WE FINALLY ARE BACK!
Honestly, now it's clear how much we've changed over the past six months. We've grown not only mentally but also physically.
In my case, it was just a couple of centimeters, but even that felt significant — now I didn't seem so tiny among our shinobi. Genma, as usual, looked older than his years — he really is two years older, and it's immediately visible in the way he carries himself and his overall behavior.
And Guy… he was always taller than everyone else, a real "genetic mutant." In any case, the height difference felt smaller this time than before, but the feeling that we'd grown stronger persisted constantly.
— Alright, we just arrived, — I thought. Genma was the first to start discussing plans for the near future.
— Let's finally rest, — he said, looking at the schedule sheet. — And deal with organizational issues in a couple of days. We still have three weeks, — he added, checking the information in the document with a glance.
I nodded in agreement.
— Then, home it is, — concluded Genma, standing up.
— Yes, I want to see my father, — Guy said, barely touching the ground with his feet, and without waiting for further conversation, ran toward his house. His quick steps almost disappeared around the corner.
— Well, then I'll stay alone, — I thought, watching Guy vanish into the village alleys. Staying alone seemed like the right decision — I needed to sort out my thoughts, look around, and, honestly, deal with everything that had accumulated during my absence. Six months away from home, and now there was so much to check and fix.
I slowly walked through the streets, taking in the houses, shops, and people hurrying about their business. Everything felt surprisingly familiar and yet new — life went on, and it made me genuinely happy. Thoughts of home swirled in my mind, and how everything had changed over this time.
Suddenly, my attention was drawn to a rumbling in my stomach. At first, I tried to ignore it, but the sound grew louder and more insistent. I stopped for a moment, rolled my eyes, and thought — it's the perfect time for a snack.
I quickly looked around, choosing a suitable place. A stall with a wooden sign, selling simple food, seemed ideal. Nothing fancy — just what I needed after a long journey and constant missions. Approaching closer, I saw the owner, busy preparing ingredients, lift his head and nod to me warmly. The atmosphere of the stall was cozy — the smell of fresh rice, a faint aroma of dried fish, and the herbal scent of green tea already brewing immediately calmed me and reminded me of home.
— What will it be? — the owner asked, wiping his hands with a towel.
— Something simple, — I replied, smiling. — A bowl of rice, a bit of dried fish, and green tea.
He nodded and quickly began cooking, skillfully arranging bowls and plates on the table. I sat on the bench by the window and started watching the life of the town. Merchants loudly called out prices for fresh vegetables, fish, and dried meat, while passersby hurried on their errands.
A light breeze rustled the fabric awnings, carried the scent of fresh bread and spices, and sunlight danced on the walls of the houses, creating shimmering patterns. Everything felt both lively and peaceful.
I ate slowly, savoring every spoonful of rice and piece of dried fish. Simple food, but after a long absence from home and countless missions, it felt amazing. Warm green tea warmed me from the inside, leaving a light feeling of comfort. Finally, when the bowl was empty, I carefully placed my chopsticks down, set aside the empty plate, paid, and stepped back outside…
Heading toward home, I decided to run across the rooftops — a familiar path that allowed faster movement between buildings and offered a view of the city from above. A few minutes of smooth movement over tiled roofs, careful jumps and balancing — and I was standing in front of my door.
— The key should be here, — I thought, reaching into the small cup with an artificial flower I always used as a secret compartment. My fingers found the metal object, I carefully pulled out the key, and felt a slight relief.
Shaking slightly from excitement and fatigue, I inserted the key into the lock, checked it — everything was in place. A couple of turns, and the door yielded. The first thing that struck me was the smell of the room that hadn't been aired for a long time — a mix of dust, old wood, and slightly stale air.
I immediately opened the window, letting fresh air in, while sunlight gently illuminated the room.
After that, I dusted the shelves and floor, carefully placed a few items back in their usual spots. Finally, exhausted, I collapsed onto the bed. Six months away, missions, danger — all seemed to recede. For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself just to lie there, listen to the street sounds coming through the open window, and feel that I was home again.
That same evening
— You have 835,000 ryō in your account, — the banker said, looking at the screen with an expression of strict professional surprise.
I froze for a second, not believing my eyes. Thoughts of six months without sleep, constant fear, endless missions and dangers, all came rushing back. And now this figure — 835,000 ryō. For me, a seven-year-old genin, it was colossal. My heart beat a little faster, and my palms suddenly became sweaty. War — the fastest way to earn money???
— Yeah… six months of my life really were worth this sum, — I whispered to myself. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time, as if my inner world split into two parts — joy for the reward and the realization of its high cost. With this amount, you could buy not just food or weapons, but even another apartment if you wanted. A world of possibilities suddenly opened up before me, and the feeling of freedom was almost overwhelming.
But then my mind intervened — my personal inner businessman — cold and calculating — keeping money just like that was foolish. Money should work, generate income, not lie dormant. My brain started spinning, analyzing, searching for solutions. Real estate? A shop? Profitability? Risk?
— The easiest way is to buy real estate and rent it out, — I muttered to myself under my breath. — But the income will be slow, payback will take time… and I want faster results.
Open a ninja shop? Unlikely. The markets are already crowded, competition is high, and it's incredibly difficult for a newcomer to break through. I need something that will give quick income and leave room for further investments.
I started thinking about strategies: I could try to expand someone else's business — huge risk, could get scammed. I could create my own — also dangerous, especially if I don't know all the nuances and tricks of the market. But fear couldn't stop me. I had to try at least once — the chance to change my life was right in front of me.
— A food chain… — I whispered, walking past the market and observing the vendors. — Not a bad idea, but what can I offer that others can't? In this world, culinary skill was an art, especially Japanese cuisine.
I walked the streets slowly, as if absorbing every smell, every sound, every detail. Shops, kiosks, people hurrying about, the noise and aroma of fresh food — everything came together into a mosaic that gradually formed the image of my future project. Maybe it would be something simple, fast, but incredibly tasty — a unique fast food that could surprise people.
— Maybe I should try it myself first, — I thought, returning home. — Do a trial run, understand the flavors, see the reaction.
Lying on the bed, I let my thoughts run wild. I imagined the menu, the dish options, the serving methods, considered which ingredients to use and how to speed up the process for convenience.
— Alright… — I finally said out loud, opening my eyes and feeling determination ignite within me. — I need to start with an experiment. Do the first test run, check the recipes, understand what people like. Then I can think about expansion and investments.
— Honestly, I've never done business, so I'm 99 percent sure I'll fail, but still — a businessman is a businessman…