Chapter 06:

[Timeskip: 1 Month]

The past month is nothing short of exhausting but profitable. Every day feels like a blur of running errands for Gramps, collecting trash for my System, training—and getting beaten up—by Mr. Popo, and working at the shop. But all that hard work is finally starting to pay off.

I've been producing around thirty sets of ninja tool gift boxes per day. At first glance, that may not seem like much, but it adds up quickly. I sell each set for 1,500 Ryo to Genzo or one of the other merchants. That means 45,000 Ryo a day. Multiply that by the 30 days I've been doing this, and I've earned 1.35 million Ryo this past month.

Of course, it's not pure profit. I had to spend around 50,000 Ryo on the iron I bought from Genzo and other merchants. So, let's call it 1.3 million Ryo in net earnings. Not bad for a kid who started off by selling junk. But as the money piles up, so do the problems.

Earning as much as an A-rank mission in just one month is impressive, but I know I can't rely on the same strategy forever. If I manage to snowball this, I'll be exorbitantly rich, but a few issues need addressing first. For one, I'm already limited by how much iron I can procure from trash. Buying in bulk from Genzo isn't exactly cheap or ideal, and if I'm not careful, I'll end up spending more than I'm making. Plus, duplicating kunai sets day in and day out isn't exactly a sustainable business model. I need variety—new products to keep the cash flowing.

I sit at the counter in the shop, staring down at the numbers I've scrawled on a piece of parchment. There's a decision to make. Should I use some of the money to unlock another inventory slot in my System, or should I invest it elsewhere? Each choice has its advantages, but every time I think I've settled on one, doubts creep back in.

It feels crazy, I think, to have made over a million Ryo from essentially selling trash. But if I'm going to keep this up, I need a plan. I can't just coast on duplicating kunai sets forever. I need to diversify.

I let out a heavy sigh, resting my forehead against the cool surface of the counter. That's when I hear Gramps's voice from the back.

"What is it, Jin-kun? Why the long face?" he asks as he emerges from the storage room, a pipe hanging from his mouth, and a trail of smoke follows him.

"Hey, Gramps," I reply, looking up at him. "I'm just trying to figure out how to make more money. I've saved up a lot this past month, but now I'm stuck on what to do next."

Gramps raises an eyebrow, an amused glint in his eye. "More money, huh?" he says thoughtfully, puffing on his pipe. After a moment, he gives a knowing smile and says, "Well, I've got three ideas for you."

"Three?" I say, surprised. "That's a lot, Gramps. Are you sure you didn't stay up all night thinking just for me?" I tease, giving him a crooked smile.

Gramps chuckles, tapping the side of his pipe as if preparing for a grand speech. "You know, Jin-kun, the older one gets, the more experience one has," he says smugly.

I can't help but grin. "Alright, Gramps, I bow before your genius. Don't keep me in suspense—what are these brilliant ideas of yours?"

Gramps straightens up as though he's addressing an important council. "First, you could minimize your spending," he says with a hint of smugness.

"Yeah, sure, like I haven't already thought of that," I reply, deadpan. "I'm saving as much as I can, and if I cut back any more, I'll be living on the streets and eating grass."

Since I'm living in my own dimension, where food, water, and electricity are free, and the rent for my apartment is already paid for the month, I don't actually have any expenses. Still, every Ryo counts if I'm going to keep scaling this business.

"Brat," Gramps snaps, his tone half-joking but half-serious. "I meant you could move in with me. That way, you won't have to pay rent. It'd save you a good amount of money each month. I'm really pleased with your work ethic this past month; otherwise, I wouldn't have made the offer."

I blink at him, taken aback. "You could've just said that instead of beating around the bush, Gramps," I reply, shaking my head. "Moving in with you isn't a bad idea, actually."

He huffs. "If you hadn't interrupted me, I'd have explained it properly. Youngsters these days, always rushing," he says, wagging his pipe at me like an old Gandalf scolding Bilbo.

"Okay, okay, I get it. It's my fault," I concede, raising my hands in surrender. "Can you tell me the second idea now?"

Gramps's eyes twinkle with mischief. "My second idea is to learn a craft. I know an old friend who's looking for an apprentice. He's a blacksmith, and he's also from the Uchiha clan. Additionally, the clan could always use more reliable smiths. My friend could teach you how to work metal into something worth selling."

I rub my chin thoughtfully. "So, I could buy iron, learn to forge weapons or tools, and sell them for a profit. Yeah, that sounds like a solid plan… after I get some training under my belt."

Gramps grins. "Always quick on the uptake, aren't you? Well, assuming you can manage to forge something worth selling, that is. Now, for my final idea," he says, leaning in slightly as if ready to reveal a great secret.

I lean in too, curious and excited. "What is it, Gramps?"

Gramps's face softens, his eyes reflecting a hint of nostalgia. "You know, Jin-kun, I don't have any family left. You're the closest thing I have to a grandson, and I've come to see you as such. So, I've decided… why not hand over the shop to you? You'd be responsible for keeping it running, and I'd just check in from time to time."

My eyes widen. "Wait… you want me to take over and manage the shop? Are you serious? I mean, I'm still a kid. What if I mess it up? Or… or we get robbed? What if I ruin the business?"

Gramps lets out a hearty laugh. "Jin, if we get robbed, even I wouldn't be able to stop the thief. And if you make mistakes while I'm still around, I can help you fix them. But if I'm dead and gone, who will be there to help you? You'd better learn and make mistakes while you still have someone to show you the ropes."

His words strike a chord in me. He's right. If I want to prepare for a future where I'm strong and independent, then I need to start taking on more responsibility. Besides, Gramps won't be around forever, and the thought of losing him, though unspoken, lingers in the air.

"Alright," I say, a new determination in my voice. "I'm willing to give it a try."

"Good lad!" Gramps exclaims, clapping me on the back. "We'll move your things over to my place after work. I'll also speak to that old fogey about taking you on as an apprentice."

The rest of the day passes quickly, and as soon as we close the shop, Gramps helps me gather the few belongings I have. We make our way to his house, and as we approach, I feel a sense of anticipation building inside me.

The house is an old, traditional-style Japanese home, with wooden beams and paper sliding doors. It looks a bit rundown, but there's a cozy charm to it. The place is larger than I expected, with a backyard that extends into a small, serene garden complete with a pond and training dummies set up near the far end.

"I built this backyard for my daughter," Gramps says softly, a hint of sadness in his voice. "She always dreamt of becoming a shinobi, and I wanted her to have the best training ground I could give her. But fate had other plans."

I look around, taking in the details. The garden is well-maintained, the pond is clear, and the training dummies look worn but sturdy. This place isn't just a house; it's a home, full of memories and untold stories.

Gramps leads me inside and shows me to my new room, which had once belonged to his daughter. It's a modest room with a futon, a small wooden desk, and a shelf filled with dusty old scrolls. There's an unmistakable sense of warmth here, even if the air is tinged with a bit of melancholy.

"I hope you'll feel at home here, Jin," Gramps says, his tone gentle. "You're like family to me, and it feels right to have you here."

I nod, touched by his words. "Thank you, Gramps. I'll do my best to take care of the shop and this place too."

After settling into my new room, we head next door to meet Gramps's friend, the blacksmith. The man lives just a stone's throw away, across the street, and I can already see the telltale signs of a forge—the scent of burning coal in the air and the distant clanging of metal.

The blacksmith's workshop is larger than I expected, with an open front that displays a variety of metal tools and weapons. A grizzled old man, with arms like tree trunks, a white beard that reaches his chest, and a metallic prosthesis for a leg, hammers away at a glowing piece of metal on an anvil.

Gramps approaches him with a friendly wave. "Oi, old fogey! Got a minute?"

The blacksmith looks up, wiping sweat from his brow with a leather-gloved hand. His stern gaze softens as he notices Gramps. "Tenchiro, you old goat," he grunts. "What brings you here?"

"I've brought my grandson, Jin, to see if you'd be willing to take him on as an apprentice," Gramps says, giving me a nudge forward.

The blacksmith eyes me critically. "Hmm… scrawny," he mutters. "But I've seen worse. You willing to work hard, boy?"

I straighten up and meet his gaze. "Yes, sir. I'm ready to learn."

The old blacksmith grunts in approval. "We'll see about that. Be here at sunrise tomorrow. If you're late, don't bother coming back."

I give him a firm nod. "I'll be here."

As we walk back to Gramps's house, I can't help but feel excited. This will provide a perfect explanation for how I'm acquiring so many weapons and why I'm buying up iron scrap. Gramps has given me a chance, and I'm not going to waste it.