Urahara watched the backs of the three chūnin as they walked away down the alley, their posture curiously rigid.
The leader held a brown paper package under his arm as if he were carrying S-Rank security documents, when in reality it contained two luxury books from the restricted section and a pack of energy drinks.
The shop bell chimed softly when the door closed.
Urahara leaned against the counter, snapping his fan shut with a crisp sound as a crooked smile appeared beneath the shadow of his hat.
"Organic marketing… the cheapest and most efficient tool that exists," he thought as the System in his mind registered the first real profits in ryō.
"In less than an hour, Konoha's headquarters will know there's a place where sugar is stronger than coffee and the images are sharper than reality. The traffic is guaranteed."
He began reorganizing the cans on the glass counter, but his senses—limited though they were to only five percent of Urahara's true capability—picked up two approaching presences.
They weren't the heavy footsteps of arrogant chūnin, nor the chaotic rushing of noisy genin.
These steps were light.
Precise.
Almost rhythmic.
Two boys entered the shop.
The first was slightly taller, with dark hair and eyes filled with lively intelligence—the kind that belonged to someone who already understood the world around him. Shisui, at seven years old, already possessed the natural charisma of a prodigy.
Beside him stood a younger boy whose calm, thoughtful expression seemed far too heavy for a child of five. Itachi kept his hands together while observing the environment with analytical curiosity.
Urahara felt a faint shiver of anticipation.
Before him stood two of the most brilliant—and tragic—minds in the history of Konoha, drawn by the curiosity spreading through the Uchiha District about the mysterious Urahara Shop.
"Well, well…" Urahara leaned slightly over the counter, the glimmer in his eyes hidden beneath the brim of his hat.
"It's not every day that heirs of such an illustrious clan visit my humble shop. What brings two Uchiha prodigies to such a forgotten alley?"
Shisui stepped forward with a friendly smile, while Itachi stopped in front of a shelf filled with colorful sweets that sparkled like jewels under the shop's lights.
"We heard some cousins talking about 'drinks that explode on your tongue' and things from another world," Shisui said, pointing toward the ice bucket.
"So we came to see if it's true… or if it's just mission stories being exaggerated."
Urahara chuckled softly.
"Exaggeration is a word that doesn't exist in my dictionary, young man. For the two of you, I'll make a special welcome price. After all, good customers should be cultivated early."
He slid two cold cans and a small pack of popping candy across the counter.
While the boys examined the items, Urahara used the opportunity to shift the focus. He knew the real profit wouldn't come from sweets—but from utility.
"But if you'll allow my boldness… ninjas of your caliber, from a noble clan, shouldn't be concerned only with sugar. Take a look at this."
Urahara walked to a corner and pulled out a roll of ultra-compact synthetic fabric.
With a quick motion, he unfurled it.
"Sleeping bags made from thermal polymer. Lighter than a kunai, compact enough to fit in any pack, and capable of retaining body heat even in the damp forests of the Land of Fire."
Then he lifted a small metal cylinder.
"And this… a chemical glow stick. No fire required, no smoke to reveal your position to enemies, and it lasts for ten hours."
"Modern conveniences for those who live in the shadows."
Itachi, who had remained silent until then, stepped closer to the sleeping bag and touched the fabric with the tips of his fingers.
His dark eyes gleamed as he immediately understood the tactical advantage such an item could provide to a shinobi on an infiltration mission.
Urahara watched the interaction like a predator.
He noticed the way Itachi observed the environment. Unlike Shisui, who absorbed the charisma and novelty of the shop, the young Itachi searched for utility.
His black eyes, deep as bottomless wells, stopped briefly on a set of traditional lead training weights sitting in a corner—but the boy quickly looked away, as if they were too archaic to be worth consideration.
"You seem to be looking for something that isn't on the shelf, young master," Urahara commented, leaning over the counter.
"Something to refine precision, perhaps? Or to make the body as agile as the mind?"
Itachi hesitated, but answered with his characteristic seriousness.
"Standard tools are… static. It's difficult to simulate the movement of a real enemy when training alone. And common training weights restrict circulation if worn for too long."
Urahara smiled behind the fan.
He knew exactly what to offer. Nothing magical—just the pinnacle of engineering he remembered from his previous life.
"Ah, I understand perfectly. You're looking for technical efficiency. Give me a moment."
Urahara walked to the back and returned with a dark metal briefcase.
When he opened it, he revealed two types of equipment that immediately caught the attention of both Uchihas.
Gradual Compression Weights.
Unlike iron bands that bruised the legs, these were made from a synthetic material that molded perfectly to the arms and legs, distributing weight evenly so as not to hinder a child's bone growth—a concern Urahara knew many clans ignored in pursuit of rapid power.
Mechanical Disk Launchers.
Urahara lifted a small adjustable spring device.
"This launches ceramic disks at variable angles and speeds. You can program the timing between launches. If you want to train shuriken throws against moving, unpredictable targets without needing a partner, there's nothing better on the market."
Itachi picked up one of the weights, feeling its texture.
Shisui, on the other hand, rotated the mechanical launcher in his hands, already imagining the challenge.
"This is… brilliant," Shisui murmured. "It's simple, but it completely changes the training dynamic in the clan courtyard."
"And it costs less than a medical consultation to treat tendonitis," Urahara winked.
"Since you are my first 'elite' customers, I'll make the following offer: take this test kit. If your skills improve within a week, you come back and pay the full price—and recommend my shop to the clan's instructors."
"What do you say? A fair investment?"
Urahara knew Itachi would never accept charity.
But a results-based business agreement?
That was something the young Uchiha's intellect could respect.
"We accept," Itachi said, sealing the deal with a small nod.
Urahara watched them leave.
Itachi carried the case of weights with a thoughtful expression, while Shisui walked beside him with the disk launcher tucked under his arm.
The businessman inside Urahara felt a surge of satisfaction.
He wasn't merely selling plastic and metal.
He was infiltrating the training regimen of the most powerful clan in Konoha.
"Five percent of the template…" Urahara muttered, looking at his hands and feeling the still-contained flow of power.
"With the profit this order will generate once the entire clan wants these kits, I'll be able to purchase my first 10% integration package."
"And then…"
"Things will start to get interesting."