Money-Making Plan

The two of them came into the yard, where Kiba Inuzuka had long since run out of patience.

"Brother Ye Fan, how do I use this? Tell me quickly!"

Kiba Inuzuka held a round ball the size of a steamed bun, wondering whether it was some kind of weapon that could be thrown at an enemy to explode.

"It's simple. Just throw it on the ground," Ye Fan said calmly.

To be honest, he was quite dissatisfied with what he had made this time. He could only treat it as test material.

"Like this?" Kiba Inuzuka tossed the ball in his hand onto the ground.

Whoosh!

The ball shattered the instant it hit the ground, releasing a huge cloud of white gas out of thin air. The gas was odorless and quickly spread throughout the entire yard.

"Wh-what is this?"

Kiba Inuzuka froze. In such a short time, he could no longer see Ye Fan standing across from him.

"The effect is pretty good. It would be even better if I could control the size down to that of a Ration Pill," Ye Fan muttered.

Ration Pills were a type of food, roughly the size of a tangyuan. They were high in protein, and eating one could keep someone from needing food for an entire day. Easy to carry, they were essential provisions for ninjas.

Some special Ration Pills could also restore the chakra consumed by ninjas. They were essential items for missions outside the village, though they tasted terrible. Ration Pills made in different places could vary greatly in effect, taste, and nutrition.

"Brother Ye Fan, this thing seems useful for concealing oneself. Whether retreating or launching a surprise attack, it could be extremely effective. It's practically a ninjutsu," Kiba Inuzuka said. As expected of a Genin, he quickly grasped the value of the item.

As he spoke, the gas in the yard gradually dispersed, revealing Ye Fan's figure on the other side.

"Too bad it's only a half-finished product." Ye Fan sighed.

"Brother Ye Fan, this is already amazing!" Kiba Inuzuka stared at the remaining large balls, utterly delighted with them.

"If you like them, take them and play with them. I'll give you better ones when I make them," Ye Fan said.

"Thank you, Brother Ye Fan!" Kiba Inuzuka did not stand on ceremony. After all, Ye Fan was his brother.

"This thing isn't invincible, either. I think the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could see through this white smoke." Ye Fan offered a kind reminder.

The weather was exceptionally clear today, with fluffy white clouds scattered across the sky over Konoha Village.

On Hokage Monument Cliff, Ye Fan lay flat on a rock, enjoying a sunbath.

The little Ninja Hound, Dark Shadow, lay in the shade of a boulder, avoiding the scorching sunlight.

"How can I make money? I've got hands and feet. I can't keep letting Hua support me!"

At that moment, Ye Fan was pondering this question.

What he lacked now was startup capital. Only after earning his first pot of gold could he invest and conduct research.

Many things required money. Even selling potions required purchasing medicinal ingredients and the necessary tools.

"I'm not an official ninja yet. Aside from working odd jobs for pocket change, my only option is taking E-rank missions at the Ninja Academy, the kind specifically prepared for ninja students. The pay for each mission isn't much, but it's better than working, and I can manage my time freely!"

With that thought, Ye Fan had already made up his mind.

Rising from the rock, Ye Fan called to the little Ninja Hound, "Dark Shadow, let's go! Time to earn our first pot of gold!"

At that moment, Hanabi Hyuga was asking Iruka-sensei questions at the Ninja Academy.

"Sensei, why didn't Senior Inuzuka Ye Fan come today?"

Hanabi Hyuga wore a serious expression. She had just searched all around and had not seen Ye Fan anywhere.

After returning home yesterday, she had thought it over carefully and felt that Inuzuka Ye Fan's words made perfect sense. She wanted to challenge him again today.

She had the kind of personality that got back up wherever she fell!

Iruka's mouth twitched twice. He seemed to want to laugh, yet could not quite manage it. "Hanabi, what you should be asking is why Inuzuka Ye Fan came to school yesterday. Skipping class isn't something new for him. The number of days he's skipped has set a record since the Ninja Academy was founded. I'm afraid no one will ever break that record."

Hanabi Hyuga fell silent for a moment, then murmured, "So my feeling was right after all. School is too boring!"

"Hanabi, you mustn't learn from Ye Fan. The reason he skips class is because he has a strange illness. The chakra in his body is steadily decreasing, and he no longer has enough to perform even the simplest ninjutsu, Genjutsu, or taijutsu," Iruka said.

Hanabi Hyuga was stunned. "No way!"

"I'm not lying to you. Many people know about this. Even the elite ninjas from the medical division can't determine what is causing Ye Fan's strange illness. You could say that Ye Fan is no longer suited to being a ninja. That is why the school tolerates his skipping class." Iruka sighed as he said this.

He had taught many students, but Ye Fan was the first case like this.

"That can't be true. My sister told me today that Senior Ye Fan is very impressive and knows many things," Hanabi Hyuga argued.

"You should trust your teacher. Perhaps Ye Fan's theoretical knowledge is excellent, but the fact that he has no chakra remains!"

Iruka had seen people become ninjas without knowing ninjutsu or Genjutsu, relying solely on taijutsu. But he had never heard of anyone without even chakra becoming a ninja.

He and several other teachers had discussed it. If Ye Fan failed the ninja assessment again this time, they would revoke his eligibility to take it again.

"That's wrong. Sensei is wrong!" Hanabi Hyuga's expression had never been so serious. "I saw it with my own eyes. There was an enormous amount of energy gathered inside Senior Ye Fan's body. I just don't know what he did, because then I couldn't see it anymore."

Iruka did not want to discuss Ye Fan any further. Just as he was about to change the subject, he saw Ye Fan wandering around the school again with the little Ninja Hound.

"That kid... why did he come to school again today?"

Iruka even wondered whether the kid had come all the way to school specifically to walk his dog.

At that moment, Hanabi Hyuga saw Ye Fan as well and hurried after him.

"Where is the notice board for E-rank missions? I haven't been here in so long that I don't even know my way around the school anymore!"

Ye Fan wandered about with the little Ninja Hound, searching for the place where E-rank missions were posted.

"Senior Ye Fan!" A little girl's voice called out from behind him. It was Hanabi Hyuga.

"Oh, it's Hanabi. Let me ask you something. Do you know where missions are posted?" Ye Fan asked.

He had asked the wrong person. Hanabi Hyuga was even less familiar with the school. Today was only her second day here, and she usually attended only half a day of classes.

Hanabi Hyuga shook her head, then said with a serious expression, "Please guide me, Senior!"

"Not today. I need to do missions and earn money. Next time," Ye Fan refused directly.

"If it's money, I have some!" Hanabi Hyuga said generously.