen had never become Hokage, if the village had been led by someone stronger, wiser, less easily manipulated—then perhaps Konoha would have been far greater than it was now.
Danzo. The Third Hokage. The endless political games they played.
How many lives had been lost because of their decisions?
Shouta clenched his fists.
This was his goal. This was why he needed the money.
Not just for himself.
But to change everything.