Shimura Danzo woke up early today.
His mood was a complex cocktail of anticipation and bitterness.
He was preparing to go to the Hokage Tower to watch the Third Hokage make a fool of himself.
A full one million ryo thrown out for a business venture?
We Konoha natives simply don't have the brains for it!
After all, Danzo himself was one of the people who had lost his shirt in the past. Since that humiliation, he had made a solemn vow: if he ever tried to do business again, he would chop off his own hand!
This time, he was determined to make Sarutobi Hiruzen swallow his pride and severely punish Shimizu Kantsuki.
In these times of austerity, to lose a million ryo… Just hearing the number made Danzo's heart ache.
If you had just given that million to this old man…
Danzo, who couldn't even afford a cup of premium tea, desperately craved the moisture that a million ryo could bring to his dry coffers.
Arriving at the Hokage's office, Danzo sat to the side with a sour face. He ignored Nara Shikaku's greeting entirely.
You are the brain of Konoha, yet you accompanied that brat Kantsuki in his nonsense!
Nara Shikaku smiled awkwardly and said nothing.
The Third Hokage glanced at his old friend but remained silent. He had already mentally prepared himself to lose face and money. As for protecting Kantsuki, that wasn't an issue; Hiruzen had plenty of methods to shield a loyal subordinate.
Time ticked by in the oppressive silence of the three men.
Until a commotion rose from downstairs.
Faintly, someone could be heard shouting for the Hokage.
Hiruzen's brow twitched.
Nara Shikaku went even quieter.
It looks like the results are in.
I hope the loss isn't too heavy. The size of the loss will determine the severity of Kantsuki's punishment.
However, as the door was pushed open by an unusually agitated Nara Chūnin, Shikaku's expression shifted.
That expression isn't right…
Hiruzen thought the same. His eyes narrowed into slits as he probed cautiously.
"How much did we lose?"
"No! Lord Hokage, no loss! Kantsuki's clothing business made money!"
Interesting. The lad has some skill.
"How much did he make?"
"Net profit… fifty million ryo!"
!!??
"…How… HOW MUCH!!??"
The Chūnin took a breath, his voice trembling with the weight of the number.
"Net profit: Fifty-three million, seven hundred and eighty thousand ryo!"
The words seemed to shake the very foundations of the office. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't control the pitch of his voice, which went sharp with shock.
"Five… five…"
"Fifty million!!??"
Just hearing this astronomical figure gave Shimura Danzo the illusion that he was still dreaming.
He practically teleported across the room, snatching the settlement report from the ninja's hands.
His single eye bulged as he scanned the details.
Line after line. Clear, undeniable accounting.
It wasn't fake. The Nara clan wouldn't dare, and Shimizu Kantsuki wouldn't dare.
So…
"It… It's true…"
Hiruzen and Shikaku couldn't wait any longer and crowded around.
Hiruzen's old face was so flushed with relief and joy that he looked ten years younger. His eyes burned with intensity as he read the net profit figure over and over again.
He was terrified he was reading it wrong.
How many days has it been?
Just a few days?!
In just a few days, he made over fifty million ryo?!
The Third Hokage remembered clearly that the entire ninja revenue of Konoha—mission fees and contracts—was only a little over one hundred million ryo a year.
Even if you added the civilian economy, taxes, merchants, and nobles, the total GDP of the village was barely over a billion.
Which meant…
This single clothing business, if projected over a year, could rival the revenue of the entire village!?
"Hehe… Hahahaha… HAHAHAHA!!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't hold it back. He laughed, a long, hearty sound of pure liberation.
"Good! GOOD!!"
"Kantsuki! That lad has truly given this old man a massive surprise!"
Nara Shikaku watched from the side, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. His heart hammered against his ribs—thump, thump, thump.
He stared greedily at the final settlement number. He wanted to reach out and touch the paper, to confirm its reality, but he feared the Third Hokage might misunderstand his intent.
Shimura Danzo, meanwhile, was paralyzed with disbelief.
Talent.
True talent!
Since when did that brat Kantsuki have this kind of ability?!
His throat felt like sandpaper. He swallowed hard.
Danzo desperately wanted to seize this report—and the business behind it—for himself.
But it was impossible.
Hiruzen had been guarding against his old friend from the start.
With eyes full of vigilance, Hiruzen snatched the report back from Danzo's hands with surprising agility for an old man.
He read it again, laughing as he read.
Fifty million!
Over fifty million!
"Pass on my order!"
The Third Hokage shouted with high spirits, venting the pressure that had been crushing him for years.
"Fully protect Kantsuki's business! Escort it with everything we have!"
"Shikaku!"
"Here!"
"You go personally! Tell Kantsuki that I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, will fully support his business! And don't let the Ino-Shika-Cho trio sit idle—mobilize everyone!"
If anyone dares to reach out a hand, cut it off!
If the high-ranking elders ask questions?
"Let them come find me!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Cough…"
Seeing Nara Shikaku rush out excitedly, Danzo couldn't hold back anymore.
Fifty million…
What kind of concept was fifty million?
Let's put it this way: An S-Rank mission, a task with a ninety percent mortality rate even for Jonin, paid "only" one million ryo.
This proved the magnitude of the number!
And this was only the first few days!
If they gave Shimizu Kantsuki more time, Danzo didn't even dare to imagine the wealth.
"That… cough… Hiruzen. This old man…"
"Hm? Danzo, why haven't you left yet? Kantsuki is just starting up, and I'm going to be very busy. I don't have time to chat with you."
"...…"
"Hiruzen! My Root organization…"
"Right! Your Root needs to get moving too. Investigate the village thoroughly. See if there are any spies who might delay or sabotage Kantsuki's business."
The Third Hokage puffed happily on his pipe, the red flush on his face refusing to fade.
As for his old friend Danzo?
Go play somewhere else!
Before leaving, Kantsuki had made it clear: if the business lost money, say no more. But if it made money… Sarutobi Hiruzen had a percentage of the shares!
Therefore, protecting Kantsuki's business was protecting Hiruzen's business.
It was protecting Hiruzen's money!
A mere one million investment returned an astronomical profit! How could he possibly share it?
Danzo understood.
The other party had no intention of giving him a cut.
His face turned as black as coal.
"Hiruzen!! Is my Root not a part of Konoha too?!"
Why are you shouting so loud?
Hiruzen picked his ear nonchalantly.
He wasn't giving up a single ryo.
"Danzo! I am the Hokage!"
Also!
That is this old man's money!
MY MONEY!!