"Please, have a seat. Hinata delegated the negotiations to me. I'm Nara Shikamaru."
Mustering what energy he could, Shikamaru sat in one of the Uchiha compound's tatami rooms, droopy-eyed gaze trained on the bearded man across from him. It was a drag, but a promise was a promise.
The situation: in a room Sakura and Ino had cleaned up, Shikamaru and Sasuke occupied the host's side as Party A in these negotiations, while Asuma and Kakashi sat across from them as Party B. The atmosphere was unmistakably that of a formal business negotiation.
"Ah, right—I'm the owner of Fujimura Photo Shop. Just call me Fujimura."
Scratching the back of his head, Asuma couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. The Nara kid across from him was clearly the same age as Hinata—just another student—yet here he was conducting a business negotiation that most thirty-year-olds would struggle with. Compared to himself at eleven, this was downright humbling.
"Then I'll keep it brief. We need a professional photography and development team. Compensation is negotiable, and you're interested—correct?"
Chin propped on one hand, Shikamaru slid a contract he'd drafted across the table. "Apologies for being blunt, but proper documentation is non-negotiable. Take a look at these terms and let me know if anything's an issue."
"Sure, let's see."
Asuma exchanged a glance with Kakashi, swallowed his bruised pride, and picked up the contract. Just then, Ino's sweet voice drifted in from outside the sliding door. "Excuse me—may we bring in the tea and refreshments?"
"Mm, go ahead."
Shikamaru stifled a yawn. Drafting these commercial clauses had cost him no small number of brain cells.
The door slid open and Ino and Sakura entered carrying trays of tea and snacks. Both girls had shelved their usual bratty demeanor, placing cups and plates before each person with impeccable grace. They finished with a synchronized bow. "If there's anything else you need, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Ah, thank you—these treats look delicious."
Asuma and Kakashi both felt vaguely honored. They'd expected a verbal agreement at most, but the other side was treating them like genuine business partners with full hospitality.
And these children—nearly all of them heirs to Konoha's most distinguished clans. The fact that someone could organize and deploy these kids from wildly different bloodlines with such precision spoke volumes about their leader's ability.
So, after skimming the contract and confirming nothing was unreasonable, Asuma met Kakashi's eyes and nodded solemnly. "The contract looks fine. We accept all terms."
"Great, that's a huge help. If we'd had to revise and renegotiate, it would've been such a pain."
Munching on one of Ino's red bean dumplings, Shikamaru responded with polite warmth. "Then please wait a bit longer. Once our other team returns, we'll pay you the contract fee."
"That's very kind of you. Though—ahem—I do have one personal request."
Looking slightly sheepish, Asuma's voice took on a distinctly pleading quality. "The thing is—my wife is a huge fan of your group's work. So... would it be possible to set aside one finished copy for me to give her?"
"Huh? Oh, I see."
Watching the bearded man press his palms together in supplication, Shikamaru nodded with a glimmer of understanding. "Looks like you're the same type as my old man—the kind who's wrapped around his wife's finger."
Indeed, Hinata had kept one crucial detail under wraps: the photos alone didn't constitute a finished product. They needed written narration added beneath each image to become a complete volume. To save time, Hinata had prepared blank layouts with pre-written dialogue for each page. The photos Asuma's team had developed had already been assembled in sequence by Shino and the others and taken out as the finished product for the bookshop.
In other words, producing another complete copy would mean building a new volume from scratch—and you'd need thorough familiarity with the text content to do it properly.
"This really is a hassle. The finished copies have already left with Shino's team, and even if I wanted to give you one, there just isn't a spare."
Shikamaru's brow creased. Beside him, Sasuke spoke up in his cold, clipped tone. "Furthermore, this is confidential. In principle, no finished volumes should be circulated before the official release."
"But... my wife really wants one... so..."
Sasuke's pointed words made Asuma wince, but the image of Kurenai's hopeful expression kept him firmly in his groveling stance. "Could you... make an exception? I promise it won't be shared with anyone."
Kakashi, watching from the sidelines, shook his head slightly. He knew he couldn't help with this. And Sasuke's position was entirely correct—it was up to Asuma to win these kids over on his own.
"Ugh, such a drag. Fine. I happened to read the script, so I've got a rough idea... But the best I can do is write out the text for you. You'll have to assemble the volume yourself."
Looking at Asuma in full prostration before him, Shikamaru pressed his fingers to his forehead in resignation. His own father's beleaguered posture in front of his mother came to mind. He could at least sympathize with the bearded man's plight.
"Hey, Shikamaru."
Sasuke frowned. Shikamaru slung an arm over his shoulder with an uncharacteristic grin. "It's fine. Rules are important, sure—but this is also about maintaining a good relationship with our partners going forward."
"Tch! Then as far as I'm concerned, I know nothing about this. If anything goes wrong, you explain it to Hinata yourself."
Shaking Shikamaru off with evident discomfort, Sasuke slid the door open and left the tatami room. He had, in the end, given his tacit consent.
Kakashi exhaled with quiet relief for his friend. Good—the boy wasn't evil by nature, it seemed. Asuma's gratitude practically radiated from every pore. "Thank you so much! You've literally saved my life, Shikamaru!"
"Don't mention it. I just happen to understand your situation from watching my parents."
Shikamaru shook his head, finding himself warming slightly to the easygoing, bearded man. For an adult, Asuma showed zero condescension toward them—a genuinely rare quality.
With a glance at Asuma, Kakashi stood with a smile. "Well then, as the photographer, I'd like to take a look around and familiarize myself with the area. If you don't mind?"
"Sure. Want someone to show you around?"
"No need—I'll just wander on my own."
Kakashi stepped out, his easygoing expression hardening the moment the door closed behind him. Now he needed to check on the last surviving Uchiha heir and get a read on the boy's current state of mind.
Over at Konoha Books, Shino had arrived with the finished volume, flanked by Naruto and Choji as escorts.
"Good day. Here is the latest issue of Fox Tales. Please inspect it."
Shino placed the volume on the counter with both hands, his gaze fixed on the shopkeeper. Squirrel studied the three children with mild surprise. "Hm? Hinata isn't coming personally this time? Are you her lackeys?"
"To be precise, we are her partners and companions."
Shino's tone didn't waver, which made Squirrel raise an eyebrow. Just three brats, and not even from notable families—yet this one had some nerve.
Well, since Hinata and her Hyuga backing weren't here, handling these three would be a cinch.
A crooked smile crossed Squirrel's face. He feigned packing away the volume, then hauled a cash box onto the counter. "Right then, here's this issue's payment. Based on sales and royalty calculations, this time we've got... hmm, 500,000 ryō. First time seeing this much money, I bet?"
"Whoa!! 500,000 ryō! That's 100,000 more than last time!"
Naruto and Choji cheered in unison, and Squirrel's lips curled with satisfaction. Just as he'd thought—a bunch of clueless brats. The last issue of Fox Tales had shattered sales records; 500,000 ryō was barely half the actual royalty. He'd split the money into two boxes as a precaution—never expecting it would let him pocket the difference so easily. With the Hyuga girl here he wouldn't have dared, but these kids? Consider it tribute to good old Squirrel.
"No. That's incorrect."
But Shino's flat, inflectionless voice cut through Naruto and Choji's celebration. He stared straight at Squirrel without reaching for the cash box. "By our calculations, based on the agreed royalty split, this issue's payment should be approximately one million ryō. You're short by half."
"Wh—! There's no way you brats calculated that right! I'm telling you, this is all there is. Take it or leave it!"
Having been a ninja once himself, Squirrel doubled down, banking on brazenness. As long as he could shoo these kids out the door, he could pin the blame on them even if Hinata came calling later—claim he'd already paid in full and let them take the fall.
"Total domestic sales of the previous issue of Fox Tales were 725,647 copies at a unit price of 1,000 ryō. Hinata's royalty rate is 0.5 percent. After taxes and miscellaneous deductions, the payable amount is 1,123,586 ryō. Rounding down, that's 1,120,000 ryō. Therefore..."
Shino's gaze remained locked on Squirrel, his tone unchanged. "Please produce the other half of the payment."
"I—I made a mistake, that's all..."
Squirrel gaped. He'd assumed these kids were easy marks who'd swallow any number he threw at them. But with data that precise, he had no ground left to stand on.
Fuming, he dragged a second cash box onto the counter. "Fine! Here! This is everything. Happy now? Damn annoying brats."
"Hey! You were planning to cheat us from the start, weren't you?!"
Naruto balled his fists and snarled, but Shino raised a hand to stop him. As if he hadn't even heard Squirrel's barb, Shino opened the cash box himself, his tone an uncanny echo of Hinata's. "Before we leave, the money should be counted."
"Hm?"
Squirrel watched, puzzled. Then his expression shifted—first to confusion, then to creeping horror.
A swarm of tiny black insects poured from Shino's sleeves like an army of ants. Squirrel could even see small holes opening in the skin of the boy's cheeks, more insects crawling out from beneath the surface. They spread across both cash boxes in disciplined formation, scuttling among the bills as if tallying every last note.
"Whoa, that's amazing, Shino! You can control these bugs?"
Choji munched his chips, utterly unbothered. Shino, focused on directing his insects, gave a slight nod. "Yes. I can sense the feedback my insects relay, so..."
"Wait! WAIT!!"
Squirrel's face had gone chalk-white, his composure completely shattered. He abandoned all pretense of adult dignity and, his scalp prickling with dread, slammed a third, smaller cash box onto the counter. "B-because this issue's sales hit a new record, headquarters allocated a special bonus of 200,000 ryō!! This—this is truly everything I owe you! Now please, just go!"
"Hey! You WERE trying to skim our money, weren't you?!"
Naruto's hackles rose, but once again Shino cut in. "The count is complete. The total matches our projections."
Each carrying a cash box, the three boys turned to leave. At the door, Shino glanced back at the trembling shopkeeper and pushed his sunglasses up one final time. "Well then, apologies for the trouble. We'll see you next time."
"Y-y-yes... next time..."
Squirrel's legs had turned to jelly. He managed to squeeze out a smile more pained than any grimace. Only after watching the children disappear down the street did the ashen-faced retired ninja slide to the floor with a thud, muttering to himself in a daze.
"What's the world coming to... This generation of brats... they're all monsters..."