The Poor Ninja

Using a B-rank mission—the highest a Chunin can take—as an example, a single B-rank mission pays at most 200,000, so on the surface Hoshino Maki's medical fees only amount to five B-rank missions.

But that's not how the math actually works.

First, the number of B-rank missions is negligible among the vast population of Chunin; every time one pops up, it's a scramble.

Too many wolves, too little meat—even during wartime, a Chunin is lucky to land a few B-rank missions in a year.

It's not just the quantity, either; the intensity of such missions is hard for an average Chunin to handle.

B-rank missions are described as "possibly" involving combat, but what kind of work are we talking about?

Participating in national wars, assassinating ninja, espionage, and protecting VIPs.

The chance of combat isn't 100%, but it's at least 99%—taking a mission means preparing to risk your life.

If a ninja could handle the intensity of five B-rank missions a year, why wouldn't they just become a Jonin?

And a typical B-rank mission doesn't pay 200,000; that's the rate for Konoha's top-tier Chunin. In the other Four Great Ninja Villages, it's usually around 120,000 to 180,000.

So most Chunin mainly take C-rank missions, and some who don't care about face even fight with Genin over D-rank missions.

And that money doesn't all go into the ninja's pocket.

After completing a mission, the village takes a 50% cut first, then deducts various taxes, leaving you with about 30%.

That's not the end of it—did your tools get damaged on the mission?

Do you need to restock Explosive Tags?

Not going to the hospital if you're injured?

By the time you get home, if you've managed to keep 20% of the mission reward, you're already a frugal ninja.

If you have a family, expenses go up even more.

After all, in this traditional society where men work outside and women manage the home, most households rely on a single income from the husband, with the whole family depending on one person to earn.

So that 1,000,000? A Chunin would need at least five or six years to save up.

Even a Jonin doesn't have it easy—that's the reward from five top-tier A-rank missions.

Take Rasa's brother-in-law Yashamaru as an example: in the original story, he only completed 14 A-rank missions in his entire life, with zero S-rank missions.

The amount Hoshino Maki set for these medical fees is very subtle—painful enough to sting, but not impossible to scrape together.

Kojima did a rough calculation and realized the village would make over 200,000,000 just from the medical costs alone!

He'd never thought human life could be worth so much.

The worst part is, this is just the medical fee—how can you even start negotiating the ransom without paying that first?

Sunagakure is a small place with poor sanitation; if you don't treat the wounds, they'll fester and the person will die from infection, and there's nothing to be done about it.

"So you're saying this money is practically a sure thing?"

After hearing Hoshino Maki's analysis, Kojima found it hard to believe but couldn't argue.

Hoshino Maki shrugged. "Why not? Even if Kumogakure doesn't want to pay, their families will agree."

Hoshino Maki had opened a new door for Kojima.

So this is how you make money!

"Right, if they don't have family, make them write to friends. If that fails, sell everything they can—eventually, the money will come together."

Kojima's extrapolation made Hoshino Maki feel like a loan shark, or someone in credit management.

"By the way, have some people clean up the bodies."

"Don't worry, it's already taken care of."

"No, I mean pack up the Cloud Ninja corpses and take them with us."

Kojima, now seeing the world through this new lens, immediately grasped Hoshino Maki's intent but hesitated:

"Sir, isn't this a bit..."

Selling the remains of fallen ninja felt somewhat unethical; his remaining moral scruples told him it wasn't right.

Of course, the main thing was that in this era where human life was cheap, corpses weren't worth anything!

Hoshino Maki glanced at him, instantly reading his thoughts, and said with some exasperation, "Do you think I'll make money off anything? When we get back, have someone who's been a spy in Kumogakure identify them. Preserve the ones from major clans—I have use for them. Send the commoners' bodies to the hospital to serve as 'Great Teachers' for the Medical Ninja."

"Great Teachers?"

Kojima was baffled by the strange term. Hoshino Maki thought for a moment, then said, "Forget it, I'll write a scroll in a bit. Send the scroll and the prisoners to Lady Moyuzi."

Kojima nodded. He really couldn't keep up with Hoshino Maki's Thought Process.

"Also, don't spread this around for now."

Hoshino Maki's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he spoke to Kojima word by word, looking him in the eye.

Kojima paused, not answering right away.

By tradition, everything that happened in battle had to be reported to the Elder Council—that was Sunagakure's custom, reporting to the Council rather than the Kazekage.

Of course, the Kazekage also attended the briefing as a member of the Elder Council.

If an ordinary ninja had said what Hoshino Maki just did, it could already be treated as the words of a rogue ninja.

Hoshino Maki's expression didn't change, as if chatting about everyday matters: "The First Hokage founded Sunagakure in the Desert of Demons; the Second Hokage's research into the Puppet Technique and Magnet Release was unparalleled, and he even turned Shukaku into a vital force for the village; the Third Kazekage is called the strongest Kazekage. On the surface, Sunagakure is thriving, but... why are we still so poor?"

Glancing at Kojima, who was lost in thought, Hoshino Maki turned his head to look at the Sunagakure shinobi celebrating their victory. He said softly, "I've never been to Konoha, but I've heard they have bustling streets, endless forests, and delicious food. Their children live carefree lives before becoming genin. Is that right?"

"So... what are we in the Land of Wind lacking?"

Hoshino Maki's words struck Kojima's chest like a heavy hammer, leaving him breathless and speechless.

Most children in Sunagakure, when not in school, go scavenging outside the village.

Sometimes they find good things, sometimes they come back empty-handed.

Of course, most of the time it's the latter.

At best, the kids gather some tamarisk branches to burn for fire, since electricity isn't something ordinary families can afford.

Kojima was an Elite Jonin, so his children didn't have to suffer that, but he knew that every year, some children in the village went missing or were eaten by giant venomous insects in the desert.

There was no helping it—the areas near the village had all been explored; to find anything useful, you had to go farther out.

He remembered when he accompanied the Third Kazekage on a mission to Konoha, seeing a child crying about being chased by a wild boar. The child's father was so frightened he said he wanted to hire a ninja to deal with the dangerous beast.

Ridiculous. That would never happen in Sunagakure. If a villager in Sunagakure saw a wild boar, they'd hunt it themselves and have a good, full meal!

Kojima had never imagined Sunagakure could be like Konoha, but if he could see Sunagakure reach even a third of Konoha's prosperity in his lifetime, he would gladly give his life for it!

"Do you wish to become the Kazekage?"

"Why not?"

Hoshino Maki said it as a rhetorical question, but his tone was firm.

"What about the Elder Council..."

"That's something I'll handle. Are you willing to help me?"

Kojima took two deep breaths, finally made up his mind, and knelt on one knee: "It would be my honor!"

Happy Lantern Festival!