Business

The frustrated shopkeeper never expected to run into a freak like Naruto Uzumaki.

He couldn't drive Naruto away with words, and he risked getting beaten up if he tried; as for using force, he was terrified of going to jail.

With no other choice, the frustrated shopkeeper sought help from the Police Force.

This area fell under the jurisdiction of the Police Force, but under the warnings of the Third Hokage and the strict orders of Fugaku, they didn't dare to interfere in Naruto's affairs.

They brushed him off, and even turned around to warn the shopkeeper...

Get lost, don't try to drag us into this, or we'll arrest you ourselves.

The Demon Fox brat has powerful backing...

Nishimura confirmed this truth once again, feeling in his heart that Konoha was truly dark.

Just as Nishimura was feeling disheartened and ready to leave.

An Uchiha suggested, "For certain reasons, it's not convenient for our Police Force to step in, but I suggest you go directly to the Hokage..."

Hearing this, Nishimura agreed on the surface, but cursed inwardly.

The Uchiha are truly wicked to the core; they are trying to harm him for no reason.

Not to mention whether someone of his status could even see the Hokage, what good would it do even if he could?

Almost everyone knew that Naruto's arrogance was entirely due to the protection of the Anbu, and the Anbu reported directly to the Hokage.

So, did he really need to spell out who Naruto's biggest backer was?

Going to the Hokage for help was practically begging for death.

This was just Nishimura being cynical...

Although the Third Hokage had his flaws, he wasn't that dark toward the villagers, and he was still considered reliable.

Before Nishimura could even open his mouth, the Third Hokage took the initiative to find Naruto, urging him to be kind and let the man off the hook.

Naruto scoffed at the suggestion.

Stop playing the saint; if I let him off, who is going to let me off? Besides, this whole thing boils down to your inaction, Third Hokage, allowing rumors to be created and spread.

If it weren't for those rumors, none of this would have happened.

"If you repay evil with kindness, how will you repay kindness? My demands aren't high; as long as he apologizes to me and promises to treat me like a normal customer from now on, I'll leave immediately."

Was that a high demand?

The Third Hokage asked himself...

The demand wasn't high—just a verbal apology and doing business as usual; the General Store wouldn't lose anything.

But it was meaningless.

They would be compliant in words but not in heart. There were plenty of people in Konoha who hated Naruto; forcing Nishimura to apologize would be useless.

It might even incite resentment in others, making them hate Naruto even more.

"It doesn't matter. To me, there's no difference between 99 and 100."

"Little Naruto, you won't make any friends this way."

"I don't care. Those who are blinded by prejudice aren't worthy of being my friends."

The Third Hokage felt a headache coming on after hearing this.

How could you not care? If things go on like this... how will you ever be able to shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting the village?

After sitting guard for over a month, and just as Naruto had meticulously carved a decent-looking wife out of wood, Nishimura finally broke.

As a middle-aged man with elderly parents and young children, his entire family's livelihood depended on this General Store.

It was just too stupid to ruin his livelihood over personal likes and dislikes.

"I'm sorry, I won't dare do it again. From now on, everything you buy in my shop will be half-price. Please, just let me go." Nishimura handed over a stack of bills with both hands, kneeling in shame to beg a three-year-old child for mercy.

Fortunately, this was inside the General Store and no one else saw it, otherwise, he wouldn't have the face to live in Konoha anymore.

Naruto's eyes lit up as he took the money and quickly counted it—one thousand ryo, two months' worth of living expenses.

"I accept your sincerity."

Stashing the money in his pocket, Naruto patted his shoulder with his small hand and said with satisfaction, "To know one's mistake and correct it is the greatest virtue. I am a magnanimous person, so I forgive you this time. I hope you won't do it again."

Yes, yes, yes, big brother, whatever you say is right, please just leave.

Nishimura nodded repeatedly, wanting only to send the plague god away as quickly as possible.

The moment the plague god left, Nishimura let out a long sigh of relief.

30 seconds later, he stared expressionlessly at Naruto, who had returned.

Naruto explained, "Don't misunderstand, I'm not going back on my word. I just want to do business with you."

I don't want to do business with you, I just want you to get lost.

Ignoring Nishimura's repulsive expression, Naruto continued, "Do you have any business rivals? Do you need me to go sit in front of their shop for a while?"

Wait! This business... it might actually be worth considering.

Right, Noguchi has been way too arrogant this past month, constantly mocking him for being unable to beat a three-year-old brat, which has made Nishimura lose all face among his social circle.

Now that an opportunity has presented itself, it's the perfect chance to make him taste the same suffering he's been enduring.

"That..."

Nishimura opened his mouth to speak, but thinking of Naruto Uzumaki's foul reputation, he quickly shut it again.

Colluding with the Demon Fox to harm others was too sensitive a matter; Nishimura didn't trust Naruto Uzumaki.

If word of this were to leak out, he would be socially dead in no time.

Seeing this, Naruto Uzumaki frowned, pondered for a moment, and seemingly realizing something, immediately raised his hand and spoke solemnly.

"I swear by my most respected Third Hokage, if I leak this, may I be struck by lightning and never be reincarnated."

In the end, Nishimura couldn't suppress his resentment toward his enemy and pulled out a thousand ryo to hire Naruto Uzumaki to cause trouble.

Well, that makes me a gangster now...

From this point on, Naruto Uzumaki embarked on a path he had never imagined.

--Half a month later--

Noguchi, whom Nishimura had Naruto Uzumaki retaliate against, predictably folded and ended up paying Naruto Uzumaki to apologize.

After collecting the money, Naruto Uzumaki used the same old trick, slightly modifying the words he had said to Nishimura and repeating them to Noguchi.

Noguchi realized, "So it was Nishimura who sent you."

Exposing an employer was not allowed, so Naruto Uzumaki argued, "It wasn't..."

Noguchi waved his hand and said, "No need to say more. I've been fighting with Nishimura for decades; I know exactly what kind of person he is—petty as they come. Tell me, how much did he pay you? I'll pay double if you go sit in front of his shop again."

"But this isn't about the money..."

"Triple!"

Naruto Uzumaki shook his head and said, "I refuse! I already told you it's not about the money. My grudge with Nishimura has been settled; we have no enmity now, so I can't just attack him."

Besides, one should take a long-term view when doing business.

Backstabbing an employer was strictly forbidden in the ninja world; once your reputation was ruined, you would never get another job.

Excluding his arch-rival Nishimura, the person Noguchi hated most was the clothing store owner on the next street.

That bastard sold him fake goods last week and refused to admit it; it really made his blood boil.

"Here is a thousand ryo, kid. Take him down."

Naruto Uzumaki accepted this job.

This clothing store had also chased him away, so they were a valid target.

But with two previous examples, the clothing store owner knelt quickly; in less than a week, he raised the white flag and offered Naruto Uzumaki a thousand ryo in compensation.

However, when Naruto Uzumaki hinted that they could do business, the owner handed over another thousand ryo, commissioning Naruto Uzumaki to go cause trouble at the clothing store across the street.

With three previous examples, that clothing store knelt even faster.

But unfortunately...

This guy was a coward and didn't dare to do business with Naruto Uzumaki.

Naruto Uzumaki expressed his deep regret.

However, it didn't matter!

Naruto Uzumaki had already found his own ninja way!