Chapter 25: Plans Fall Apart

Chapter 25: Plans Fall Apart

Kazama had thought that treating the young Ino-Shika-Chō trio to a meal was just a friendly gesture between kids. He hadn't expected that, a few days later, both he and the old man would receive a formal invitation from the Yamanaka Clan.

Both Kazama and the old man were surprised, but since a prestigious Konoha clan had personally extended an invitation, it would be rude to refuse. They had nothing to lose, so they decided to go.

When they arrived at the Yamanaka Clan's compound, Kazama couldn't help but admire the place. Despite the fact that this was a world where power determined status, and the Yamanaka didn't specialize in brute strength, they had still managed to establish themselves among Konoha's most influential clans.

The clan grounds were spacious and elegant—not overly luxurious, but far more comfortable than Kazama's treehouse. The well-tended gardens filled the air with floral fragrances, reinforcing the rumor that the Yamanaka Clan's leader's wife owned a flower shop.

"Welcome, Grandpa Kokei, and Kazama-nii. Thank you for visiting our home."

Little Ino Yamanaka greeted them politely, acting much more composed than she had the last time they met.

"Oh, it's Ino! Here, I brought you some honeysuckle tea. Drinking this will make you even prettier," Kazama said with a grin. Neither he nor the old man had brought any formal gifts, so he could only offer some homemade tea he had prepared to counteract the effects of eating too much roasted meat.

"Welcome, Grandpa Kokei."

Inoichi Yamanaka, the head of the clan, came forward to personally greet them.

Now, some clarification on titles—Ino called the old man "Grandpa" as a sign of respect, not necessarily because of an actual family connection. Similarly, Inoichi addressed Kokei as "Grandpa" due to his seniority, despite being from the same generation as the Third Hokage.

After the usual formal pleasantries, which Kazama found awkwardly excessive, they finally sat down for a meal.

Japanese-style food, as expected. Kazama didn't particularly enjoy it, but he forced himself to eat a few bites. He made a mental note to eat something more filling when he got back.

When tea was finally served, the conversation shifted to serious matters.

"Grandpa Kokei, the reason we invited you and Kazama here today is..."

It all boiled down to Kazama's inquiry about long-distance communication techniques. The Yamanaka Clan did not currently have such a technique, but they recognized the immense value of the idea.

If it had been anyone else, the Yamanaka might have simply taken the concept for free. However, because the idea came from Kazama, and he was the grandson of Kokei, they couldn't just take it without acknowledgment.

Instead, they decided to treat it as an official matter. This was both an opportunity to strengthen their relationship with Kokei and a chance to show appreciation for Kazama's insight.

"Ah, I see. It was just a random thought from a kid, nothing worth making a big deal about," the old man said, smiling as he graciously accepted the praise for his grandson.

"No, it's important. The idea was always there, yet we—the Yamanaka Clan—never thought of it ourselves. That's the difference," Inoichi admitted. Then, turning to Kazama, he continued, "Your concept is excellent, though we haven't yet developed such a technique. However, since you were the one who proposed it, we'd like to collaborate. We will work on creating this jutsu, and in return, we will share the final technique with you. What do you think?"

Kazama was stunned.

Inoichi was offering to develop the jutsu on his behalf and then share the results.

"Really? Thank you, Uncle Inoichi!" Kazama quickly stood up and expressed his gratitude.

The old man saw through Inoichi's true intentions—this was a gesture of goodwill, a way to pull Kazama into their circle.

Not that he minded. The Yamanaka Clan had a solid reputation, and in the ninja world, having strong allies could mean the difference between life and death. Now, with three prominent clans backing Kazama, his future as a ninja would be much smoother.

After some more conversation, they finally took their leave.

"Come by anytime, Kazama! And bring Ino along to play," said Ino's mother with a gentle smile.

Her kind words made Kazama feel a little embarrassed, but he quickly nodded in agreement. His awkward reaction made her chuckle.

Establishing a good relationship with the Yamanaka Clan was great, but Kazama's original problem remained unsolved. He still didn't have a communication method for his ninja beasts, and it was clear that it would take a long time for the Yamanaka to develop the technique.

With no other choice, he had to resort to Plan B.

Radios.

Yes, the same short-range radios that Team 7 had used during their cat retrieval mission in the original story. They weren't perfect—not waterproof, limited range—but they were better than nothing.

The technology level in the Naruto world was bizarre—they had radios and computers, but still relied on horses and carts instead of cars. And ninjas? They just ran everywhere instead of using bicycles.

Kazama invested heavily in high-end radios, convincing the store to customize them with enhanced durability, extended range, and reduced interference.

By the time he was done, his wallet was completely empty.

The irony?

Kazama had made more money than Naruto, yet he was always broke, while Naruto, despite earning less, always had cash.

Why?

Because Naruto barely spent money on anything. No rent, no loans, no major expenses—just some instant ramen, milk, and occasional necessities. Whenever he ran low on food, he simply crashed at Kazama's treehouse for a free meal.

Meanwhile, Kazama had to fund his ninja beast army and upgrade his equipment. No wonder Naruto was richer than him.

Money was running out fast. He needed a new source of income.

For now, it was time to test the radios in action.

Kazama crouched on a tree branch, camouflaged under a cloth, and gave a command through his radio.

"Report positions."

"One o'clock direction. Estimated arrival at Point 3 in ten seconds." Yataro's voice came through.

"Awoo," Grey Wolf signaled—the target was approaching.

"Awoo," Red Wolf reminded everyone to stay hidden, noting that the prey was dangerous.

"Awoo," Black Wolf claimed dibs on the pig's ears—the chewy part.

"Whimper-whimper," Kutarou reported—the trap was set, ready for the target.

"Kutarou, stay hidden. Don't let the boar see you. Grey Wolf, lure the prey to Point 3. Everyone else, rendezvous at Point 3."

A burst of static and faint noises confirmed that everyone had received the order.

At Point 3, Kutarou wiped imaginary sweat off his forehead and sat on a tree branch, panting.

Below him was a carefully dug pitfall, filled with sharp wooden stakes, each about the size of an egg. A thin layer of dirt concealed the trap, and scattered leaves added to the camouflage. Perfect.

Since learning Earth Release: Subterranean Travel, Kutarou had been stuck digging pits. He wanted to do lookout duty like Yataro, but he was too big for the trees.

"Just because I know Earth Release doesn't mean I should always be the one digging holes," he grumbled, glancing at his worn-down claws. His metal claws were too valuable to waste on digging, so he had to use his real ones.

He sighed. Maybe it was time to develop a new Earth Release technique.

Something that could control the soil without digging by hand.

Yeah… a jutsu that could instantly form a pit using chakra.

He already had a name for it—Earth Release: Pitfall Technique.

-+-+-+-

You can read advance chapters ahead on patreon.com/fishkiss69

THANK YOU🙇

-+-+-+-