Blizzard, Margin Calls, and Madness

After night fell, Obito circled around half of the Land of Birds.

Only after shaking off several watchers did he drop his transformation and sneak back to the inn.

When he pushed open the wooden door to the top-floor suite, the tea on the little red-clay stove was boiling.

Ye lounged comfortably in a broad grandmaster's chair.

His eyes were closed, and his fingers tapped lightly against the armrest to an unfamiliar tune.

He looked utterly at ease.

Obito walked to the window and pulled aside a narrow gap in the curtain.

Below, a group of blade-carrying thugs had gathered because of the bloody clashes in the Mining District.

The sight made Obito's chest sink.

"Ye, there was bloodshed in the Mining District today!"

"More than a dozen died on the spot, and dozens more were injured."

"If this keeps up, they're really going to slaughter each other!"

Obito turned and looked at the stack of Mining Rights Deeds on the table.

He found the whole thing absurd to the extreme.

"We haven't even lifted a blade."

"How could they start tearing each other apart over a few crates of deposits?"

Ye opened his eyes and lifted the fragrant tea, now at just the right temperature.

He lowered his head and took a sip.

Not a single ripple disturbed the tea in his cup.

"Take one step back, and wealth fallen from the sky will land in your mortal enemy's hands."

"So they can only fight each other to the death and see who has fewer scruples."

Ye set down his teacup and pointed out the window with a slender finger.

"Other than the initial deposit Konoha put down as bait,"

"we haven't spent even half a copper afterward."

At that, Ye's expression turned cold.

"But these idiots?"

"They're racking