44 Chapter 44

Year 43 of Konoha, New Year's Day.

Children were running around the streets, and most of the ninja students on vacation were also mingling among them.

The streets were filled with a variety of goods, and even Kyomu, passing by, could only stare blankly; even if he saw something he liked, he didn't have the spare money for it.

Nevertheless, gritting his teeth, Kyomu still bought some delicate little gifts and headed straight towards the Hatake household.

The gate was open, and Kyomu walked in smoothly. Facing him were several Konoha ninjas who had just come out of the house.

Kyomu didn't know any of them, but judging from the Konoha ninja uniforms they were wearing, even the weakest among them belonged to the level of special Jounin.

There was no need to ask; these people were all here to visit Sakumo, a common occurrence.

It was New Year's Day, it would be odd not to move around a bit.

Kyomu walked into the room, grabbed a handful of fruits from the table, and naturally stood in a corner of the crowd, quietly waiting.

Sakumo was busy, and Kakashi was not at ease either. With so many visitors, Sakumo was busy entertaining them, while Kakashi was busy serving tea and water, like a waiter.

"Kyomu, you're here."

Sakumo saw Kyomu and walked over directly, giving him face. All the people present followed his gaze and focused on Kyomu.

"Teacher, happy New Year." Kyomu offered the small gift he had in his hand. "Just a little something, I hope Teacher won't mind."

"Haha, as long as you're here, nothing else matters." Sakumo smiled, and the visiting crowd was silently surprised.

Since when did Lord Sakumo takes disciples?

Before anyone could ask, Sakumo took the initiative to introduce Kyomu to the people around him. "Aragami Kyomu, my newly accepted disciple."

"Oh, I remember now!" One of them slapped his forehead. "Isn't he the Kyomu who is referred to as the 'Genius Twin Stars' along with Kakashi?"

"That's right, it's him. I have high hopes for him." Sakumo nodded, leading Kyomu to meet people. "This is Nara Shikaku, your senior, and also someone who has been a genius since childhood."

"Lord Sakumo, you're too kind. When I was in school, I was nowhere near as good as Kakashi and Kyomu."

"Shikaku, happy New Year." Kyomu bowed slightly.

Although Shikaku was a Jounin, he was only 18 years old this year. Although his face had matured somewhat, it still carried a hint of youthfulness.

"For the first meeting, I didn't prepare anything special, so please accept this." Shikaku took out a small box from his ninja pouch and handed it over. "This is a secret medicine from the Nara clan. It can save your life in critical moments."

"Thank you, Shikaku." Kyomu naturally didn't refuse, promptly accepting it and bowing in thanks.

"This is Yamanaka Inoichi, also quite remarkable."

"Lord Sakumo, you're too kind. With you present, I dare not claim to be anything special." Inoichi smiled and started to bring out things.

"Inoichi, happy New Year." Kyomu hurriedly bowed in response.

"I don't have such a good secret medicine as Shikaku, I can only give you some more money..." Inoichi handed over a red packet.

Kyomu's eyes lit up. In the moment he received the red packet, he knew it contained a substantial amount!

"Thank you, Inoichi!"

Sakumo smiled and led Kyomu to meet more people. Kyomu's performance was still decent; by the end of the rounds, he had nearly hugged all the red packets.

Money, money!

And Sakumo's intention in doing so was not just for Kyomu to receive red packets, but more importantly, for him to meet people, a way to share his own connections with Kyomu.

However, Sakumo could only pave the way. Whether Kyomu could grasp it in the future would depend on himself.

At the same time, Kyomu's name and persona had officially entered the top circle of Konoha, which would bring him great benefits both now and in the future.

At the very least, it would help him avoid many unpleasant things.

After a round of introductions, Sakumo sent Kyomu away. Kyomu naturally accepted the red packets with courtesy and, together with Kakashi, became a "waiter," bustling around as if it were his own home.

After a busy half-day, the number of people coming to visit gradually decreased. Kyomu wiped the sweat from his forehead along with Kakashi and finally had time to talk.

"You've received quite a few red packets!" Kakashi's words carried a hint of sourness. "These should have been mine..."

"Big Brothe!." Kyomu had no sense of shame. "Happy New Year."

Kakashi was momentarily stunned, then his eyes were filled with smiles, his lips curving smoothly into a smirk, forming a 'V'. "Good little brother, there's nothing much I can give you..."

"I beg to differ, such as red packets." Kyomu reached out. "Big brother Kakashi, you wouldn't be unable to produce even a hundred thousand ryo, would you? That's not possible, is it?"

"You rascal, are you here just for money!"

"Why else would I call you brother?" Kyomu rolled his eyes. "Hurry up and give me the red packet, or I won't call you brother."

"I'm older than you anyway!" Kakashi rolled his eyes, but at the same time, he shut Kyomu up. "Even if it's just two months, I am still older. You should call me big brother."

"Don't waste words, ten thousand ryo for a day of being called brother, no upper limit. If you're short of money, don't whine if I don't call you brother."

"You little rascal, just wait for me!"

Kakashi glared at Kyomu, turned around, walked into the bedroom, and soon came out sneaking with a small box.

In order to make Kyomu call him big brother, Kakashi emptied his entire treasury. Mainly because Kakashi really wanted to dominate Kyomu, he couldn't do it in terms of strength for the time being, but in terms of address, he had to act quickly.

"Hey!" Kakashi showed off his box. "Call me big brother, all of these are yours."

"How would I know how much is in there."

"Fifty thousand ryo!"

"Brother, big brother Kakashi!" Kyomu immediately changed his tune, greedily snatching the box from Kakashi's arms. "Don't you dare take it back!"

"How could a big brother deceive his younger brother, you think I'm like you."

"Big brother Kakashi is the best to me, I've always known that." As long as there was money, Kyomu's mouth was as sweet as honey. "But brother... this amount of money is only enough for me to call you for five days."

"It doesn't matter, but within those five days, every time we meet, you have to call me big brother, without exception!" Kakashi grinned, feeling extremely satisfied. "Remember, little brother Kyomu."

You're the little brother!

Kyomu thought silently, but he didn't refute it, considering the money.

Kakashi was happy, patting Kyomu on the shoulder, and his eyes narrowed into slits.

Making this guy Kyomu call him big brother for five days in a row, how satisfying!

...

The entire day of New Year's Day, Kyomu didn't train, neither did Kakashi and others, marking a rare holiday moment of the year.

After a whole day of hustling, Kyomu gained a lot, whether in terms of connections or money.

The people who came to visit Sakumo were at least special Jounin in strength, and most of them came from prominent families. While they might not be extremely wealthy, they were definitely not short of money.

The red packets they gave to Kyomu totaled up to a whopping 150,000 ryo!

Next was the financial support from Obito, amounting to 80,000 ryo, with no explanation or reason for borrowing to Kyomu, he simply laid out his entire fortune.

Lastly, there was Kakashi. Not only did he take advantage of Kyomu, but he also gave the least, with just 50,000 ryo.

The total harvest for the day amounted to 280,000 ryo, with a passive multiplier of 28 times.

"I made a fortune!~"

Kyomu rolled around on the bed with the banknotes in his hands. The feeling of using money as a bedsheet made him unwilling to stop, the only thing missing might be a girl...

After enjoying himself for a while, Kyomu carefully put away the 280,000 sum, sealing them into a scroll.

Patting his ninja pouch, Kyomu tidied up his clothes and headed straight to Kakashi's house.

Knowing that Kyomu was alone at home, Sakumo specially invited him to have dinner together, and Kyomu naturally wouldn't refuse.

The relationship between teacher and disciple should be this close.

And Kyomu had a premonition that Sakumo was about to teach him something really good.

(End of chapter)