As Sasuke headed to the marketplace, his mind wandered to his recent conversation with the 3rd Hokage.
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A few hours earlier
In the Hokage's office, Sasuke stood with an air of quiet determination before Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Sasuke, is this regarding the Uchiha clan's assets?" Hiruzen inquired, exhaling a puff of smoke from his pipe.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Sasuke replied, his countenance unreadable, revealing no hint of emotion.
"Well, the financial assets of the Uchiha clan will be rightfully yours when you come of age or, in other words, become a genin. For now, given your age, you can only access a fraction of it. However, Sasuke, managing numerous businesses is no small feat," Hiruzen explained. As he uttered the final sentence, Sasuke's eyelids twitched, sensing an ominous undertone.
"I believe the Uchiha businesses outside of Konoha should be entrusted to the village for management. Don't you agree, Sasuke?" The Hokage's gaze shifted to Sasuke upon concluding his statement.
Sasuke furrowed his brow as he weighed his options.
'This honestly doesn't even come as a surprise. Even if Hiruzen hadn't brought it up, maintaining those businesses would be a challenge with my limited resources. Hiring individuals to oversee them would prove difficult due to their distance, and being a 7-year-old child, I doubt they'd take me seriously.' Sasuke contemplated with calm deliberation.
"I don't foresee that being a significant issue. However, if I do decide to relinquish control of them, what would I receive in return, Lord Hokage?" Sasuke countered with his question, aware that Hiruzen couldn't simply seize those businesses without offering compensation. Doing so would only breed further suspicion among the other clans if he were to mistreat an orphan from a prominent lineage.
"Hmm?" Hiruzen's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the child in front of him, realising he wasn't dealing with a simple seven-year-old child.
'He appears remarkably mature for his age...' The Hokage pondered briefly, only to dismiss the thought when he considered Itachi's early maturity and he chalked up the rest to the recent experiences Sasuke had undergone.
"I propose four benefits: firstly, the opportunity to join Anbu upon graduation, offering specialized training and resources. Secondly, a Jonin from the village will mentor you in a field of your choosing during your time in Ninja School. Thirdly, you will be able to manage all Uchiha assets now instead of waiting until you become a Genin. Lastly, you'll receive 10% of the total profits from these businesses and lands," Hiruzen outlined his conditions.
Sasuke found himself slightly taken aback; these conditions exceeded his expectations. Particularly, the first two would not only contribute to his growth in strength but also facilitate his infiltration of Konoha's power structure, providing an advantage for future endeavours.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage, for your generous conditions. I am pleased to accept it, but I would also require a small favour," Sasuke replied.
"What is it?" Hiruzen inquired.
"The Uchiha clan compound and the surrounding lands are now vacant, except for my residence. Could you assist me in leasing the lands on the outskirts of the Uchiha compound, Lord Hokage?" Sasuke presented his request.
The oppressive and burdensome atmosphere of the Uchiha compound placed an undue strain on his mental well-being. The weight of certain memories resurfacing intermittently also added to the toll on Sasuke's mind. He desired to infuse some sense of vitality into his surroundings, attempting to alleviate the mental fatigue and depression that often accompanied his time spent at home.
"Of course, that's acceptable. Will that be all, then?" Hiruzen asked.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Sasuke affirmed.
Hiruzen then produced a contract, which Sasuke carefully reviewed before imprinting his thumb on it.
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Sasuke stepped into a modest shop nestled along the path, its sign proudly proclaiming 'Shinobi Essentials.' The chime of a bell marked his entrance, and the shopkeeper, a stocky middle-aged man, looked up from behind the desk. Clad in a grey shirt with sleeves casually rolled up, he sported curly, chestnut brown hair. A short, neatly trimmed beard and moustache of the same hue adorned his face.
"What can I help you with, kid?" The man inquired.
"Do you have any body weights for training and some chakra paper?" Sasuke calmly responded.
The man's eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion. Typically, shinobi frequented his store for items like kunai, shurikens, storage scrolls etc. It was unusual to encounter someone, especially someone as young as Sasuke, seeking training weights and chakra paper.
"Sure thing," the man said, disappearing momentarily into the back of the store. He returned with weights in one hand and a small piece of paper in the other.
"Considering your age, I didn't fetch heavy weights; those could do more harm than good. These are designed for your torso, arms, and legs," he explained.
Sasuke nodded in agreement, swiftly producing the money to settle the bill for the acquired equipment.
He then exited the store and headed home after purchasing some more groceries to prepare some food for himself. However, this journey home soon took an unusual turn for Sasuke. A sense of being watched lingered around him, different from the casual gazes of villagers fuelled by gossip.
Instead, these eyes bore into him with an intensity that unsettled Sasuke. Determined to conceal his unease, he maintained a neutral expression, revealing none of the disquiet brewing within.
"I'm not surprised to be placed under surveillance, but the pressing question is whether it's Anbu or ROOT keeping an eye on me. Moreover, how can I sense these individuals? This heightened awareness wasn't a part of my previous life as Ren or in my memories as Sasuke," Sasuke pondered to himself.