"President… have you changed?"
On the bustling main street of Qinghai City, Ringo Yuri squinted suspiciously at Naruto, circling him like a hawk inspecting prey..
"Changed? What do you mean by that?" Naruto asked.
"The old president was way more dignified and serious. This version of you is… too lively."
Ringo pinched her chin like a detective who'd cracked a case.
Naruto twitched.
Damn this body, he thought. I get sent out here to sweat in the sun while he [my true self] is back home flirting with Hinata. Seriously? I'm going to lose my mind.
Ringo's instincts were annoyingly sharp.
Shadow Clones weren't completely identical… and she was picking up on it.
"You're overthinking."
Naruto stopped talking when a commotion nearby drew in a crowd of onlookers.
"Ohhh! Trouble? Drama? LET'S GO!"
Ringo Yuri practically sparkled as she dashed toward the scene.
Naruto followed with Aoiha and Haku in tow.
Outside a small shop were a gang of thugs armed with clubs and pipes, blocking the entrance menacingly.
The storefront sign read: "Xinghai Shop."
Naruto glanced at the shop and started chuckling.
Inside, the workers huddled in fear behind the counter—except for one bespectacled young man standing firm between them and the gang.
"Kid, get your boss out here, or we'll wreck the place."
"I'm the boss. Talk to me."
"You? A kid like you running a shop? Don't joke!"
"Believe it or not, I'm still the boss."
"Quit playing. You know the rules. You can't run a shop in Qinghai City unless you pay up—half your earnings, every month. That's how the Qinghai Gang protects you."
Naruto scoffed.
A band of street thugs dared demand half of someone's livelihood?
That was beyond bold—it was insulting.
"Tsk. Thought it'd be something fun. Turns out it's just a bunch of clueless hooligans." Ringo pouted, disappointed.
"Ringo," Naruto said, eyes narrowing. "How much do you get paid per mission as a ninja?"
"Huh? Depends. Sometimes a few million ryō. Sometimes a few hundred thousand. Why?"
"And how long does that take?"
"Few days to a few weeks. What's your point?"
"You've got no idea how much those thugs make in a single day, do you?"
"How much?" Ringo blinked.
"Not telling. I'll show you tonight."
Ringo's grin lit up like fireworks.
Just then, one of the thugs came flying backward out of the shop, crashing into the dirt. The next few followed—with a thwack, thwack, WHAM—like bowling pins knocked by a strike.
The kid boss had taken them down in seconds.
Aoiha raised a brow. "Not bad."
Naruto simply nodded at the boy—and turned away.
Later, at a quiet courtyard behind closed gates, the same young shopkeeper opened the door.
"President," he said with deep respect.
Naruto entered with the others and took a seat at a stone table in the yard.
"That shop earlier—it belongs to the Red Sun Society, right?" Ringo asked, impressed.
Yakushi Kabuto—now revealed as the shop's owner—adjusted his glasses with a smile. "Correct."
Naruto spoke first.
"Kabuto, what's going on here?"
Kabuto bowed his head. "I came because our business here was being harassed. Qinghai City has a problem."
He continued.
"The so-called 'Qinghai Gang' is run by the city lord himself, in secret. They extort citizens through 'safety fees.' Anything from 10% to 50% weekly. Most shopkeepers are left with scraps."
"And who's the city lord?" Naruto asked.
"He's a distant relative of the Fire Daimyo. Installed here over ten years ago. Stable in power. And rotten to the core."
Naruto nodded.
Kabuto knew everything—because the Society was already working.
"So," Naruto said, "the plan is to remove this city lord and replace him with us. Make Qinghai City into a Red Sun Society stronghold?"
Kabuto bowed respectfully again.
"Yes. Verified and approved by Kui Ox and White Tiger."
Naruto smirked.
"That's why you came here to set up shop, huh?"
Then he turned to the three behind him.
"Let's introduce ourselves properly. Kabuto, this is Ringo Yuri from the Hidden Mist—Lightning Release, Blade Style, Jōnin."
"This is Aoiha—Scorch Release, hero of the Hidden Sand, Elite Jōnin."
"And this is Haku—Yuki bloodline, Ice Release user."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses again… stunned.
He'd heard of each of them—except Haku—but anyone approved by the president had to be exceptional.
Then he froze as Aoiha stared long at him.
"Haven't I seen you before…?" she asked.
Kabuto smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
(Of course she had—he'd once infiltrated the Sand as a spy.)
"Alright," Naruto said, getting up with fire in his voice.
"No more talk. Let's crush the Qinghai Gang tonight."
He slammed the table.
Ringo Yuri cackled. "Finally—some fun!"
Aoiha cracked her knuckles. "My blood's rusting from lack of action."
Haku swallowed nervously… but when he saw Naruto's eyes…
He straightened up.
Whatever happened—they were doing it together.
Tonight, the Red Sun Society would show Qinghai City who truly owned it.
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