Clang!
After the battle ended, Ruoza deactivated his three-tomoe Sharingan.
As expected of the Three Tomoe—truly formidable.
He was extremely satisfied with the genjutsu he had just used.
With a single glance, even a Chūnin-level shinobi couldn't resist it. As for an ordinary Genin, they were nothing more than clay in his hands.
[Ding!]
[Host, please help that middle-aged man up.]
Help him up?
Ruoza found it a little strange, but he did so anyway.
[Congratulations, host. Mission complete!]
[Because you showed concern for the weak, you have unlocked the hidden achievement: "Crush the Strong, Aid the Weak." Reward doubled!]
[Awarding host 1,000 prestige points!]
…Whoa?
Rewards doubled?
A full thousand prestige points?
Ruoza didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The achievement name sounded extremely forced—clearly something the System had slapped on at the last second.
"Thanks, System."
[Don't mention it. If you keep thanking me, we won't be friends anymore.]
"There's really no winning with you."
Ruoza shook his head helplessly, though inwardly he was delighted.
He noticed that the surrounding merchants were all pale and uneasy.
What had just happened unfolded far too quickly for them to process.
Their reaction was only natural.
After a moment of thought, Ruoza turned to the middle-aged man and asked gently,
"Uncle, are you all right? Did they hurt you?"
The man shook his head repeatedly.
"I'm fine! Young man… you're from the Uchiha Clan, aren't you?"
Ruoza nodded openly.
There was no point hiding it anyway—
Tall build.
Handsome appearance.
Overwhelming strength.
Uchiha crest.
Sharingan.
Everything gave him away.
"Then I'd like to ask—"
Ruoza cut him off calmly.
"There are some things I can't talk about. Let's leave it at that."
"Ah…"
The man scratched his head awkwardly.
Ruoza smiled faintly.
"You did well just now. From today onward, you'll be in charge of this place for me."
"…Huh?"
The man's jaw dropped.
A mere restaurant owner—put in charge of such an enormously profitable street?
This was wealth beyond imagination.
The onlookers instantly understood what that meant.
From now on, his status would be second only to Ruoza himself.
Envious looks flew toward him from all directions.
"I'll assign you a few shinobi as well."
Ruoza raised his hand and summoned three Jōnin.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
To avoid causing panic, he had them emerge from a nearby corner.
"You three will follow this uncle and obey his commands."
Ruoza's expression turned cold and serious.
"If anyone dares cause trouble here—no matter who they are—deal with them."
"Severely."
"Yes, sir!"
The three Jōnin responded in unison.
Ruoza turned back to the still-dazed middle-aged man and smiled.
"These three belong to you now. Do your job well."
"Be loyal—and you'll be rewarded."
The man immediately swore his allegiance.
"I… I won't let you down, my lord!"
"I have other matters to attend to."
Ruoza chuckled lightly and vanished in a blur.
Only after he was gone did the man finally snap out of it, muttering in disbelief,
"Damn… am I dreaming?"
"This kind of fortune actually fell on me?"
"Tonight I'm hiring ten—no, twenty girls!"
From a distance, Ruoza glanced back, his thoughts cold.
Don't disappoint me.
Otherwise, you'll be joining the others underground.
He wasn't worried about betrayal.
If the man behaved, the three Jōnin were his protection.
If not, they would become his executioners.
The man's earlier performance had been acceptable—but far from enough to earn true trust.
Ruoza's arrangement had two clear purposes:
First—win hearts.
To show that loyalty to the Uchiha Clan brought real rewards.
Second—leave a backdoor.
"Assistance" that also functioned as surveillance, flawless and beyond reproach.
With a single move, he had secured complete control of the commercial street.
A perfect two-birds-with-one-stone play.
[Ding!]
[Hidden achievement unlocked: "Deep Strategist"!]
[Awarding host 500 prestige points!]
Seeing the notification, Ruoza's smile widened.
---
Konoha – Hokage's Office
Several high-ranking figures were seated inside.
On the left sat Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane—Konoha's senior advisors.
Nicknamed the "Eternal Elders," famous for their longevity and even more famous for bad ideas.
Two people who did nothing but talk.
On the right sat an old man with his head wrapped in bandages, one eye concealed, his face severe and ruthless.
Leader of Root.
The man who once nearly became the "Fifth-and-a-Half Hokage."
Danzō Shimura.
In the center sat an elderly man wearing the Hokage hat, pipe in hand, his skin mottled with age spots.
The so-called Professor of Ninjutsu.
The man hailed as the strongest Hokage of his era—
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.
"Hoo…"
Hiruzen took a slow puff from his pipe and exhaled contentedly.
Koharu frowned deeply.
"Hiruzen, stop smoking so much. You'll get lung cancer!"
Hiruzen nearly choked.
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
To everyone's shock, Danzō actually spoke up in Hiruzen's defense, glaring sharply at Koharu.
"How dare you speak to the Third Hokage like that?"
"Such disrespect!"
"..."
The other three froze.
Especially Hiruzen, whose eyes filled with suspicion.
Normally, Danzō opposed him at every opportunity.
Why was he defending him today?
Something was very wrong.
Extremely wrong.
Hiruzen's guard immediately went up.
"Don't listen to her, Hiruzen."
"The old bat's menopause just came late. Lung cancer? Nonsense."
Danzō then did something even more shocking.
He took out a package and offered it with apparent sincerity.
"Knowing you enjoy tobacco, I had Root acquire some top-grade leaves."
"Excellent quality."
Hiruzen's hand instinctively reached out—
Then stopped dead at the word Root.
No one smoked anything provided by Root unless they wanted an early grave.
Two puffs in, and you'd be reporting to the First and Second Hokage.
The moment Hiruzen died, Danzō would seize power.
So that's your plan…
Hiruzen smiled calmly.
"Thank you, but I'm only used to Konoha-grown tobacco."
"Anything else makes me cough."
Seeing him refuse, Danzō cursed inwardly.
---
"Ahem…"
Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"Now then."
"Let's get down to business."