The first deal was done

Kurapika had thought posting a mission at the Ninja Administration Building would be a simple matter.

What he had not expected was that the person receiving Sister Hua would be the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was also taken aback when he saw Kurapika.

He had received word that morning that the Daimyo's cousin, Sister Hua, would be coming to post a mission, so he had come to receive her personally.

Who was the Daimyo? He was Konoha's financial backer.

One could say the Daimyo had Konoha's economy in a chokehold.

Things had been better in the First Hokage's time. After all, the First Hokage and the Daimyo were related by marriage.

But ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi became the Third Hokage, the Land of Fire's Daimyo had begun keeping tight control over Konoha's economy.

As for why Konoha did not simply rebel? It came back to the same old problem: ninja... only knew how to use their power to fight. They did not know how to use their abilities to generate income. Their only means of making money was still fighting...

To keep the ninja fed and ensure they had money and provisions during wartime, Konoha High Command had no choice but to let the Land of Fire's Daimyo keep them in a chokehold.

Sister Hua was close to the Daimyo. If someone upset her, Konoha High Command would be made to suffer for it too, so the Third Hokage had to take her seriously.

Even after spotting Kurapika, Naruto's Shadow Clone, he made no particular effort to greet him. Instead, he turned his wrinkled, chrysanthemum-like smile toward Sister Hua.

Sister Hua was very polite when she saw the Third Hokage.

"I never expected you to receive me personally, Third Hokage. Please forgive my lack of courtesy!"

"Hehehe... there's no need to be so formal, Ruhua, my dear..."

As he spoke, the Third Hokage glanced at Kurapika, then continued, "What sort of mission have you come to post?"

"I need several teams of ninja for hauling and escort missions!"

"Hauling and escorting?" As he spoke, the Hokage looked through the list of Ninja Squads before him and soon marked several teams suitable for the assignment.

"For the hauling mission, I'll send several Genin teams. It will be rated D-rank."

"As for the escort mission..."

Before the Third Hokage could finish, Sister Hua interrupted him. "Lord Hokage, make the escort mission B-Rank! I hope you'll send some reliable people! This shipment is very important!"

"After all, some of the goods belong to my cousin!"

When Ruhua mentioned her cousin, the Third Hokage naturally knew whom she meant: the Daimyo, the man at the head of the entire Land of Fire.

Once he learned that the mission involved the Daimyo, he agreed to Sister Hua's request for this otherwise simple escort assignment, raising its difficulty from C-B rank to B-A Rank.

Once the missions were arranged, Sister Hua and Kurapika headed toward Naruto's House with several teams of Genin.

The Third Hokage returned to his office and began using the Crystal Ball to see what goods Ruhua wanted escorted, as well as why she was with Naruto's Shadow Clone.

When... Ruhua and the others arrived at Naruto's House, the Third Hokage grew even more puzzled.

Then he saw the Genin begin carrying things downstairs.

The brick-like Movie Projectors left the Third Hokage thoroughly confused.

Just as the Third Hokage was frowning in thought, the Laptop beside him suddenly received a battle invitation.

Seeing the sender's ID, "Little Tuantuan," the Third Hokage gave a disdainful smile.

Ever since he had beaten Little Tuantuan once, the fellow had challenged him every so often!

Although Little Tuantuan improved a little each time... he was still the one who won in the end.

The Third Hokage looked at the Crystal Ball, then at the Computer screen. In the end... he clicked to accept the invitation.

Although Little Tuantuan really was pretty bad at the game... the greatest pleasure of online gaming was all its unpredictability.

Kurapika had naturally sensed the Third Hokage spying on him through the Crystal Ball, but he did not care. He was only conducting legitimate business.

After all... Konoha had no law against selling adult films.

Wasn't Jiraiya making a fortune selling his smut all over the Land of Fire...?

Besides, Kurapika had already learned from Zeff that the Third Hokage regarded him, Zeff, and the others as personalities born from Naruto's multiple personality disorder.

Once all one hundred Movie Projectors had been carried away, Sister Hua casually opened the case she had been holding.

The case opened to reveal stacks of banknotes.

"There's ten million here! Once the remaining two hundred Movie Projectors arrive, I'll settle the outstanding seventeen million!"

Sister Hua was refreshingly straightforward in business. She handed over ten million without so much as blinking.

With their first deal concluded, Sister Hua prepared to leave.

But before she left, she suddenly seemed to remember something. She cast a flirtatious glance at Kurapika behind her and said, "Young man, you're quite handsome. Hosts are all the rage in the Land of Fire's Capital these days. Would you like to give it a try?"

Kurapika: ...

"No need... I don't really have the physique for it. I think Zeff would be a better fit!"

At the mention of Zeff, Sister Hua nodded, then licked her lips as she agreed, "Indeed... with that build of his, plenty of young married women would fancy him!"

Kurapika: ...

Seeing Kurapika's bashful expression, Sister Hua smiled and left.

After seeing Sister Hua off, Kurapika planned to return to the Sealing Space and continue watching anime.

When Kurapika dispelled his Shadow Clone, Naruto naturally became aware of it.

Everything Kurapika had done earlier flooded into his mind as the Shadow Clone dispersed.

This time, however... Naruto was still training and wearing the Blindfold. Zeff paid no attention to his momentary daze and swung his club at him as usual.

With a bang, Naruto was sent flying again.

At the same time, Rock Lee, who had been taking a savage beating from Naruto's Shadow Clone without being allowed to fight back, was also sent flying by the clone.

Naruto stood up from the ground, clutching his head, and thought, Come to think of it, hasn't Teacher Zeff gone ages without a woman? Maybe... I should just let him go with Sister Hua and work as a host for a couple of days...

What Naruto had not considered was that even if Zeff became a host, he would still be using Naruto's Shadow Clone as his vessel.

While making Zeff suffer, Naruto probably would not escape either.

He would be dealing eight hundred points of damage to Zeff at the cost of a thousand to himself.

After all, Zeff was old and had seen plenty of the world.

But if Naruto experienced being ravaged by a pack of ravenous older women, it would probably leave him with irreversible psychological scars...

That would be even harder on the eyes than the Third Hokage trying to win over Danzo...