Snow...
In the year 48 of Konoha's calendar, when the first snow arrived, the entire Land of Whirlpools was covered in a thick layer of white snow overnight...
Utakata, wearing a thin sky-blue robe, quietly watched everything in the Land of Whirlpools.
He had been in the Land of Whirlpools for some time now, and it was indeed as described on television...
Free, prosperous, wealthy, joyful...
Utakata found that he seemed to have already grown fond of this country.
Although when he first arrived, being a jinchuriki caused quite a few amusing incidents, they were all resolved with the help of the Whirlpool Police. He even obtained a Tailed Beast Certificate, legalizing his status as a jinchuriki within the Land of Whirlpools. However, should a tailed beast rampage occur, he, as the jinchuriki, would bear the primary responsibility.
So...
The Land of Whirlpools truly did not discriminate against any jinchuriki.
Utakata pulled his robe tighter. It wasn't that he wasn't afraid of the cold, but rather...
He had no money left.
After eating a few meals at the Four-Tails Hot Pot restaurant and taking the opportunity to stroke the Four-Tails' tail, the limited funds he had were completely spent.
But...
He did not regret it. After facing the tailed beasts directly and stroking them, Utakata found that the fear and worry originally in his heart had vanished.
Because through his interactions with the Three-Tails and the Four-Tails, he discovered...
The tailed beasts were quite easy to communicate with. A few pieces of candy or a bucket of Ice Queen ice cream made by the Yuki clan, and they would extend their tails for you to stroke freely. Although the Three-Tails' tail wasn't very comfortable to stroke, and it liked to tell bad jokes while eating ice cream, which made the cold weather feel even colder.
And after the Three-Tails and Four-Tails discovered he was the Six-Tails jinchuriki, they tried to talk to the tailed beast inside him, but...
He got a face full of rejection!!!
The Six-Tails simply ignored everyone, and it almost caused a rampage. If it weren't for the Whirlpool Police intervening at the last moment, he would probably be shirtless right now, working on a construction site to earn money for compensation...
So...
Utakata had also been trying to talk to the Six-Tails recently, but the Six-Tails seemed to have no intention of paying him any attention.
Inside him, completely dark, without any movement...
Moreover, after the last incident, he didn't dare ask the Three-Tails and Four-Tails to help persuade the Six-Tails again, because...
He was just a pauper. If a rampage occurred, he definitely wouldn't be able to afford the compensation.
Watching the bustling streets...
Utakata's heart unconsciously warmed up.
Lately, he had grown very fond of walking slowly alone on the streets of the Land of Whirlpools. When people greeted him, he would smile and respond. Perhaps these people were unafraid simply because they didn't know he was a jinchuriki, but...
Such sincere smiles were something he had rarely seen.
Moreover...
The owner of the Four-Tails Hot Pot restaurant did not face ridicule because of his jinchuriki status. In fact, because of the Four-Tails, he was quite popular...
Of course, most people just liked the Four-Tails...
But that was enough.
As long as there were people who could accept him, accept the Six-Tails, he was already very satisfied.
Looking at the still bustling Four-Tails Hot Pot restaurant not far away, business was even better than usual due to the arrival of winter.
Utakata felt his empty pockets, sighed, and still decided not to go in.
He...
Really had no money.
After arriving in the Land of Whirlpools, he had been observing the situation and hadn't looked for a job, so...
According to the exchange rate between Whirlpool Gold and Ryo, his savings of many years shrunk by a significant portion after conversion. Coupled with his free-spending these past few days, stroking tailed beasts...
It was almost all gone.
"I must find a job." Utakata gazed at the surrounding delicious food, felt his thin clothes again, shook his head helplessly, and said, "Without money, you can't eat what you want or buy what you want."
And there was also that 'artwork' by Teacher Tobi...
He still hadn't delivered it to the nursery school; it remained in his ninja tool pouch.
"In a few days, I'll take the artwork to the nursery school and see. I can also ask if they are hiring teachers there."
If even Tobi could teach how to draw 'poop' here, couldn't he teach bubble blowing and flute playing?
You should know...
He was a professional at playing the flute!!!
He didn't know how long he had walked when he stopped in front of a large building with the words [Chakra Center] written on it. He stared quietly at the building in front of him and murmured, "This should be the place."
Selling chakra for Whirlpool Gold...
Initially, he was against doing this. After all, no matter what, it was his own chakra. Actually selling it?
It felt quite uncomfortable inside...
But...
Now he had to face reality...
The reality of having no money!
Moreover, he had asked the Six-Tails. Silence meant agreement, so he had already obtained the Six-Tails' consent...
It seemed the Six-Tails also wanted a better life.
And...
He heard that the former Four-Tails jinchuriki earned his first bucket of gold by selling Four-Tails chakra.
A predecessor had already shown him with a successful example...
This path...
Was feasible!!!
"I can do it." Utakata clenched his fist, a determined look on his face, and murmured, "When the time comes, I must also open seventeen..."
Bubble Bath Houses?!
Then, without looking back, he walked inside...
...
"Han, found a job yet?" A middle-aged man with a thick red beard, wearing a large gold chain around his neck and showing off gold rings on all ten fingers, walked up to a man clad entirely in red armor. He took the cigarette from his lips, a plain smile carrying a hint of pride, and said, "If you really can't find one, just stay and help me out. I'm very short-handed here. Then we two brothers can dominate the hot pot market in the Land of Whirlpools together."
Lately, business had become increasingly difficult. Dozens of competitors had appeared, offering good quality at low prices. If it weren't for him having the Four-Tails and operating in the high-end market, he would be in trouble by now.
However...
Han glanced sideways at Roshi, who was dressed like a nouveau riche, curled his lips disdainfully, then picked up a nearly cooked fish ball and said lightly, "After not seeing you for years, Roshi, you..."
"Have changed!!!"
When he first arrived a few days ago, Roshi was dressed like a chef. But these past few days...
He started wearing gold and silver, parading in front of him all the time.
Although he knew Roshi was indeed rich, but...
You can't just show off like that!
"Actually, you know I also have a tailed beast inside me. Recently, I thought of a good business plan, but I don't have the money, which is blocking my dream. Now, if you just lend me eight hundred thousand to a million Whirlpool Gold, I will definitely be able to establish a foundation in the Land of Whirlpools. I'll even make you a shareholder, second only to me."
Han looked seriously at Roshi...
"Will you lend it?"
"..."
Damn it...
Roshi didn't know what to say inside. He quickly took off his rings and necklace, put them into his ninja tool pouch, returned to his original simple appearance, sat down opposite Han, sighed, and said with a helpless expression, "Don't be fooled by my apparent success. You have no idea how much debt I'm hiding behind this."
He scooped up a fish ball and put it in his mouth, exhaling a breath...
"That dark-faced god hiding behind the Land of Whirlpools, manipulating its economy, appears behind me from time to time. It's kept me on edge these past few years, I can't even sleep soundly."
So...
No money, get lost!!!
"Alright, stop talking." Han rolled his eyes, continued lowering his head to scoop food, and said, "I understand."
You haven't changed at all when it comes to being stingy!!!
"No, you don't understand." Roshi shook his head, directly snatched a piece of beef Han was about to pick up, and said with a serious face, "Although my life is difficult and hard, as a good friend, I will still do my utmost to help you."
"Did you agree?" Hearing Roshi's words, Han immediately put down his chopsticks excitedly, looked at Roshi, and was about to ask how much he would lend when...
"Right now, I will pass on to you the secret method I used to earn my first bucket of gold." Roshi leaned over, glanced around, and whispered, "You must never tell anyone."
Really...
Don't tell anyone~~~