In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Kogoro Mouri's mind.
When he and Shinichi Kudo had left the village to take on distant jobs, they had occasionally run into rogue ninja, bandits, or hired muscle from rival merchant guilds who didn't know when to back off.
Kudo's wits and his own occasional bursts of strength had seen them through, but there had always been risks. Some situations had simply been beyond them.
If someone with this kind of fighting ability came along with them...
And if a man like this held down the Odd Jobs Shop, they could take on escort work, debt collection, even certain "gray-area" jobs for people in the village, with a whole new level of confidence.
A bodyguard and enforcer had practically fallen from the sky!
The doubt and laziness vanished from Kogoro Mouri's face, replaced by a smile that mixed delight, eagerness, and a businessman's shrewdness.
He sprang out of his chair.
"Mr. Sakata, you've been hiding your talents!" He rubbed his hands together, his tone suddenly much more courteous. "Joining our Odd Jobs Shop? Of course that's no problem! We need someone like you! It's just..."
He looked both hesitant and hopeful. "As for your pay..."
Kakashi seemed to have expected the question. "Food and lodging will be enough for day-to-day expenses. But for commissions earned from jobs, I want a third."
"A third?" Kogoro Mouri's eyes shifted as he did the math.
A permanent place to stay and daily meals in exchange for a long-term partnership with someone as powerful as an Elite Jonin, plus a third of the commissions?
Especially when the man could clearly help the Odd Jobs Shop take on riskier, better-paying jobs.
"No problem!" Kogoro Mouri slapped his thigh, his grin widening. "Deal! Mr. Sakata, welcome to the Mouri