Danzo woke up early today.
His mood was complicated—half good, half bad.
Because he was heading to the Hokage Tower to watch the Third make a fool of himself.
Throwing a full one million ryō into "business"?
Konoha people just don't have the brain for that.
After all…
He'd been one of the idiots who'd lost his pants doing business before.
Ever since then, Danzo had sworn an oath.
If he ever did business again, he'd chop his own hand off.
This time—
He was going to make that old Third swallow his pride and punish Kangetsu properly.
In times like these, when everyone was tightening their belts, losing one million ryō…
Just hearing that number made Danzo's chest ache.
If you asked him, that one million should've gone to him instead…
Danzo, who couldn't even afford a decent cup of tea anymore, badly wanted the comfort of that one million ryō.
When he arrived at the Hokage's office, Danzo sat off to the side with a face like thunder.
He didn't even respond when Shikaku greeted him.
You're supposed to be Konoha's brain, and you still went along with that brat's nonsense?
Shikaku gave an awkward smile and said nothing.
Hiruzen, meanwhile, merely glanced at his old partner.
He'd already prepared himself for embarrassment and financial loss.
As for protecting Kangetsu from punishment—there was no need to rush. He had plenty of ways to handle that.
Time passed in a heavy silence between the three of them.
Then a commotion rose from downstairs.
They could vaguely make out people shouting for the Third—calling for the "old Third."
Shikaku's brow twitched.
He went even quieter.
Looks like the results are in.
He just hoped the losses weren't too bad. How much they lost would affect how harshly Kangetsu would be punished.
However, a Nara chūnin burst through the door, visibly shaking with excitement.
Shikaku's expression shifted.
That look… isn't right.
Hiruzen thought the same.
His eyes narrowed to slits as he asked, testing the waters.
"How much did we lose?"
"No! Hokage-sama, we didn't lose money!
Kangetsu's clothing business made a profit!"
Interesting. That kid's got some real skill…
How much?
"Net profit: fifty million ryō!"
…!!??
"...H-how much did you say?!"
"Net profit: fifty-three million seven hundred eighty thousand ryō!"
The chūnin's emphatic, excited report hit the room like a shockwave, as if it made the entire office tremble.
Even Hiruzen's involuntary shout came out sharp and strained.
F-five… five…
"Fifty million?!"
Just hearing a number that absurd made Danzo feel like he hadn't fully woken up.
He lunged forward and snatched the settlement report on the spot.
Eyes wide, he scanned the detailed accounting.
Line after line. Item after item. Clear, unambiguous entries.
It wasn't fake.
The Nara wouldn't dare. Kangetsu wouldn't dare, either.
So…
"It's… it's real…"
Hiruzen and Shikaku crowded in as well, unable to wait any longer.
Hiruzen's face was glowing—so pleased it looked almost flushed with health.
His eyes were bright, locked onto the net profit figure as he read it over and over again as if terrified he'd misread it.
It had only been a few days.
A few days!
And in that short time, they'd made over fifty-three million ryō?!
Hiruzen remembered that Konoha's annual ninja revenue was only a bit over one hundred million.
Even counting civilians, traveling merchants, and major commercial trade, the village's total yearly turnover was only a little over one billion.
Which meant—
This single clothing business, by itself, could match Konoha's entire annual revenue if it scaled?
"Heh… hahahahahahaha… HAHAHAHAHA!"
Hiruzen couldn't hold it in. He laughed out loud, free and exuberant.
Good!
Good!!
Kangetsu!
That kid had just handed this old man the biggest surprise of his life!
Shikaku looked like his eyes were about to pop out of his skull.
That astronomical number made his heart pound wildly.
He stared so hard at the final settlement figure that he practically wanted to reach out and touch it—except he didn't dare, in case Hiruzen misunderstood.
Danzo, though, was filled with disbelief.
Talent.
This was real talent!
That brat Kangetsu… he could do this, too?!
His mouth went dry as he swallowed.
Danzo wanted—desperately—to claim that report for himself.
But he couldn't.
Hiruzen had been guarding against him for years.
With a wary look and quick hands, Hiruzen snatched the report back.
He read it while laughing again, unable to stop himself.
Fifty million!
No—over fifty-three million!
"Pass on my order!"
Hiruzen sounded like a man who'd been holding his breath for far too long, finally letting it out in triumph.
"Give Kangetsu's business full protection! Shikaku!"
"Yes!"
"You go personally. Tell Kangetsu that I, Hiruzen, will fully support his business!
And don't let your Ino-Shika-Cho sit around either—mobilize everyone!"
Anyone who dares reach out a hand—kill them.
And if any higher-ups come asking questions—
"Tell them to come up here and ask me!"
"Yes!"
"Ahem…"
Watching Shikaku rush out with obvious excitement, Danzo couldn't hold it in anymore.
Fifty million…
What did fifty million even mean?
Put it this way—
Even an S-rank mission, the kind that could get a jōnin—or even a Kage-level shinobi—killed nine times out of ten, only paid a "mere" one million ryō.
Of course, bounties from rich nobles were a separate matter.
That alone proved just how absurd fifty million was.
And this had only taken a few days!
If Kangetsu had more time, Danzo didn't even dare imagine—
"So, uh… ahem, Hiruzen, this old man—"
"Hm? Danzo, why are you still here? Kangetsu is just getting started. I'll be busy from here on out. I don't have time to chat."
"..."
"Hiruzen! My Root—"
"Oh, right! Your Root should move too. Do a thorough sweep of the village. See if there are any spies who might interfere with Kangetsu's business."
Hiruzen puffed happily on his pipe, his face still glowing with satisfaction.
As for Danzo, his "old partner"?
Go play somewhere else.
Kangetsu had said it clearly before leaving—
If the business lost money, there was nothing to discuss.
But if it made money, Hiruzen would get a cut.
So protecting Kangetsu's business meant protecting Hiruzen's business.
Which meant protecting Hiruzen's money.
One million invested—returned as an astronomical figure.
How could he possibly stay calm?
Danzo understood immediately.
Hiruzen didn't want to share a single ryō with him.
His face darkened like charcoal.
"Hiruzen!! Is my Root not part of Konoha too?!"
Why are you yelling so loudly?
Hiruzen picked at his ear.
In any case, there was no way he was splitting the profits.
"Danzo! I am the Hokage!"
And besides—
That's this old man's money!
This old man's money!!