Chapter Forty-Four: Amusement

It was the same tent as before, but its interior was no longer as bare and humble. The small table was now piled high with fruit and pastries, with bottles of liquor set beside it. Two female ninja stood nearby at all times, awaiting orders.

Inside the tent, the elder of Grass Ninja Village, accompanied by three subordinates, was speaking with Yu Higashino and his companions.

“Lord Luffy, it’s thanks to you that we were able to defeat the Land of Waterfalls this time,” the elder said.

There was no doubt that these words met the conventions of gratitude, but Yu Higashino’s skill panel showed no new abilities. In other words, their thanks were not sincere—perhaps born of fear, flattery, or some other polite necessity.

“It was nothing, merely the completion of a commission,” Yu Higashino replied coolly, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“Since the commission is done, I’d like to settle the payment now,” he continued, making it clear he had no intention to linger.

“No problem. How much does Lord Luffy expect as a reward?” the elder asked.

Yu Higashino frowned. “The commission at the Exchange House states the bounty will be determined by contribution. How much do you think we deserve?”

“Well…” the elder hesitated, struggling to answer.

Yu Higashino simply turned to Kakuzu. “I previously said all mission rewards would go to you. How much do you think we should ask for?”

Kakuzu was momentarily taken aback, then, for the first time, a rare trace of joy flickered across his brow.

“In cases like this,” Kakuzu said, “we singlehandedly ended the war. The difficulty is on par with assassinating a Kage. According to the going rate, one hundred million ryo should be about right.”

Yu Higashino looked back at the elder.

“What he said is what I mean—one hundred million ryo.”

Since there was no new skill gained, it might as well be settled at market value.

“…Fine,” the elder agreed through gritted teeth after a moment’s hesitation. “However, we don’t have that much money on hand right now. We’ll need you two to come back to the village with us.”

Yu Higashino glanced at Kakuzu, who replied, “That’s acceptable.”

“Then please rest here for now, my lords. We will return to the village together soon.”

“When will we depart?”

“Early tomorrow morning.”

“Very well.”

The conversation ended. The elder prepared to leave with his three subordinates, but as they reached the entrance, Yu Higashino called him back—not for any particular reason, only to ask him to take the two female ninja with him. The tent was small enough already; two more people made it feel crowded.

Once everyone had left, only Yu Higashino and Kakuzu remained inside.

“Are you really giving all that reward to me, my lord?” Kakuzu could not help but ask. One hundred million ryo was a fortune. Though he had accumulated a great deal as a bounty hunter, this sum still moved him.

“Yes,” Yu Higashino replied, then, as if recalling something, his eyes shone with a mischievous glint.

Because he had gained no new skills, he felt a bit disappointed and wanted to amuse himself.

“Do you know why I don’t care about the reward money?” Yu Higashino asked deliberately.

Kakuzu looked at him in confusion.

“Because I simply don’t care about money. For me, however much I want, I can have.”

Kakuzu’s puzzlement only deepened.

“You don’t understand, do you? Watch closely.”

With that, Yu Higashino casually gestured and used the Transformation skill, turning the air into a stack of cash, which he held in his hand.

“Take a look,” he said, passing the conjured money to Kakuzu.

Kakuzu’s eyes widened in disbelief. His hand trembled as he reached for the money.

Watching Kakuzu’s reaction, Yu Higashino couldn’t help but smile. It was, as expected, quite entertaining.

Kakuzu began to examine the bills intently. In the ninja world, currency had special anti-counterfeiting features, impossible to replicate with ordinary ninjutsu. Even if one managed, the forgery would be easy to detect.

Yet, no matter how thoroughly Kakuzu inspected the money Yu Higashino had conjured, he could find no trace that it had just been created out of thin air.

The more he checked, the brighter his eyes became, until in the end they practically shone as he stared at Yu Higashino.

“My lord, can you make even more?” he asked eagerly.

“I told you, I can have as much as I want,” Yu Higashino replied, and with those words, he continued to use the Transformation skill—not merely stacks, but entire piles of money appeared one after another.

After a few heaps had accumulated, he stopped, turning to Kakuzu, who was utterly stunned.

“That’s why I truly don’t care about money,” Yu Higashino said offhandedly.

Kakuzu still hadn’t recovered. He felt as if… as if something within him had shattered. What he had spent his whole life striving for was so easily conjured and dismissed by another.

Yet, it also felt as if something new was being rebuilt inside him.

“My lord!” he burst out, “I want to learn how to do that!”

A smile curled at Yu Higashino’s lips. “You want to learn? I can teach you, but… that will depend on your performance.”

He was not deceiving Kakuzu. The skills he had acquired did not simply grant him abilities; they also included the corresponding training methods and all related knowledge.

In theory, he could teach his skills to others—but only in theory.

The reason was the different systems of power. This world’s supernatural arts were based on chakra, while Yu Higashino’s skills drew on stamina and mental strength, which, though similarly named, were different from those in the ninja world. In short, the people here could not follow the path Yu Higashino had taken.

Still, it wasn’t impossible. Yu Higashino could plant a “seed of power” within another, much as the Sage of Six Paths had shared chakra with mankind. With that, others could begin to cultivate as well.

However, Yu Higashino had no intention of spreading his power system widely. Even with someone as close as Naruto, he had never considered sharing it—not out of stinginess or fear, since the power seeds cost him almost nothing and could be reclaimed at will, with any progress made transferred to him.

He simply found it troublesome. To share power was to take on responsibility, and he had no wish for that, unless—

—unless, as now, it was for his own amusement.

“My lord, you really can teach me?” Kakuzu asked, full of hope.

“Of course. But as I said, it depends on your performance.”

For Kakuzu, three things mattered above all: life, money, and dignity.

Life was paramount, of course. Money’s importance to Kakuzu was self-evident. Dignity meant the pride of the strong.

If ranked, it would be: life equal to or greater than money, both far above dignity. Therefore—

“My lord, from this day forth I am your most loyal servant!” Kakuzu declared solemnly.

Yu Higashino immediately waved him off.

“No need for servants. Just show me what you’re made of. If I’m pleased with you, and the time feels right, I’ll teach you.”