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Oskirts of Kumogakure stood a weathered building.
It was a rge ninja tool shop, a rare sight these days.
Decades ago, during Kumogakure’s peak, there was at least one such shop in every er of the vilge.
They sold ninja tools, along with basitel aorative medie.
The muscle-bound ninjas of Kumogakure, after pleting their missions and rigorous training, would often gather here to rest their weary legs, replenish their strength with muscle-boosting tonics, and browse for ools of the trade.
Those seeking to discuss matters or trade information would also frequent this establishment.
In those years, small-scale brawls within the vilge were not unon, but there were always friends who would step in to mediate between the opposing sides. With a few words from the mediator, thirty to fifty Genin would oftele their differences over a bowl of muscle-boosting tonic, turning hostility into camaraderie.
In short, it was a vital hub in its heyday, a pce where people could gather, regardless of whether they had busio attend to or not.
Here, one could hear the most absurd news, such as tales of audacious vilgers donning masks to participate in robberies alongside the perpetrators. Wheed to the Kumogakure Security Force, these is would often be dismissed due to the insignifit losses and the sheer number of individuals involved.
Strael could also be gleaned here, like the story of a Konoha shop being attacked, where ers, instead of taking advantage of the chaos for some free shopping, actually paid for their goods…
And now, we find ourselves at one suinja tool shop.
Upoering, one was greeted by a ter and a dazzling array of ninja tools. Signs reading “No Robbing” were pstered everywhere.
Two merts, whose names remained unknown, sat at a table, sipping their restorative medie. They exged words in hushed toheir eyes narrowed in a spiratorial manner.
“This tonic is truly authentic.”
A moment of silence followed.
“You’ve heard about the ret events in Konoha, right?”
“Of course. Holy, if it weren’t for my family being in the Land of Lightning, I’d be quite ined to move to the Land of Fire.”
“Oh? Why is that? Your business in Kumogakure seems to be doing quite well.”
“It is, but when a business reaches my scale, it’s not just about making money anymore. What’s more important is…”
The mert dipped his finger ionid wrote twe characters on the wooden table-Enviro!
“Although I was born and raised in the Land of Lightning, I have to admit that the atmosphere here is terrible, especially in Kumogakure.”
“It’s already the 51st year of Kumogakure, and those muscle-brained ninjas, whose heads are filled with who-knows-what, still believe they achieve everything through brute force.”
“Every month, I have to pay a hefty sum to security ninjas.”
As he touched upon this sensitive topic, the mert’s voivoluntarily rose, his tone ced with rese.
Merts had long suffered uhis oppressive enviro!
The other mert nodded in agreement. “I survey the heroes of the world, and the Raikage is tyrannical, the Mizukage bloodthirsty, the Kazekage ruthless, the Tsuchikage antiquated. Only Minato Namikaze be sidered a true hero…”
He hesitated for a moment. “And with the news about the Konoha shop… although its authenticity is uain, it’s certainly appealing. Not only ake mohere, but iing with the ninjas and vilgers of Konoha would also be more pleasant.”
“It’s likely true. I have a friend who…”
“Indeed. I heard from my retives in the Land of Fire that the ission prices in Konoha are lower than iher freat Shinobi Vilges. And the neointed Hokage, Minato Namikaze, has implemented many policies that be us merts…”
After the two merts departed, the shop owner emerged from behind the ter.
As he ed the table, his eyes grew brighter.
The ret rumors cirg among the on folk in Konoha ed a ninja tool shop being attacked. This informatiinated from a magazine called “Iki.”
While others might not have uood the significe, he, as a victim of Kumogakure’s oppressive atmosphere, felt his heart stir with excitement, yearning, and a sense of hope…
There were three key takeaways-
o worry about ers not paying, o worry about ers turning into masked bandits, and o worry about the vilge’s Security Force being unresponsive.
It was a win-win situation.
*Thump-thump…*
The shop owner, Kobori Taiten’s heart beat faster.
After wiping the table, he involuntarily walked towards the entrance, gazing at the shop sign that had been passed down through geions since his grandfather…
Kobori Taiten made a decision that went against his aors-he would relocate his entire shop!
“Konoha, here I e!”
Kobori Taiten was a traditional Kumogakure vilger with exceptional drive. Having made his decision, he swiftly lowered the shop’s shutters aurned io gather his belongings.
Within a short time, everything ihe shop acked and ready to go.
He also had an aral shop in Konoha. As for this one in Kumogakure… he would entrust someoo find a suitable buyer.
He would bee a Konoha defector!
On a quiet afternoon, a group of burly ninjas and vilgers, their eyes gleaming with mischief, gathered he ninja tool shop.
They were here to restock their supplies.
Their roles were clearly defined. Some posed as ordinary ers, creating a lively atmosphere and encing genuine ers to join in the free-for-all. Others pyed the role of bandits, applyiernal pressure.
This tactic had never failed them. Each time, they would successfully acquire free restorative medie and useful ninja tools.
Kumogakure was a vilge that revered strength and upheld the principle of might makes right. Even if the matter escated to the Security Force… those muscle-bound officers would likely only reprimand the shop owner for g the strength to protect his own property.
Of course, if the amount involved was signifit, the Security Force wouldn’t stand idly by.
Therefore, each time they raided the shop, these professional ninjas made sure to keep their loot within a reasonable limit.
However, today, their pn backfired…
“Huh? Why isn’t it open? It’s usually open at this time.”
“Leader, look at the door. There’s something posted there.”
The ninjas gathered around and squi the sign-
[Shop Relocation]
[We have relocated to Land of Fire, Konohagakure, New ercial Street, No. 666 (Diagonally opposite the Land of Fire’s official publishing house in Konoha)]
[A brand new enviro for a better experience!]
[Upgraded Toniew Ninja Tools, fortable Enviro]
[Wele new aurning ers!]
The ninjas: “?”
The most muscur of the dark-skinned ninjas scratched his head. “Leader, what does it say? Read it to us.”
Literacy rates among ninjas were generally low, especially in the less developed Kumogakure.
Even those who could read were sidered highly educated.
“Relocation…”
“Moved to Konoha.”
“What? Moved to Konoha?!”
The dark-skinned ninja excimed in surprise, then his face lit up with excitement. “If we go to Konoha and rob him now, not only will we avoid being caught aained by the Security Force, but we’ll also be pleting an official mission for the vilge!”
“Theoretically, yes.”
The leader, a slightly less musinja addressed as “Leader,” responded with a serious expression:
“But how do you expect a group of Genin and a single in to breach Konoha’s defenses and rob a shop there?!”
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To Be tinued...
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