"Sorry about yesterday - sometimes my clones get a little too independent." From now on, whenever I make clones, I'll have to factor in the loss of control that comes with being unconscious. And since the mental link weakens the farther I am from my clones, I should be more careful and give them clearer instructions.
"It's all right, Akira-san, you're not to blame for what happened." Saiko shook her head as we left the bank, having just deposited yesterday's winnings into my account.
Still, the upsides of the clones' freewheeling were greater than the downsides. I literally made nine million ryo in my sleep. Not that I'm desperate for cash right now, but I'd never turn down a gift like that. The way the money was made was both original and, in a way, genius.
But if I used it too often… well, who am I kidding. The clones thought of everything - every time they went to a new poker joint, they completely changed their appearance.
The only real problem I can imagine is someone wanting to win their money back with fists and threats. But I'm strong enough that my clones could handle that. Still, in the long run, this kind of money-making scheme wouldn't do my reputation any favors - the one I've worked so hard to build in Konoha.
Of course, that's only if I get caught, but it's not that hard to trace where the money's coming from, especially if someone puts a tail on me.
"Still, I feel partly responsible for what happened. How's your husband?" Getting caught in the middle of a marital spat was the last thing I expected yesterday. I knew more than enough about Saiko's family, thanks to the shinobi I'd hired. In five words: her husband lives off his wife. And that's actually a rare sight in such a patriarchal world.
The only exception to this system is among shinobi. In shinobi families, relationships are usually more equal, and there's nothing shameful about a wife earning more than her husband. Sure, friends might poke fun at a guy like that, but kunoichi - whatever people say - with good genes and enough effort, can easily become more competent shinobi than men.
But among civilians, if a husband depends more on his wife than the other way around - that's shameful. Maybe Saiko never pointed it out to her husband, but I'm sure Shigetsu felt a lot of pressure from his situation, and the alcohol clearly wasn't helping. Sooner or later, even without yesterday's catalyst, their relationship would have hit a dead end. And Shigetsu had three options: man up and get a real job, accept that he's living off his wife and focus on the household, or "go out for bread" - in other words, end the marriage.
Honestly, I couldn't care less how it all turns out for them. Sure, Saiko's an attractive woman, but I have no intention of seducing her or staking any claim. And it's got nothing to do with the fact that her kids are boys.
So, she can handle her husband herself - she's not a child, she's a grown woman.
"He's fine, just cut his foot on a piece of glass. As for work… I'll try to quit as soon as possible so I can start my new job." She decided to change the subject.
"Great, just keep me posted." After saying goodbye to Saiko, I left the bank and headed to the restaurant to check in on Ayumi.
Luckily, the first day of McDonald's went well. Customers weren't exactly breaking down the door, but I'd definitely sparked a lot of interest in the new cheap-eats spot. Give it a month, and all of Tanzaku will know about my place.
Now, I need to focus on the shopping center. The idea of creating such an innovative place sounded great in theory, but in practice, it was shaky - especially since I was greedy enough to want most of the mall's stores under my own brand. Even if I'd more or less figured out what businesses I wanted to open, I still had to do market analysis, find suppliers, hire staff and managers, and set up a financial model to redirect profits from these outlets.
And if I wanted my businesses to actually make serious money, I'd have to work on making the services and products more appealing to customers. All of that together is a massive headache. Especially since I don't plan to stay in Tanzaku for long. I can't give proper attention to training or self-development here.
Money is good, big money is great. The financial security I'm building is just for status and a comfortable life. But in chasing money, I can't forget - this isn't Earth.
Even Gato, with all his wealth, couldn't protect himself from a skilled shinobi who decided to kill him. Sure, if Gato had had better bodyguards, things might have gone differently, but it is what it is. Where am I supposed to find those bodyguards?
There's no private security here, samurai won't just join me for nothing, and shinobi aren't for sale at the market. I might have dealt with Danzo, but he's not the only name on my list of potential enemies. Maybe the guy next door who sells cabbage will spend his life savings to hire a shinobi from another country to take me out as a competitor. Or he'll hire a missing-nin, depending on what's easier and what risks he's willing to take. And there will always be people who want a piece of my fortune, which will only grow over time.
Sure, I could hire a shinobi for long-term personal protection - in a year, I'll easily be able to afford that - but that doesn't solve the root problem. And the problem is obvious - I'm too weak to protect myself from shinobi. If this were a normal world, I'd just accept having a bodyguard, but here, anyone can smash mountains with a single punch if they work hard enough - just look at Guy.
Guy's a special case, sure, but it proves the point. In terms of potential, I started way higher than Guy, so what's stopping me from climbing that ladder? Maybe I should take a page from those Chinese transmigrators and train until I drop every day…
Actually, no, I've thought about that path, and it would only land me in Danzo's dungeon, not a happy future.
"Young man, just for today, I'm giving you a free coupon for special service at our establishment." A girl ran up and shoved a yellow slip labeled "Paradise Garden" into my hand.
Hmm, not a bad marketing move, I have to admit. The others could learn a thing or two. I nodded to the smiling girl and walked away.
****
"Sensei, I'm boooored. Can I go scout that mansion, or better yet, blow it up?" whined a young guy, trailing after a tall man.
"Deidara, we're only here to escort our client's caravan to the capital. No scouting, no spying, and definitely no explosions. Don't cause any trouble while we're in the Land of Fire." The jonin's tone was serious - he knew exactly what his student was capable of.
"So what am I supposed to do? Ogoro-san said we'll be here for a few more days." The blond pouted.
"Go shopping, buy yourself something. You can find almost anything in Tanzaku that you'd find anywhere in the Land of Fire," his teacher replied.
"What about you?" the boy asked.
"I'll be guarding the client. Be grateful I'm giving you this much freedom. Now go."
Deidara wandered around Tanzaku for hours and actually found a few interesting places and things, but there was one problem…
"Damn, I've only got 500 ryo! Ugh, I shouldn't have spent it all in Fuon. The capital has a lot of cool stuff, but compared to Tanzaku, the selection is tiny. Oh, I've got an idea!"
****
"Come one, come all! Only today - rare handmade clay goods by a master from the Land of Earth!" The lively shout caught my attention. I walked over to a small crowd gathered around a street stall. A blue sheet was spread out on the ground, with clay pots and utensils neatly arranged on top.
It was easy to see why people were interested: the young man was making his wares right in front of everyone, using lumps of wet earth and chakra for the crowd's amusement. He'd grab a handful of mud from a bucket, shape it, then finish and harden it with his chakra, skipping the firing stage entirely.
But… nobody was actually interested in buying. Tanzaku had several shops selling similar goods, with much better detail - both handmade premium items and mass-market stuff for the budget crowd.
Still, the kid was incredibly talented at chakra control - almost too much so. Looking closer, I didn't recognize anything about him: chestnut hair, average face, a bit short. Yeah… I'd never seen this face before.
I picked up a handleless teacup and examined it from all sides. Solid and smooth.
"Oh, that one's my work - 120 ryo," the boy said, noticing my interest.
At prices that low, there'd always be buyers, especially among the poor.
Just out of curiosity, I decided to test the cup's strength, to see how it compared to non-chakra-made ones.
To my surprise, the cup was much sturdier than I expected - I actually had to use a bit of chakra to break it.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? You break it, you buy it!" the boy snapped, getting up from his sheet.
"Don't worry." I tried to calm him, reaching into my kimono for my wallet. "Oh." Automatically, I patted my other pockets, searching, and was about to check my storage scroll when I remembered I'd left my wallet in my office.
What the hell? Oh right, I meant to grab some cash from the safe, and I think I did, but then I left the wallet on my desk when one of the staff knocked on my door and distracted me.
"No way, you're not pulling that trick on me." Seeing my slightly lost expression, the kid took it his own way and quickly grabbed my wrist. "Pay up, now."
Damn! What a grip! Either this kid's been shoveling dirt since he was little, or he's a shinobi who, for some reason, decided to become a potter.
All right, Yamato, your turn - I need cash. I glanced at the rooftops. Every time I looked for Yamato, he'd always give away his position so I'd know he was there.
But right now, I didn't see him anywhere. Did he go take a leak?
"Hey, calm down, I really did forget my wallet at the restaurant. Do you really think I'd try to scam you?" He looked me up and down, then let go after a second.
Do I really not have any change in my pockets? I checked and found a slip of paper. Oh, perfect!
"Here." I handed the kid the yellow coupon.
"What's this?" he asked, puzzled.
"A one-time coupon for a high-end place. If you go today, you'll get free service." At the word "free," the boy's eyes lit up and he happily slipped the coupon into his pocket.
"All right, if you really forgot your wallet, you don't have to pay for the broken cup. It happens." He waved it off, forgiving the debt, and immediately scooped up some more clay to make an identical cup.
****
Meeting that unusual kid made me realize I didn't have to hunt for unemployed craftsmen to staff the mall. Good cooks and tailors could just be "poached." Clothing stores are great, but what really sets them apart is the merchandise. If I just sell the same stuff everyone else brings to Tanzaku, why would anyone shop at my stores? I don't want to set up a whole clothing factory - that's too much hassle - but I could just buy out an existing workshop.
With my own workshop, it'd be easy to make unique clothes from designs in my head. I'm no designer, but I've got a steady hand from my artist hobby, and sketching clothes from memory isn't that hard. Sure, I might miss some details, but my imagination can fill in the gaps.
As for the restaurants, it'd be easier to lure chefs over with higher salaries.
With that in mind, I made five clones in an alley and sent them out to find all the clothing workshops in Tanzaku. I wasn't planning to buy a huge factory to supply the whole country or province - just enough capacity for four or five stores.
With chefs, there was no rush - they could start as soon as they learned the recipes, but for clothes, I'd need to start production well before the mall opened, so customers wouldn't find empty shelves.
Meanwhile, I headed home to sketch designs. I couldn't target the budget market - the competition would crush me - but for the well-off middle and upper class, I could offer something interesting.
Suddenly, while I was sketching a woman's figure in my hotel room, I remembered Kushina - or more specifically, her underwear, which I'd seen at the hot springs.
"Erotic lingerie? Heh, all right, I won't call it Victoria's Secret, but it's a good idea. I haven't seen any stores here that focus just on lingerie." So, one store would be for women's lingerie, another for premium women's clothing, a third for cheap but unusual stuff, and a fourth for men's wear.
By evening, I'd managed to sketch out twenty-five lingerie designs and two dress designs. For some reason, my imagination worked better when it came to panties than regular clothes.
I put the drawings in a scroll and headed to the film crew's cottage.
****
"Cut!" Makino shouted, and the mood on the street changed instantly.
"Not bad, got the scene in two takes," said a bearded man, pushing forty.
"Akira-san is a diamond in the rough - he's got all the talent to become a great actor," Shihinoro nodded to Yukie's assistant.
"I heard Makino-san thinks highly of him," Sandayu added, keeping the conversation going.
"Oh, absolutely. His understanding of film is impressive, and let's not forget, Makino-san accepted his suggestion to change the script." The two were chatting cheerfully by the carriage. You'd almost think Akira and Makino had become friends in the short time they'd known each other.
"I don't see anything special about him," Yukie - Koyuki - chimed in from the sidelines, where she'd been listening to her assistant and the director's aide.
For Yukie, or rather Koyuki, the news about the new actor had been an unpleasant surprise. After that incident at the theater, she'd come to truly hate Akira and wished she'd never see him again. Unfortunately, fate wasn't on her side, and just two days later, she ran into him again - this time as a "colleague."
"Oh, Makino-san's coming over," Shihinoro stood up, and Sandayu, who was about to ask Yukie why she felt that way, fell silent.
****
The next day, they shot another scene with the prince and princess, in a restaurant reserved for the whole morning. According to the script, the prince was supposed to have an important meeting with an ally, and the princess was supposed to find out what would be discussed. By pleading and revealing her status to the restaurant owner, she managed to convince him to let her work as a waitress at the prince's table.
"Gunzi-san, I'm glad to see you alive and well. I've noticed the city of Shomai has started to flourish under your rule," the prince said calmly, slicing a piece of meat at the table.
"Your Highness, I'm honored to see you and welcome you to my city. Yes, thanks to your wisdom, trade has flourished, and so has life here. I hope the accommodations meet all your needs," the old man replied obsequiously.
Nearby, Princess Fuun walked with a complicated expression, holding a tray with a teapot.
"I'm quite satisfied. As you know, I served in the army corps in my youth, so I'm not too picky about comfort," the prince replied with a smile.
"Oh yes, I've heard of your excellent service in the Yuam army - not a single battle was lost under your command. Oh, what are you standing there for? Pour our prince some Funzibaichan. Your Highness, I'm sure you'll enjoy this tea - it's quite rare and comes from distant lands."
Princess Fuun, who looked so different her brother shouldn't have recognized her, hurried over to pour the tea. Everything would have been fine, but Yukie forgot to hold the teapot lid, so after a few seconds, it fell off and tea spilled everywhere.
Everyone was so surprised that even Makino forgot to call "cut."
"Owner! Over here!" Akira shouted, kicking the other actor under the table.
"Are you… all right?" the old man asked, coming over to the prince, whose kimono was now splattered with tea.
"Sorry," Yukie said automatically, then tripped over her own feet and landed on her butt.
Technically, the scene should have ended, but the cast, seeing Akira still in character, decided to play along to see what would happen.
"How can you be so clumsy?!" the old man shouted, getting into the spirit and yelling at Yukie.
"What happened?" The restaurant owner, pushed into the shot, ran over.
"Your employee happened," the prince said, waving at the wet tablecloth.
"Ahem, my apologies, Your Highness. I'll fire her today and hand her over to the guards," the actor said nervously. Since the scene was now off-script, he was fumbling for words, but that just made it seem like he was genuinely scared.
"Rest assured, Your Highness, she'll be severely punished," the old man chimed in.
Akira looked curiously at the princess, still sitting on the floor, and she seemed a little scared under his gaze.
"You know, I could use another servant at the estate. Her clumsiness amuses me." According to the script, after the meeting, the prince was supposed to take an interest in the waitress and want her as a maid.
"Cut!" Makino shouted, clapping his hands. "Brilliant improv! Akira-san, great job. Mitsumi-san, you reacted well too. Yukie's weak reaction is totally justified - after all, she's not really a commoner."
"Makino-san, sorry I almost ruined the scene," Yukie said apologetically, though inside she was endlessly happy.
*If only that tea had been hot, not cold… well, as revenge, it'll do,* Yukie thought, smirking to herself.
But her good mood didn't last long.
The next day, they had several more scenes planned, but everything went down the drain thanks to a string of mishaps caused by her mistakes.
"No, no, Yukie, you're making too many faces." They just couldn't get the foot massage scene right.
And during her dialogue with the prince, she kept getting distracted, which annoyed the director.
"Makino-san, maybe Yukie just needs to get used to interacting with Akira-san," Sandayu suggested.
In the original Naruto story, where there was no Akira, Yukie also struggled with these scenes - it was one thing to play a princess, which she was used to, but another to pretend to be a servant and grovel. Even if it was just acting, Yukie had a hard time with it, though she eventually managed. In this reality, with Akira - whom she already disliked - it was even harder for her.
Akira, on the other hand, didn't care at all. He was happy to get a foot massage from Yukie for an hour or more, so he didn't really try to help her finish the scene.
"Hmmm…" the director mused. "Maybe you're right. After all, Yukie is still a girl - it must be awkward for her to massage the feet of someone she barely knows. All right! That's it for today. Yukie, your task for the next three days is to get to know Akira-san better."
"WHAT?" To say she was surprised would be an understatement. "But I don't want to spend time with him!" she protested, pointing accusingly at Akira, who was lounging in his chair.
"Ah, I see - so you two have some disagreements," Makino quickly realized. "No wonder the scene didn't work. Still, I insist you get to know each other better - maybe you'll even make up. It's necessary for good chemistry on set. Sandayu-san, please see to it."
The princess's assistant nodded in response.
*Princess Koyuki is too closed off - it'll do her good to spend time with a peer,* Sandayu thought to himself.
****
"Deidara, wipe that stupid look off your face. What's with you?" the teacher asked his student.
"I've discovered a new art," Deidara said blissfully, remembering the coupon that had changed his whole world.
"Heh, the kid's just become a man - look at those hickeys all over his neck," the client laughed.
🔥~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🔥
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