Chapter 238: The City of Garden

"What's going on down there?" Yuto pointed at a man being beaten on the street.

"They've been at it for a while, and no one's intervening?"

"Sir, although he's getting beaten up, he's actually quite pleased with himself." The young man, no longer a mere waiter, explained, "Those clubs might look ordinary, but they've got leather wrapped around the outside and stones embedded within. A regular person would have their skin split open after a single hit, but this guy's been taking it for two solid minutes. The thugs are panting, and he's still acting like nothing's happened. Doesn't that show some skill?"

"Oh..." Yuto mused, "So he's putting on a show."

"Precisely!" The young man immediately flattered, "Every harbor has its own territory, and it's not uncommon for fights to break out over business. Any merchant with some wealth will hire samurai or shinobi. If you've got skills, you can make money! That guy's pretty impressive. Look, the merchants over there in the corner are already eyeing him eagerly."

"It's the Waterfall Flow Technique, from Takigakure." Konan suddenly interjected. "That guy's a genin from the Land of Waterfalls."

The young man, who had removed his outer clothing, gave her a surprised glance and became even more respectful.

Yuto wasn't interested in low-level shinobi from Takigakure and turned back, continuing to ask, "Now, who's the wealthiest person in this city?"

"Those port magnates. They control the shipping routes and cargo tariffs, and they also dabble in daily essentials. Every inch of the Garden City has their mark on it."

"Monopolizing is still a profitable business, huh?" Yuto chuckled. "Don't worry, kid, we don't intend to rob the wealthy... You've been here a while, so tell us, what makes the most money?"

"For outsiders, the quickest way is to seize it by force. But if you want to do legitimate business, it's all about opening up new harbors. Though the initial investment is enormous. Just the concrete alone costs a fortune..."

"Good!" Yuto patted the young man on the shoulder, startling him. "That's what we'll do then!"

"Huh? Oh... oh..." The young man scratched his head, not knowing how to react to this, and he could only offer an awkward smile. "Well, if there's nothing else, I'll..."

"Not so fast." Yuto's hand, like a vice, clamped the young man in place. "I'm giving you a chance to make some serious money. But it's dangerous. Are you in?"

"Sir, I..." For some reason, the young man's legs started to cramp.

"Let me handle this." Konan chuckled, shaking her head. She knew Yuto had scared the kid.

It couldn't be helped. When a man wielded the world's strongest power, his demeanor would subconsciously change, his words laced with an air of intimidation.

The purple-haired woman thought for a moment and asked gently, "We haven't asked for your name yet."

Without having to face Yuto directly, the young man visibly calmed down. He scratched his red hair and quietly replied, "I'm an orphan, no family name. I nearly drowned when I fell into a well as a child, so my friends call me Arai."

"Aoi."

Yuto and Konan exchanged glances. Seeing the young man's thick red hair and sensing the vibrant life force emanating from his skin, they both silently took a sip of tea.

Arai Uzumaki.

…

In recent days, the hottest news in Garden City was the dragon among men that had arrived—an up-and-coming merchant group.

This group, called the "Tower Merchant Guild," had caused a stir every day since arriving in Garden City with their audacious actions.

On the first day, they purchased the largest estate on the west side of the city and, within a few short hours, demolished the beautiful gardens and converted the space into a square office building.

On the second day, they auctioned off a rare perfume, said to originate from the vast deserts west of the Land of Wind. It was a rarity in the port city, and the merchant wives fought over it.

On the third day, they slaughtered all the thieves lurking around their office. The corpses were left in the streets, including the shinobi who had boasted of enduring a ten-minute beating without flinching. His body, once strengthened by the Waterfall Flow Technique, was now riddled with deep wounds, exposing bone.

On the fourth day… they stirred up a hornet's nest.

The Tower Merchant Guild announced that they would be building a massive harbor on the northernmost edge of Garden City.

Everyone was alarmed.

For the people in this region, the harbor was everything. It brought prosperity. The existing four major harbors were enough, and the rival merchant guilds had reached a balance, unable to oust one another. Certain unspoken rules had become accepted norms among the four harbors.

—The old Uzushiogakure could only have four harbors.

If outsiders intervened, it would mean that the profits of the four major harbors would be split, which, for the merchants, was a fate worse than death. They had to stop this unexpected development.

Thus, on the night that the Tower Merchant Guild announced their harbor plans, the heads of the four harbor groups gathered for a rare meeting. As smoke filled the air, they brooded darkly.

"Tower Merchant Guild... I've never heard of them. Which big nation's lackey are they?" The leader of Shell Harbor frowned. "The Land of Fire? The Land of Water? But they're both embroiled in war. They don't have the resources to meddle here. Could it be the Land of Wind...?"

"Enough with the guessing. It's pointless," snapped the hot-tempered leader of Driftfish Harbor. "If it were a major power, they would've made deals with the bounty station headquarters, negotiating treaties and trading benefits. But what are the Tower Merchant Guild doing? Not a single word of negotiation. This isn't business; it's robbery!"

"Have we identified who's in charge of this merchant group?" The woman leading Starlight Harbor was the most ruthless. "Just kill them. If they want to steal from us, they'd better be ready to lose their teeth."

"There's no trace of them." The elderly leader of Whitehead Harbor was the last to speak, sipping his tea with a sigh. "I hired sensor shinobi, but they couldn't find a thing. These inland upstarts are a tough bunch..."

"Still, someone has to show their face eventually," the woman from Starlight Harbor sneered. "Killing whoever shows up will suffice."

The old man produced a portrait.

"This one we know. His name is Arai. He could be a descendant of the Uzumaki clan. Somehow, he got tied up with the Tower Merchant Guild. Should we kill him?"

"Definitely Kill him! If they want to bite, they'd better be ready to break their teeth!" The woman paused before adding, "Make sure the assassin has a solid reputation. If the Tower Merchant Guild retaliates and kills our hitmen, it'll be a blow to our prestige."

"Don't worry. I know just the man—a true master of assassination." The old man smiled mysteriously. "It's said... he once attempted to assassinate the God of Shinobi himself."

(End of Chapter)