Young Master Ryo, Preparations Before the Third War

"Lord, here is this month's earnings."

After Sarutobi Ryo left Nohara Rin's house and returned to the Sarutobi Clan's home, Guren reported on how the business was doing.

With the war over and peace settling in, the economies of all countries were doing well. The ports were working together, and the business was growing larger.

Sarutobi Ryo stared at the long line of zeros in the bankbook Guren handed him, and he couldn't help but start thinking.

Everyone knew that a D-rank mission paid 3,000 ryo before taxes. A C-rank mission paid 30,000 ryo. A B-rank mission paid 80,000 ryo. An A-rank mission paid 150,000 ryo, and an S-rank mission, the most dangerous, paid 1,000,000 ryo.

Keep in mind, these were the amounts before the Village took its cut.

Generally, Konoha would take 50% of the mission pay. The rest would be split among the team members. So, a strong Konoha Ninja could make up to 500,000 ryo for completing an S-rank mission alone.

What does that even mean? he thought.

In the original story, Namikaze Minato completed 39 S-rank missions. He probably earned around 20 million ryo just from those missions.

But here was the problem...

Ringo Ameyuri, working in the "Underground Black Market," could get 5 million ryo just for killing a Jonin. The bodies of the Twelve Guardian Ninja could be sold for 20 to 30 million ryo. Namikaze Minato had to struggle through 39 S-rank missions to earn 20 million ryo.

So, the real question was: Was it easier to make money as a bounty hunter in the Underground Black Market, or was Konoha taking too much from its ninja?

"..."

Sarutobi Ryo carefully calculated this month's profits. Several million ryo had come in easily. And remember, the port Sarutobi Ryo managed wasn't even that important compared to the other ports in the Land of Fire. But even a small place like this could bring in millions of ryo a month.

Why should I risk my life for Konoha's leaders anyway? he wondered.

He shook his head and took the bankbook. He looked at Guren and praised her for her good work. Guren was planning to expand the transportation business to the Land of Waves, just like Sarutobi Ryo had told her to do. Sarutobi Ryo told her to go ahead and be bold, but not to get too caught up in the business side of things.

"After all, strength is still the most important thing in this world..."

Sarutobi Ryo stood up and looked out the window. Having money could make life comfortable, but in the end, strength was what really mattered.

"Lord?" Guren was confused. She hadn't been to school and didn't understand what might happen in the Ninja World.

"The Second Shinobi World War didn't really end anything. The Five Great Nations weren't crippled in the last war..."

Sarutobi Ryo began to explain the situation to Guren.

"Is there... going to be another war?" Guren asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Yes, soon the Ninja World will be in chaos again..."

Sarutobi Ryo stared at the pale, purple-haired girl, his eyes shining with determination.

"Now, I'm going to test your training from this period."

Before Guren could say anything, Sarutobi Ryo made a Shadow Clone and started attacking her. Guren's cries of pain filled the air.

Just then, Yamanaka Hui walked in. Before she even got to the door, she heard strange noises coming from inside.

"Wow~! No way... is Young Master really such a pervert that he's laying his hands on a child..."

She peeked inside quietly. She saw that it was just a training session and that he was just hitting a child. Yamanaka Hui's expression changed, and it was hard to tell if she was disappointed or something else. Did the girl with a mischievous streak in her nature seem to fear that the world wouldn't be in chaos?

"Hui, how did things go?" Sarutobi Ryo asked, noticing the girl spying on them.

"Young Master, here's the Land Deed."

Yamanaka Hui held out her hand.

The old house they were in, the Sarutobi Clan's Ancestral Home, was owned by Sarutobi Hiruzen. Sarutobi Ryo had started the process of buying it these past few days. He had paid money to buy the house from his old father, making it his own property.

At first, Sarutobi Hiruzen was very surprised. But then he thought about how great his son was - strong, dedicated to the Will of Fire, and even good at making money. So, he happily agreed to his son's wish.

But the truth was... things weren't that simple.

In Konoha, to gain power, you needed a base. The easiest way to do that was to own your own house. This Ancestral Home, after Sarutobi Ryo's changes, was slowly becoming a manor... or rather, a "fortress." The Underground Space was always getting bigger, becoming a training room, a cultivation room... even a prison.

Sarutobi Ryo planned to do many things here in the future. He might even tear down the old house and build high-rise buildings. As he gained more followers, more and more people would move in. And when he had guests, they would need a place to stay, right?

"Mm."

Sarutobi Ryo took the Land Deed and looked at it. The transfer was complete, and the money had been paid to the seller... his old father, Sarutobi Hiruzen, through an intermediary. Sarutobi Ryo had spent a lot of money to buy it at market price.

"Hui, hire some craftsmen to start fixing up the Old House... also, start stocking up on a lot of supplies, especially food..."

Because the Third Shinobi World War would start soon. It would begin with small disagreements, then small attacks, then invasions across the border, and finally, a full-scale war.

Before that happened, he needed to prepare enough food. Once the war started, many refugees would flood into Konoha, and prices would skyrocket. Sarutobi Ryo wasn't planning to make money from the crisis. But he did plan to, at least, stop some of the disaster victims from starving to death.

That was also why he wanted to expand the port business to the Land of Waves. The Land of Waves was a neutral country. Even if there was a war, it wouldn't be affected much, which meant his business wouldn't be harmed.

"That's all for now."

After telling Yamanaka Hui what to do, Sarutobi Ryo sat down and began practicing Storm Release and other skills...

Guren's cries of pain continued, as she was knocked down again and again, only to get back up again and again. The power in her blood was slowly awakening. One day, she would gain the Kekkei Genkai called "Crystal Release"...

----

Time passed. Days went by.

Sarutobi Ryo worked on his Storm Release, and he also did many Anbu missions. He was talented and strong enough to become the "Anbu Squad Six Captain." He just needed the right opportunity, or a big mission, to prove himself. That would convince everyone and allow him to get the position.

As time went on, the progress of the system's first main quest also increased.

Then...

The system said that the main quest progress had reached [95%].

Sarutobi Ryo knew that the day had come.

"Young Master Ryo, the Honorable Hokage requests your presence."

That morning, an Anbu came to deliver the message.

Sarutobi Ryo nodded and went to the Hokage Building with Yamanaka Hui.

In the conference room on the first floor, Hatake Sakumo had also been called in. Many of Konoha's leaders were there. Sarutobi Ryo even saw a woman he didn't expect.

"A Sunagakure Ninja... Pakura of Scorch Release?"