[Gold Shop]
In the bustling gold shop of Konoha, Epstein, a man from Redaku in the west, found himself a long way from home. He had left his homeland to escape the oppressive corruption and exorbitant taxes levied by the royal family. Seeking a fresh start, he opened his shop in this less tumultuous village, where the air was free from the heavy scent of greed that pervaded Redaku.
As the door to his shop swung open, Epstein caught his breath at the sight of the woman who entered. She was striking, with long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders and a figure sculpted for elegance—uncommon in the western section of Konoha, especially since this area was known as the Red-light district.
Great, I've hit the jackpot.
The woman approached the counter gracefully and placed what appeared to be a gold-plated rat's tooth on the surface. Epstein blinked a few times, taken aback by the unusual item, then turned his attention to the woman, who began to communicate through hand signs.
"10k?" she signed, her hands moving with fluid precision.
Epstein raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Madam," he began, his voice steady despite the allure of potential wealth before him, "I've been in this business long enough to know the value of gold. And while the tooth is certainly unique, I can't justify your asking price."
The woman leaned in closer, giving Epstein a good look at her figure. He blinked, thinking he saw a distortion for a moment, but dismissed it with a gulp. Must be my mind playing tricks.
"But consider the rarity, Mr. Epstein. This isn't just any gold tooth; it's a piece of history, a treasure," she signed.
Chuckling slightly, Epstein responded, "History, you say? Well, history doesn't pay the bills, my dear. I can go as high as 5,000 Ryo, but that's my final offer."
The woman pouted playfully, her hands expressing her displeasure as fluidly as if she were speaking. "Oh, Mr. Epstein, you drive a hard bargain," she signed, her eyes smiling. "But what about 9000 Ryo? For such a unique piece, it's a steal!"
"A steal, you say. More like highway robbery!" Epstein laughed. "But I admire your persistence. Let's meet in the middle – 7,500 Ryo."
She tapped her finger to her lips. "Alright, Mr. Epstein, you've convinced me. 7,500 Ryo it is. But you're breaking my heart here," she signed with a playful wink.
As they finalized the transaction, Epstein watched her gracefully exit his shop, the gold tooth sold for a handsome sum.
But as the door closed behind her, there was a sudden puff of smoke, and in her place stood Naruto, grinning cheekily with the money in hand.
Epstein's jaw dropped in shock as he realized he'd been duped. Naruto nervously laughed at Epstein.
"Look, the sun!"
As Epstein's gaze followed the direction of his finger, Naruto dashed out of the shop, laughing all the way, with the 7,500 Ryo securely in his grasp. As he ran through the streets, Naruto couldn't help but feel a rush of exhilaration. That worked better than I thought!
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[ World Quest Alert ]
[ Quest: Find a Shop ]
[ Objective: Use any means necessary to locate a shop that will sell gear to Naruto Uzumaki. ]
[ Reward: 1000 Ryo ]
[ Failure: None. ]
[ Action Required: Confirm acceptance or declination of quest. ]
Naruto groaned as he sat on the bench, scrolling through the system.
Most stores in Konoha hated him, and even if he offered double the money, they would probably sell him subpar gear. He couldn't even use transformation jutsu to solve his problem because it wouldn't change his voice. Seriously, someone needs to invent a jutsu that can help us mimic voices.
An idea suddenly struck him.
Quickly, he opened the reputation system and began to sort through all the shops in Konoha.
Fifteen minutes later, he was nearly ready to give up and go complain to the Hokage about his predicament, hoping maybe his Jiji could intervene and get him the gear he needed. Just as he was about to close the system in defeat, a shop with a neutral reputation towards him caught his eye.
"Higurashi Shop," Naruto read aloud, a small wave of relief washing over him. Great, now let's find someone who can tell me where this Higurashi Shop is.
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[15 Minutes Later]
Naruto was surprised to find the Higurashi Shop situated on the eastern side of the forest, near the river. The shop was not at all what he expected. Instead of a typical storefront, it was a large, multi-story watermill house made of stone and timber. The rustic structure featured a functional water wheel attached to its side, utilizing the flow of the river.
The roof was covered with wooden shingles, and several wooden balconies protruded from different levels of the house. A stone chimney emitted a thin stream of smoke.
I am in the right place, right?
Upon entering, Naruto was greeted by the sight of a well-worn establishment that boasted of serving Konoha since its very founding. The door behind him closed with a soft thud, accompanied by the gentle jingle of a bell. The shop appeared empty at first glance, but its interior held a fascinating array of weapons and armor that captivated Naruto's attention.
"Hello?"
"Be with you in a second!" a gruff, no-nonsense voice replied from the back.
As Naruto waited, he marveled at the variety of equipment surrounding him—swords, kunai, shuriken, and various types of armor filled the shelves and racks. This place is like a treasure trove for ninjas.
Eventually, the shopkeeper emerged—a large man with a stern expression that briefly flickered to surprise upon seeing Naruto before settling back into neutrality.
"Is this a shop where I can buy stuff?"
"Indeed," the man replied, his voice deep and resonant.
"But it's so far away from the shopping district."
"Those who want good quality stuff will make the effort to walk here. If they can't, then they don't deserve my creations," the man explained, a hint of pride in his tone.
"Creations?"
"I am a blacksmith. You can call me Mr. Higurashi," the man said as he stood behind the counter, wiping his hands on a cloth before extending one in greeting.
Naruto shook it.
"What can I do for you, young man?"
"I'm here to buy some gear or get my current gear fixed," Naruto replied.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, taking a critical look at Naruto's attire. "Take off the jacket and let me see it," he instructed, and Naruto quickly complied.
As the boy handed over the jacket, Mr. Higurashi noted with some amusement that Naruto had not brought any other clothing to wear, leaving him temporarily jacketless. He began inspecting the jacket thoroughly.
"Can you tell me what's wrong?"
"Let's take a closer look," the older man suggested, his fingers delicately tracing the material. "See this wear on the leather lining? It's quite severe. This jacket was designed for protection and mobility, but it's failing in both regards now. Look at this frayed edge on the sleeve," he pointed out, then moved his finger to a thin area. "And here, where the leather has thinned significantly. These weak points compromise the jacket's function and restrict your movement where the leather has stiffened."
"Can it be fixed?"
Mr. Higurashi nodded. "Easily, but the sleeves and collar have to go," he declared, examining the jacket further.
"Why?"
"This leather is really showing its age. To bring this up to standard, I'll need to rebuild it with a new structure. We'll start with a base layer of cloth for comfort, then add a new leather exterior for durability. Finally, I'll incorporate a chain mail layer for added protection. It's a three-tier system that meets the Genin Gear Protocol."
"I am not a Genin?"
"But you are about to become one. You have traces of chakra around your skin, meaning you just used a transformation jutsu not too long ago. Academy students who are about to graduate learn such jutsus, and it's the time of the year when graduations begin. So, this jacket would need to be ready for more rigorous use."
Smart, Naruto thought in awe. "So, just fix the jacket," he instructed, then quickly added, "And the pants."
"Right, both jacket and pants need to be fixed, and I see that you don't have a set of new clothes to wear. Are you planning to buy more?"
Naruto thought about it for a moment before nodding.
"Let's see if we can get you some decent gear, though. How much money are you looking to spend?"
Naruto, slightly taken aback by the blunt question, responded, "I only have 5500 ryo." He had already planned out his budget: 1000 ryo for a gift for Hinata and the rest for food and other essentials.
"Alright, with that budget, I can fix the jacket and pants for 5000 ryo. You'll then have 500 ryo left, and a new jacket and pants cost 2000 ryo each."
Naruto's lips pursed as he did the math. "Now what? I kinda need both."
"How about this," Mr. Higurashi proposed, "my regular delivery girl is out on a mission. You can work after school for the next week, and I'll give you a jacket and pants as payment."
"That works for me."
Naruto took a moment to study the shopkeeper as he trundled through the narrow aisles. He was a large man, easily twice Naruto's height. He had a large gut, but his arms were thicker than Naruto was, and they were very well muscled.
"Here," said the shopkeeper, handing Naruto a pair of black pants. They looked like standard issue shinobi pants.
[ Item: Charcoal Academy Issue Pants ]
[ Material: Thin, Lightweight, Reinforced with Light Leather Armor. ]
[ Stat Modifiers: DEX +2, AC +3, HP +15 ]
[ Status Effects: +5% Stealth Efficiency. ]
[ Durability: 600/600. ]
[ Description: These pants offer a balanced combination of mobility and protection. The light leather reinforcement provides a significant defense boost while maintaining agility and enhancing stealth capabilities. Ideal for a variety of shinobi missions. ]
"Pick a jacket," said the shopkeeper holding up four different jackets.
[ Item: Black and Crimson Academy Issue Jacket ]
[ Material: Thin, Lightweight, Reinforced with Light Leather Armor. ]
[ Protection Level: Reasonable. ]
[ Stat Modifiers: DEX +2 (Movement Speed and Agility), AC +4, HP +12. ]
[ Durability: 600/600. ]
[ Description: A well-balanced jacket offering defense and agility. The combination of black and crimson colors does not particularly enhance or hinder stealth. Suitable for diverse shinobi missions requiring a blend of strength and speed. ]
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[ Item: Black and Navy Academy Issue Jacket ]
[ Material: Thin, Lightweight, Reinforced with Light Leather Armor. ]
[ Stat Modifiers: DEX +4 (Movement Speed and Agility), STR +1, HP +12. ]
[ Durability: 600/600. ]
[ Description: This jacket, in black and navy, provides a reasonable defense while maintaining agility. It does not significantly affect stealth capabilities, making it a versatile choice for various missions. ]
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[ Item: Black and White Academy Issue Jacket ]
[ Material: Thin, Lightweight, Reinforced with Light Leather Armor. ]
[ Protection Level: Reasonable. ]
[ Stat Modifiers: DEX +3 (Movement Speed and Agility), STR +2, HP +12. ]
[ Durability: 600/600. ]
[ Description: Offering a balance of protection and mobility, this black with white cuffs jacket is well-suited for a range of shinobi activities. The color scheme has a neutral impact on stealth. ]
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[ Item: Black Academy Issue Jacket ]
[ Material: Thin, Lightweight, Reinforced with Light Leather Armor. ]
[ Stat Modifiers: DEX +2 (Movement Speed and Agility), HP +12. ]
[ Status Effects: +5% Stealth Efficiency. ]
[ Durability: 600/600. ]
[ Description: This all-black jacket provides reasonable defense and enhanced agility. The color and design offer a slight boost to stealth, making it a strategic choice for missions requiring discretion. ]
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"Aren't these for academy level?" Naruto asked, eyeing the gear Mr. Higurashi had laid out for him.
"Of course, graduation is about 45 days away, and I noticed that you value that orange jumpsuit more. So, you'll probably just use that jumpsuit more than these."
Naruto nodded but couldn't resist adding a joke. "You just don't want me to get free Genin level gear."
Mr. Higurashi lightly tapped the boy on the head, amused. "Don't think too much about it."
"Okay, so can I get these clothes in orange?"
"Just get a chakra dye," Mr. Higurashi suggested casually.
"Chakra dye?"
Mr. Higurashi walked over to the counter and pulled out a box of plain-looking rocks.
[ Item: Chakra Rock ]
[ Type: Magical Resource ]
[ Description: A unique stone that becomes saturated with chakra after being in close proximity to a specially treated plant. This plant, which has been channeled with chakra continuously for a month, becomes sensitive to chakra natures. The stones, found near the plant's roots, absorb this chakra essence, making them valuable in crafting. ]
"Just grind these stones to a powder and you'll have chakra dye. It sticks to clothing like normal dye, but due to its chakra nature, the dye can change normal clothing from an original color to, in your case, orange."
The boy was thrilled by the possibility of transforming the emo colors into his beloved bright orange. However, a question lingered in his mind.
"Aren't you going to say that orange isn't a ninja color?" Naruto asked, recalling the lessons from his teachers and his fellow classmates who always mocked his choice of orange.
"Let me guess, your civilian teachers told you that," Mr. Higurashi deduced, earning a nod from Naruto. "Look, it doesn't matter what color your clothing is. When a ninja needs to hide, they use transformation jutsu. You can just make it so that the light reflecting off your bright clothing is camouflaged to the environment."
Naruto's admiration for Mr. Higurashi grew immensely. "You are cool."
Mr. Higurashi simply sweatdropped at Naruto's enthusiasm. "Sure."
Naruto grinned at seeing the blue window pop up.
[ Alert: World Quest ]
[ Quest Title: Deliver the Goods ]
[ Objective: Ensure timely delivery of a box to the Hokage tower within 15 minutes. The box contains vital supplies from Higurashi Weapons. ]
[ Rewards: ]
- [ 10 Experience Points (Exp) ]
- [ 500 Ryo ]
- [ Enhanced reputation with Higurashi Weapons. ]
[ Penalty for Failure: ]
- [ 5 Experience Points (Exp) ]
- [ 100 Ryo ]
- [ Decreased reputation with Higurashi Weapons. ]
[ Action Required: Acceptance or Declination of Quest ]
Naruto tapped the 'Acceptance'.
"Great, take this box to the Hokage tower. Be careful, it's heavy. Oh, and make sure the receptionist signs for it."
Naruto picked up the box happily and ran out of the shop with it. As soon as he was out the door the timer popped up and began to count down. "Let's do this," he almost shouted as he took off at his top speed.
Nine minutes later Naruto had arrived at the tower and reported to the tower reception with the box. As soon as he got her to sign the form the timer stopped with 00:05:43 left on the clock.
[ Objective: Delivery Successfully Completed Ahead of Schedule ]
[ Next Step: Return to Higurashi Weapons to Claim Your Reward. ]
Naruto grinned and strolled out of the tower with a little bounce to his step.
[ Completion Awarded: ]
- [ Experience Points (Exp): 10 ]
- [ Currency: 500 Ryo ]
- [ Reputation Increase: +50 with Higurashi Weapons ]
[ Bonus Award: ]
- [ Additional Experience Points (Exp): 50 (10 Exp per minute remaining) ]
- [ Additional Currency: 500 Ryo (100 Ryo per minute remaining) ]
- [ Additional Reputation Increase: +250 with Higurashi Weapons (50 reputation points per minute remaining) ]
"Good work, come back next tomorrow and I have another delivery for you."