The evening had settled in as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue across the Wave Country. Inside Tazuna's house, the table was set, and the hearty aroma of the meal filled the air. Team 7 had just finished their day of training and had returned for dinner. The atmosphere was cozy, with Tazuna and his family sitting together, sharing stories about the past few days.
Kakashi, however, had other thoughts on his mind. He had spent the last several hours contemplating his next move. His actions up until now had been meticulous, carefully orchestrated to ensure that he would be rewarded—he had acquired a fortune far beyond what anyone in the house could comprehend. Tonight, he would show his team the "reward" for their hard work and, at the same time, keep his plans hidden.
The dinner conversation continued in the background, but Kakashi wasn't paying much attention. Instead, he had been silently formulating how best to present his generous reward. The amount of money he had amassed from his operations with Gato was staggering—he had billions, more than enough to ensure his future plans would be fully funded. But for now, he had to play the part of the modest and professional teacher.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were talking among themselves, discussing their progress with the mission and how things had been going. Meanwhile, Tazuna's family was chatting, their tone relaxed and content as they enjoyed the meal. Kakashi, who had been quiet until now, knew that this moment would be pivotal. He would make sure his students saw him as a provider and a good teacher, while simultaneously making sure they remained in the dark about the true scale of his wealth.
Finally, Kakashi stood up, clearing his throat to get the attention of the room. The quiet chatter quickly died down, and all eyes turned to him, waiting to see what he had in store.
"Alright, everyone," Kakashi began, his voice as casual and calm as ever. "Before we continue, I'd like to share something with you all. We've completed the mission, and you've all done a great job, so it's time to talk about the reward."
Naruto's eyes lit up at the mention of a reward. "You mean we're getting paid for all that hard work?"
"Of course," Kakashi replied with a smile, though internally, he couldn't help but think about how much he had actually earned. "I've secured a substantial amount for all of us, but don't get too excited." He paused for effect, allowing the room to fall into an expectant silence.
Tazuna, sitting at the head of the table, raised an eyebrow. "Substantial, you say?" he asked, sounding somewhat surprised.
Kakashi gave him a reassuring smile. "Yes. 100,000 ryo," he announced nonchalantly, though it was a fraction of the true wealth he had secured.
The room fell quiet for a moment. Tazuna's family exchanged glances, but it was Naruto who broke the silence. "100,000 ryo?!" His eyes were wide with excitement. "That's awesome! Kakashi-sensei, you really outdid yourself!"
Sakura gasped, her cheeks flushing. "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei! That's so much money!"
Sasuke, ever the cool-headed one, raised an eyebrow but said nothing, still processing the figure in his mind. He wasn't as easily swayed by monetary rewards, but even he had to acknowledge the size of the sum.
Kakashi, for his part, simply nodded and reached into his cloak. He retrieved a small pouch, the weight of which seemed insignificant compared to the true fortune he had acquired. He placed the pouch onto the table with a smooth motion.
"This," Kakashi continued, "is the reward for your hard work. 5,000 ryo each. A small token of appreciation for what you've done."
Naruto's grin widened as he grabbed the pouch eagerly. "Thanks, Kakashi-sensei! With this, I can buy a whole lot of ramen!"
Sakura, equally thrilled, smiled brightly. "This is incredible, thank you so much!" She clutched the pouch to her chest.
Sasuke accepted the money with his usual detached air, though he nodded slightly in appreciation. "I'll put this to good use."
Tazuna watched the exchange carefully, not sure how he felt about Kakashi's distribution of the reward. But Kakashi wasn't concerned with Tazuna's opinion. This was for the Genin, not the old bridge builder.
The real truth of the matter was that Kakashi had kept the vast majority of the wealth for himself. The billions he'd taken from Gato's hidden operations and warehouses would be his—no one else would ever see it. The 100,000 ryo, though it sounded like a large sum, was barely a sliver of what Kakashi had earned.
But for now, this was all they needed to see.
As the team began to settle into their newly acquired money, Kakashi leaned back slightly, giving Tazuna a casual glance. "I expect you all to use this wisely," he said, his tone taking on a more serious edge. "Tomorrow we'll continue with the mission, and there's much more to do. But for now, enjoy the reward."
Naruto, who had already started planning out his next ramen purchase, nodded excitedly. "We're ready, Kakashi-sensei!"
Sasuke didn't say much, but his expression softened slightly. "I'll be ready," he muttered, preparing himself for whatever came next.
Sakura, too, smiled at Kakashi. "We'll keep working hard."
The conversation began to pick up again, the atmosphere lightening as the meal continued. But as Kakashi left the table, he felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. His plans were falling into place, his students were none the wiser, and soon enough, everything he had worked for would be his.
As he stepped outside into the cool night air, his mind raced with possibilities. The money he had collected wasn't just about wealth—it was about power, about shaping the future he desired. He couldn't let anyone see the full extent of his wealth, not yet. But soon, it would all be part of his grand design.
Kakashi's journey was just beginning, and he was prepared to lead his students—while keeping them in the dark about the true cost of their mission.