Chapter no.20 Gear

Read advance chapters of all my works or want to support me .

https://www.p.a.t.r.e.on.com/Adamo_Amet

....

Join us on discord : 

https://discord.gg/DXv2nkTB

••••••••••••••••••

There's a saying in the Nara Clan: "To be lazy or..." But Shikamaru often found it too troublesome to finish the quote.

He was relishing a rare moment of peace—no nagging from his mother or Ino, no shogi matches with his dad, just lying under the warm sun with a partially cloudy sky above and cool grass below. To him, this was paradise.

That paradise was abruptly shattered by a familiar voice.

"Fuck off!"

Shikamaru sighed, "I know that annoying voice... Naruto."

He could hear arguments coming from the front gate.

Reluctantly, Shikamaru stood and walked towards the commotion.

There, he found five guards in a heated debate with Naruto.

"Look, how can we trust you that this isn't some prank?" one guard challenged.

"Because of the damn seal on the box!" Naruto yelled back, frustration clear in his voice.

The guards remained unmoved, and Naruto looked ready to escalate things into a fight. Shikamaru sighed heavily. "This is troublesome," he thought as he quickly moved to intervene.

Recently, Sasuke's fanclub had concocted a theory that Sasuke had intentionally held back during his fight with Naruto, knowing his Sharingan was about to awaken—because some girl had read that the Sharingan often awakened in war conditions and assumed Sasuke had engineered the situation.

But Shikamaru knew better; Naruto had genuinely pushed Sasuke to the edge. This meant Naruto was truly skilled, and a fight between him and the guards could spell trouble.

Shikamaru preferred to avoid such complications.

He stepped in, hoping to diffuse the situation before it could escalate into something more serious.

"Hey, Naruto, what's up?"

"I've got a delivery for your family from Higurashi Weapons. But these guards are being jerks," Naruto said, annoyed.

One guard began to argue, but Shikamaru cut him off and reached for the package.

"Thanks," Shikamaru said simply.

Naruto handed over the package and the receipt for Shikamaru to sign.

"Thanks, man. You're a lifesaver," Naruto said with a smirk, taking back the signed receipt.

[ Delivery Success: Completed Just in Time ]

[ Next Step: Return to Higurashi Weapons to Claim Your Reward. ]

[ Completion Rewards: ]

- [ Experience Points (Exp): 10 ]

- [ Currency: 500 Ryo ]

[ Reputation Improvement: Your status with Higurashi Weapons has advanced from 'Liked' to 'Honoured'. ]

Naruto raced back to the shop, breathless but beaming, as Mr. Higurashi greeted him with a nod of appreciation for a week's worth of successful deliveries.

"Hey, if you want to buy anything from the shop, you'll get a 50% discount," Mr. Higurashi offered generously.

Naruto's smile widened as Mr. Higurashi pulled out a box.

"I finally finished with your gear," he announced.

Naruto's eyes lit up at the sight of his new or remade clothes—a sleeveless orange jacket, and pants that were much like his old ones but noticeably heavier. There were added pockets in the jacket and a blue long-sleeve shirt underneath.

As Naruto examined the blue shirt in confusion, wondering, "Why is this here?" Mr. Higurashi answered, "This is my gift, Naruto."

Overwhelmed, Naruto couldn't help but hug the clothes tightly, his face hidden as he absorbed the kindness of the gift.

[ Item: Bright Orange Sleeveless Jacket ]

[ Material: Thick Cloth, Lined with Light Chain Mesh. ]

[ Requirement: Level 5 or higher. ]

[ Stat Modifiers: DEX +3, STR +2, VIT +3, HP +20. ]

[ Durability: 750/750. ]

[ Description: This tough, short-sleeve jacket offers light protection against weapons. Ideal for combat situations requiring both mobility and a degree of armor. ]

[ Caution: Enhancements activate only for characters at Level 5 and above. Clothing item is wearable. ]

....

[ Item: Bright Orange Light Armored Pants ]

[ Material: Thick Cloth, Lined with Light Chain Mesh. ]

[ Protection Level: Light Armor. ]

[ Requirement: Level 5 or higher. ]

[ Stat Modifiers: Health Points (HP) +50, Dexterity (DEX) +3, Strength (STR) +2, Vitality (VIT) +2, +5% Effectiveness in Stealth. ]

[ Durability: 750/750. ]

[ Description: These ankle-length pants are constructed for durability and protection. The combination of thick cloth and light chain mesh provides light defense against weapons. ]

....

[ Item: Dark Blue Gambeson ]

[ Material: Thick Cloth, Lined with Light Leather Mesh. ]

[ Protection Level: Light Armor. ]

[ Requirement: Level 3 or higher. ]

[ Stat Modifiers: Health Points (HP) +25, Dexterity (DEX) +3,  Vitality (VIT) +3, Constitution (CON) +2, +5% Effectiveness in Stealth. ]

[ Durability: 750/750. ]

[ Description: This gambeson is crafted from thick cloth and lined with a light leather mesh, designed to offer substantial protection while maintaining flexibility. It is dyed a deep blue, which helps blend into shadows and night environments, making it ideal for stealth-oriented missions. The armor provides a boost to the wearer's health, agility, and resilience, enhancing survivability in combat situations. ]

[ Caution: Stat enhancements activate only for characters at Level 3 and above. This clothing item is wearable and optimized for stealth and protection. ]

....

Even without immediate stat enhancements, the clothes were awesome.

"I think you should buy some gloves and shin guards," Mr. Higurashi suggested, bringing Naruto back to the present.

"Is the discount on all items or just one?" Naruto asked, hopeful.

"Just one," Mr. Higurashi replied.

"Come on, I'll do more deliveries," Naruto bargained, eager to extend his discount.

"Fine, when I need you for more deliveries, I'm not going to pay you," Mr. Higurashi countered.

Naruto mumbled "cheap skate" under his breath, barely audible.

"What was that?" Mr. Higurashi challenged, raising an eyebrow.

"Where is the changing room?" Naruto quickly changed the subject, eager to try on his new gear.

Mr. Higurashi pointed to the left, his expression softening into a smile at Naruto's eagerness.

....

[ Item: Black Fingerless Gloves with Metal Back Plate ]

[ Material: Durable Fabric with Metal Plating. ]

[ Protection Level: Moderate. ]

[ Requirement: Level 3 or higher. ]

[ Stat Modifiers: Armor Class (AC) +5, +5% Enhancement to Parry. ]

[ Durability: 500/500. ]

[ Description: These fingerless gloves offer a solid grip and enhanced protection thanks to the metal back plate. Suitable for scenarios requiring both dexterity and defense. ]

....

[ Item Analysis: Grey and Black Shin Guard ]

[ Material: Protective Composite. ]

[ Protection Level: Basic Shin Defense. ]

[ Requirement: Level 5 or higher. ]

[ Stat Modifiers: AC +5. ]

[ Durability: 400/400. ]

[ Description: Designed for shin protection, these guards provide basic defense while maintaining mobility. The grey and black color scheme offers a functional aesthetic without drawing attention, ideal for various shinobi activities that require additional leg protection. ]

.....

[ Item: Black Genin Shinobi Sandals ]

[ Material: Leather and Wood. ]

[ Requirement: Level 5. ]

[ Stat Modifiers: Health Points (HP) +100, Agility (AGI) +5, +5% Effectiveness in Stealth. ]

[ Durability: 500/500. ]

[ Description: These sandals are tailored for genin, offering a perfect balance between flexibility, chakra flow, and protection. The robust material provides a moderate boost to health and stealth, making them suitable for a variety of missions and terrain. ]

....

"So, how much do I owe you?" Naruto asked, feeling a bit anxious about the total.

Hiten tallied everything on the counter. "That'll be 5550 Ryo."

Naruto's face fell, but then he remembered something.

"Mr. Higurashi, would you be willing to do a trade of sorts?" he asked.

"I'm listening," replied the shopkeeper, intrigued.

At Mr. Higurashi's words, Naruto pulled out a piece of refined ore he had obtained from the rat dungeon. Mr. Higurashi immediately began to inspect it closely.

"Where did you get this?" he inquired, his interest clearly piqued.

"Will you believe me if I said from a colony of rats?" Naruto joked.

"Must be some colony," Mr. Higurashi mused, still examining the ore. "This ore is very pure. Yeah, the bill will be covered by this, but I feel bad taking this in exchange for some gear. How about this: I owe you 5k."

"Seriously, how valuable is that ore?" Naruto asked, surprised by the offer.

"Not much by itself," Mr. Higurashi explained, "but what we can make from it is something truly valuable."

Naruto nodded, amazed at the unexpected value of his find and grateful for Mr. Higurashi's fair dealing.

Naruto, with a spark of curiosity, asked, "Don't suppose you have a book on Intermediate and Advanced Academy Taijutsu just lying around?"

Hiten looked surprised by the question. "Hmm, my daughter might have one, but I doubt she's ever used it."

"Really?" Naruto's eyes lit up. "Could I buy it from you?"

"I'll need to check with her first. She's on a mission but should be back by Friday. Check back then," Hiten replied.

"Awesome!" Naruto exclaimed, his enthusiasm momentarily pausing as he tried to figure out how to broach the next topic.

"Something you need, Naruto?" Mr. Higurashi asked, noticing Naruto's hesitation as he scratched the back of his head.

"Do you have any idea what gift I should give my girlfriend? And, before I forget, we've known each other for a week," Naruto said, looking hopeful yet slightly confused about the distinction between a girlfriend and a friend who is a girl.

"You have come to the right place," Mr. Higurashi replied, his tone a mix of shock, pride, and respect, for reasons Naruto couldn't quite discern.

"Why do I feel like I said something very wrong?"