Chapter 14: Sorry, Restricted Purchase, One Per Person

The Sand Village is truly a poor village.

In Konoha, even if you're an orphan or only skilled in taijutsu, you can still attend the Ninja Academy.

But in the Sand Village, it's not possible.

The Sand only has enough resources to support a small number of elite ninja.

Currently, Konoha has registered around 12,000 ninjas, while the Sand has only a little over 4,000.

The vast difference between the two is determined by their economic strength.

Shiro, who only knows taijutsu, and Shinki, an orphan who was heartlessly abandoned, are examples of this.

Once Mukaze rises to power, he establishes an orphanage and adopts them, teaching them ninjutsu.

This group of children who surround him is the most loyal to him.

When they grow up, they will become Mukaze's core team.

Mukaze smiles and greets each of them.

He instructs Shiro, the most mature and responsible one among them.

"Shiro, I will be going out for some business. Take good care of your younger siblings."

Shiro nods and says, "Yes, sensei, you can count on me."

Shinki timidly asks, "Sensei, where are you going?"

Mukaze caresses his little head.

"Sensei is going to open up new paths for the Sand Village."

"Do you all want to have enough food to eat every day, clean water to drink, and attend the Ninja Academy if you wish?"

All the children nod in unison.

"We do!"

Mukaze shows a gentle smile. "Good. Sensei wants that too, so I will be very busy from now on. Take good care of yourselves."

"Yes, we will, sensei."

"We will also learn ninjutsu quickly to assist you, sensei."

Mukaze bids farewell to the children at the orphanage and returns to the Faraday Ninja Tool Factory.

Yakku, Ryokan, and other ninjas working at the factory bid him farewell. (I'll start to refer him as Yakku instead of Yak.)

"Boss, there's a mission in the village, so we need to return to our teams."

Gaara now begins to arrange the attack on Konoha.

The Sand ninja are being summoned.

Mukaze instructed, "Remember, if there's a mission and it becomes dangerous, escape immediately and don't risk your lives."

Yakku, Ryokan, and the others hesitated for a moment.

But their boss was right.

They agreed, "Understood, boss."

With no ninja workers around, the Faraday Ninja Tool Factory became eerily quiet.

Mukaze strengthened the sandworm nest and packed his belongings.

"It's time to depart," he said to himself.

...…

In the Land of Fire.

Mukaze wore a straw hat and carried a half-height box on his back, dressed as a small merchant walking along the road.

The surroundings near Konoha Village were truly favorable.

Everywhere there were forests, valleys, rivers, waterfalls—a prime location for a habitable village.

Hashirama Senju really chose a good place.

Konoha Village was approaching.

The tall barrier gate came into view.

Looking ahead, one could faintly see the iconic building of Konoha Village—the Hokage Rock.

"We've arrived."

The future of the ninja world gathered here.

However, Mukaze needed to change that known future.

Mukaze arrived at the entrance of the barrier gate.

Genma Shiranui and Kōtetsu Hagane, responsible for today's gatekeeping duty, walked over.

Genma Shiranui had long bangs that covered the right side of his face.

"Hello, please show your identification."

Mukaze took out the clearance documents he had prepared.

"Hello, I'm a merchant from the Land of Wind, Kazemoku."

Genma Shiranui examined the documents.

"Kazemoku, what brings you to Konoha Village?"

Mukaze replied, "I'm a ninja tool merchant. I heard that the Chunin Exams are about to begin, and I believe there will be a high demand for ninja tools. So, I wanted to come and sell some."

Kōtetsu Hagane, with his spiky black hair, checked the contents of Mukaze's box, which indeed contained a bunch of shuriken, kunai, and scrolls.

Kōtetsu Hagane laughed.

"Haha, you must be a beginner."

"Each village has its own specific ninja tool suppliers, and especially in the village itself, there is an abundant supply of ninja tools. There's no need for external sources."

"You've definitely been deceived. Buying ninja tools in a ninja village is like selling glasses to a blind person."

Ninja villages even have trade barriers between each other, especially for weapons with killing potential like ninja tools.

Each village has its own factories and suppliers.

No one is willing to rely on their opponents for weapons.

This is also why Mukaze has been developing within the Land of Wind.

The upcoming crisis in Konoha provides an opportunity to break down these barriers.

Genma Shiranui kindly offered a warning.

"You can try other cities in the Land of Fire, but it's definitely a no-go in Konoha Village."

Mukaze replied, "Thank you, but I have confidence in my own products. My ninja tools are superior to others, and I believe there are people who can recognize their worth."

The two men thought he was boasting.

Mukaze took out a kunai.

"Do you want to give it a try?"

"If yours breaks, I'll compensate you with one."

Kōtetsu Hagane wanted to tease this ignorant ninja tool peddler.

He reached into the pouch on his right thigh and took out a kunai.

"Our Konoha ninja tools are the strongest."

"No one will buy your goods."

Mukaze swung the kunai towards Kōtetsu Hagane.

Kōtetsu Hagane raised his hand to block.

Snap.

Kōtetsu Hagane's kunai snapped into two pieces.

In the astonished gazes of the two, the broken half of the kunai spun and embedded itself in the ground.

Mukaze smiled at the two Chunin, who were dumbfounded. "So, my ninja tools are stronger than Konoha's, right?"

The two exclaimed in surprise.

This was truly unbelievable.

The commotion attracted the attention of passing ninjas.

Three Kusagakure ninjas wearing straw hats approached.

One of them, with a pale complexion and narrow eyes, said, "Hmm, your ninja tools are impressive. I'll take them all."

Mukaze turned his head.

Those sinister, snake-like vertical pupils.

Orochimaru, disguised as a Kusagakure ninja.

What a coincidence.

Mukaze smiled faintly.

"Sorry, limited sale. Each person can only buy one."