Five million.
A house in the Fire Capital.
From what Kaito knew, housing prices in the Fire Capital were over thirty percent higher than Konoha's—and that was only the outer districts.
The closer you got to the center, prices multiplied exponentially.
As for the inner city?
Only Fire Country nobility were even qualified to live there.
Fukuyama Yū's smug expression was crystal clear.
And Kaito hated it.
He hated people who thought money could solve everything.
"I refuse."
"My relationship with Miss Sawa is purely that of ordinary friends. Don't assume money can buy everything, Minister Fukuyama."
Fukuyama Yū looked up and saw tears welling in Kaito's eyes.
For a moment, he couldn't quite read this young genin's thoughts.
He took a sip of tea, eyes flickering.
"Then I'll add a shop. One in the Fire Capital, one in Konoha."
Kaito felt as if his eyes were bleeding.
"No matter what you offer—my answer is still no!"
—Unless you add more. Then I might grit my teeth, sell my entire reputation, retire somewhere quiet, and live comfortably for the rest of my life.
"Damn it!" Fukuyama Yū slammed the table.
"So your appetite is this big?! Believe it or not, I can have you hacked to death right here!"
"Do it!"
For a split second, Fukuyama Yū nearly signaled his hidden guards.
He was this close to letting the noble darkness loose.
And Kaito himself didn't even know why he was burning like this.
He just didn't want to satisfy this man.
Unless… the price went up.
"Hmph!"
"Get out."
"From today onward, you are an enemy of the Fukuyama family!"
"…Huh?!"
Kaito finally realized he might've gone too far—
He had just verbally gone to war inside the home of a top military official.
Fukuyama Yū glanced at the antique clock on the wall.
He had a meeting soon.
No time to waste on this brat.
Slide—
The shōji door opened.
"Minister Fukuyama," the retainer said calmly.
"Shall I extend the meeting?"
"No."
"Throw him out of the inner city. Do not allow him back in."
"Yes."
"Wait—" Kaito tried once more.
Five million, a house, a shop… that was already enough to make him insanely rich.
"No need," Fukuyama Yū cut him off.
"I already understand your resolve."
"From today on, live knowing your head could be taken at any time."
"…WHAT?!"
Kaito was expelled from the inner city.
Meanwhile, Fukuyama Yū changed into his official robes and headed for the council.
Along the way, every official addressed him as Minister.
Only when facing the Fire Country Daimyō did he bow deeply.
"Minister Yū," the Daimyō said, fan covering half his face.
"How is Konoha intelligence?"
"How much funding must we allocate this year so they don't threaten the capital?"
"The same as previous peacetime years," Fukuyama Yū replied.
"Oh?" The Daimyō's eyes sharpened.
"My daughter works at Konoha's bank," Fukuyama Yū explained.
"She has detailed records of shinobi and civilian assets."
"Based on recent account closures, Konoha's actual funding gap is growing."
"In short—they can't fully recover their wartime manpower."
"And how much is 'not enough'?"
"An additional ten percent."
The Daimyō closed his fan.
"I understand."
"But for now, maintain last year's amount."
"Wars have damaged trade. Border towns need relief funds."
"If not for Yan'u City's contributions, our treasury would be strained."
"Wise as always, my lord."
Then the Daimyō's gaze narrowed.
"And your daughter's marriage?"
Fukuyama Yū hesitated.
Before he could answer—
BANG!
The doors burst open.
"Father!"
The Daimyō's son, Enshin, stormed in.
"I'm going to Konoha to become a shinobi! I refuse to be some useless Daimyō!"
"Enshin!" the Daimyō scolded.
"Arranging your marriage was for your own good!"
"If it's for my good, send me to Konoha—not to marry some stranger!"
"If you won't let me go, I'll go myself!"
"ENSHIN!"
The Daimyō stood and gestured subtly.
"Protect him."
"Yes."
A deep voice echoed from the shadows.
The meeting ended there.
On the way home, Fukuyama Yū finally relaxed.
Power matters… but my daughter's happiness matters more.
Meanwhile, in the outer district of the Fire Capital—
Kaito was having the time of his life.
Every vendor bowed and called him sir.
"So this is nobility," he muttered while eating fire-grilled skewers.
"Everyone smiling at you, terrified of offending you… no wonder people crave power."
Three hundred ryō per skewer.
He nearly cried biting into it.
At that moment, a young boy crashed straight into him.
The boy stumbled—
—and a pillow suddenly popped out of the ground to break his fall.
Kuso—what kind of rich brat is this?!
"Damn it, Takeya! Stop interfering!"
"I'm going to be a great shinobi one day!"
Kaito finished the skewer, tossed the stick perfectly into a trash bin, and extended a hand.
"You okay?"
"I don't need your help! You're probably another guard my father sent!"
"…Right."
Kaito was about to reply when—
Killing intent erupted everywhere.
Merchants. Pedestrians. Vendors.
All watching him.
Kuso—WHO IS THIS KID?!
Kaito backflipped away and drew a kunai.
A shopper with a hidden mic.
A gardener.
A stall owner.
Even underground—
Someone stronger than Sawa's guard.
"You're not my family's guard?" the boy finally asked.
"I'm a Konoha shinobi on leave," Kaito said calmly.
"If I've interrupted something, I'll leave."
"Wait!"
"I'm En— no, just Shin!"
"…Sure."
"Can you take me to Konoha?! I always get dragged back!"
"Those bad guys keep stopping me!"
Bad guys = the people glaring murderously at me just now?
"I'll pay you!"
"One—"
"One hundred million Fire ryō!"
Kaito went silent.
Then—
"Cash or bank draft?"
"…Either. Once we reach Konoha."
Kaito understood instantly.
Another top-tier noble brat.
"Why Konoha?"
"I want a powerful master! One of the Three Sannin!"
Kaito sighed inwardly.
"Or," he said casually,
"I could teach you."
"Ten thousand ryō."
Enshin stared.
"You? You're like my age."
"I'm stronger than I look."
"…You're a jōnin?!"
The underground presence stiffened.
Kaito coughed.
"I've led teams before."
"Deal!" Enshin shouted.
In the slums outside the capital—
A bald man blocked their path with two thugs.
"Toll fee," he sneered.
Enshin pulled out ten thousand ryō.
Kaito pocketed it.
"Same result."
The thug drew his blade.
"You want to die?"
"No," Kaito said calmly.
"I'm teaching my student his first lesson."
"Shin. Killing's legal here, right?"
"…Yes."
KSHHH—
The kunai pierced the man's heart.
Before Enshin could blink—
Two shuriken struck the other two men dead.
Bodies fell.
Blood pooled.
"…Dead?" Enshin whispered.
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