MM Racing Chapter 7 A Corner of Konoha
Chapter 7 A Corner of Konoha
The gates to Konoha Village were more impressive than I had imagined.
The huge green wooden door was open.
A cloth curtain with the character "庵" (an) written on it hung on the door frame.
But this is just appearance.
The moment Sosuke stepped through the door, he sensed something was amiss.
It was like a film of water invisible to the naked eye, gently sweeping over his body.
This is a perception barrier.
Used to detect the chakra fluctuations of outsiders.
Sousuke followed behind Takaya Jiro with his head down.
The trace of chakra within him was so weak, even weaker than that of a newly enrolled ninja academy student in the village.
The sensory ninjas in the barrier team will most likely treat him as an ordinary person and ignore him.
"The pass is fine."
The inspection was conducted by two men in dark blue uniforms.
Their cuffs were embroidered with red and white round fans.
Uchiha family.
Konoha Police Force.
Sosuke secretly took a look.
The two Uchiha clansmen had a cold and arrogant expression, and their gazes toward the caravan carried a natural sense of superiority.
Even when faced with Takaya Jiro, who was all smiles and handing them money, they just shrugged it off.
"Recently, there have been too many outsiders in the village."
One of the Uchiha spoke coldly, taking the stack of banknotes that Takaya had handed over.
"Keep your men in check. If they cause trouble in this area, we won't go through the interrogation process; we'll just detain them."
Takaya Jiro nodded and bowed repeatedly.
"Definitely, definitely. We are all honest business people."
The caravan was allowed to pass.
After entering the village, Takaya Jiro wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Those red-eyed bastards are getting harder and harder to please," the fat man muttered under his breath.
Sosuke didn't respond.
He was observing the inside of the leaf.
This place is very bustling.
The streets are wide and lined with shops on both sides.
But what he saw more of was the traces of militarization.
Occasionally, dark shadows would flash across the rooftop.
Those were patrolling ninjas.
Recruitment flyers were pasted on the utility poles, and although they were soaked by the rain, the words "For the Will of Fire" were still clearly visible.
The peace here is built on an extremely tense atmosphere.
The convoy stopped in the backyard of a hotel in the business district.
This is the Takaya Trading Company's base in Konoha.
"Sousuke, come with me."
Takaya Jiro got out of the car, and although he still needed help, his complexion had improved considerably.
He led Sosuke across two streets.
We arrived at a relatively remote neighborhood.
This place is near the edge of the village, some distance from the bustling main road.
The surrounding area is mostly residential housing for ordinary people, along with some small shops that do low-end business.
For example, blacksmith shops, tailor shops, and stalls selling cheap dumplings.
Takaya Jiro stopped in front of a two-story building.
This house is very old.
The wood was somewhat blackened, and moss grew on the steps at the entrance.
There was a seal on the door panel.
"This used to be a traditional Chinese medicine shop."
Takaya Jiro pointed to the house.
"The original owner was an elderly man living alone who died last month. The Chamber of Commerce has taken back this land."
He pulled a key from his pocket and tossed it to Sosuke.
Businesses operate downstairs, and people live upstairs.
"I've already had someone take care of the paperwork. You're my distant nephew, and also the acting manager of this shop."
Sosuke caught the key.
It's a bit chilly.
"What are the conditions?" Sosuke asked.
Businessmen don't do charity.
"First, I want 70% of the monthly profits." Takaya Jiro held up his fat finger.
very dark.
"Secondly, the matter of that silver tube is a secret."
This is fear of death.
"Third, and most importantly."
Takaya Jiro stared into Sousuke's eyes, his smile fading.
"Don't cause me any trouble. Especially don't mess with those ninjas."
Sosuke nodded.
"make a deal."
"Here are two thousand taels of start-up capital and the first batch of basic medicinal herbs." Takaya Jiro pointed to two boxes that the shop assistant behind him had brought over. "Take care of yourself."
After saying that, the fat man turned and left.
Without any hesitation or fuss.
He's a smart investor; once he's placed his bet, he gives the investor plenty of room to maneuver.
Sosuke tore open the seal.
The key was inserted into the lock, making a crisp click.
The door opened.
A musty smell wafted over.
Sosuke went inside.
The room was dark.
The counter was covered with a thick layer of dust.
The medicine cabinet in the corner was empty, with only a few broken ceramic jars.
Sosuke closed the door.
He leaned against the door and let out a long sigh.
Safe.
We're safe, at least for now.
He now has a space of his own.
No need to worry about sleeping on the streets, no need to worry about having your throat slit in the middle of the night.
He walked to the window and pushed it open a crack.
Outside are the streets of Konoha.
Several children were running through the street, carrying toy shuriken.
In the distance, the three statues on Fire Shadow Rock overlook the entire village.
Those were the First, Second, and Third Hokage.
Sosuke drew the curtains.
The room was plunged into darkness again.
He stretched out his hand.
A slight thought.
A pure gold bead appeared in the palm of his hand.
In this space where he was all alone, he could finally examine his wealth without restraint.
But he didn't laugh.
This golden bead cannot buy power.
He casually placed the gold beads on the dusty counter.
Then I started cleaning.
He brought water and a rag.
He worked very hard.
Wipe every corner clean, inside and out.
Until it got dark.
The shop has been completely renovated.
Although it's old, it's become popular.
He took out the book "Basic Chakra Extraction Method".
This was his first night in Konoha.
He was hungry.
That two thousand taels of start-up capital, besides purchasing goods, also needs to be kept for food.
Prices in Konoha are not low.
Especially meat.
Sosuke touched his stomach.
"I need to find a way to make some money," he muttered to himself.
It's not about exchanging gold and silver for money.
That would be too easy to expose.
He needs to turn gold and silver into a commodity.
A product that others can't see the difference in, but they have no choice but to buy.
His gaze fell on the broken medicine jar.
medicine.
In an era when medical ninjutsu was scarce, ordinary people could only endure illness or take herbal remedies.
If it is an infection or inflammation, the mortality rate is extremely high.
Sosuke's lips curled up slightly.
He thought of the silver tube that had saved Takaya Jiro's life.
Silver ions.
This is the most primitive and also the most effective antibiotic.
He can make "silver water".
Or it can be called colloidal silver.
No complicated processes are required.
He only needs to use his ability to generate extremely fine silver powder, which is then suspended in distilled water.
This stuff can kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, and clean wounds.
To outsiders, they claim it's a secret family recipe medicine.
No one will bother to analyze the ingredients.
Even if it were tested, it would only be silver.
Sosuke stood up.
He stretched out his finger in the darkness.
Tiny specks of silver powder, like starlight, fell from my fingertips into the bowl of water in front of me.
Ripples spread across the water's surface.
In this strongest military base in the ninja world, an inconspicuous little shop quietly opened.
early morning.
The streets of Konoha wake up very early.
Steam rose from the breakfast stalls, and the patrolling police team changed shifts.
Sosuke's shop door opened.
He hung a new wooden sign at the door.
He wrote the words last night.
[Sosuke's General Store].
There was also a line of smaller print next to it: [Sells wound medicine and cleansing wounds].
There were no firecrackers, no flower baskets.
It was very deserted.
Sosuke didn't expect a flood of guests to arrive immediately.
He moved a chair over and sat behind the counter, munching on a piece of rye bread.
This is his breakfast.
It was hard and a little sour, but it filled my stomach.
He ate while circulating his chakra within his body.
That faint trace of chakra, after being nurtured for several days, grew slightly stronger.
If before it was a single strand of hair, now it's probably two strands.
Progress is very slow.
Sosuke could feel his body protesting.
The cells are crying out for food.
Each time chakra is refined, the feeling of depletion in the body intensifies.
"The nutrition is inadequate."
Sosuke swallowed the last bite of bread and sighed.
The saying "the poor study literature, the rich study martial arts" is perfectly embodied in the ninja world.
To become stronger, you have to eat meat.
They might even eat the meat of ninja beasts containing chakra, or consume medicinal cuisine.
All of these require money.
A lot of money.
"jingle."
The wind chimes at the door rang.
Sosuke immediately stopped his cultivation and looked up.
The person who came in wasn't a guest.
He was a middle-aged man wearing a green vest.
He was holding a folder in his hand and wearing a Konoha administrative staff badge around his neck.
"Are you the Sosuke that the Takaya Trading Company registered?"
The man spoke in a businesslike tone, not even bothering to glance at Sosuke.
"Yes." Sosuke stood up.
"This is your temporary residence permit. It is valid for three months."
The man threw a card on the counter.
"A review will be conducted in three months. If there is a criminal record, the individual will be deported immediately."
"In addition, the business tax is due on the 1st of each month. The sanitation management fee is due on the 5th of each month. The donation for the Will of Fire construction... this is voluntary, but it is recommended that you pay."
The man finished speaking in one breath.
"How much in total?" Sosuke asked.
"The first month, including the certificate processing fee, is five hundred taels."
Sosuke took out the money he had prepared beforehand from under the counter.
Five hundred taels.
A quarter of the start-up capital provided by Takaya Jiro was gone in an instant.
Pay upfront before opening.
this is the truth.
The administrative staff member's expression softened slightly after receiving the money.
"This place is remote, don't wander around at night."
He said those words and turned to leave.
Zongjie put away his temporary residence permit.
This is a piece of cardboard with the Hokage's office stamp on it.
With this, he was finally able to put down roots in Konoha.
Although it's just a shallow root.