Chapter 739: Your Grandmaster Is the Richest Person in the Ninja World?

Akatsuki.

Rain falls continuously, and fog spreads.

Jiaodu dons the Akatsuki's red‑cloud black robe, expressionless, and follows Xiao Nan through a muddy path.

Ahead stands a dilapidated building with 【Akatsuki】 written on it.

His green eyes are filled with scrutiny.

A place this shabby never looks wealthy.

I can't have been fooled into coming here!

"We've arrived."

Xiao Nan pushes open the creaking wooden door.

Inside is a modestly sized room, dimly lit, with peeling wall plaster, several shabby wooden tables patched together, and a few basins in the corner collecting rainwater.

Jiaodu: "???"

Damn, it really looks like I've been duped!

He can't have been tricked into pouring out his heart and lungs!

A young man with orange hair immediately steps forward, his face beaming with enthusiastic smiles.

"You must be Lord Jiaodu! Welcome to the Akatsuki!"

Jiaodu gives the youth a faint glance.

Though his heart flutters, his exterior remains composed.

"Allow me to introduce myself; I am the leader of the Akatsuki, Miyan."

Miyan extends his hand, intending to shake Jiaodu's.

Jiaodu does not return the hand, merely nods slightly, and raises the question he cares about most.

"When can I start managing the organization's finances?"

If it weren't for Xiao Nan's promise, he wouldn't have come here!

Miyan pauses, then smiles and withdraws his hand, showing no awkwardness.

"The funding issue can wait; I'll introduce you to two people."

As he says so, he points to the red‑haired youth behind him.

"This is Zhang Men."

Zhang Men lifts his head; beneath his fiery red hair, his eyes calmly gaze at Jiaodu.

Jiaodu gives a casual glance, then his pupils suddenly contract. Those green eyes widen to a perfect circle, and his body freezes instantly.

Those eyes... purple... with concentric patterns...

They are unmistakably Rinnegan!

Jiaodu had heard that Madara Uchiha possessed the legendary Sage of Six Paths' eyes, but had never seen them himself.

The last time they met at an inn, Madara's eyes were only Sharingan.

He thought Rinnegan were fictional, but now it seems otherwise.

"Your eyes..." Jiaodu's voice, rarely, carries a hint of tremor.

Zhang Men says nothing, merely bows his head slightly.

He knows his eyes are the legendary Rinnegan, yet after all these years he still cannot wield their power.

Having them or not seems no different.

Miyan, apparently having anticipated Jiaodu's reaction, smiles and explains, "Zhang Men's eyes are peculiar; they're our organization's secret weapon."

That's how the organization develops in its early stage.

Before establishing a solid reputation, they can only resort to deceitful tactics to recruit strong individuals.

Jiaodu nods, fully agreeing.

"If we can persuade Zhang Men to deal with Uchiha Lianye, perhaps we won't have to wait ten years for revenge."

It seems joining the Akatsuki isn't such a bad thing after all.

"This is the Sunagakure Village's prodigy puppet master, Red Sand Scorpion."

Miyan points to the corner.

Scorpion stands in the corner; the crimson‑amber puppet shell looks grim and terrifying under the dim light.

He says nothing, turning his head to look.

Jiaodu follows Miyan's pointing direction, glances, and nods.

A puppet master, a prodigy of the Sunagakure Village—sounds good.

But that's not the point!

He looks around: Miyan, Zhang Men, Xiao Nan, Scorpion, and himself—only five people.

He glances again at the rundown base.

A leaking roof, mottled walls, crude furniture, and dim lighting.

In such a state, even meals might be a problem; where would the money to manage come from?!

Jiaodu's face darkens instantly, "The organization only has this many people?"

A place this shabby dares to let him handle the organization's finances?

Does this organization even have money worth him managing!

"Um... at present we only have these core members," Miyan scratches his head awkwardly, "The organization is still in its development phase; recruitment is ongoing."

"As for funding..."

He pauses, seemingly choosing his words carefully.

"We don't have any funding support for now."

Jiaodu's face turned completely dark.

Damn it, I really got played.

Sure enough, we shouldn't have relied on the promise of an organization with no reputation.

He said nothing more, turned around and prepared to leave.

"Wait, Lord Jiaodu!" Miyan called out hurriedly.

Jiaodu didn't look back, and his steps quickened.

He now just wants to leave this poor, clanging place and go back to continue being his Bounty Hunter.

What Akatsuki, what Rinnegan, they're all fleeting clouds!

Making money is the true path!

"Although our organization has no money right now, our founding master is very rich!"

Miyan's voice came from behind, tinged with a hint of anxiety.

The strong person Xiao Nan barely managed to coax shouldn't be let slip away like this.

Jiaodu's steps abruptly halted.

He kept his back turned, standing with his body slightly rigid.

The air was quiet for a few seconds.

Then, Jiaodu slowly turned, and the green in his eyes flickered with complex light.

Caution, doubt, and a trace of an unmistakable flutter.

"Founding master?" he asked hesitantly, "Is your founding master really that rich?"

"The teacher told us that the founding master is extremely wealthy; calling him the richest person in the Ninja World wouldn't be an exaggeration."

Miyan let out a sigh of relief, and the smile on his face brightened again.

"Although we've never met him, out of respect for the teacher, the founding master should provide us with some financial support for the organization."

Jiaodu's eyes widened instantly, and his breathing became rapid.

The richest person in the Ninja World!

"You mean your founding master is the richest person in the Ninja World?!"

A being like that, even a single coin slipping through his fingertips would be enough for them to earn for many years.

Countless images of wealth flashed through his mind instantly.

He really hadn't expected that such a being would turn out to be the founding master of the few penniless wretches before him.

At first he didn't believe it, but seeing Miyan's admiring gaze made him hesitant.

What if it's true?

At worst, they'd spend some time verifying its authenticity.

If it really doesn't work, leaving later won't be too late!

"Then when do you plan to go ask your founding master for money?"

Jiaodu looked at Miyan.

"We'll set off right now!"

Miyan wasn't acting on a whim; his original plan was to go to Konoha to seek the founding master's assistance.

Only during this period, recruiting manpower wasted some time.

It wasn't until Jiaodu's appearance that the plan could begin to unfold.

"Alright!"

Jiaodu observed the confident demeanor spreading, knowing the other party was very likely not deceiving him.

They truly have a founding master who is the richest person in the Ninja World!

If so, he'll soon be able to manage a huge sum of money.

Good days are about to arrive.

The members of Akatsuki immediately began packing, preparing to go to Konoha Village to ask the founding master for financial support for the organization.

"Miyan, will the founding master really give us money?"

Zhang Men wore a worried expression.

They have never met the founding master; will he really give them money?

"The founding master shouldn't refuse; if it really doesn't work, we'll ask Teacher Zilaoye for help."

Miyan smiled reassuringly.

After all, Teacher Zilaoye is a best-selling author in the Ninja World.

The royalties are definitely not lacking!