Chapter 04:

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"Morning, Gramps!" I greeted cheerfully as I approached the shop.

"Good morning, Jin-kun," he replied, his eyes lighting up with genuine warmth when he saw me arriving at the same time as him. "You're punctual. I hope you can keep this up."

"Haha, no problem. I'm still young and full of energy. So, what's the plan for today, Gramps?" I asked, eager to get started.

"Today, we're going to leave the village," he said with a small smile. "First, I'll introduce you to some of the merchants I buy from, and then to some of the people I sell to. You'll get to see how this business really works."

"Merchants you buy from?" I echoed, curiosity sparking in my mind. This might be a great opportunity.

"Well, I'm getting older, Jin-kun," he explained. "Having an apprentice means that someday, you'll take over the business, and a great part of running a shop will be handling the supply runs. This will give you a chance to start building your own connections off of mine. The better your relationships with these merchants, the cheaper you can purchase items, the better items you'll be offered, and, finally, the higher profit you can make when selling."

Twenty minutes later, we were standing at the village gate, waiting our turn to exit. The line was mostly a mix of civilians and the occasional merchant—each carrying out their own tasks.

Shinobi were passing us without so much as a second look; after all, as soldiers, they had certain benefits, such as their own rules for leaving the village. I was certain they also had their own hidden exits and entrances, away from the eyes of civilians.

"Is it okay for us to leave the village just like that?" I asked, glancing around at the guards and the paperwork being handled at the gate.

"We're civilians, Jin-kun," Gramps replied with a chuckle. "Nobody cares if we leave, as long as we're back before the gate closes in the evening."

"The gate closes?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"The gates only stay open from 8 in the morning to 8 in the evening," he explained. "If you arrive too late, you'll have to camp outside for the night. It's just the way things are. Konoha likes to keep tight control over who comes in and goes out."

After signing the exit paperwork, we were finally allowed to leave, and Gramps led the way along the dirt path, heading toward a neighboring village. The landscape outside Konoha was a mix of rolling hills and dense forests, with patches of farmland here and there. The air felt fresher, and the quiet countryside was a welcome contrast to the bustling village streets.

As we walked, Gramps suddenly asked, "Jin-kun, do you know why we have to leave the village to meet these merchants?"

I thought for a moment. "Probably because not every merchant is allowed to enter the village, right?"

"Exactly," he said, nodding approvingly. "Only the larger merchant groups with established reputations can enter the villages regularly, and even then, only if they've made a deal with the Hokage. Smaller traders don't have that privilege. They have to set up their shops outside and hope that shop owners from Konoha come to buy from them."

"But why don't people from Konoha just come here to shop directly?" I asked. "Isn't it cheaper to buy from the merchants themselves?"

Gramps chuckled. "Good question, Jin-kun. It's all about convenience. For a regular villager, leaving Konoha is a hassle. You have to sign out at the gate, and if you sneak out without permission, you'd better hope you don't get caught. Dying would be the least of your worries if you get caught breaking the rules. Also, for older folks or members of the clans, running such errands is beneath them. It's easier to just send a Genin for manual labor."

"So, we, as merchants, benefit by dealing with that hassle for them?" I asked, already seeing how this system worked in our favor.

"Precisely," he said with a smile. "We go through the trouble of leaving the village, and our customers pay us for that convenience. Wealthier clients and clan-owned shops even hire Genin for delivery jobs, but I'm not rich enough to afford that luxury. So, in the future, that's going to be your job."

"You can count on me, Gramps!" I said excitedly. This whole venture was turning out to be luckier than I could've hoped.

Initially, I'd planned on selling items from a corner of the shop, but that would have raised questions about how I got my hands on quality gear and why I could sell it at such low prices. Now, with Gramps' help, I had a much safer route. I could sell my duplicated items to these out-of-village merchants, who wouldn't ask too many questions. Then, I could use the money to buy legitimate merchandise and sell it in the shop.

Besides, the whole errand-running business would be easy. All I had to do was set up a location marker on a door and use my dimension to teleport. Mr. Popo had explained to me that I could enter my dimension just by willing it, and even use it to phase through spaces. However, I could only teleport to locations where I had set up a marker, and those markers had to be placed on doorways, like how Gandalf marked the Hobbit's door.

But thanks to being the god of my dimension, I could set rules for my doorways—like only allowing people I deemed worthy to access them. 

All I really needed to do was pay the village's taxes, leave the village before teleporting, and keep a safe house outside. That way, my business would be completely legitimate. No one would question where my items came from.

Well, maybe Danzo would, but fuck him.

For the rest of the journey, Gramps kept talking, giving me tips on running a business and sharing his experiences. He told stories of deals that went well and others that ended in disaster, painting a vivid picture of the risks and rewards of the merchant trade.

After nearly an hour of walking, we arrived at a small outpost just outside a neighboring village—a settlement or whatever you'd call a place with a dozen or so houses. The outpost consisted of houses, tents, and makeshift stalls set up by traders who couldn't afford permanent shops. As we approached, a loud, grating voice greeted us from across the lot.

"Old man Tenchiro! Is it already the first Monday of the month again?" the voice bellowed.

We turned to see a rotund man waddling toward us, a wide grin on his face. His round belly bounced with each step, and his clothes strained against his girth.

"Genzo," Gramps said with a smirk, "I see you're still as fat as ever."

The man, Genzo, laughed heartily. "Haha, being a little chubby just shows the wealth of a man! And the ladies love it when there's a bit more weight pressing on them! But I see you're not alone today. Who's the brat with you?"

"This is my grandson, Jin," Gramps said proudly, patting my shoulder. "I'm introducing him to the business."

Hearing Gramps introduce me as his grandson made my chest tighten slightly, and I had to fight back a sudden rush of emotion. We weren't actually related, except for being from the same clan, but I couldn't deny the warmth in his tone when he said it. For a moment, I allowed myself to feel like I really was his grandson.

Genzo eyed me with curiosity, his eyes narrowing. "Hehehe, why's a young Uchiha thinking about becoming a merchant? Normally, it's only those who can't fight who end up picking up the trade. Did you fail at being a shinobi?"

I met his gaze without flinching. "What's the point of dying for pocket change?" I said, letting a hint of arrogance creep into my voice. "If I can become someone who pays others to die for me, doesn't that put me above the shinobi?"

Genzo burst into laughter, clapping his hands together. "Hahaha! An Uchiha with a sense of humor! I like you, brat."

Gramps just shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Always one for unconventional ideas, aren't you, Jin?"

"So, Tenchiro," Genzo said, his tone shifting back to business, "are you here for the usual?"

"Yes," Gramps replied. "I'll take the same as last time. I also wanted to introduce Jin, since he'll be handling the pickups in the future."

"So, you're finally thinking about retirement, huh? Why not sell your shop to me, then?" Genzo said with a sly grin. "I'd make you a good offer."

Gramps scoffed. "Dream on, Genzo. I bought that shop when Konoha was first founded, and it's staying in the family. It'll go to Jin, or to the clan when I'm gone."

I listened intently as the two men bantered. I'd learned there were two types of land ownership in Konoha—personal and clan-owned. Gramps had bought his shop with his own money, making it personal property. If he didn't have an heir, the land would revert to the Uchiha clan, where anyone could apply to manage it for a small fee.

 But since he was passing it down to me, I'd inherit it directly.

"Well," Genzo said with a chuckle, "I suppose I'll just have to wait and see if the brat's smart enough to sell it to me someday." He handed Gramps a bag filled with the usual supplies.

We spent the rest of the day visiting three more outposts. Each merchant had a different setup, but they all sold to larger villages and towns rather than setting up shop inside them. By the time we made it back to Konoha, the gates were already beginning to close.

"See, Jin?" Gramps said as we passed through the gate. "We have to restock once a month because my little shop doesn't see much business. Next time, you'll be doing this on your own."

I nodded, absorbing everything I'd learned throughout the day. "I understand, Gramps."

"You did well today, Jin-kun. Take tomorrow off—you've earned it," he said, ruffling my hair affectionately. "Walking all day and pulling the carriage would tire anyone out."

"Thanks, Gramps." I waved him goodbye as we parted ways. On my walk back to my apartment, I spotted some discarded metal scraps, which I picked up without a second thought.

Once I arrived home, I immediately retreated into my personal dimension. I set the time dilation to 24:1, meaning one hour outside equaled a full day in here.

After taking a long bath and enjoying a hearty breakfast, I decided it was time to get serious about training. I wasn't a Genin, nor a real shinobi, but I still needed to be strong enough to guarantee my own safety. Being a merchant was one thing, but I couldn't rely solely on others for protection. I needed to be able to defend myself—and my wealth—if the situation ever called for it.

With Mr. Popo's guidance, I'd start from the basics. If things went according to plan, I wouldn't just survive in this world—I'd thrive in it.