Shopping

Sinking into the worn mattress, I admire my new house. With the floors finally clean and a free essentials package included with the cabin, I can skip last-minute shopping. Glancing out at the darkening sky outside, I mentally note to get curtains next time. While the natural light is appreciated, being this remote doesn't stop anyone from looking through your window. I need some light, maybe candles, and some cooking utensils so I can make cheap food until the money starts rolling in. A fridge is way out of the budget, but some chickens might be okay.

Glancing at the hatchet leaning on the stove, I groan. I can survive, no doubt about it. I'm just missing a few things. First of all, I'll need bedding. I can make do for now, but a comfortable sleep helps me stay motivated to work tomorrow. Taking everything except clothing out of my duffle, I smirk at my makeshift pillow. Folding it on itself to hide the zipper, I shift the rest of my belongings under the bed. A few notebooks filled with notes, a single library book that I need to return for Minato, a few hygiene items, and my money. Speaking of money, I might have to quit soon. I already cut down on the days I work, but there's no guarantee I'll be able to make time for it. Random ninja things and a steady job just don't mix. I'm sure the manager hired me out of pity, but there's always a limit before you become a nuisance.

Grabbing the package from beside the bed, I take off the note. "The bare essentials from Tanaka and family" Snorting, I carefully pry the paper off and take out the contents. A couple of bottles of food pills, a spool of ninja wire, and a Ferro rod. Simple and useful. Taking a food pill out, I pop it in my mouth. Storing the items under my bed, I sigh. While food pills aren't the best, I really don't want to spend time and money getting food right now. Just another thing to do tomorrow. Laying down on the mattress, I curl up and close my eyes. For all of you who are curious, I sleep on my right side.

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Stretching in front of the door, I take in the quiet woods around me. No people. No talking. No problems. Sighing in contentment, I sling my duffle around my should and start running to the academy. Taking the scenic route around the main streets, I enter the building through the back entrance. Ignoring all the excited new genin showing off their headbands, I head straight to the front office. Stepping into the waiting room, I find the usual receptionist reading a book. Looking up at me, he looks me over before tossing me a headband. Waving me off, he goes back to slacking off.

Fiddling with the headband, I leave the office and head to my classroom. Entering from the back entrance, I quietly sit in the back corner. Ignoring the obviously surprised looks from a few graduates, I go through a head count. Twenty-three genin passed and there seem to be five instructors chatting in the front. One is the class instructor so four Chunin or Jounin are assigned to us. Five to six in a squad isn't terrible, but I wonder how we'll be split up.

Clearing his throat, the class instructor starts a short congratulatory speech as the bell rings. Just a few short sentences and he transitions into assignments. Right off the bat, twelve relatively subpar individuals are taken into the genin corps. Another 3 get assigned to the scouting unit including the Hyuuga wimp with armor followed by four taken by the information and logistics department. Listening in a daze as the instructor rattles off names, I realize only four are left. Another minute passes and the other three are assigned to a Jounin to form a squad. Feeling my stomach roll, I purse my lips. Only I'm left.

Coughing into his fist, the instructor finishes the placements, "Lastly, Aster! Report to the Scouting building next to the Anbu building in two hours." Raising an eyebrow, I plan my subsequent actions out. The Anbu building is a decent fifteen-minute run from here. From the ninja supply street, it should be around twenty minutes max and the supply street is another five minutes from the academy. Round it to thirty minutes for travel time, I have an hour and a half to shop. More than enough time to get some well-deserved tools and essentials.

Ignoring his exit speech, I quickly leave the classroom making sure not to draw too much attention. Awkward confrontations avoided, I exit the school and make my way onto the rooftops. Sliding off the roof onto the next street, I turn into an alley that feeds into the commerce district. After a couple of minutes of ignoring the morning hecklers, I turn into the supply street and enter the first shop. I do want to come back and window shop later, but who knows when I'll get the time? It might be tomorrow or even a week from now. Ninjas have no set work schedule but these shops do.

The first shop being a common appliance shop, I quickly look for trash bags. Something to hold the trash bag can wait, I really need a place to put trash in the first place. Finding a decently sized package with ninja-grade disposable trash bags, I squint at the pricing. 1200 Ryo for a hundred pack, so 12 Ryo for one. Checking the prices for the other options, I suck on my lower lip. My savings only amount to 23,000 Ryo right now. More bags definitely is cheaper, but my budget isn't exactly going to accommodate if I buy everything in bulk right now. Frowning in contemplation, I grab the package before moving on to the hygiene aisle. Rejecting most items due to the price, I finally find something acceptable. A ninja care package, with dental, body, and hair care products. At exactly five thousand Ryo, it definitely cuts into my total savings. Five thousand here, and maybe another two thousand in this store including the trash bags should bring me to around sixteen thousand left. Enough to get by. Probably.

As much as I would love a hatchet and maybe some crafting tools, I can get by with chakra. Quickly moving through the aisles, I finally find something useful. Camping supplies! I may be living in a cabin, but camping supplies are always useful if you use them right. Water collector for 200 Ryo? Check! A bottle that seems to hold a liter of liquid for 100 Ryo? Check! Mosquito net for 300 Ryo? Check! A decent sleeping bag for 600 Ryo? Check! Walking towards the cashier, I walk past a dark purple weather coat. Glancing at it as I pass, I notice no price tag.

Laying everything down on the counter, I nod as he demands 7,400 Ryo. I should have around Counting the Ryo out, I point at the winter coat, "How much is the winter coat by the way?" Taking the Ryo, he starts counting, "That purple one? That's a special piece. One of a kind. The latest in heat insulation and weatherproofing. It's not for sale, but if you want, you could order one." Mentally cursing, I take the bagged goods. He's either trying to drive the value up or that coat really is out of my league. Sighing, I glance back at the coat. It really would look nice. "Without an expedited order, I can order you one for just 30,000 Ryo. How 'bout it?"

Giving him a death glare, I leave the store shaking my head. That coat is worth more than all of my savings. Clutching my bags, I make my way further down the street. 15,600 Ryo left, enough for a few essentials for the job and food right? If I do get paid per job completed, I should be able to gather enough to feed myself. That leaves the last objective, getting a decent weapon for melee range combat. As amazing as learning hand-to-hand combat must be, ninjas, move too fast and have too many ways to attack. I'd rather not take a fireball to the face while trying an arm lock.

Walking into a decent-looking ninja tool shop, I sigh at the prices. I get that the first things I see are probably the best they have, but a quarter million yen for a standard sword is insane. No decorations or fancy bindings, just a straight sword with a scabbard. Moving towards the back where the cheaper items are kept, I find myself looking at a barrel with used equipment. It's still 5,000 yen for a used short sword. Retreating from the barrel, I pass all the increasing price tags and approach the counter, "Do you have needles?" Snorting, he heaves a metal container up and onto the counter, "You okay with these, or do you want something shorter?" Inspecting the senbon, and I mean proper battle senbon at a sixth of a meter in length, I think about how I could use them. Throwing them is a bit harder due to length and weight, and using them at close range is even more useless. Maybe when I have more muscle. "Can you please show me the smaller varieties?" I ask.

Grunting, he lifts a smaller container up, "Here is a twelfth of a meter. I have shorter ones, but they aren't exactly for combat. They're a bit more delicate." Smirking at the familiar-sized needles, I roll one between my fingers. At 100 Ryo per piece, I can get enough to replace the colored ones I have for only 2000 Ryo. I don't exactly plan on throwing them continuously and if possible will always retrieve them so I don't think I'd need more. In the worst-case scenario, I'll just start throwing colored needles. Picking twenty out, I pay the clerk before asking for a pair of large kunai. At 1000 Ryo a piece, I pack the needles and kunai into a separate storage page in my notebook. Raising an eyebrow, he waves his hand as I leave.

Looking at the sky I do some rough calculations before running toward the Akamichi district. I've already spent a little short of an hour on shopping. For now, I need to get food pills and see what the village has in terms of nutrition supplements. I might have very little idea of what I need to grow correctly, but even I know that the Akamichi make the best food pills. I'd rather pay a bit more and get better pills than get the bare minimum. Waving at a chunky watch guard in a large, red bamboo armor, I enter a familiar ninja supermarket. Walking up to my former boss's wife, I pull out another 6000 Ryo, "Hey Miss Akamichi! I need that pack of food pills I talked to you about."

Smiling, she takes the money and hands me the food pills in a bottle, "Remember, these don't substitute for real food. A growing girl like you needs to eat plenty of meat and vegetables to grow big and strong. If you feel like you can't afford to eat right, come by the restaurant and I'll get the old man to set you straight."

Gingerly storing the food pill bottles in a storage page I had set up for them specifically, I nod at her with a grin. Clasping my hands in hers, she leans over the counter, "Remember, if it ever gets to the point where you think you can't do it, just quit alright? The times aren't good and you're just a wee little thing. Just come find me and I'll set you straight." Sighing, I lay my head against her hands, "I promise Aunty, but that's never going to happen." Looking up and grinning, I jump away from her and dash for the exit, "I'm going to be the best. I've got no time for doubt."

Looking at the sky again, I frown. I'm on time, almost on the dot. The problem is that I'm farther from the Scouting building than I was in the supply street. Glancing up at the roofs, I smirk. The roofs were made for emergencies anyways, right?