Chapter 3: Buying Luxuries

Chapter 3: Buying Luxuries

Two hours later, Luk opened his eyes in pleasant surprise.

The speed of chakra refinement had significantly increased. In just two hours, he had refined more chakra than he had in the past half-month.

Initially, he had expected the refinement speed to be only two or three times faster, but the enhancement of his talents seemed to be more complex than a simple addition. The elevation of his physical and spiritual state, as well as his control over energy, all contributed to the refinement speed.

It was probably around seven to eight times faster.

Luk roughly estimated and felt a warm satisfaction from the chakra within him. He pondered finding an opportunity to test the chakra bar of a well-known unit, to calculate how long it would take to refine enough chakra to gain a single unit of power.

Additionally, he needed to consider acquiring combat skills.

Obtaining the Chakra Refinement Technique was not difficult, but jutsu was a different matter. Only ninjas could learn jutsu, and he had no background or qualifications to do so.

He needed to come up with a plan...

The door suddenly opened, and his younger brother, Kawa Hikaru, came to wake him up. However, he found Luk looking at him thoughtfully, his eyes gradually brightening.

Kawa Hikaru had seen this look before. In the past, whenever his brother accidentally broke a piece of porcelain at home, he would drag him out to take the blame, using the excuse that he was too young for their parents to punish him.

Suddenly feeling a bad premonition, Kawa Hikaru turned to run, but the next moment, he was grabbed by a large hand and lifted into the air like a kitten caught by the scruff of its neck.

"Little Hikaru, I remember you wanted to attend the Ninja Academy, right?"

Kawa Hikaru nodded obediently, "Didn't you say I couldn't go?"

"Hehehe, it doesn't have to be real attendance..."

Having a reason was enough.

Kawa Hikaru blinked his innocent eyes, "Brother, I don't understand."

Luk pinched his chubby cheeks, "It's fine, you don't need to understand. Just follow my plan."

Buying some ninja training equipment for his soon-to-be-enrolled brother wasn't too much, right?

...

After breakfast, Luk picked up his hammer as usual. It felt so light, like a feather, compared to the heavy iron hammer he used to struggle with. He felt invigorated and began working with the hammer.

His efficiency was astonishing. In just one hour, he completed the planned work, barely breaking a sweat. The shurikens and kunai he forged were more solid and of higher quality than before.

If his father hadn't been watching, he could have worked even faster, but the materials and craftsmanship still fell short of the genuine articles.

"I have something to do today, so I won't be back for dinner. Tell Mother not to prepare my meal."

Luk took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and smiled at his father.

His father looked at his eldest son suspiciously. He felt that his son was different today, more spirited and radiant, almost more striking than usual.

His demeanor had changed significantly. He used to be sullen, but now he seemed to have suddenly let his guard down, smiling more often, as if he had transformed from being secretly mischievous to openly playful.

After pondering for a while and recalling his own youth, his father suddenly understood.

He must be in the mood for love.

After all, he was of the age to start a family. It was normal to think about women, and it would be strange if he still thought about earning money all day like before.

Leaving the house, Luk headed straight to a high-end ninja equipment shop. He planned to buy a sword and some weighted gear.

"Welcome."

The shop owner was a middle-aged man in his forties. Seeing a customer, he was about to greet them warmly, but his face immediately fell when he recognized Luk, and his attitude became visibly cold.

"Oh, it's the little brat from the Kawa family. What brings you here? Not here to cause trouble, I hope?"

The middle-aged owner spoke with a sarcastic tone.

The flawed items from the Kawa blacksmith shop had significantly impacted traditional ninja equipment shops, causing a sharp drop in sales. The owners of several shops had even visited the Kawa blacksmith shop to confront them.

Collaborating with ninjas, these traditional shops were not to be trifled with by a common family like the Kawas. Fortunately, Luk was prepared and spent a night negotiating with the shop owners. After explaining the concept of brand effect and scarcity marketing, the owners backed down.

From then on, traditional ninja equipment shops doubled their prices, hired civilians to promote their products, and introduced limited editions. They emphasized that their equipment was a luxury, only suitable for noble ninjas from powerful clans.

The decline in sales halted, and revenue increased.

Since then, the major clans in Konoha uniformly purchased their supplies from legitimate ninja equipment shops, while civilian ninjas and academy students generally chose the new shops like the Kawa blacksmith shop. The two markets operated independently.

"I'm here to buy something."

Luk smiled, "I want to buy a high-quality long sword and one hundred kilograms of weighted leg wraps."

The middle-aged shop owner sneered and spread his hands, "Sorry, we're out of stock."

"What about the items in the display case?"

"Of course, they're in the display case. Display cases are for displaying items."

Luk's face darkened, "How can I get the items then?"

"Our equipment is only available to members. You know this. Since you're not a ninja from a powerful clan, I can't help you."

The middle-aged shop owner replied with a straight face.

Luk: o(￣ヘ￣o＃)



Middle-aged shop owner: ㄟ(▔，▔)ㄏ

Luk felt like he had hoisted himself by his own petard.

"What do you have in stock?"

The middle-aged shop owner took out a whetstone, "This is our latest whetstone. Look at the quality, the feel of it."

"How much?"

"Ten thousand."

"Is that all?"

"Ten thousand."

Do you even know that S-rank missions usually cost a million?

Luk fell silent for a moment. He couldn't believe that the store manager was trying to outdo him, and was even more shameless than he was.

"Will I get the goods if I buy this?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Who knows? Just buy it and see what happens."

Luk's entire demeanor changed. "You can't just take money like this."

"Of course not. If you try to take money, the guards will arrest you. Selling ninja tools wouldn't be a problem."

The Uchiha clan is our largest customer base after all. Rich and proud, they love to show off, and when they get angry, their intelligence drops significantly, making them prime examples of being foolish with money.

The Uchiha clan and Cat House had a contract. Despite having a stable place to buy high-quality ninja tools, they still ended up buying these overpriced items to show off their status as the top clan of the Leaf.

Being too concerned with face can easily lead to losses.

Calculating the time, after a few months, the old silver coin counter would deduct the eyes, and in two years, the Uchiha clan would start their family cleansing plan. The title of top clan would be handed to the Hyuga family from then on.

Luk's eyes narrowed. "Store manager, I'm sincere about buying things. Don't make it difficult for me. Using the stuff I teach to fight me isn't very appropriate."

The traditional ninja tool shop used Luk's marketing strategy, and the clan's ninjas, constrained by face, became the pride of their parents. But not all clan ninjas are fools. Spending a bit more money to show status is acceptable, but high prices wouldn't be bought.

The store manager's price was already significantly higher than the usual increase.

"Hmph." The store manager grunted, clearly trying to make things difficult for Luk.

Initially, a few store managers ran over to check the accounts, but were driven back by Luk's remarks. Though they made money, they still felt embarrassed by the naturally evil little demons of the thousand river clan, Their spirits were dampened.

But it was just dampened spirits. No one would let money go, and they even thought about the day the thousand iron blacksmith shop would collapse, turning people into marketing advisors.

The store manager: "Let's get to the specifics."

"I hope the sword's quality is a bit better, sturdy, and durable, not easily worn out. If it's made of a conductive metal, it would be perfect. The leg bindings have no specific requirements, just that they can't be seen."

The store manager couldn't help but frowned. "A sword made of conductive metal is top-tier, but I doubt I have it in my shop. You can buy, and the leg bindings should be able to hold fifty kilograms."

"Then just grab a sword any ninja uses. A bit better material would be good."

The store manager pulled out a sword from behind the counter, about a meter long, and tossed the leg bindings to Luk.

"The sword is made with wear-resistant and hard materials. Although not as good as conductive metal, it still balances weight and durability, making it a decent weapon."

"The mid-range ninja tools require registration. What are you going to use the leg bindings and ninja weapon for?"

Luk extended the sword a bit, seeing a faint glint of cold light, then smiled. "I'm buying this for my little brother. In half a year, he'll be entering the ninja academy, so I want to prepare him."

This naturally seemed like a bad idea, but he decided to go with it. As for being off the charts, no one would care.

Not causing trouble as a ninja, but needing a transition period.

The store manager looked annoyed.

"Your people don't give the swords you buy to a six-year-old the proper respect, do they? One-meter-long swords and a hundred kilograms of leg bindings for a six-year-old? No one with a decade of blood clots would think of such a thing."

I advise you to be kind!

He took a deep breath.

"Genuine, thirty thousand."

Luk: ?

I hope you understand, when I raised my voice, it wasn't me being problematic, but feeling you were being problematic.

"The Uchiha clan wouldn't be too happy if they knew you were treating them as fools, you know. You also know that the clan members are quite impulsive."

The store manager grunted coldly. "Do you have evidence?"

No evidence, just slander!

"Your sales tactics are all mine, and you are sure I have no other means?"

Luk's eyes narrowed, logically and factually. "After all, the clan members get upset and cause trouble. Do you have evidence before you act?"

This... seems to be the logic.

The store manager hesitated, thinking it was better to step back and not let the small money affect the big business.

"Then let's look at the past favor. Twenty thousand."

"I remember the Hyuga clan ordering many ninja tools from you?"

"… Fifteen thousand."

"Autumn, Yamato, Yamanaka, Inuzuka..."

"Ten thousand, don't overstep, little one." The store manager's face darkened.

You're overcharging with severe greed, black-hearted shopkeeper!

Luk paid and left, feeling a pang in his heart, repeating the shop's name and location in his mind.

I'll tear down this black-hearted shop eventually!

Looking back, the previous writing was truly awful.

Thank you, dear readers, for your understanding and support. In the future, I'll kneel to the greats. (ノ‥)ノ

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end