Why had Yukine and Haruno ended up in the shinobi world?
Kangetsu knew the reason.
According to the warnings from his system, a magicless crossover world had collided with—then begun merging into—the shinobi world.
And the shinobi world held the overwhelming advantage.
So that magicless world was the one getting crushed.
Modern people weren't just being captured and brought here, either. Their fate wouldn't be pretty.
When the people of that magicless crossover world arrived in the shinobi world in batches, that was the sign their home was being swallowed piece by piece.
Yukine and Haruno had come early, part of the first wave.
More would follow, endlessly.
As for what would happen to most of the people from that magicless world…
That wasn't Kangetsu's concern.
He only cared about his "2D waifus."
Like right now—
Yukine's cheeks were flushed, her eyes unfocused, breathing ragged, looking like she was one heartbeat away from passing out.
Haruno's hands were trembling.
Staring, stunned, she swallowed hard, realizing Yukine looked completely worn out.
All night long, there'd been no real rest.
Haruno's face went pale.
Um…
She hadn't even bathed yet. Maybe… tomorrow?
Kangetsu didn't care.
She looked fresh enough to him.
"Get over here."
Haruno swore she'd never felt pain like this in her life.
Even food poisoning hadn't been this bad.
Fortunately, Kangetsu's chakra eased the strain, and she managed to endure.
"Just once! Just once, okay?"
"Mm…"
Her lips were silenced by a kiss.
Clearly.
Her man didn't agree.
Haruno burned with shame and indignation.
This wasn't right!
He'd already taken Yukine—how was he still not satisfied?
For days after, Kangetsu drowned in softness and couldn't pull himself out.
Even when he slept, he kept them close.
Only when the Third Hokage-sama finally sent a mission did Kangetsu leave, reluctant as he was.
Haruno couldn't help suspecting that if it continued…
It wouldn't be long before she and Yukine would both be carrying.
Still, Kangetsu wasn't simply "slacking" off and indulging himself.
Every day he spent with them, it was after training his ninjutsu until his chakra ran dry.
And doing that sort of thing, honestly, counted as physical conditioning too.
Don't believe it?
Just look.
[Konoha Kihon Taijutsu (Basic Konoha Taijutsu): LV4 (31%) → Konoha Kihon Taijutsu (Basic Konoha Taijutsu): LV4 (34%)]
He studied the progress with satisfaction.
An unexpected bonus.
Taijutsu reflected physical strength.
And once his physical strength improved, it was easier to make Yukine and Haruno lose themselves completely.
Perfectly reasonable.
On the road, Kangetsu drew plenty of glances thanks to his sharp looks.
Then people noticed the chūnin flak jacket, and those glances gained a hint of respect.
A shinobi's status was different, after all.
Kangetsu also took note of how bleak Konoha felt.
People hurried by with sallow faces, thin and tired.
It looked like post–Third Shinobi World War Konoha really was hurting, just like he'd expected.
He tightened the documents under his arm and quickened his pace toward Hokage Tower.
At the office door, he knocked lightly.
"Come in."
The old man was waiting for his workhorse.
His smile was warm and gentle.
He liked workhorses willing to devote themselves to Konoha.
"Kangetsu. How have you been lately? Sorry to drag you in, but we're short-handed. Otherwise I wouldn't have pulled you back."
"Hokage-sama, no problem at all. Contributing to Konoha is what I should do."
Mm.
The old man liked hearing that.
Combined with Kangetsu's serious attitude, he liked him even more.
"Good. You're an ANBU veteran now. This mission isn't difficult. You'll lead a team to protect a few traveling merchants."
It sounded strange.
He'd only been in ANBU for half a year, and he was already a "veteran."
But that was Konoha's reality.
Every department was stretched thin.
Short on people, short on money, short on supplies, short on circulation.
So Kangetsu brought good news today.
"Hokage-sama, before that, please take a look at this."
He handed over the organized documents.
The old man looked surprised, but took them and read carefully.
If it came from a trusted ANBU subordinate, he had to read it.
And the more he read, the hotter his blood ran.
Business?
A clothing business?
Wait—
Konoha people could do business with brains now?
He wasn't bragging.
He'd dare say the whole village didn't have that kind of talent.
Otherwise they wouldn't be living mission to mission, scraping by.
Even Konoha's own reserved lands, the old men could barely manage.
All they knew was to hoard land, fence off territory, let others do business, and then take a cut.
In their minds, owning land and taking a percentage was already "big business."
And now…
A fine young man was handing him papers that said Konoha could do business itself?
The old man's eyes brightened.
But he kept his composure.
He calmly lit his long pipe and took a slow pull.
"Kangetsu, are you confident?"
Kangetsu only gave a "bitter smile" and waved a hand.
"Hokage-sama, you know I want to contribute to Konoha. This is just an attempt. I can't guarantee anything. We might even lose money."
A lie.
This plan had been Yukine and Haruno's idea.
He was simply riding the momentum.
And Kangetsu knew the business would make money.
He was here to secure backing.
And while he was at it, sell a little misery.
Old man.
Time to spill some gold.
Would you really let a fine young man like me take a ruinous loss?
"I see…"
The old man cooled down instantly.
No confidence…
The old man didn't like things without confidence.
Because that usually meant a high chance of losing money.
In fact.
Konoha people running businesses themselves—Kangetsu wasn't the first to try.
People had tried before.
They'd lost their shirts.
Someone refused to believe it, tried again, lost again, tried again, lost again.
Until Konoha folks were scared stiff and finally admitted they just weren't built for it.
But…
The old man noticed the hope in Kangetsu's eyes.
He weighed it in silence.
Fine.
Give this fine young man a chance.
Let him take a small loss this time, and maybe he'd become more grounded afterward.
"Kangetsu, how about this. I'll personally sponsor you with one million ryō, and I'll leave you a trade route. Whether it succeeds depends on you."
One million ryō—buying years of loyal, diligent service from a useful workhorse.
The old man considered it a bargain.