Konoha Border
Amidst towering trees, a young girl with short, deep purple hair tied in a bun playfully twirled a kunai in her hand. Despite being twelve years old, a subtle, almost imperceptible bloodthirsty smile played on her face.
"Hehe, Yoru, I never expected you to become Orochimaru-sensei's student. Looks like you're not just relying on your pretty face," the immature Mitarashi Anko remarked, imitating Orochimaru and even sticking out her tongue to lick a kunai in a non-threatening manner. Uchiha Yoru, watching from the side, couldn't help but smile.
"Anko, feeling a little hot in the tongue?" Yoru's words instantly broke the atmosphere, leaving Anko puzzled. "Hot? What do you mean?"
Seeing Anko's innocent confusion, Yoru squinted and pointed to his own mouth, whispering, "My mouth happens to be cool. Maybe you can come to me to cool down instead of using a kunai."
Anko was momentarily stunned by the sarcastic remark, but soon a smile crossed her face. However, this smile carried a hint of danger, unlike her previous imitation.
"Hehe, 'Yoru,' you're right. Maybe next time I'll let you cool me down in front of Yuhi," Anko replied, her smile now accompanied by a touch of menace. But then, she changed her expression and sneered, "Although Orochimaru-sensei paired me up with you, I won't protect you during missions."
Anko, one of Orochimaru's three ninjas, graduated from the academy at the age of ten and became a Chunin at twelve. She was considered a genius and naturally looked down upon Yoru, who became a Chunin at fourteen.
"Hehe, Anko, don't be so heartless," Yoru retorted.
At that moment, Anko scrutinized her classmate, the one who had stood out the most during their school days and happened to be her best friend's boyfriend. In her heart, she secretly calculated that Yoru was not one to let an opportunity slip by. She knew exactly how Yoru had managed to charm Yuhi back then.
"Uchiha Yoru, what are you really up to? Going through all this trouble to come to the front lines and become Orochimaru-sensei's student. What's your true motive?" Anko's evaluating gaze betrayed her cautious nature beneath her carefree ninja persona.
Observing Anko's expression, Yoru shook his head with a helpless look and replied, "You've got it all wrong, Anko. I was ordered to get close to Orochimaru's disciple, not Orochimaru himself."
As he uttered the last three words, he raised an eyebrow, conveying a meaningful message to Anko. Her mind started working quickly.
"With the current situation, it's likely that the Third Hokage will regain power, but we all know that once the turmoil settles, the Fifth Hokage will be elected. And that Fifth Hokage..." Yoru stopped speaking at that point, his eyes conveying the unspoken understanding they both shared. Anko's mind raced.
"Uchiha Yoru, you were ordered by the Uchiha clan to get close to Orochimaru-sensei!"
Facing Anko's fiercely protective gaze, Yoru shook his head and replied, "You've got it wrong. I was ordered to get close to Orochimaru's disciple, which is you!"
As he said the last three words, he raised an eyebrow. Anko's angry expression was immediately replaced by a smile, as a thought crossed her mind.
"A hundred thousand? You think that's all it takes for this deal? You're Yuhi's boyfriend, and Yuhi is my best friend! No way!"
Anko's gaze was filled with disdain and determination, but Uchiha Yoru couldn't help but smirk and say, "Anko, you've got it wrong. It should be 'former' boyfriend."
Former boyfriend? Anko was momentarily stunned, and her plan to extort him crumbled. However, a new idea quickly sprouted in her mind, and a smile slowly crept across her face.
"Ah, so you're a money boyfriend. Well, it seems you're not bad, knowing that your Uchiha identity is sensitive now and that you should distance yourself from Yuhi."
In the ninja world, being precocious was the norm, especially considering the years they had spent on the battlefield. Those who lacked cunning were already lying in cold graves. As for the protagonist, he was completely beyond their scope.
Putting away the kunai in her pouch, Mitarashi Anko walked over to him, wearing a proud expression as she looked at him.
"Three hundred thousand! I'll pretend to let you succeed in getting close, and then we'll split the rewards once the mission is complete."
Uchiha Yoru widened his eyes at Anko's confident demand and decisively refused, "Impossible! The clan will only give me a total of three hundred thousand upon completing the mission. So I've been working for nothing?"
Seeing Yoru's resolute rejection, Anko's mouth curled up into a triumphant smile. She finally understood his bottom line.
"So it's three hundred thousand, huh? Then I'll take two hundred thousand, and you can have one hundred thousand. Deal or no deal?"
With a proud expression, Mitarashi Anko made it clear that she had him cornered. It was as if she were saying, "Do you accept or not? If not, you won't get a single coin."
"One hundred and fifty thousand! We split it!"
"Hmph! Stop wasting time. If you don't agree, you won't get anything."
"Fine!"
In the end, Uchiha Yoru wore a pained expression, while Mitarashi Anko had a victorious smile. However, despite his displeasure, Uchiha Yoru secretly grumbled to himself. "Girl, you're not bad, but you've underestimated my worth. Just the fact that I'm Orochimaru-sensei's student is enough to double my value. Tsk, tsk, you still think like a ninja tool."
Both harboring ulterior motives, one with a smile on her face and the other with a smile in his heart, Anko could easily obtain two hundred thousand, while Uchiha Yoru could directly receive a million from the clan. Tsk, tsk, the two hundred thousand from the clan would be just enough.
At this time, Anko was only a Chunin, and with the low mission rewards during the war, she naturally faced financial difficulties. As for Orochimaru, his research expenses were like a money-burning machine. Saying that Orochimaru wasn't worried about funding would be a lie.
After all, even in the original story, the Akatsuki Organization had once resorted to mercenary work to raise funds.