060: Little Rich Girl, Tenten

"What?! What's going on?"

"A month ago, weren't they all killed by Itachi?"

"Genjutsu, this must be Genjutsu."

"My chakra isn't disrupted, and I've already dispelled any Genjutsu on you. It's still not working, so it seems it's not that."

"Don't underestimate the Uchiha's Genjutsu. Maybe this is some kind of collective illusion we can't understand. Let me hit you; if you feel pain, then you'll break free from the illusion."

"Why don't you let me hit you?"

…

Meanwhile, a bit further away from the Third Hokage, ordinary Konoha ninja, who were also trapped within the domain, were chattering amongst themselves. 

They deliberately made noise to attract attention while observing the reactions of the large group of Uchiha who had suddenly appeared.

But they found that the Uchiha were acting like ordinary people, as if they were standing in their own clan grounds, chatting with each other, their faces brimming with harmonious smiles.

Some even glared at them strangely, as if they were disturbing their harmonious life.

"It's too real. If I didn't know for sure that they were gone, I would think this was real."

Just then, several Uchiha walked towards them.

"They're coming. Be careful."

This unusual action immediately put the Konoha ninja on high alert.

"Hey, you guys, what are you sneaking around here for?"

"This is Uchiha territory. If you don't leave, we won't be polite."

An Uchiha, clearly the captain, stepped forward and shouted.

This… The Konoha ninja looked at each other.

You're the ones sneaking around! And how is this Uchiha territory? Your clan grounds were destroyed long ago!

"Um… I'm Matsumoto Kofu. I'm a Chunin from Konoha. We're just passing through here, don't mind us.

"Oh, right, this is the our toll fee."

The quick-witted ninja took out a few banknotes and handed them over, deliberately touching the Uchiha's hand.

The moment he touched him, he shuddered.

Oh my god.

The hand was naturally warm like that of an actual living human.

"He's a real person."

Matsumoto Kofu discovered a crucial detail and immediately turned to warn his companions.

"Hmph, hurry up and leave. Don't stay here. If you weren't a Konoha ninja, I would have arrested you."

The Uchiha pocketed the money, snorted coldly, and turned around to beckon the other Uchiha, returning to where they had been standing.

"On my Mother!! This shit is too real."

The mouths of several Konoha ninja dropped open wide enough to fit an apple.

… Were the Uchiha not really massaccerred, and they were instead? Is this an afterlife designed around Konoha?

"Nonsense, hot blood still flows through my veins."

"Hmph, I think we should just spar with them and find out what's going on."

"Makes sense. Maybe they're just paper tigers trying to scare us."

"But what if they're not? Can a few Chunin like us beat a group of elites?"

The Konoha ninja engaged in a heated discussion.

Just as they were hesitating, trying to decide whether to retreat and seek reinforcements, the Uchiha returned. 

The Uchiha captain stepped forward again and shouted: "Hey, you guys, what are you sneaking around here for?"

"This is Uchiha territory. If you don't leave, we won't be polite."

"Oh, oh! We'll leave right away, right away."

The quick-witted ninja, Matsumoto Kofu, nodded repeatedly.

But in the next instant, he froze.

Wait a minute.

Why did that sound so familiar? Wasn't that exactly what they said about a minute ago?

Could it be…?

To confirm his suspicions, Matsumoto Kofu once again loudly introduced himself:

"Um… I'm Matsumoto Kofu. I'm a Chunin from Konoha. We were just passing through."

"Oh, right, this is our toll fee."

He handed over the money again.

Sure enough, after another warning, the Uchiha left.

"Damn, there's definitely something wrong with them."

"These guys seem to only have the memory of a lizard."

Even his companions had noticed it.

"But what if he's just trying to scam you?" Another companion raised an objection.

"Good point, but it's easy to find out. We'll change our approach."

Kofu nodded and told his companions to wait another minute. 

During this minute, they sent someone to call for backup, but after walking a short distance, they ended up back where they started.

It seemed that leaving the domain directly was impossible. 

A minute later, the Uchiha came back, shouting the same words. This time, Kofu didn't offer any money. Instead, he boldly said:

"Sir, you just took 1000 Ryo from us as a toll. Why are you here to chase us away again?"

"Bullshit! When did I ever take your money?!"

The Uchiha captain frowned and shouted.

"In your pants right pocket."

Matsumoto Kofu seemed angry as well, quickly pointing at his pocket.

"Really?" The Uchiha captain reached into his pocket and actually pulled out 1000 Ryo.

"Look, this is what I just gave you. I've already paid twice."

"Scoundrel! This is what my son gave me this morning!

"You're actually coveting such a small amount of money?! You must be a spy from another village! Men, seize them! Interrogate them thoroughly!" the Uchiha captain roared.

"What?! Not only did you take my money, but you're also pretending to be my dad?! This is too much! Too much I say! Brothers, charge!" Kofu was furious. 

He had wasted 1000 Ryo and had even gained a fake dad!

As expected, in the ninja world, strength reigns supreme.

"Don't just stand there! Charge! There's something wrong with these Uchiha!"

"Wind Style…"

Boom!!!

Thump! Thump!

Within a few rounds, the Konoha Chunin were taken down by a single Genjutsu from the Uchiha captain.

"Damn, that captain is a Jonin!"

When Matsumoto Kofu opened his eyes again, he and his companions were tied up and were being dragged deeper into the alley.

Along the way, they saw Konoha villagers being captured as well, all being escorted in the same direction.

On the roof of a building in that direction stood a young girl with dark eyes.

It was Izumi.

"It's over!"

Just as Matsumoto Kofu was filled with despair, a little girl with a traditional Chinese bun hairstyle, wearing a small Qipao, skipped out of the alley. 

The surrounding Uchiha seemed oblivious to her existence.

"What's going on? Why aren't the Uchiha attacking you?" The sharp-eyed Kofu spotted the anomaly and quickly asked.

"Mister, are you asking me?"

"Yes, please tell me."

The little girl scratched her head and said, "I don't know. The Uchiha here are strange. After I gave them some money, they left me alone."

Kofu frowned: "I gave them money too, why did they capture me? How many times did you pay them?"

"Ten times!"

"Pfft!!!"

"How much each time?"

"1000 Ryo!"

"Pfft!!!"

Matsumoto Kofu quickly checked his pouch. 

His face darkened, and he felt like spitting out a mouthful of blood. 

He didn't bring enough money!

"Whose child are you? What's your name? Why are you carrying so much money with you?"

Although the purchasing power of ryo wasn't that high, with a bowl of ramen costing as much a few dozen or nearly a hundred Ryo, for a little girl to casually carry around so much meant she was too rich.

"My name is Tenten.

"And this is just my allowance."

"Pfft!!!"

Matsumoto Kofu, suffering blow after blow both physically and mentally, fell backward and was slowly dragged into the alley...