Yakushi Nonō froze, her face blank with confusion.
He… wants to see what's under my clothes? Isn't that just… my body?
Her cheeks flushed crimson. She had never been close with men, never faced such a direct demand. Still, she thought about it carefully. She truly had nothing else of value to offer. If she wanted to gain something, she would have to give something in return.
Gritting her teeth, she blurted:
"You can look… but you can't touch. And—could we change places first?"
Surely he wouldn't demand she undress here, out in the open. And strangely enough… she didn't actually find him repulsive.
Ryosuke Uchiha blinked in surprise. Wait, what? I only wanted her to remove the nun's outer robe so I could see her figure clearly. But she's completely misunderstood…
Still, the misunderstanding wasn't a problem. If she was willing, then why should he correct her? The thought of seeing her bare form stirred a flicker of excitement.
"Then let's go to my place," Ryosuke said.
Nervous but resolved, Nonō followed him back to his home. Despite her embarrassment, she had decided to be honest with him.
Inside, Ryosuke let his eyes take her in properly. She really was beautiful. At the same time, he made his offer:
"How much do you need? From now on, I'll cover all of the orphanage's expenses."
Nonō's eyes widened. His generosity was staggering.
Ryosuke thought further: This time, Kumogakure already sent a massive ransom payment. Even after the Hyūga took their cut, the Uchiha still hold a huge fortune. I can tap into that, and I doubt Fugaku would oppose me. Actually… what if we did this under the name of the clan itself? If the Uchiha sponsor an orphanage, our public image in the village will rise tremendously.
The more he thought about it, the more brilliant the idea seemed.
Nonō's heart leapt. He said he'll cover everything from now on? Then the orphanage won't just survive—it can grow. I chose the right person to turn to!
Her ambitions flared. "If that's the case, I could even take in more orphans, couldn't I? So many children are wandering the streets after losing their families to the wars. If I can feed them, I can save lives."
Ryosuke tilted his head. This woman's kindness might be a little too boundless. If she gathers too many, the costs will skyrocket.
He spoke carefully: "Be cautious. If you take in too many, even the Uchiha clan won't be able to cover all the expenses."
Nonō bit her lip and nodded. He was right. Fire Country was vast. The number of orphans could be overwhelming. Even the wealthy Uchiha couldn't support an infinite number of mouths.
She adjusted her request timidly: "Then… would it be possible to provide us with 100,000 ryō per month? That should be enough for food, clothing, and shelter."
Ryosuke frowned slightly. That little?
"How many children do you have?" he asked.
"Forty," she replied.
Ryosuke did a quick calculation. A hundred thousand ryō was about two thousand bowls of ramen. Spread over thirty days, that meant roughly sixty-six bowls a day—barely enough for everyone to have a single meal each. Even if she bought cheaper food, it would only just cover three meals a day for survival. Forget medicine, clothes, or heating.
And to him, such a sum was practically nothing.
With a dismissive wave, he declared: "No. I'll give you five million ryō a year instead. Use it to buy proper food, keep the children nourished. Winter is coming—you'll need clothes too. Make sure none of them go cold."
Nonō gasped, stunned beyond words. That much money? It was almost unthinkable. A donation equivalent to the reward of several S-rank missions—missions that risked a shinobi's life. And he was giving it away without hesitation.
Her eyes softened, brimming with gratitude. With this, I can keep them safe. I can even take in a few more children without fear. This man… is truly remarkable.
She bowed deeply. "Thank you, Lord Ryosuke."
Ryosuke accepted her thanks with ease, but added: "This funding will be under the name of the Uchiha clan. Do you agree to that?"
"Of course," she said instantly. "I'll even put up a sign at the orphanage gate: 'Sponsored by the Uchiha Clan.'"
Perhaps he had his own motives, but what did that matter? The money was real, and with the Uchiha name attached, the orphanage would be untouchable. No petty thugs would dare cause trouble, not when the most feared clan in Konoha stood behind it.
She smiled faintly, relieved. In the end, this isn't just protection for the orphans—it's a shield for me too.
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