"It's all legal business, not much profit, maybe seventy or eighty million a month," Yamamoto Taro said, forcing a smile.
A kunai instantly landed between his legs.
"Counting loans and other income, it's close to 400 million a month when business is good!" Yamamoto Taro quickly corrected himself, terrified another kunai might be aimed at his head.
"That's quite a business you've got, Lord Yamamoto." Seiryu pulled out a fresh kunai and lifted Yamamoto Taro's triple-chinned face with the tip.
"The Uchiha clan has some spare cash lately and wants to invest in your business. What do you think?"
"It would be my honor to have the Uchiha invest, sir. How much do you plan to put in?" Yamamoto Taro said with a forced smile.
"Invest?" Seiryu sneered, suddenly stabbing the kunai into the floor near Yamamoto Taro's foot. "That's Uchiha's investment. Is it enough?"
"Enough! More than enough!" Yamamoto Taro nodded frantically.
"Seventy percent of all income goes to the Uchiha."
"Uh…"
"Hmm?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Yamamoto Taro nodded emphatically.
"Don't make that face. The Uchiha clan is much stronger than the Shimura. As your bodyguards, we're well worth it," Seiryu said, helping Yamamoto Taro up.
"Yes… I understand… But what about the Daimyo?"
"Lord Yamamoto, faced with the threat of traitor Danzo Shimura's attempted coup, showed great loyalty and, together with the Uchiha, crushed Danzo's plot. How does that sound?" Seiryu smiled.
"Yes, yes, exactly! I always knew the Shimura were up to no good!" Yamamoto Taro said hurriedly.
"Then sign and stamp this," Seiryu said, producing a document from his sealing scroll and placing it before Yamamoto Taro.
Taro looked at it—it was covered in evidence of the Shimura clan's crimes, and some implicating the Mitokado and Koharu clans.
"Sir… do I really have to sign this?" Yamamoto Taro gulped. He knew that if he signed—even if the evidence was fake—he'd be making deadly enemies of those three clans.
"What do you think?" Seiryu raised an eyebrow with a warm smile.
"All right… I'll sign." Yamamoto Taro had no choice but to sign and stamp his fingerprint on the evidence.
Seiryu nodded in satisfaction and put away his kunai.
Afterward, with Yamamoto Taro's voluntary cooperation, the two went to the mansion's treasury, where Seiryu took seventy percent of the wealth. True to his word, he took only seventy percent.
Even so, the twenty billion in cash filled the fifteen sealing scrolls Seiryu had brought.
When Seiryu returned to the inn, everyone had just finished their gathering. As he slipped back into his room through the window, he found someone sitting on his sofa—Kakashi, alone, flipping through his Icha Icha Paradise. He looked up at Seiryu.
"You're back."
"When did you realize the one following you was a shadow clone?" Seiryu asked with a smile.
"Since we left the restaurant," Kakashi said, lifting his Sharingan. "Don't forget, I can't turn this eye off."
"All right then, Captain Kakashi, what do you plan to do? Report this in your mission log?" Seiryu grinned.
"You know I wouldn't do that," Kakashi replied.
"Hahaha!" Seiryu laughed. "I knew you wouldn't, Kakashi. So, since you waited for me this late, there's something else?"
Kakashi took a deep breath and asked seriously, "After last time, I wanted to try kyudo (archery), but I don't know where to start. Any advice?"
Seiryu was pleased. Kakashi was finally getting on track.
"Kyudo is about straight posture, right breathing, calm mind. If your stance isn't straight, your breathing isn't right, or your mind isn't calm, your arrow will fly off course," Seiryu said. "For beginners, it's a long journey."
Kakashi fell silent at that.
"Before you start training, you should take care of your teacher's son. The boy's not doing well in the village," Seiryu reminded him.
After the Fourth Hokage died, why did his old ANBU team go quiet? Wasn't it because there was no one to lead them? Kakashi was the most qualified to pick up the mantle, but he got lost in his grief and didn't even look after Minato's only son—how could anyone trust him enough to follow?
"Naruto, huh?" Kakashi snapped back to reality. "I understand. After this mission, I'll apply to leave the ANBU."
Seiryu smiled and nodded.
"Well, I won't bother you anymore. Thanks," Kakashi said, bowing before leaving.
After Kakashi left, Seiryu took a bath and went to bed.
…
The next morning, everyone gathered at the city gate. After the late arrival of Koharu Taki and Mitokado Hayato—both looking unhappy—they set off again.
With last night's camaraderie, the group was much more at ease, chatting and laughing along the way. Even the usually aloof Hyuga ninja dropped their guard, except for Koharu Taki and Mitokado Hayato, who were left out.
After being isolated the whole way, the two couldn't bear it any longer. When Seiryu announced another dinner that evening, they snapped.
"Some people seem to have forgotten we're on a mission, eating and drinking like this is a picnic," Koharu Taki said coldly.
Everyone looked at the two at the back of the group with odd expressions.
"When this is over, I'll report your behavior to the Hokage," Mitokado Hayato added.
"You don't have the authority to write a mission report. I'm the leader of this mission," Kakashi said coldly before Seiryu could reply.
"Kakashi, you—" Koharu Taki was surprised at Kakashi's open support for Seiryu.
"If you don't want to do the mission with us, you can leave now," Inuzuka Kaze said, not hiding his displeasure.
Yeah, right. Why should we all go hungry just because you don't want to eat?