The next morning, I woke up with a slight buzz of anticipation, wondering what Nora and Baskin would decide to do. Did they really intend to go through with the training? I arrived at the Hokage building a full thirty minutes early, hoping to find them and persuade them not to back out. As I walked in, I spotted them both lounging in the hallway, looking surprisingly calm.
Seeing them there made me think they were genuinely considering sticking it out. "Hey, guys," I greeted, trying to gauge their mood. "I thought I'd check in on you."
They turned to me, and with a smirk, Nora said, "You don't have to worry. We're not planning on doing anything."
I raised an eyebrow, surprised by their sudden change of heart. "What's with the change of heart?"
Baskin shot me a cheeky grin. "Change of heart? My ass! We just don't plan on losing to you. If you can do it, so can we."
A chuckle escaped my lips. "Rivals really do make each other stronger," I said, feeling a rush of camaraderie. It was good to see them determined, even if it was just to keep up with me.
While Satoshi and the group were busy with their chit chat,
Hatoshi was lounging in the Hokage office, waiting for them to arrive. He knew he was supposed to meet them at the mission center in thirty minutes, but he had no doubt they would come to him. He was probably right; it wouldn't be the first time he'd gotten his students to complain to Hokage.
The Hokage looked over at Hatoshi and asked, "Do you have to do this every time?"
Hatoshi grinned and replied, "Yes, this way, they get stronger faster."
The Hokage nodded, pondering the method. "Well, you're not wrong. This approach does make genin stronger quicker, but it is a bit bothersome. Why do you do it?"
Hatoshi shrugged nonchalantly. The method they were discussing was a clever tactic. He always pushed his students beyond their limits, knowing they would inevitably complain to the Hokage. This would lead to the Hokage settling the matter with a reduced training schedule, stating that it was final and acceptable.
Otherwise, no matter how easy he kept the training schedule, the students kept complaining to him. Even if he listened, they never stopped demanding an easier training routine. So, to counter this problem, Hatoshi came up with this plan.
What Hatoshi was really doing was ensuring that, without the students knowing it, they would end up doing the exact training program he had initially planned. It was a bit sneaky, but it worked. As a result, students didn't question the new plans and followed them without complaint. The results were undeniable, even if the whole situation felt somewhat unorthodox.
As they waited for us, the Hokage mused, "It's a little strange they're late. Usually, the students come to complain right on schedule."
After a few more moments of waiting, both Hatoshi and the Hokage exchanged glances of surprise when it became clear that no one was showing up.
The Hokage looked at Hatoshi and asked, "What now?"
Hatoshi scratched his head, perplexed. "I don't know, but it's certain they're not coming. I'll go meet them." With that, he left the office to search for his missing students.
As Hatoshi left the Hokage's office, Shikaku entered, looking around to see that Hatoshi had already departed. "You assigned a squad to Hatoshi again, didn't you?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
The Hokage chuckled softly. "Oh, should I not have done that?" he asked, shaking his head.
Shikaku waved a dismissive hand. "No, no, don't get me wrong. The guy is good and brings in solid results. It's just that he's a bit too strict." He let out a sigh and added, "And there is that problem too."
The Hokage couldn't help but sigh in agreement. "Well, that part is a problem. But it's not too bad," he said, attempting to reassure Shikaku. "At least he makes sure to do it in moderation."
Shikaku nodded, though he thought to himself, I don't know about moderation. He seems to know just the right amount.
The issue they were both tiptoeing around was Hatoshi's tendency to sell items at premium prices to his students, colleagues, or seniors. It was almost a rite of passage to get tangled up in Hatoshi's web of sales. Even Shikaku, known for his sharp intellect in Konoha, had found himself purchasing items from Hatoshi as if he possessed some sort of supernatural power.
It was reminiscent of Kakashi's infamous mask; no one knew how many masks he wore or how he managed to eat with one on. Even during battles, that mask remained firmly in place, shrouding his face in mystery. In a similar vein, Hatoshi's premium pricing was equally enigmatic.
Shikaku mused about how Hatoshi always seemed to produce the exact items that his students needed, yet he set the prices so high that declining was nearly impossible. It was a clever trick, but it left everyone scratching their heads in disbelief.
Shikaku couldn't help but ponder where Hatoshi's money went. Sure, he led a comfortable life, but no one ever saw him spending money frivolously. There were whispers among some of the other instructors who had tried to follow Hatoshi to uncover his spending habits, but to no avail. The mystery surrounding his finances was as puzzling as Kakashi's mask.
When Hatoshi was confronted directly about it, he would wave his hands dismissively and say, "Money? What money? I'm always lacking!" Then he'd start pestering the Hokage for a raise. It had become a taboo topic of discussion among the instructors—like a forbidden spell that could summon unwanted consequences.
With a bemused shake of his head, Shikaku considered the absurdity of it all. At least Hatoshi gets results, he thought, but still. As he exited the office, he chuckled to himself, imagining the chaos that would unfold with Hatoshi's squad as they tackled the challenges ahead.