Hayato forced a strained smile.
Watching Ooka and Yamato raise their hands and announce they had "big asses" hit him with this absurd, deeply unsettling urge to gag.
He'd seen Hachiman before. Back in their old world, Hachiman had been the forgettable nobody in class.
And now that "nobody" had flipped the board in the shinobi world.
That kind of whiplash wasn't something most people could swallow.
When Ooka and Yamato tried to pull him along, Hayato paused for only a moment before smiling again and waving them off.
He'd only just arrived in the shinobi world.
He genuinely believed he had what it took to climb on his own, without using something like this as a stepping stone.
And for some reason, seeing Hachiman with a short blade hanging at his hip lit a stubborn spark in him—an instinctive refusal to lose.
"You guys go. I'm not going. I'll find my own way up, so I'm not fighting for this slot."
He kept his voice low, but the moment the words left his mouth, Ooka and Yamato looked like they wanted to shake him.
"Hayato! Don't hesitate! This is the perfect chance!"
"Yeah, Hayato! Who cares about losing a little dignity? If it gets me out, it's not like I can't stick my ass out!"
Yamato's words landed like a brick to the face.
Hayato's expression turned even darker.
No, seriously, man.
Have a little backbone…
Hitomaru Market was already miserable enough. You were really going to toss the last scraps of your pride into the dirt, too?
Ooka and Yamato exchanged a look, both thinking the same thing.
Hayato was being stubborn for no reason.
Back in the old world, sure—you had the looks, the ability, the popularity. People listened to you.
But in Hitomaru Market?
That whole package didn't mean anything here.
If it did, why were you still stuck at the bottom after days?
At first, everyone had waited for you to come up with a plan.
Now?
Yamato quietly tugged Ooka back when it looked like he was about to argue again.
Forget it.
Helping you this much was already the limit.
In a place like Hitomaru Market—where people ate people—if an opportunity appeared, you grabbed it.
No question.
Just look at them.
"Hachiman-sama!! Me! I'll do it! I'll polish your shoes!"
A grown man from the modern world charged forward first, dropped to his knees, and started licking at Hachiman's footwear like his life depended on it.
He'd been in Hitomaru Market too long. You could tell he'd gone half-crazy from waiting for a break.
"Hachiman-sama! Look at me too! I'm really good with my mouth!"
"Hachiman-sama! Look at these calluses! I'm a beast at labor!"
"Hachiman-sama!!"
"Hachiman-sama…"
See?
Yamato tossed Hayato one last look.
Be realistic, Hayato.
Your old-world charm routine doesn't work here.
With a shake of his head, Yamato stopped wasting time and rushed forward with Ooka right behind him.
Yamato patted his own backside as he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Hachiman-sama!! I'm here to serve you!"
Ooka also bellowed, voice cracking from effort.
"Hachiman-sama!! My eyes are sharp! If you need a lookout, I'm your guy!"
Oh?
One big ass, one sharp-eyed lookout.
Exactly what Hachiman needed right now.
So he picked both of them on the spot.
Watching the chaos, Hayato felt completely out of place.
He hadn't been here long enough to adapt.
All he felt was his thoughts tangling tighter and tighter.
If he stepped forward now and followed Yamato's advice, it would mean admitting he needed it.
But if he didn't, he was still convinced he could rise on his own.
Then Kakeru raised his voice, cutting through everything.
"All right, all right! Move it! Get out of the way! Hachiman-sama has already chosen!"
Hayato's heart stuttered, like it missed a beat.
Was it over?
Did I just miss a rare chance?
No.
Hayato exhaled hard.
No way.
If Hachiman Hikigaya can do it, then so can I.
He shot one last look at Yamato and Ooka, both practically vibrating with joy.
That excitement couldn't be faked.
They were genuinely relieved to be out of the lowest tier.
At the very least, they wouldn't be treated like disposable livestock by the supervisors anymore.
And Kakeru had fully slipped into the role of a loyal lackey.
He planted himself in front of Hachiman, soaking in the new arrivals' stares.
That faint edge of awe in their eyes made Kakeru grin so wide his cheeks looked like they might split.
Yes.
This was it.
This was what he'd wanted all along.
Hachiman muttered a couple of offhand reflections, then stopped thinking about something this small.
His mind was already elsewhere.
Komachi, and the life the two of them were going to build.
His gaze flickered.
Where was his sister's security?
Wasn't there someone obvious?
That alley.
That "sir."
Right there on that man.
...
Kangetsu stared for a moment, not sure what to say about that rich-boy logic.
Asuma.
So the kid was really about to scam his own old man.
The information from the Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clone) made Kangetsu's eyebrow jump.
No, seriously, bro?
You're playing this big?
You're not afraid your dad's going to lose everything?
What?
You're trying to make money, too?
Did I agree to let you make money?
Do you not understand that the only "top student" in Konoha is me?
You want to be a top student too?
Sorry.
Konoha doesn't allow anyone that impressive besides me, Kangetsu.
That said…
The tobacco had been planted for a while now, and the first trial crop was finally ready.
Fine.
You want to get your hands in the tobacco business?
Go ahead.
It's just that where the money ends up afterward… well, that's anyone's guess.
...
Land of Fire, tobacco fields.
Asuma had a pipe clenched between his teeth, eyes bright as he counted out bundles of tobacco leaves like he'd already won.
The moment the adviser families' higher-ups saw him, their hearts sank.
Why is it this idiot?
Where's Kangetsu?
Where's our village's one and only top student?
"Everyone!"
Asuma knew these people probably didn't respect him.
Didn't matter!
He'd already blocked Kangetsu on the other side.
Sure, Kangetsu had tried to talk him out of it with a bunch of polite, empty warnings—but Asuma was serious about doing business.
"Everyone! I'm Asuma! Starting today, I'm taking over the tobacco business!"
For a second, the crowd just… erupted.
What?
You?
Doing business?
Can you even pull that off?
Where's Kangetsu? Where'd you hide him?
"Don't worry! If I say I can do it, I can do it! As long as you support me, the profit split isn't something we can't negotiate!"
That made the adviser families' higher-ups hesitate—hard.
Should we…
Try it?
Try what?
Without a top student, what happens if this blows up in our faces?
But Asuma said he could do it. He'd been at the daimyo's court for so long… maybe he actually had some real skill?
An elder from the Shimura side rolled his eyes, mind already turning.
He'd gotten word from his Clan Head, and malice was starting to churn warmly in his gut.
"Support! Asuma, this old man supports you!"
He raised his voice, loud enough for everyone.
"Business requires risk! Didn't the Hokage-sama support Kangetsu-sensei the same way back then?"
(End of Chapter)
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