Chapter 52: After the New Year, I'll Be Checking Your Homework

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

"Uncle Yi, you were absolutely right. When I went to their shop today, those guys' faces couldn't have been uglier. One of them even knelt down and was about to beg me. Luckily, I was quick and helped him up before he could."

At noon, Hui came to the study with a bag of things, his face full of excitement. As soon as he entered, he spilled out the morning's events like beans from a jar.

Unexpectedly, Shisui was in a corner of the study, holding a scroll inscribed with sealing techniques, staring blankly at him.

"Shisui? What are you doing here?"

Sensing something was off, Hui turned his head, twitched the corner of his mouth, and gave an awkward smile.

Shisui raised an eyebrow, his expression strange. "This is my house."

"Uh, hahaha, right, right, right. I meant to ask, weren't you supposed to train with Itachi? Why are you back so early today?"

"Chief Fugaku and Aunt Mikoto are busy today, so they left Sasuke in Itachi's care. He came by this morning to tell me, then went back."

"Huh? Itachi, he's already... looking after Sasuke? The clan chief's kids really have it tough."

"You can say that again."

Thinking of Itachi holding a baby, Hui's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but sigh. Shisui also sighed and nodded in agreement.

"By the way, Brother Hui, what were you saying just now? Who was begging you?"

Seeing he couldn't brush it off, Hui could only grin sheepishly and look at Sima Yi. Sima Yi was drinking tea and reading a book, as if he hadn't noticed a thing.

"Haha, things have been unsettled in Konoha lately. The salt merchant boss in the Village came to me seeking protection. They agreed to give me ten percent of their monthly profits, hoping I'd keep their shop safe from trouble.

But that Uemura Kishi guy is willing to give thirty percent, and he even sent me three million ryo as a gift. Looks like what he saw in the genjutsu last time got him interested."

The first half was said for Shisui, the second half for Sima Yi.

Shisui was about to ask further, but Sima Yi interrupted, "Just say it directly. No need to hide it. Let Shisui understand too."

Hui felt this kind of thing was a bit like bullying the weak and wasn't exactly honorable, but in Sima Yi's eyes, it was nothing much. If Shisui couldn't even accept this, then given the Uchiha's situation, winning was impossible.

"Alright, fine."

Hui scratched his head, leaned in close to Shisui, and spilled the whole story about threatening the salt merchant.

Shisui frowned upon hearing this. He looked at Sima Yi, but instead of getting angry, he said, "They evaded taxes, causing the Village to be short on funds. How many ninja have died? Their families can't even get their pensions. Not arresting them outright is already letting them off easy!"

Ying Shu was right in his courtyard—a family that sacrificed for Konoha couldn't get the rewards they deserved. The higher-ups were wrong, and these people were wrong too! "Huh? Shisui, you—"

Hui was stunned. He hadn't expected Shisui to react like this, so calmly.

But Shisui continued asking, "Grandfather, why do these businesses unrelated to ninja generate so much profit?"

"Ninja are ultimately a minority. Konoha's ordinary citizens number at least three hundred thousand. They need grain and salt every day, so the profits are naturally considerable.

While businesses related to ninja are even more profitable, too many ninja clans have their hands in them. It's inconvenient for us to interfere, or we'd draw their attention."

"Uncle Yi is still the best. Just from these salt shops alone, we'll get seven hundred thousand ryo a month from now on—almost half an S-rank mission.

It's not much, but it's steady. After the new year, we'll find a way to take on some missions, save up money to train ninja, and then rally the clan to build—"

"Ahem!" Seeing Hui about to let something slip, Shisui quickly cut him off. "Brother Hui, you haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll have them make you something."

"I already ate. I took everyone from the Police Force out for grilled meat at noon, hehehe~"

Watching the two of them go off-topic, Sima Yi chuckled lightly and said, "Relying on that little bit of money is fine for small favors, but it's far from enough for big things.

Still, this is just the beginning. Don't dwell on it. Focus your attention on tomorrow's meeting instead."

Shisui immediately straightened up at this and said, "Grandfather is right. To find out the meeting's content as soon as possible, I plan to go see Chief Fugaku tonight and get his permission to go with him."

Sima Yi nodded and added, "Go to the Third Hokage first. Get his approval, then go see the chief."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"What about me?"

Seeing the two talking to each other without including him, Hui grew a bit anxious and pointed at himself.

"After you're done with the grain merchant matter, take the Police Force out for some good food. Use the opportunity to get in touch with those squad leaders."

"What kind of mission is that?"

Hui rolled his eyes. Wasn't this looking down on him? But Sima Yi looked at him with a serious face and said, "Winning people's hearts is of utmost importance. Whether everything goes smoothly afterward depends entirely on your performance. How can you not take such a great responsibility to heart?"

Hui's eyes widened. He sucked in a cold breath and quickly nodded. "I understand. I'll do my best. I'll definitely pull them all over to our side, and then we'll build—"

"Shh!" Shisui jumped up and clamped his hand over Hui's mouth, shaking his head repeatedly. "Brother Hui, if a ruler is not discreet, he loses his ministers; if a minister is not discreet, he loses his life; if important matters are not discreet, they lead to ruin. We can know about this kind of thing, but we must never speak of it carelessly!"

Hui frowned, looking at Shisui incredulously, then turned to Sima Yi. "What's all this about discreet or ruin? Uncle Yi, why didn't you teach me this line? Are you secretly giving Shisui extra lessons again?"

Shisui's cheeks flushed. "Grandfather is my teacher after all. Giving me lessons can't be called secret!"

"Tch~" Hui curled his lip, but Sima Yi suddenly asked, "Have you finished reading the New Clan History I gave you?"

Hui looked up at the ceiling, then frowned in thought, then lowered his head and stroked his chin. After a long while, he put on a look of sudden realization and clapped his hands, saying, "Oh~ I remember now. That Osaka Yusuke is still in prison. I was wondering what I'd forgotten."

Then, he suddenly turned around. "No, I have to go check on him. It's been a few days—hope nothing's happened!"

With that, he opened the study door without looking back and was about to leave, but unexpectedly, Sima Yi spoke up, his voice light and airy. "No need. Osaka Yusuke was released yesterday. Come to me after the new year. I'll be checking your homework."

Damn it! Didn't escape!

He was over twenty years old, and he still had to do homework? "Uncle Yi, how did you know that guy was released? Damn that Osaka Yusuke! If I'd known, I wouldn't have let you go yesterday!"

"Shisui, thank you for your hard work with the Uchiha affairs. If you can participate in this meeting, things will go more smoothly."

In the evening, at the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage looked at Shisui, who should have been off duty, with some surprise, but after hearing his reason for coming, he nodded with relief.

There had been constant turmoil lately. He needed a rational Uchiha clan member who leaned toward Konoha to help him stabilize the Uchiha clan.

Shisui's timing was perfect.

"Everything is for Konoha, Lord Third Hokage!"

(End of chapter)