Naruto: The Fifth Hokage [25]

Chapter 25: Let's Talk About Rules

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they left the restaurant together, chatting and laughing.

"It's still early—how about we head to Kabukicho for a few more drinks?" Makoto, surrounded by the group, casually suggested.

"Since Captain Makoto has spoken, I have no choice but to risk my life for him!" Murase, already a little tipsy, grinned.

Everyone burst into laughter. Even Hyuga Keito and Hyuga Kenya, who had remained serious the entire time, couldn't help but show slightly lecherous smiles.

"Captain Makoto! There are girls in the team!" Hayate protested with a bit of righteous anger.

"Oh, I didn't think that through!" Makoto said with a smile. Then, he casually took out a thick stack of banknotes from his sealing scroll and stuffed them into Hayate's arms. "Here, Hayate. Take your girlfriend and enjoy the night."

"That's right, just remember to come back before dawn!" Ryuta teased with a grin.

Amid the laughter, the young couple's faces flushed red. Still, Hayate accepted the money, nodded to everyone, and went off with Yugao to explore the town.

The rest of the group headed straight for Kabukicho.

Once they were gone, Makoto's true body silently emerged from the shadows of a nearby alley and walked off in another direction.

…

Inside the city lord's mansion in Tansho Town—known for housing the largest gambling hall in the Land of Fire—Yamamoto Taro, the city lord, was no ordinary figure.

In addition to his officially recognized noble title, Taro's mansion was guarded by dozens of samurai and more than a dozen shinobi. Combined with the backing of certain clans from Konohagakure, his position as city lord was as solid as a rock.

After tonight's banquet, Taro staggered drunkenly into his bedroom, holding a beautiful woman in his arms and wearing a lecherous grin.

"Tonight's gonna be a good night," he chuckled. But just as he stepped inside and reached for the light, he noticed a figure already sitting on the couch by the window.

Moonlight streamed in, illuminating the man's silhouette—and the kunai he was slowly wiping clean. The blade gleamed with a chilling light.

The woman instinctively opened her mouth to scream, but a red light flashed in the man's eyes—and she collapsed without a sound.

Taro sobered up in an instant. No matter who this was, appearing in his bedroom uninvited and armed was definitely a bad sign.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" Taro demanded, cold sweat already forming on his back. Despite his fear, he maintained a facade of calm and slowly backed away.

"I'd suggest you stop moving," the man said lightly. "Otherwise, that thing behind you on the right might explode... and that would be messy. I'm not sure if you'd die, but you'd definitely fly."

Taro froze and turned his head. There, a paper tag was stuck near his right foot. A detonating tag. The activation string was only a few centimeters away.

He swallowed hard. This was the closest he'd ever come to death.

"If you're here for money or something, we can talk," Taro said cautiously. While speaking, he subtly moved his hand behind his back, hoping to make enough noise to alert the mansion guards.

Sure enough, a moment later, he deliberately knocked over a large flowerpot near the door. The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the room.

But no one came.

The man by the window finally stood up, his movements relaxed as he slowly approached.

"Are you waiting for the guards?" he asked with a smile. "Let me save you the suspense—two jonin from the Shimura clan, twelve rogue shinobi, and forty-seven samurai. It took a little effort, but they're all taken care of."

As he walked closer, he casually flipped on the light. A handsome face came into view—along with a pair of blood-red eyes, each spinning with three tomoe.

Taro's breath caught in his throat.

"Uchiha...?"

"Good eyes." Makoto tapped Taro's round cheek with the flat of his kunai.

"As a ninja of Konohagakure, isn't this... against the rules?" Taro asked, trying to gather his composure. He took a gamble—attacking a noble of the Fire Daimyo's court was considered treason. Even an Uchiha wouldn't dare.

"Rules?" Makoto chuckled. "Then let's talk about rules."

He casually raised the kunai and began spinning it between his fingers. "Mr. Yamamoto, over the past four years, you've funneled 1.8 billion ryo to Shimura Danzo and his Root faction—an organization now officially listed as traitors. Trying to support Danzo in seizing military power over the Land of Fire... what do you think the daimyo would say if he heard about this?"

Taro's pupils shrank.

"That's nonsense! I only wanted guards," he stammered.

"Oh, just guards? Let's see if the daimyo believes that," Makoto said with a grin.

Taro took a deep breath. "What exactly do you want?"

Makoto shrugged. "Personally, I believe you're loyal to the daimyo. But he's... a bit suspicious by nature."

He twirled the kunai like a butterfly in the air. "So tell me, do you still want to talk about the rules?"

The blade drifted within inches of Taro's nose, causing his mental defenses to completely collapse. He fell to his knees.

"Please, keep this secret. I'll reward you generously!"

Makoto raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I'm some street thug?"

"You're right, I deserve to die! But please, have mercy! Spare my life!" Taro cried, groveling on the floor and banging his head against the polished tiles.

Makoto watched silently for a moment, then finally spoke.

"I hear your business on Tansho Street has been doing quite well. Tell me—what's the monthly revenue?"