Night — Land of Waves
After a banquet filled with heartfelt gratitude from the villagers, Aoki Yoru and the others finally returned to their room.
The night was quiet.
Outside, the faint sound of waves echoed in the distance, blending with the occasional whisper of wind brushing past the wooden walls.
Inside the room, Kenta sat near the window, keeping watch as usual. Yui had already fallen asleep, her breathing steady and calm.
Aoki Yoru lay still on his bed.
Then—
His eyes opened.
Silently.
Calmly.
Without making a sound, he sat up.
"Kenta," he whispered softly.
Kenta turned his head immediately, alert.
"I'm stepping out for a bit," Aoki Yoru said quietly.
Kenta frowned slightly.
"At this hour?"
Aoki Yoru simply gave a small nod.
"I'll be back before dawn."
Kenta studied him for a moment, then sighed.
"…Be careful."
Moments later—
Aoki Yoru slipped out of the village like a shadow.
Earlier that day, during the chaos, he had deliberately spared one gangster.
From that man, he had extracted valuable information—
The location of Gato.
A city approximately ten kilometers away.
The night was dark.
The road ahead was empty.
Aoki Yoru moved swiftly through the forest, his figure blending seamlessly with the shadows. His footsteps were light, almost nonexistent.
After about an hour—
He arrived.
Before him stood a large estate.
Tall walls.
Guard posts.
A symbol of wealth and power.
This was the residence of Gato.
Aoki Yoru paused.
Then—
He extended his sensory ability.
A faint ripple spread outward.
Moments later, his expression shifted slightly.
"…That's it?"
Inside the estate, he detected only about ten Genin-level guards and a few samurai.
Nothing more.
No elite ninjas.
No overwhelming presence.
No hidden dangers.
He narrowed his eyes.
"It seems the news hasn't reached him yet…"
If Gato had known that his gangs had been wiped out—
He would have increased security immediately.
Someone as paranoid as him wouldn't leave himself exposed.
Before coming here, Aoki Yoru had been cautious.
He had even considered the possibility that dangerous figures like Zabuza and Haku might be guarding Gato.
If that had been the case—
He would have retreated without hesitation.
No amount of money was worth risking his life.
But now—
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"It seems fate has made the decision for you."
His body shifted.
In an instant, he transformed into the appearance of a middle-aged man.
Then—
He moved.
Inside the estate—
The guards patrolled lazily, chatting among themselves.
None of them sensed the approaching danger.
A gust of wind passed silently through the courtyard.
The next moment—
Thin red lines appeared across several necks.
For a brief second, nothing happened.
Then—
Blood erupted.
The guards collapsed one by one, lifeless before they even realized what had happened.
No screams.
No resistance.
Only silence.
Inside the master bedroom—
Dim candlelight flickered.
On a large, luxurious bed—
Gato lay sprawled, surrounded by indulgence.
Two women rested beside him, dressed provocatively.
He snored loudly, completely unaware of the danger closing in.
Then—
A cold sensation touched his neck.
His eyes snapped open.
A blade.
Pressed lightly against his throat.
Standing beside him—
A stranger.
A middle-aged man.
Cold.
Calm.
Deadly.
Gato's entire body stiffened.
His sleepiness vanished instantly.
"Wait—wait!" he stammered. "Sir, please! Whatever you want, we can discuss it! I have money! A lot of money!"
Years of business experience had taught him one thing—
Survival came first.
The two women beside him stirred awake.
They saw the blade.
They saw the intruder.
Their mouths opened—
To scream.
A flash of steel.
Two thin lines of blood appeared on their necks.
They collapsed instantly.
Dead.
Gato froze.
Cold sweat drenched his body.
He didn't dare move.
Didn't dare breathe too loudly.
Time passed slowly.
Half an hour later—
Aoki Yoru stepped out of the estate.
In his hand—
A scroll.
On his face—
A satisfied smile.
Inside the scroll—
Eight hundred million.
All of Gato's liquid assets.
Everything he could mobilize immediately.
Aoki Yoru exhaled slowly.
"That's quite a harvest…"
But then—
He frowned slightly.
Thinking about the original story, where Gato's total wealth amounted to tens of billions—
He felt a slight pang of regret.
"Such a pity…"
But he knew better.
Those assets weren't truly Gato's.
They were tied to powerful figures across multiple nations.
Gato was merely a front.
Touching that money—
Would bring consequences.
Serious consequences.
Back inside the estate—
Gato lay on the floor.
Broken.
Bleeding.
Barely alive.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
Fear filled his fading consciousness.
Then—
Darkness.
By the time Aoki Yoru returned—
The sky was beginning to brighten.
He quietly opened the door.
Immediately—
Four eyes locked onto him.
Kenta.
Yui.
Both wide awake.
Both staring at him expectantly.
Aoki Yoru smiled.
Without a word—
He took out two scrolls.
And tossed them over.
They caught them instinctively.
Opened them.
Then—
Their eyes widened.
"Thirty million…?!" Yui whispered in disbelief.
Her voice trembled.
For her clan—
This was an unimaginable amount.
Even generations of accumulated wealth couldn't compare.
With this—
Their entire clan's living conditions could change.
Kenta's breathing grew heavy.
His face flushed red.
He had never seen so much money in his life.
Didn't even know how to spend it.
Aoki Yoru watched them calmly.
He understood exactly what this amount meant.
It was nearly equivalent to the bounty placed on Asuma Sarutobi.
But—
This wasn't generosity.
It was necessity.
"Keep it," he said quietly.
"When the news of Gato's death spreads… we all share the responsibility."
He paused.
"Better to stay united."
They nodded.
Without hesitation, they tucked the scrolls into their inner garments, holding them close.
"We'll give Kakashi-sensei his share when he wakes up," Aoki Yoru added.
He would need Kakashi's backing—
Just in case.
The next morning—
They departed.
Carrying Kakashi on their backs, they left the village amidst grateful farewells.
Land of Fire
The environment shifted once again.
Lush forests.
Warm air.
Life returned.
The three moved swiftly through the trees.
But soon—
Yui noticed something.
"Yoru… this isn't the path back to the village."
Aoki Yoru didn't slow down.
"No."
He glanced back briefly.
"Kakashi-sensei's condition is unstable. We don't know how long he can hold on."
"There's a place nearby—Tanzaku Town."
He smirked faintly.
"We're going to try our luck… and find the 'Big Fat Sheep of the Ninja World.'"
"The what?" Kenta and Yui asked simultaneously.
Aoki Yoru didn't explain.
Tanzaku Town
A place of wealth.
Of pleasure.
Of indulgence.
The streets were alive with activity.
Merchants.
Ninja.
Geisha.
Gamblers.
The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, perfume, and money.
Compared to the Land of Waves—
It was another world entirely.
Aoki Yoru ignored the distractions.
He focused.
Expanding his sensory range across the entire town.
After continuous training—
His abilities had evolved significantly.
Barriers.
Walls.
Distance.
None of it could stop him.
Finally—
He found her.
Inside the most luxurious casino.
Tsunade.
He led Kenta and Yui to a nearby alley.
"Wait here."
Then—
He walked inside alone.
"Hey! No minors allowed—"
The guard stopped him.
Aoki Yoru tossed a stack of money.
"Money doesn't have an age."
The guard froze.
Aoki Yoru walked past him.
Moments later—
He exchanged one million for chips.
Inside—
A crowd gathered.
At the center—
Tsunade.
Every time she bet—
Everyone bet the opposite.
Aoki Yoru walked forward.
Placed all his chips beside hers.
The crowd glared.
But said nothing.
Minutes later—
His chips tripled.
Tsunade lost everything.
Again.
She stormed out.
Furious.
Followed by Shizune.
Aoki Yoru cashed out immediately.
Then followed.
"Lady Tsunade—please wait."
She turned.
"…You."
"Want to lend me money?"
Aoki Yoru shook his head.
"I need your help."
Moments later—
They saw Kakashi.
Tsunade's expression changed.
"…Kakashi?"
As Aoki Yoru explained everything—
Her expression darkened.
"Itachi…"
She clicked her tongue.
"That brat's son…"
Then her voice turned cold.
"The old man… really has grown soft."
"To let a clan be wiped out like that…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Is this still the will Konoha was built on?"
Silence followed.
The air grew heavy.
And Aoki Yoru knew—
They had found their answer.