As expected.
The two Yukinoshita women were genuinely capable.
Kangetsu couldn't help but admire their money-making skills.
In truth, it wasn't that they were insanely brilliant.
It was just that modern business methods were basically a dimensionality-reduction strike in the shinobi world.
Of course—
Methods for shifting assets were also a dimensionality-reduction strike.
He wasn't planning to hand over every last bit of the revenue for profit-sharing.
A small portion was enough.
Embezzlement?
Don't put it so ugly.
This was normal loss in the industrial chain. Natural loss.
Materials get damaged during transport—doesn't that cost money?
Shipping fees cost money, too.
Greasing palms up and down the line costs money.
There were countless places where money had to be spent.
Even so, just taking out a small slice would still make that old Third ecstatic.
That was the obscene profit margin of an integrated supply chain and industry monopoly.
Honestly—
The major shinobi villages were still scraping by day to day, but the Five Great Nations had been enjoying peace and comfort the entire time.
Was that really fair?
Kangetsu shook his head.
The warped structure of the shinobi world was beyond ridiculous.
So that saying really wasn't wrong.
Kishimoto didn't know a damn thing about Naruto…
...
A few days later.
Kangetsu returned to Konoha.
It was time to split the profit with that old Third.
And the old Third had been waiting in his office early.
He'd even left the door open, as if afraid he might miss something.
Seeing Kangetsu smiling as he lifted a hand to knock, the old Third looked even more energized.
"Kangetsu, just come in! Why are you knocking? I've been waiting for you!"
Kangetsu immediately got it.
After he entered, he quietly closed the door.
And as always, he remained respectful.
"Hokage-sama, I didn't let you down."
"Good, good, good!!"
Seeing how steady Kangetsu still was, Hiruzen was grinning so wide he couldn't even hide his gums.
But the old man could keep his composure when it mattered.
He lit his long pipe first, took a long, satisfied draw—
then personally poured tea for the "flattered" good kid.
With the cup in hand, Hiruzen didn't rush.
He believed Kangetsu had the Will of Fire.
"Hokage-sama, you know this. My business only worked because you supported me. Even the startup funds came from you.
But the clothing business isn't actually as hot as it looks.
Right now it's new, so it naturally rakes in money. Later, once the novelty fades, profits won't be anywhere near this high."
Hiruzen had already expected that.
Clothing could be copied, after all.
Other villages might not have the resources to build a full supply chain, but opening a few independent shops was absolutely doable.
Still, it didn't matter. Eating a big wave of profit in the short term was already enough.
If it started losing money later, they could just stop.
"Please take a look at this first."
Kangetsu took out a contract.
Hiruzen didn't hesitate. His eyes burned as he read.
The Third gets thirty percent.
The Nara get thirty percent.
Kangetsu gets twenty percent.
The remaining twenty percent is distributed among various shops and the front-line connections.
Hiruzen didn't fully understand.
Thirty percent?
How much would that even be per year?
"Ahem…"
Kangetsu coughed, as if embarrassed.
"Hokage-sama, please don't think it's too little. Thirty percent should still be three to five hundred million ryō a year, at least…"
"Pff—!!"
H-how much!?
Hiruzen couldn't hold it in. He sprayed old tea straight out.
He stared at Kangetsu like his brain had short-circuited.
Three to five hundred million?
That's three to five hundred million, right…
He didn't mishear, did he? He couldn't have—
"Sigh, Hokage-sama, I know you think it's too little, but you know the Nara effectively represent the Ino-Shika-Cho clans too.
Their interests can't be ignored.
I'll take a loss. Twenty percent is fine for me.
And the last twenty percent is necessary for… arrangements."
No, no, no.
Three to five hundred million…
"N-no. It's not little. It's really not little…"
And Kangetsu had already "taken a loss" this badly—how could an old man like him even complain?
"Kangetsu, don't worry! We old men aren't dead yet! We absolutely won't let you suffer!"
Even if Hiruzen hated giving up percentages, he could open the gates wide in every other area.
He smoked, eyes bright, thinking hard.
A good kid loyal to him—he liked that.
A good kid willing to work himself to the bone for Konoha—he liked that even more.
A loyal kid, willing to fight, and able to make Konoha huge money?
He couldn't like him more if he tried.
Since the good kid could make money, then he shouldn't be wasting time on missions.
That would be pointless.
Talent belonged where talent was most valuable.
But for the moment, Hiruzen couldn't find a prestigious post that was both vacant and didn't require going out on missions.
Seeing Kangetsu still wearing that guilty expression, Hiruzen finally clenched his jaw.
"Fine, Kangetsu. Konoha Hospital is short an administrator. Don't worry—it's a cushy job, but the position is a step up."
"Yes! Kangetsu will absolutely obey Hokage-sama's arrangement!"
Good.
Hiruzen liked that attitude—always backing him, always loyal.
After a bit more concern and small talk, Hiruzen remembered the kid was newly married and would want time with his wife, so he approved a few days of leave.
Kangetsu left.
Only after the good kid's back disappeared did Hiruzen lose the ability to pretend he was calm.
He lifted the contract again and read it closely.
The more he read, the more energized he became, and the happier he felt.
Three to five hundred million!
And that was every year!
With that money, his ANBU would finally have proper funding.
Even the regular shinobi forces wouldn't have to live so frugally.
At the very least, they wouldn't end up delaying mission payments anymore.
Though…
Wasn't the Nara clan's share a bit too much?
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.
He didn't believe they could even spend that much.
So the split needed to be adjusted.
That good kid was still too honest.
Ten percent for Ino-Shika-Cho would be enough.
Kangetsu's cut wouldn't change.
The kid was already taking a loss—if he touched his share too, there was no way to justify it.
As for the remaining twenty percent…
Hiruzen recalled what Kangetsu had said: necessary arrangements.
After wrestling with it for a while, he still couldn't bring himself to touch that portion.
But Ino-Shika-Cho…
Was even ten percent too much?
What about five percent?
...
Downstairs.
Shikaku had been waiting for a long time.
The moment he saw Kangetsu come down, his heart heated up and he hurried over.
With Hokage-sama involved, he didn't dare ask for a real share—just a few scraps would be enough!
After all—
Ino-Shika-Cho was poor too…
"Kangetsu, how'd it go?"
Can Ino-Shika-Cho sit at the table?
"Ahem, Shikaku-san. Don't ask, and don't tell anyone."
That meaningful look made Shikaku's heart jolt.
Could it be…?
"Good, good! I won't say anything, I won't say anything. Then it's on me! Let's go eat yakiniku!"
As he spoke, he grabbed Kangetsu's arm with intense enthusiasm.
We're brothers, aren't we? Talking a bit is not too much!