Uchiha Tunan left the Hokage Building and made his way to the Uchiha district first.
At the clan's ninja supply shop, he stocked up on kunai, shuriken, smoke bombs, and a sufficient amount of soldier pills to sustain him on the upcoming mission. Once done, he hurried back to Sanhe Yuanliang's home.
Sanhe Yuanliang was seated at the stone table in the courtyard, sipping tea.
"Hoo~"
He exhaled softly, savoring the blend of rich tea aroma mixed with the light floral scent drifting through the air. A faint bitterness lingered in the fragrance, followed by a subtle sweetness.
Sanhe Yuanliang took a small sip, closing his eyes in enjoyment as he cradled the teacup.
"Top-grade tea really is different."
Ever since Uchiha Tunan started caring for him, Sanhe Yuanliang's life had grown noticeably more comfortable.
Not only did Tunan handle daily chores, but he also meticulously maintained the small garden in the courtyard, trimming the plants every few days. Clothes were always freshly washed, and a variety of tea leaves, groceries, and even rare supplements appeared in the house as if by magic.
Most importantly, all of this came from Uchiha Tunan's own pocket.
At first, Sanhe Yuanliang had refused, thinking the boy was squandering his money. But now…
"Ahh, this fragrance…" He muttered to himself as he took another sip, a small smile forming at the corner of his lips. "That boy is really filial… I wonder if he possesses the Wind Release chakra nature. If he does… hehe…"
At that moment, Uchiha Tunan stepped into the courtyard.
Sanhe Yuanliang blinked and set down his teacup. "Tunan? Why are you back? No missions today?"
Uchiha Tunan offered a slight smile, lifting the teapot to pour another cup of tea for the old man. His movements were fluid, precise—reminiscent of a shinobi trained in discipline.
"I've taken on a mission as an escort. I'll be away from the village for a while, so I came back to pack."
Without further explanation, he turned and headed inside to prepare.
Sanhe Yuanliang, intrigued, wheeled himself closer to the doorway.
"An escort mission, huh? Do your best. This must be your first C-rank mission."
From inside the house, Uchiha Tunan's voice drifted back. "It's actually a B-rank mission."
Sanhe Yuanliang froze. A flicker of anger crossed his aged face.
"A B-rank mission?! You've only just become a genin! That damned Sarutobi—how could he send you on such a dangerous task? Let's go. I'll have words with him myself!"
Uchiha Tunan chuckled softly, shaking his head as he folded a spare cloak. "It's not dangerous. It was originally a C-rank mission, but the employer has deep pockets. Since the pay matched the B-rank criteria, the mission was upgraded."
Sanhe Yuanliang exhaled, his tension easing. He clicked his tongue. "Hmph. Well, at least you lucked out with a rich but foolish employer."
Tunan, still organizing his belongings, responded casually. "Not foolish—just someone willing to pay for peace of mind."
The old man stroked his beard in thought. "True enough. You and Kakashi are prodigies, and your team captain, Namikaze Minato, is exceptionally fast. Given that, I suppose the employer's money isn't wasted."
Sanhe Yuanliang then noticed Tunan bustling around the house, adjusting furniture, organizing supplies, and lowering household items for easier access.
"What are you doing? Why are you rearranging everything?"
Without pausing, Uchiha Tunan replied, "I'm making things more convenient for you while I'm gone. I put the microwave on a lower shelf, so you won't have trouble reaching it. I also adjusted the cabinets so your daily necessities are within easy reach."
As he spoke, he walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. It was packed with fresh ingredients.
Tunan sighed. "These won't last."
Without hesitation, he tied an apron around his waist and began taking out ingredients, placing them on the cutting board.
"Da-da-da-da-da…" The rapid rhythm of his chopping filled the air.
Sanhe Yuanliang wheeled himself into the kitchen doorway, watching with a frown. "You don't have to worry about me. I've lived for years and can take care of myself."
Tunan paid no mind to the protest. Instead, he knelt down, retrieving a tin of aged tea leaves from the cabinet.
"You're too frugal, Grandpa Yuanliang. I need to criticize you for this." He held up the old tea leaves. "Look at the tea you were drinking before I came along. You've been reusing the same leaves over and over. Drinking too much of this stuff isn't good for your health."
He turned, placing a fresh batch of high-quality tea in the cabinet.
"From now on, drink the new tea. These old leaves—" He walked toward the yard.
Sanhe Yuanliang's eyes widened. "Wait! Those cost money!"
Tunan ignored him and dumped the old tea leaves into the garden soil as fertilizer.
The old man groaned in distress.
Then, as if remembering something, Uchiha Tunan reached into his pocket, pulling out a thick wad of ryo.
"Oh, right." He took twelve thousand ryo and stuffed ten thousand into the coat hanging on the door.
"I left ten thousand ryo in your pocket. Buy whatever you need—don't save it for me."
Sanhe Yuanliang frowned deeply. "You only do D-rank missions. Where are you getting all this money from?"
Tunan's tone remained indifferent. "It's from the pension the village gave me after my parents died."
Sanhe Yuanliang froze. The weight of the money in his hands suddenly felt immense.
Slowly, he wheeled over to the coat rack, taking out the banknotes. For the first time, money felt unbearably heavy.
"Take it back," he said hoarsely. "I can't spend the pension left behind by your parents."
Uchiha Tunan gently pushed his hand away, shaking his head. "After this mission, I'll earn forty thousand ryo. I'll make it back."
Sanhe Yuanliang clenched his jaw. Though he was known for being miserly, he wasn't heartless enough to take a child's inheritance.
"I'm old. I don't go out much. I don't need this money."
Uchiha Tunan crouched down, placing a firm yet comforting grip on the old man's hands.
"If something happens while I'm gone and you need to go to the hospital, you'll need money." His voice was steady, serious. "Your legs make it hard to move around, so you'll have to ask the neighbors for help. And if someone does help you, don't be stingy—give them a red envelope to thank them. This money is for emergencies. Otherwise, I won't be able to focus on my mission."
He patted the back of Sanhe Yuanliang's hand before standing and resuming his packing.
Sanhe Yuanliang looked at the banknotes again, his vision blurring slightly.
For a long moment, he sat in silence. Then, he exhaled slowly, clutching the money tightly.