Naruto :Uchiha's Reincarnation

Haruto had an arrogant look on his face, imitating certain tribe members' expressions vividly.

"Really?!"

"Are you... questioning the power of the Uchiha clan?!"

Haruto revealed his Sharingan and stared at Tobita Yuichi coldly.

Yuichi snorted but, recognizing the Uchiha clan's typical disdain for deception, decided to let the matter drop.

…

…

In the Hotel

"So, you completed the task in just two days? Not bad," Kato Dan remarked, setting aside his book, The Legend of Strong Perseverance.

Though he and Jiraiya were once rivals in love, Kato Dan considered him a good friend. Both respected each other's strength and character. Jiraiya had recently finished his first novel, and after publication, eagerly gifted copies to his friends. Kato Dan found it quite enjoyable.

While Jiraiya's writing had flair, and he portrayed the protagonist, Naruto, as an ideal ninja, the story suffered from clichés, idealized views, a lack of high-stakes moments, and unrealistic developments. However, Jiraiya's skillful depiction of the protagonist's relationships with female characters was vivid and engaging.

"Let's go over the mission details, and we'll draft the report afterward," Kato Dan said, leaning casually in his seat.

Haruto, Inuzuka Rui, and Aburame Nami exchanged covert glances and signaled discreetly with hand gestures.

[Stick to the original plan!]

In short order, Haruto and the others shared the story they had previously coordinated.

"So, you first split up to gather intelligence, then followed the scent from items at the lord's mansion to locate the bandits' mountain hideout?"

"Yes!" Haruto and the others nodded.

This part was mostly accurate.

"Then, you breached the stronghold, defeated all the bandits, and Haruto beheaded the leader. Yunami's insects tracked down where the bandits had hidden their treasure, and you moved it all out. Later, to prevent the bodies from causing an outbreak, Haruto used fire jutsu to burn everything, including the corpses."

Kato Dan repeated their account, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

"Quite the script!"

Kato Dan gave them a knowing look.

Haruto's heart skipped a beat.

Uh-oh, did he figure it out?

[Help! Now what?!] Inuzuka signaled quietly with his hands.

How am I supposed to know what to do?

Haruto decided to ignore it.

"That's impressive!" Kato Dan gave Inuzuka a thumbs-up, echoing a previous gesture Inuzuka had made in the basement.

"And Haruto, you too—quite the tough methods you used!"

"No, no, Teacher Dan. You're the one who taught us our skills. You're the one who's tall and tough!" Haruto replied with a forced smile.

It seemed Kato Dan had observed everything, likely through the rumored spirit transformation technique, Haruto guessed.

"I didn't teach you to pull off schemes like this," Kato Dan chuckled.

"But since everyone's here, and I'm the team captain, by mission protocol, half of any earnings go to me. So, handing over half of the 1.5 million as a little bribe should be fine, right?"

With Kato Dan's half-smiling expression, Haruto promptly pulled out his wallet, reluctantly splitting his 500,000 taels into 250,000 and handing it over. He gave a look to Inuzuka and Aburame Nami, who followed suit.

At least for now, it seemed Kato Dan would let the matter slide after receiving his cut.

In truth, Kato Dan didn't care about the money—he did this to show them he wouldn't overlook certain actions without consequence.

"In reality, it's quite common for ninjas to earn some extra money during missions. Even Hokage tacitly approves of it," Kato Dan explained, pouring three cups of tea for his students.

The three each took a cup.

"Mission payments might look large, but since ninjas work in teams, the actual share isn't as high as it seems. Plus, training expenses and the cost of maintaining gear take a toll. Making extra money is often necessary."

"However, I said selectively."

Kato Dan raised a finger.

"Take the lord Feitian, who issued this mission. During your intel gathering, I found out much more, including acts far worse than you suspected. He may have even been secretly supplying enemy nations with resources like iron ore. I'll be noting this in the mission report."

"For people like him, there's no issue with earning some extra within ninja protocol. But when dealing with ordinary clients, always keep in mind our relationship as ninjas and task providers. Unless directed otherwise by the village, our focus remains on the mission. You're all ninjas of Konoha—never compromise the village's integrity or its reputation."

Kato Dan then gave a detailed critique of their mission, explaining what needed improvement and how they could refine their approach.

When Haruto first met Kato Dan, he had only the limited impressions from the stories. But after working with him for so long, he finally began to understand the real Kato Dan.

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