Supplier of the Uchiha Clan

I felt lost and out of place when I first arrived in this world, suddenly thrown into a strange group. I was just an unnoticed character, a passerby in others' lives, arriving and leaving without a sound.

His low voice was like the invisible wind that swept through the alley.

"But I don't want to live like this. I told myself I have to leave my own mark on this world!"

"I want to change my destiny, and the destiny of others too!"

In the afterglow of the sunset, Gaara, hugging his teddy bear, stared blankly at the handsome face reflected in the light before he started walking.

"Tinkle..."

A wind chime by the door rang as the door was pulled open, leading into a small shop with a rigid design on the street corner—the Barren Horn Material Exchange.

"Boss, give me five sets of Black Iron Tree Trunk, original unprocessed ones; prepare three boxes of Black Oil Asbestos, a mix of type three and type six; do you have Z-axis Wheels? Let me see the material and model, if it's good, I'll take it! ...Also, pack a few sets of mixed sliders. Do you have Sealing Scrolls? Please sort them by sequence for me, thank you."

Qing Xuan tapped his fingers lightly on the shop's hard wooden counter, his gaze sweeping over the seemingly chaotic but well-stocked shelves of puppet-making parts. He couldn't help but marvel that the Land of Wind was indeed a country rich in mineral resources, no wonder puppet jutsu flourished here.

The shop owner was a small old man with his head wrapped in a sand-dusted cloth. He meticulously recorded Qing Xuan's extensive list. Since the order was varied and large, it would take a considerable amount of time to gather everything, so he invited them to look around while he went to the back warehouse.

As it was nearing sunset, and the shop was located on the edge of the street, there was no light source other than a small window on the side. The dry and dim atmosphere was the only dominant theme.

Gaara stood under the only shaft of light from the small window, quietly gazing at the older brother leaning comfortably against the counter in the shadows. For the first time, he felt an unprecedented sense of peace.

He didn't know why, but the moment he saw that face, the demon that had been constantly terrifying him fell silent. That faint, elusive fear seemed to resist approaching this older brother.

It was like... a desperate attempt to hide and escape.

Meanwhile, in the warehouse connected to the shop, the old owner was being questioned by a group of Sunagakure Anbu.

He handed the long list in his hand to a tall leader among the Anbu.

The leader held the list and read it silently for a long time before returning it. He was a combat-oriented shinobi skilled in both taijutsu and ninjutsu and couldn't understand such complex things. However, if he had questions, he never hid them.

"Master Wen, I don't understand."

As the old shop owner expected, he didn't falter. "What does he intend to do with these materials?"

"Make puppets..."

The old owner's voice was rough, like sand being scraped against rocks by the wind.

His fingers, like withered bones, gripped the list with surprising strength. His cloudy eyes reread the materials under the dim candlelight, as if examining the intricate craftsmanship of a puppeteer.

"A very professional puppeteer. The materials he's requesting are all ones that require extremely precise techniques to create exquisite puppet castings. His ideas are also very clever..."

The old man marveled, to the disbelief of the Anbu. He then went to the storage shelves to find the materials one by one. Amidst the clatter of metal and wood, his exclamations could not be hidden: "Such high standards are truly rare nowadays. It truly pleases me!"

He even turned back to ask the bewildered Anbu: "Where did this child learn his craft? This artistic arrangement... is it Chiyo?"

Hiss--

The Anbu didn't know how to answer. They looked at each other in confusion and shock, their eyes asking for clarification.

According to rumors from Konohagakure, Uchiha Qing Xuan was proficient in a Sunagakure inheritance. There were even whispers that this child was adopted by a reclusive Sunagakure expert from a young age and taught all his skills. Perhaps... it wasn't that far-fetched?

The sky gradually darkened.

"Boss, you're overcharging."

Qing Xuan stood by the counter, not having moved an inch. His eyes scanned the rows of Sealing Jutsu on the scrolls. Satisfied, he rolled them up and tapped his fingers on the counter, intending to conclude this pleasant shopping trip with a hearty round of bargaining.

"I can see that the customer is very satisfied with these materials." The flickering candlelight danced on the old shop owner's wrinkled face. His cloudy eyes reflected the candlelight, twinkling with a joyful smile.

Qing Xuan raised an eyebrow, not sparing any praise. "I'm even more satisfied with the shop's service."

His gaze swept over the surrounding goods again. "I've long heard of a renowned puppet material shop in Sunagakure. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation."

He knew how to chat.

The praise from a professional made the old shop owner even happier, and his hoarse voice softened a bit. "Customer, let's proceed with your proposed transaction."

Qing Xuan immediately smiled happily. He fumbled in his ninja pouch behind him for a moment, then, under the watchful eyes of the Anbu observing in secret, pulled out a thick stack of Explosive Tags and placed them gently on the sturdy wooden counter.

The candlelight flickered on the patterns of the Sealing Jutsu on the topmost Explosive Tag. The old shop owner extended a finger to pick it up, rubbing it lightly between his thumb and index finger. He evaluated, "Very carefully selected materials... and this exquisite drawing method..."

His cloudy eyes suddenly gleamed with light. "These goods are of extremely high quality, their collectible value even exceeding their practical use."

Facing the old shop owner's all-knowing gaze, Qing Xuan felt no embarrassment at all. Flashy and impractical Uchiha, all the excess funds in the clan were poured into this! No wonder several external sales channels have been complaining...

He didn't hide anything. He lightly wiped his nose with his finger, leaned forward, and whispered a string of secret codes used by black market dealers, "I'm also looking to establish a long-term trade relationship. If this cooperation is successful..."

He held up a finger in a V-sign. "I'll give you this much."

The old shop owner's facial wrinkles twitched. After a long sigh, he said, "You clearly have great talent in puppetry, child, yet you choose to debase yourself with this kind of business..."

Five dry fingers extended from the counter.

"Add thirty percent."

"That won't do. The Uchiha have to eat too. Besides, selling weapons externally is taboo. If we're found out, we'll be denounced."

The old shop owner didn't even want to bother with him. He raised his eyelids, glanced at him, and said dryly, "Are you saying I'm not also risking bringing precious metals from Sunagakure to Konohagakure? The profit margin is already slim, wouldn't I also have to bear the risk of infamy?"

"Ah, ah, ah! Fine, fine! It's my first time doing this kind of business! I'll add another half percent for the old man to buy some wine. I'll make the decision!"

"Tch! At least forty percent, or forget it."

"The wind and rocks outside aren't as stubborn as you. I also have connections for Nara Clan's medicines, so what do you say about this ratio..."

The Anbu hidden in the shadows gritted their teeth, watching the two village representatives openly haggle right under their noses. Unable to receive orders, they were helpless for the moment.

The leader's gaze swept to the Kazekage's foolish son standing nearby, his eyes gleaming as he watched Uchiha Qing Xuan haggle.

Well, well! There's a guide here too!