Chapter 41

The experience helped him clear his head and focus more intensely on his goal. The energy that had been hindering him vanished. For the first time since returning to Konoha, Kuzo devoted himself completely to training.

Currently, Hotaru had gone to the Ninja academy, spreading the word about Kuzo being a private teacher. Kuzo was left in the backyard of his villa, training while looking at a bullseye on a wooden log. Behind him, Karin was at a table, healing a fish, mastering the Mystical Palm jutsu.

It would be beneficial to teach her medical jutsu, which reminded him to visit Kabuto later. Kabuto was currently in jail, being interrogated by Konoha, known for the Yamanaka clan. Soon, they would extract all the information about the remaining locations of Orochimaru, destroying his legacy.

Kuzo had been testing jutsus in his sleeve. Some were really weird. He could form a hand seal, and his body would turn rubber-like, resembling Luffy. 

"This should work," he said as bone spikes extended from his body, creating a sword-like structure with great density and thrusting power. He then covered them in wind release chakra, before making a turn around the log.

"What was that?" Karin, who observed, couldn't help but ask as she shook her glasses.

Kuzo looked at the log. 'I found a way to make Kimimaro's taijutsu perfect. The wind release cuts are lethal, and too thin.' When you get cut, you die; that's a simple fact. The cuts didn't need to be too deep as they could cut veins, organs, cuts. A slight cut there was lethal. And thanks to his gluttony seal, any lethal attack would allow him to quickly absorb the person's spirit.

In answer to Karin's question, Kuzo flipped his finger on the log. The log turned into pieces that slid on each other. 

"That jutsu…" Karin opened her eyes widely. "No one can fight you like this, Kuzo-sama. But what I don't understand is why you're still a genin."

Kuzo clapped his hands and smiled at Karin. "Isn't that obvious?"

Blushing slightly, she shook her head. 

"To make money," Kuzo replied. "By the way, I see you finished mastering the Mystical Palm." 

She nodded. 

"Tired?" he asked. 

She shook her head, "I'm still at full energy. Do you need anything, Kuzo-sama?"

He nodded, "if you could please make me a quick meal." 

"But you just ate," Karin asked. This morning, before leaving, Hotaru had prepared enough food to fill the fridge. 

But it was all gone. Kuzo rubbed his cheek. "I need to refill my chakra." 

"I get you," Karin smiled and ran inside the house, leaving Kuzo to lay on his back, rubbing his stomach. 

'When I'm not fighting, I crave food more than anything else. That, and a girl.'

-x-X-x-

"Kuzo-san, I'm back," Hotaru announced as she entered the house. Kuzo, who was about to give her a welcoming kiss, stopped when he sensed many shinobis.

Hotaru continued, "I have spread the word that you'd be teaching elemental jutsu, private lessons. But instead of my colleagues coming." She pointed behind her. Shinobis with their headbands were outside his door, some in green vests indicating chunin class.

"It's Kuzo Sama," said a chunin, approaching him and extending his hand. "I've heard that you have a variety of jutsus."

Before Kuzo could answer, he found himself surrounded by many people. "Please, I have a son who is good but can't learn anything more in the academy." 

"Sir, how much do you sell a jutsu?"

They spoke many words at once. But all Kuzo could hear were the lyrics of the song, 

'Here Comes the Money…' Kuzo smiled and opened his arms. "Easy, everyone. As long as you guys have the money, you can get taught any jutsu you like, any element. You can hire me as a private tutor if you find some insights."

He then crossed his fingers, creating five shadow clones. Each demonstrated a jutsu from a different affinity before vanishing. Kuzo smiled as the people shut their mouths and stared in awe at his performance. He needed to do so because the last thing he wanted was people doubting him when their talent is the bad one.

Someone held him from the shoulder, shaking it. "I've done too many missions, and I've almost died many times. I'm a wind user. I'll pay you even my savings."

This shinobi seemed to have experience in the battle field. A good jutsu to a shinobi was the best investment they could have. Kuzo looked behind him. 

"But what element am I?" 

"I'm just a genin. So I don't know."

"Everyone, calmly. You'll register your names and what kind of jutsu, or how much you want. The more you want, the more you get discount. And then we'll meet at training ground 78." Kuzo then ended up ignoring Hotaru and Karin.

-x-X-x-

Kuzo, the private tutor, was at a training ground, a forest, with 20 students who paid a good amount of money. In his hand, he held papers indicating their chakra affinities.

Kuzo started teaching them from the most talented to the least. He put in as much effort as they paid. Today, he had gained more than he would in a month. With the help of shadow clones, his students were making progress. By the end of the day, Kuzo got everyone thanking him.

While they walked away, Kuzo could hear them talking. 

"B Rank jutsu, didn't know he had it. If I knew, I would have borrowed money." 

"Who knew he knew earth dragon jutsu." 

Kuzo chuckled on that remark. Even he didn't know he knew. He had hundreds, possibly a thousand jutsu in his sleeves. Unlike the copy Kakashi, Kuzo could get a whole person's life learning of jutsu. That's why he needed two weeks to organize his jutsus. 

-x-X-x-

"Hahaha. Just teach them once, let them practice, and we're over." Kuzo counted the stacks of money on the table, laughing heartily. While he was laughing, he saw blond hair resting on his shoulder.

"I can spread more word if you like," Hotaru said, chuckling when she saw his smile.

"Don't worry," Kuzo said. "They would spread it on their own."

-x-X-x-

The next day, Kuzo found a huge line of graduates and cannon fodders standing at his door. Most were graduated shinobis. 'I wonder if I should ever leave the village. There is so much money on the line.'

All the money he was going to make in this period was going to be bet on himself during the final chunin exam. With the rumors of him being injured after his battle against Gaara, he knew that odds were against him. He opened his door, smiling as he opened his arms widely. The day progressed, Kuzo registering his students, taking money in advance. Some tried to say they'd pay after making money from his jutsus, but he refused.

These bunch ended up getting angry, threatening him to spread rumors that his teaching was horrible and that he was a failure teacher. Kuzo couldn't be happier with their proposal. Spreading bad rumors about him meant he would make more money when he bet on himself. To motivate those troublemakers, he beat them and kicked them out while calling them names and cursing at their parents.

And so, two weeks passed by. Kuzo taught students and spent nights with Hotaru. Before leaving the village, he had to do something critical to his future. Plus, it would guarantee him to dominate Orochimaru in the next encounter.