Chapter 26: Kakashi's Inquiry
"We are just doing legitimate business here. We don't make that much—about seventy to eighty million ryō a month." Hearing Uchiha Douhuan's question, Yamamoto Tarō immediately forced a smile and replied.
A kunai whizzed past his ear, embedding itself right between his legs.
"...Including loan sharking and other revenues, our best months bring in around four hundred million," Yamamoto Tarō corrected himself instantly, breaking into a cold sweat. He didn't dare to test his luck further, afraid that the next kunai might not miss.
"Quite the prosperous operation, Lord Yamamoto," Douhuan said, pulling out another kunai and using its tip to lift Yamamoto Tarō's triple-layered chin.
"Our Uchiha clan recently found ourselves with some extra funds and would like to invest in your business. What do you think?"
"It would be an honor for the Uchiha to invest in my humble business, my lord. May I ask how much you plan to invest?" Yamamoto Tarō smiled nervously.
"Invest?" Douhuan chuckled. With a swift motion, his kunai stabbed into the floor next to Yamamoto Tarō's foot. "This is the Uchiha's investment. Is it enough?"
"More than enough! More than enough!" Yamamoto Tarō nodded frantically.
"We'll be taking seventy percent of the revenue."
"Uh…"
"Hmm?"
"I—I understand!" Yamamoto Tarō quickly agreed.
"Don't look so distressed," Douhuan said with a smirk. "The Uchiha clan is far stronger than the Shimura. As protectors, we provide unmatched value for your money."
"Of course... I completely understand... But, my lord, what about the Daimyō?"
"Lord Yamamoto," Douhuan said, still smiling, "as a wise and loyal subject of the Daimyō, you saw the threat of the treasonous Shimura Danzō and, remembering the Daimyō's kindness, allied with the Uchiha to crush his coup. How does that sound?"
"Yes! Yes! That's exactly what happened! I always suspected the Shimura clan had treacherous intentions!" Yamamoto Tarō hastily agreed.
"In that case, sign and seal this document," Douhuan said, pulling out a scroll from his storage seal and placing it in front of him.
Yamamoto Tarō picked up the scroll and scanned its contents. It was packed with accusations against the Shimura clan, along with incriminating details implicating the Homura and Koharu clans as well.
"My lord… must I sign this?" Yamamoto Tarō swallowed hard. He knew that once he signed this document—whether the accusations were true or not—he would have thoroughly antagonized all three clans.
"What do you think?" Douhuan raised an eyebrow, his warm smile unwavering.
"...I'll sign." Yamamoto Tarō had no choice. Hands trembling, he put his signature on the document and sealed it with his bloodied thumbprint.
Douhuan nodded in satisfaction and finally retracted his kunai.
Under Yamamoto Tarō's personal guidance, Douhuan was led to the castle's treasury, where he claimed seventy percent of its wealth. Even with that much restraint, he still walked away with over twenty billion ryō in cash, completely filling up the fifteen sealing scrolls he had brought.
I'll have to prepare bigger storage seals next time, Douhuan noted to himself as he left.
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Returning to the Inn
By the time Douhuan returned to the inn, the others had wrapped up their night out. He entered through the window, only to find someone already sitting on his couch.
Kakashi was flipping through his well-worn copy of Icha Icha Paradise. Hearing the movement, he glanced up.
"You're back."
"When did you figure out that the one following you was a shadow clone?" Douhuan asked with a smile.
"Right after we left the restaurant," Kakashi replied, tapping his Sharingan. "Don't forget, my eye doesn't close."
"Fair enough. So, Kakashi-taichō, what do you plan to do?" Douhuan asked playfully. "Write a report on me?"
"You know I wouldn't do that," Kakashi replied.
Douhuan burst into laughter. "Of course not. I trust Kakashi-taichō completely. So, what's keeping you up so late? You must have something else on your mind."
Kakashi took a deep breath before finally asking, "Since our last conversation, I've decided to start practicing archery… but I don't know where to begin. Do you have any suggestions?"
Hearing this, Douhuan felt a surge of satisfaction. Kakashi is finally catching on.
"Archery requires a straight posture, steady breathing, and a focused mind," Douhuan explained. "If your body is misaligned, your breathing unsteady, or your heart wavering, your shots will naturally miss. For a beginner, it's a long journey of discipline."
Kakashi fell into deep thought.
"But before you start your archery training," Douhuan added, shaking his head, "you should focus on properly looking after your sensei's son first. That boy's situation in the village isn't great."
Kakashi stiffened.
The son of the Fourth Hokage… Naruto.
Why had the Fourth's former personal guards disappeared after his death? Because they had no leader. Kakashi had been the most qualified person to carry on that mantle, but what had he done instead?
He had drowned himself in his grief and neglected the Fourth's only surviving child. If he couldn't even take care of Naruto, how could those former Anbu loyalists trust him with their lives?
"Naruto, huh?" Kakashi murmured. He closed his book. "I understand. After this mission, I will request to leave Anbu."
Douhuan nodded approvingly.
"Well then, I won't disturb you any longer. Thank you," Kakashi said, giving a rare, formal bow before leaving the room.
After Kakashi left, Douhuan took a relaxing bath and finally went to bed.
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The Next Morning
At dawn, the team regrouped at the city gates. Once the visibly irritated Homura Taku and Koharu Hayato arrived, they resumed their journey.
The mood had changed drastically from the previous day. After bonding over last night's festivities, the group now traveled together as a real team—laughing and chatting easily. Even the previously aloof Hyūga pair had let their guards down.
The only ones still ostracized were Homura Taku and Koharu Hayato.
Having endured this silent rejection all day, they finally lost their patience. As the group set up camp for another night of feasting, Taku sneered.
"Some people seem to have forgotten that we're on a mission," he said coldly. "We've been drinking and partying nonstop. Do you think this is some kind of vacation?"
His words cast a temporary silence over the group.
"I'll be filing a full report to the Hokage once we return," Koharu Hayato added.
"Strictly speaking, neither of you have the authority to file mission reports," Kakashi said coolly before Douhuan could even respond. "I am the mission lead."
"You—!" Taku gaped, taken aback by Kakashi's blunt dismissal.
"If you don't want to be here, you're free to leave now," Inuzuka Kaze added, eyes narrowing in annoyance. "No one's forcing you to stay."
What a joke.
These guys didn't want to eat or drink, but they expected everyone else to suffer along with them?
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