"Then, in these past few decades, have you never thought about going out to explore?"
Shinkai (Giant Clam): "..."
"Brat!"
"Hmm?"
"What do you think of my shell?"
"Emmmmm... it's huge! And very hard!"
"Then guess if it's heavy?"
"Very heavy!"
"Then do you think I'm fast?"
Yahiko: "..."
It seems that's the case.
"Eh~ that's not right! If it's so hard for you to even move, how could the Nidaime Mizukage have contracted with you?"
"Brat! Are you really that shallow? Are you so fixated on my indestructible shell? You need to think outside the box, brat!"
"Like what?"
"Back then, I could earn the Nidaime Mizukage four hundred million a year!"
"Godfather!"
As soon as Shinkai finished speaking, Yahiko's voice immediately followed.
"Godfather! Your child is late. To think Godfather has been trapped in this vast deep sea for over twenty years, your child is unfilial!"
"Now! Your child has finally found you. Your child only wishes to stay by Godfather's side day and night, Godfather!"
Shinkai: "..."
[Has the Ninja World developed so quickly?]
"Brat! You make me feel unfamiliar!"
"What are you saying, Godfather! It's because your child has been away from you for too long. We won't be unfamiliar after spending some time together!"
Shinkai: "..."
"Godfather! Contract with your child, your child can't be without you for even a day!"
"You?"
"That's right!"
"No! I'm afraid you'll covet my money!"
"What kind of talk is that! How could I, Yahiko, be that kind of person! Go ask around, I, Yahiko, am known as an honest and reliable young gentleman! I've never been interested in money! And I've never used my father's name to bully others!"
"Hehe! The Nidaime Mizukage said the same thing before."
"What did he say?"
"He said he was honest and reliable!"
Yahiko: "..."
"And then?"
"Then I got scammed!"
Yahiko: "..."
"He told me that as long as I earned a billion, he would take me to see a big mountain."
"What happened later?"
"He summoned me to a mountain."
"Then didn't you see it?"
"But the mountain was full of mist, I didn't see anything."
Yahiko: "..."
"I told him that didn't count, and he told me that I only said I wanted to see a mountain, not what kind of mountain, so he fulfilled his promise. If I wanted to see anything else, that would be a different price."
"I regretted it greatly then, but there was nothing I could do, because I had already signed a summoning contract with him. Unless he died, I couldn't switch to another person."
"But if he really died, I wouldn't even be able to see this misty mountain. In the end, I could only comfort myself by thinking it was my own fault for not explaining clearly."
"Later, I added another billion. I told him I wanted to see a big mountain, without mist."
"And then? This time he should have taken you to see a real big mountain, right?"
"Yes, I did."
"See! I told you! How could a dignified Mizukage be so untrustworthy? It must have been your poor communication. So? What kind of mountain did you see? How was the scenery?"
"Hehe! The mountain was quite big! And there was a big canyon too."
"Oh, a good place. So? Was the scenery beautiful?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Yes, at that time, there was no bridge to cross the canyon, so he summoned me out to be the bridge. My length just happened to span both ends of the canyon."
"Later, I went to reason with him, and he said he summoned me according to the requirements, in the mountains, and without mist. The reason I was in the canyon was because only the canyon could accommodate me, and as for using me as a bridge, that was just a coincidence."
"And then? You believed him?"
This time, Shinkai was silent for a long time before answering.
"...Hmm, you know, I had no other choice."
Yahiko: [Why does he sound like a scumbag!]
"Then what's next? Another billion?"
"No."
"Did you negotiate with him to lower the price?"
"...No, he said the market was bad now, and money was depreciating too quickly, so now it's two billion."
Yahiko: "..."
Indeed. Those who can become Kage are never simple individuals.
"And then what happened?"
"Later, when he summoned me, I hesitated for a moment."
"Then the summoning contract disappeared. I've been here ever since. But I don't regret it; I suspect his last summoning wasn't to take me sightseeing, but to have me block damage. I'm no longer the naive and easily deceived me I once was!"
Yahiko: "Indeed! If you were a bit more naive, he would have sent you to the Pure Land to see the world."
Yahiko said that although he didn't know the Nidaime Mizukage personally, he knew how the Nidaime Mizukage died.
If he were summoned out, wouldn't it just be a matter of one Jinton attack?
"That's right! So this time I've learned my lesson. I need to find someone rich, who doesn't covet my money, and is willing to take me around to see things."
"I am, I am! Your child is! My greatest wish in this life is to take you, Godfather, to see all the magnificent mountains and rivers of the world!"
"You? Are you very rich?"
"No."
"Then you won't do. I'm afraid you'll trick me out of my money!"
"Oh, Godfather! You're confused!"
"I'm confused?"
"That's right, these days, what's so great about being rich? Rich people are so busy, how could they have time to specially accompany you? Besides, my father doesn't lack your money, why would he bother with you? If you contract with my father, you'll still only be able to stay here."
"But I'm different! Although I don't have money, my father does! Doesn't my father having money mean I'll have money in the future? So since I know I'll definitely have money in the future, why would I covet your money? Godfather, isn't that logical?"
Yahiko's theory directly confused Shinkai, who hadn't thought in twenty years. After a long silence, he mumbled uncertainly.
"Emmmm... it seems to make some sense. But it feels like something's not quite right?"
"What's not right! What's not right! Godfather, think about it, my father has money but no time. But I will definitely have money in the future, and I have plenty of time!"
"I! Have! Plenty! Of! Time! To! Take! You! Around! To! See! Things!"
Yahiko's words, one by one, entered Shinkai's body, striking directly at his heart, and firmly burrowing in.
"Are you really willing to take me to see the myriad waters and thousands of mountains?"
"Yes!" Yahiko, finally hearing Shinkai say these words, nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"As long as you're willing to contract with me, I'm willing to accompany you to see all the myriad waters and thousands of mountains!"
"Contract with me, I've already fallen in love with you at first sight!"
Yahiko said to Shinkai with affectionate eyes.
But what awaited him was not the answer he wanted.
"No!"
"Why? Am I not sincere enough?"
"No!"
"Then what is it?"
"You have to prove that what you're saying is true. At the very least, you have to prove that your father is really powerful!"
"That's easy! You wait, I'll go get someone."
With that, Yahiko darted off and swam towards the surface.
Meanwhile, at a certain busy person's home.
"Ah~ it's past two. Time to get up!"