Under Konoha’s Shadow

Chapter 35: Double Standards

Yamamoto Ryusei nodded. "Alright, no problem. Then let's go and transfer the deed."

This house was worth well over twenty million, but Tojo, wanting to sell it quickly, had lowered the price a bit.

Ryusei created a shadow clone to go home and get the money, then went with Tojo to the Hokage's office to transfer the deed. After Ryusei paid Tojo, Tojo packed up his own clothes and prepared to leave.

Ryusei asked with some doubt, "Uncle Tojo, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Let's have a meal together."

Tojo shook his head. "No, they've already been urging me several times over there. It's still early, so if I leave now, I'll arrive sooner."

Ryusei said, "Then I wish you a safe journey, Uncle Tojo."

Tojo winked and smiled. "And I wish you two happiness and bliss. Seeing you two like this, I'm reminded of when my wife and I first renovated our house. Those were sweet times... ah, youth."

Senju Miyuki's face turned red, and she snapped, "My relationship with him isn't like that!"

Tojo's face was full of understanding. "I get it, I get it," he said, and then left.

Miyuki's eyes were red with anger. If Ryusei hadn't stopped her, Tojo might have gotten a beating.

After fussing for a while, Miyuki calmed down. She then carefully looked over the house. "Ryusei, I just helped you bargain for three million ryo. How are you going to thank me?"

Ryusei asked back, "Then what would Big Sister Miyuki like?"

"Simple," Miyuki said, pointing at the house. "Give me a room. I want to live here."

Ryusei was puzzled. "Doesn't Big Sister Miyuki have a house? Why would you want to live here?"

Miyuki said excitedly, "There are too many rules living in the clan compound, and it's very boring. From now on, this will be my secret base!"

Ryusei looked troubled. "But that's not very appropriate. If word gets out, it will be bad for your reputation."

Miyuki rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not afraid, so what are you afraid of? Besides, you're just a little brat. How could you affect my reputation?"

Ryusei's face darkened. A flash of inspiration struck him. "Then go and ask Yuki. If she agrees, then you can move in."

Miyuki's eyes widened as she glared at him, then she sneered. "You think I'm out of options? It's a deal. I want that room with the balcony."

Ryusei smiled proudly. "Then we'll talk after you convince Yuki."

Since he had bought a new house, he had to invite his friends and family over for a meal. He immediately created several shadow clones, sending two to the Senju house to move his books and, while they were at it, to let Mito Uzumaki know they would be eating here today.

The rest went to the school to notify his classmates and to the Uchiha compound to notify Madara.

Ryusei formed hand seals and created Liu Maoxing. The moment he appeared, the clone looked at the house and said to Ryusei, "I want a room too."

Miyuki, seeing Liu Maoxing also demanding a room, thought her decision was indeed the right one. Now she could live together with him.

Ryusei said speechlessly, "You're just a shadow clone! What do you need a room for?!"

Liu Maoxing glanced at him. "Then you can cook for yourself from now on."

Ryusei's face turned completely black. He said in an annoyed tone, "Fine! You can have one."

Liu Maoxing held out his hand to Ryusei. "Then give me the money. I'm going to buy groceries and some household items."

Miyuki said excitedly, "I'll go too! I also need to buy some things to decorate my room."

The two of them left happily.

A short while later, the clones returned with the books. Ryusei placed the books in a first-floor bedroom and then, together with the clones, cleaned the entire house from top to bottom.

An hour later, Miyuki and Liu Maoxing returned with several carts of goods. Not only had Liu Maoxing bought groceries, but he had also bought many daily necessities. After having people unload the items, he went to the kitchen to cook.

In the afternoon, the notified guests began to arrive at Ryusei's new house one after another. Seven or eight tables were set up in the courtyard. Only Miyuki was in the courtyard entertaining the guests, while Ryusei was being interrogated by Yamamoto Nami and Yamamoto Shuichi.

Shuichi was admiring the house, while Nami sat in the living room with her arms crossed, looking at Ryusei coldly. "Ryusei, have your wings grown stiff? You dare to buy a house behind our backs? What, the house is too small for you so you had to move out?"

Ryusei put on an apologetic smile. "No, Mom. This house is just for discussing ninjutsu with my classmates. It's not convenient to discuss it at home. I'll still be living at home."

"Discussing ninjutsu?" Nami's face was still stern. "You can't discuss it at home? How much did this house cost?"

"Er... seventeen million ryo."

"What?!" Nami stood up in shock. "How much did you say? Seventeen million? Where did you get that much money?"

Shuichi stopped admiring the house and also stared at him. "Ryusei, did you do something bad?"

Ryusei quickly denied it. "No! I earned all that money from the royalties for the novels I wrote."

Shuichi asked with suspicion, "Writing novels is that profitable? What novels did you write? How come we don't know about them?"

Ryusei said in a small voice, "I wrote them in secret. I wrote Journey to the West and The Investiture of the Gods."

Shuichi was astonished. "You're Teacher Miyamoto Musashi?"

Ryusei gave a sheepish grin. "Not really a 'teacher'. Dad, you read novels too?"

Now it all made sense. Other novelists might not earn that much, but it wasn't strange that Miyamoto Musashi, the author of Journey to the West and The Investiture of the Gods, could. Those two books were currently a massive hit in the Land of Fire and even sold well in other countries.

Shuichi nodded, a bit annoyed. Nami's gaze, however, suddenly turned dangerous, yet she smiled gently. "Ryusei, we didn't know about you buying a house, and we didn't know about you writing novels. In the past half a year, is there anything else you've done that we don't know about?"

Ryusei felt a chill seeing his mother's smile. He said cautiously, "Not much else. Just that I have a stake in the new clothing factory that Yamashita So's family opened."

"Uh-huh. And?" Nami continued to smile gently.

"And also... Yuki and I are in a relationship now."

"Really?" Ryusei looked at his mother's excited expression. It seemed she wasn't angry, but happy.

Nami covered her mouth and laughed. "Hahaha! I always thought Yuki was a good child and hoped she could be my daughter-in-law. I never thought Ryu-chan would succeed so quickly!"

Shuichi looked at his wife's triumphant smile and was a bit speechless. He pointed at Ryusei. "What, no more criticism?"

Nami waved her hand. "What's there to criticize? Ryusei has already grown up. It's perfectly normal for him to earn money to support a family and buy his own house."

That's not what you said just now! And what do you mean, 'support a family'? I'm still a kid!

Nami pulled Ryusei over. "So when is Yuki coming over?"

Ryusei, feeling a bit overwhelmed by his mother's enthusiasm, said, "She should be out of school by now. She'll probably be here soon."

Nami took his hand. "Come on, I'll help you look at this house and see how we should decorate it."

She pulled Ryusei along, chattering about decoration ideas as they walked. When they reached the second floor, her nonstop talking came to an abrupt halt.

Ryusei looked up and saw that on one of the room doors was a sign that read: Senju Miyuki.

Ryusei facepalmed. This Miyuki had brazenly occupied a room without even getting Yuki's consent. He was so screwed. He braced himself for the coming storm.

"Good job, Ryusei," Nami said, patting his shoulder. "I can't believe you even won over Miyuki. I used to wonder whether Yuki or Miyuki would be a better daughter-in-law. I never thought you'd be so capable as to get them both!"

Ryusei, who had been expecting a scolding, was now completely dumbfounded. Mom, that's not how you acted when Dad just spoke a few extra words to another woman. You chewed him out completely. How come it's different when it's me? Such double standards! Ryusei shot his father a sympathetic look.

Nami asked with some confusion, "But how did you get them to coexist so peacefully?"

Ryusei was speechless. "It's not like that. My relationship with Big Sister Miyuki isn't like that. She's just using this place as a secret base to come and play. And I never agreed to let her live here. She put that sign up herself."

Nami gave him a knowing, motherly smile. "I get it, I get it."

If it wasn't that kind of relationship, would Miyuki disregard her reputation to live here? Hmph... you're still too young to try and fool me.