Ch. 581A pleasure doing business
Plot points and events
- Mu and his student Ōnoki reconcile, then go to an upscale restaurant so Mu can treat him to a meal.
- Ōnoki discovers that Mu claims to earn tens of millions of tael monthly through stock investments. Impressed, he eagerly asks Mu to teach him.
- Ōnoki explains that the Iwagakure delegation has nowhere affordable to stay and is lodging in a cellar behind a public toilet.
- Mu offers to arrange housing through one of his Konoha contacts. He calls Hashirama, who agrees to build a large house on Konoha’s Back Mountain for 30,000 tael.
- Mu tells Ōnoki the house will cost 300,000 tael. Ōnoki happily transfers the money to Mu, who secretly pays Hashirama the agreed 30,000 tael and pockets the difference.
Character developments and interactions
- Ōnoki shifts from cautious concern about the restaurant’s price to admiration and excitement over Mu’s apparent wealth and support. His inner thoughts reveal how deeply he values having his former master look after him, despite being an elderly leader himself.
- Mu presents himself as a successful, generous mentor, but his concealed markup shows that his kindness is mixed with opportunism. He reassures Ōnoki, arranges practical help, and takes advantage of his trust.
- Hashirama eagerly accepts the house-building job once he hears the payment, treating the risky work as an appealing opportunity.
- Obito, Kakashi, and another man in a Red Cloud robe mock Ōnoki’s loud reaction from a nearby table; their remarks embarrass him into sitting down.
Significant themes
- Mentorship and belonging: Ōnoki relishes being cared for by Mu after a lifetime of bearing responsibility.
- Trust and exploitation: Mu’s help is real, but he secretly overcharges his grateful student.
- Money and status: Wealth shapes the characters’ confidence, expectations, and willingness to take on work.
- Comedy through contrast: Ōnoki’s earnest admiration and Mu’s swagger are undercut by the diners’ blunt mockery and the hidden business deal.