Chapter 101: We Are Law-Abiding Businessmen Who Love Konoha!
Meanwhile, in another part of Konoha.
Inside a restaurant on Konoha's commercial street.
It was mealtime, and the restaurant was very lively.
A wealthy middle-aged man walked in from the main entrance, and after politely declining the staff who came to greet him,
He walked straight toward the innermost private booth on the second floor.
"Sorry everyone, I'm late."
"Hahaha, Manager Sato is too polite. Your shop is the furthest away, so it naturally takes more time to get here. Come, come, sit down!"
"Haha, thank you for your understanding, Manager Kumaichi."
After some pleasantries, Sato immediately took his seat.
There were a total of nine people in the booth, including himself.
He knew all of the other eight.
They were all sellers of Ninja Tools in Konoha Village, and specifically, they all sold budget Ninja Tools.
Sato looked at the others, feeling as if he were in a dream.
If this were in the past, they would all be considered competitors, wishing for each other to go bankrupt so there would be one less person to compete with.
But now,
They could sit together and eat peacefully.
"Manager Kumaichi, choosing a place like this..."
Seeing that everyone who should be there had arrived,
One of the managers spoke up to ask Kumaichi, who was sitting in the seat of honor.
"Eh, eh, eh! Manager Shuta, we're just having a normal meal and gathering! Does the Konoha Ninja care where we eat?"
"Ah~ right, right, look at me. We just haven't seen each other in a long time and came out for a meal together!"
Hearing what Kumaichi said, Shuta immediately understood the meaning and quickly echoed him.
After Shuta finished, the others also chimed in.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the booth became lively.
After all, they were all shop managers, and even the least successful among them owned three shops; none of them were fools.
The foolish ones had long since been devoured by them!
"Have you all heard the news circulating in Konoha lately?"
Sitting in the seat of honor, Kumaichi saw that everyone had almost finished eating, so he casually brought up a topic.
After all, chatting about gossip after a meal,
Wasn't that very normal!
But everyone was shrewd and realized that the main theme of the day had arrived, so they all started to respond.
"Oh? Is it about Hatake Sakumo's mission failure?"
"Exactly! That's the one. I heard... this mission wasn't simple! They say Konoha's losses were significant!"
"Oh? Does Manager Kumaichi have some inside information?"
"Sigh~, how could I have any inside information? Is that kind of mission something a small businessman like me can inquire about!"
"However..."
"However what?"
"However, I did find out where Hatake Sakumo's mission took place."
"Where?"
"The Land of Rivers!"
"The Land of Rivers?"
"Yes!"
Hearing Kumaichi's answer, the other managers looked at each other.
After all, just based on the name 'Land of Rivers', they really couldn't associate it with much.
Seeing everyone's confused expressions, Kumaichi didn't keep them in suspense and continued.
"Do you know what country lies on the other side of the Land of Rivers?"
"Sigh~, who wouldn't know that? Across from the Land of Rivers is the Land of Wind, which is also one of the Five Great Nations."
"Exactly! Could it be that Manager Kumaichi thinks Hatake Sakumo's mission failure is related to the Land of Wind?"
Sitting at the head of the table, Kumaichi gave a meaningful smile after hearing the others' questions.
"Yes and no."
"? Yes and no?"
"Manager Kumaichi, what does that mean? Is it that you're not sure either?"
"Hahaha, don't be impatient, everyone. Let me analyze it for you slowly."
At this point, Kumaichi adjusted his posture to make himself more comfortable, then said,
"Do you all remember the former Demi-god of the Ninja World, Hanzo?"
"Of course we remember. It's said that Hanzo once pushed Konoha back repeatedly, and in the end, it was Hokage-sama who stepped in to kill Hanzo in one fell swoop."
"Correct! However, there's another very important reason why Hokage-sama was able to successfully kill Hanzo!"
"Oh? What's the reason?"
"That is... Hanzo had already gone through a major battle before meeting Hokage-sama again, and Hatake Sakumo was among those who fought Hanzo previously!"
"What! Manager Kumaichi, is this news reliable? Wasn't it said that the Hokage's three disciples held back Hanzo until Hokage-sama arrived?"
"And I saw Hatake Sakumo return with the wounded."
Hearing such heavy news from Kumaichi, the others all showed surprised expressions.
"I heard this news from the Land of Earth. Last year, seeing that business was getting worse, I planned to go to the Land of Earth to look for opportunities."
"Then I heard this news while I was in the Land of Earth, and I was shocked for a long time too."
"As for why Hatake Sakumo returned with the wounded, it's because Hatake Sakumo was injured in the battle with Hanzo, which is why he was sent back."
"Think about it, Hanzo was known as the Demi-god of the Ninja World. That's something even the Five Great Nations didn't deny."
"And back then, Hatake Sakumo could trade blows with Hanzo and come out alive."
"Now you're telling me he failed a mission in the mere Land of Rivers? Isn't that suspicious?"
After hearing Kumaichi's account of Hatake Sakumo's history, everyone began to think calmly.
It was indeed suspicious!
If the news Kumaichi shared was true, then Hatake Sakumo must be a very powerful Ninja.
The Land of Rivers is just a small country.
With no new Demi-god of the Ninja World present, how could Hatake Sakumo possibly fail a mission there!
"But what does this have to do with the Land of Wind?"
"Stupid!"
"Do I really need to say where the wife Hatake Sakumo married a few years ago is from!"
"That's right!"
After Kumaichi's reminder, everyone suddenly realized.
Hatake Sakumo's wife is from the Land of Wind!
And across from the Land of Rivers is the Land of Wind!
Since this mission's failure was a huge blow to Konoha, it means its success would have brought great benefits to Konoha.
So the Land of Wind came to stop it.
It's all clear! Everything is connected!
Just as everyone was secretly proud of themselves for thinking they completely understood the ins and outs of this gossip,
"But..."
A voice sounded.
"What does this have to do with us? Aren't we still losing money just the same?"
"Yeah! What does this have to do with us!"
The sound of this voice dragged everyone right back from the gossip into reality.
Indeed!
Although knowing the gossip about the Hatake Clan felt great,
However,
This had no practical use for them!
"Stupid!"
"Haven't you all checked where those low-priced Ninja Tools from the Hatake Clan come from?"
"The Land of Wind! It's the Land of Wind!"
This time, without waiting for others to speak, Kumaichi directly stated the result.
"Because the Lady of the Hatake Clan is from the Land of Wind, the Hatake Clan can get low-priced Ninja Tools from there. But what if the fact that the Lady of the Hatake Clan is a spy is confirmed?"
"Brilliant! Truly brilliant! Elder Kumaichi is truly brilliant! We just need to spread Elder Kumaichi's previous deduction,"
"When the time comes, Konoha will definitely arrest the Lady of the Hatake Clan. The Hatake Clan will lose their source in the Land of Wind, and our business will improve!"
"Yes! Exactly!"
Hearing what Kumaichi said, everyone chimed in, and sincere smiles appeared on everyone's faces.
"What business? It's not about business! We just discovered a problem and raised some questions!"
"We are all law-abiding businessmen who love Konoha!"
"Haha! Manager Kumaichi is right!"
"Us! Everything we do is for Konoha!"
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