Raizen fed Momoko another spoonful of porridge before speaking softly. "Momoko, from now on, you should live here with me."
Momoko nodded shyly. "Mhm. Whatever you say, Lord Raizen."
After finishing the meal, Raizen let her rest on the lounge chair while he took Sasuke out to purchase more daily necessities. After picking up the essentials, Raizen slipped away to a secluded spot and used the Transformation Jutsu to take on Momoko's appearance.
Disguised, he walked into a women's boutique. He purchased several sets of undergarments and feminine clothing before departing.
Upon returning home, Sasuke volunteered to go out and practice his training. Raizen took the newly bought items to Momoko.
"Momoko, I got these for you." He placed the bag in front of her.
"What is it?" A look of joy touched her face as she saw him presenting a gift.
Raizen smiled. "Open it and see."
Curious, Momoko opened the bag. Her eyes widened as she saw the clothes inside—outerwear, as well as several sets of delicate, alluring lingerie. Looking at the garments, she felt a mix of surprise and intense bashfulness.
"Lord Raizen... how did you know my measurements?"
Raizen chuckled. "After having my hands on you so many times last night, how could I not know?"
Momoko's face turned bright red at the remark.
After chatting with her for a while, Raizen went to the lake in the backyard to supervise Sasuke's ninjutsu practice.
"Uncle, why did you leave home all those years ago?" Sasuke asked curiously as they sat by the water.
Raizen certainly wasn't going to tell him that he had fled out of fear, knowing the "loyal" son Itachi would slaughter the clan. He thought for a moment and replied, "To make money. While I was away, I expanded our Uchiha assets more than tenfold."
"Uncle is amazing... it's a shame Father and Mother can't see your success." At the mention of his parents, a shadow of grief crossed Sasuke's face.
"Perhaps we still have a chance to bring them back," Raizen said, his tone turning serious.
To prevent Sasuke from becoming the cold, hate-filled avenger of the original story, Raizen decided to reveal a sliver of hope. He wanted the boy to have a constructive goal rather than a purely destructive one.
"Revive Father and Mother?" Sasuke bolted upright, his eyes wide with shock. "Is it true? Uncle, can we really bring them back?"
Raizen nodded firmly. "There is a certain jutsu that can return the dead to the living world. If we obtain it, we can bring back your parents—and the others."
"What jutsu is it, Uncle? I'll do anything to learn it and save them!" Sasuke exclaimed, his gaze burning with desire.
"That jutsu is currently beyond your reach," Raizen said solemnly. "When your strength is sufficient, I will tell you. Or perhaps, by that time, I won't even need your help to do it myself."
"Uncle, how much strength do I need?" Sasuke pressed.
Raizen looked him in the eye. "The Mangekyō Sharingan. Once you awaken those eyes, you will be qualified to know."
"Mangekyō Sharingan..." Sasuke thought back to that night, remembering the strange, patterned eyes Itachi had possessed. "Don't worry, Uncle. I will awaken them."
"I believe you will," Raizen said, ruffling the boy's hair.
The Hokage Building
Hiruzen Sarutobi checked the time. Momoko still hadn't shown up for her shift, which meant she had likely secured her position.
"Momoko, this is as much of a head start as I can give you," he muttered. "Someone! Take this mission request and post it in the Mission Hall."
Hiruzen handed the scroll for Raizen's "Seeking Heirs" mission to a duty ninja.
"Yes, Lord Hokage." The ninja took the scroll and hurried to the Mission Hall. As he unfurled it to pin it to the board, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Damn... who is this rich?" he whispered, his lip twitching. "Uchiha Raizen? Seeking heirs?"
Wasn't the Uchiha clan supposed to be extinct? Aside from the young Sasuke, where did this Raizen come from? And why post a mission like this? Weren't the Uchiha usually arrogant and prideful? This newcomer was utterly shameless, posting such a thing for all to see.
The Mission Hall
"Kurenai, we're almost out of money. Let's find an A-rank mission that isn't too dangerous," Anko Mitarashi said with a laugh as she and Kurenai Yuhi walked into the hall.
"There's no such thing as a 'not dangerous' A-rank mission," Kurenai complained. "It's your fault for buying so many snacks; you've nearly emptied my wallet too."
"You ate them too!" Anko pouted.
Kurenai sighed and approached the clerk. "Is there anything that pays well but is simple and safe?"
The clerk looked at her blankly. "A mission that pays well and is safe? If such a thing existed, it wouldn't be sitting on the board. The high-paying missions are all A-rank captures of rogue ninja—very dangerous. The safe ones are D and C-ranks, but the pay is peanuts."
He shrugged helplessly.
"How annoying," Kurenai muttered. "Is there really nothing?"
Anko flipped through the scrolls at the counter. "A-ranks pay well but take too much time and are too risky. I want time to actually have fun."
"These scrolls are just the leftovers. Nothing good here," Kurenai agreed.
The clerk, watching the two beauties complain, finally had enough. He pointed toward the mission wall across the room.
"Ladies, a new one was just posted over there. It's simple and pays a fortune. If you complete it, given your status as Jōnin, you'll earn more than enough to live on for the rest of your lives."