After leaving the training grounds, Gen headed straight for the Uchiha Military Police Force building.
There was no avoiding it, after completing the mission, he had to report back to Uchiha Fugaku.
As he walked, his mood was light.
He truly did want eternal life, and he was confident Orochimaru hadn't doubted him for a second.
From Orochimaru's perspective, there was no way Gen could've known about his own pursuit of immortality. To the rest of the world, the idea was absurd, mad, even.
Speak of it openly, and you'd be branded a lunatic, just as Sarutobi Hiruzen had branded Orochimaru.
Who would risk that kind of stigma unless they were speaking from the heart?
Gen knew that Orochimaru would take that risk as proof of sincerity.
Back at the police department, Gen knocked on the door of Fugaku's office.
"Come in."
"Young Clan Leader," Gen greeted, stepping inside and closing the door with a short bow.
"It's you, Gen. How did it go?" Fugaku's stern face softened into a faint smile.
"It's done. Orochimaru-sensei said, as long as our support doesn't exceed what we've given to Minato-senpai, it is fine."
Fugaku's smile deepened. "Well done, Gen."
Now, no matter who became the Fourth Hokage, the Uchiha would be in an unshakable position.
"This was your doing," Gen replied smoothly. "If I hadn't met a leader as farsighted and decisive as you, I'd have had nowhere to put my talents to use."
Inwardly, Gen didn't think much of Fugaku — the clan's fall had happened under his leadership, after all. Ambitious but not clever, stern in appearance but hesitant at heart… Fugaku had talent, yes, but lacked the strength to match it.
Outwardly, though, Gen's flattery was flawless.
Fugaku beamed, the expression warming his normally cold features. "Don't be modest. The clan will remember your contribution."
Gen smiled humbly, then said, "Orochimaru asked me to come to his residence tomorrow afternoon. I expect it's to formalize my apprenticeship. How much should I bring?"
Fugaku thought for a moment. "Be generous for the first time, two hundred million ryo. After that, we'll send payment in cash or gold, depending on his research progress. Take my authorization to the treasury."
Two hundred million ryo — an astronomical sum for most shinobi. Even selling an entire small clan, people and property included, wouldn't fetch that much.
Gen accepted the document. "Yes, Young Patriarch."
"And don't forget the family gathering the day after tomorrow," Fugaku added.
"Of course."
The monthly gathering was a long-standing tradition. Every Uchiha in Konoha was expected to attend, and even the Hokage knew the clan used it as grounds to refuse missions for the day.
Gen left the police department and headed for the clan treasury.
The bills came in neat ten-thousand-ryo notes, filling two large chests.
Two hundred million ryo. Worth roughly a hundred million in modern currency. Gen couldn't help but feel a thrill; he'd never seen so much money in either life.
If this world had some kind of "spend money, get stronger" system, temptation might have been too much to resist.
But his strength grew by other means, so he didn't take a single note. In fact, he slipped in some of his own savings. If he was going to win Orochimaru's favor, he might as well go all in.
The next afternoon, Gen arrived at Orochimaru's estate, carrying one of the chests.
The place was no simple house, years of shinobi work had made Orochimaru wealthy enough to build a sprawling villa right in central Konoha, near the Sarutobi compound and within walking distance of where Jiraiya and Tsunade stayed when in the village.
He rang the bell, and Anko opened the gate.
"You're here. Come in." She smiled.
"Is Orochimaru-sensei inside?"
"In the living room. What's in the box?"
"You'll see soon enough."
They walked together into the villa. Even in daylight, the curtains were drawn, the air cool and dim. The décor was shadowed and faintly oppressive — fitting for a man who favored serpents.
"Teacher Orochimaru," Gen said, bowing slightly to the figure kneeling in a pale yellow kimono.
Orochimaru's thin lips curved into a faint smile. "Mm. Pour me a drink. From today, you are my disciple."
Apprenticeship ceremonies in the shinobi world were rarely elaborate. Most teachers marked the moment however they pleased.
Gen knelt beside the low table, poured sake into a cup, and offered it with both hands. Orochimaru took it, drained it in one swallow, and set it down.
Gen rose, brought the chest forward, and opened it. "Teacher, this is research funding from the Uchiha — two hundred million ryo. A generous first gift. In the future, we'll provide whatever your work requires, in cash or gold."
Stacks of crisp notes filled the box, neatly arranged and gleaming faintly in the dim light.
Anko's eyes went wide. She darted to the chest and all but draped herself over it. "Whoa! That's… that's so much money…"
Orochimaru, far more composed, still raised a brow at the Uchiha's extravagance. Their wealth and heritage ran deep indeed.
Then his gaze shifted to a bundle of bills in the second chest, slightly out of place among the meticulous stacks. "And what's with this… odd little pile?"