Using Wood Release to Build Houses for Villagers, Earning a Fortune in One Day

After Naruto threw a tantrum for a full half hour, Kakashi finally gave in.

Though he did not say it aloud, he also felt it was time to give these brats a real challenge.

But before that, they still had to complete today's D-rank mission.

"All right, stop fooling around."

Kakashi put away his little yellow book and listlessly announced the day's mission.

"At Uncle Yamada's house on the west side of the village, the fence was wrecked by wild boars, and the roof is leaking. We're going to help repair it."

"More boring chores..."

Naruto grumbled, but reluctantly followed the group anyway.

Half an hour later, Team 7 arrived at a small farmhouse courtyard on the western edge of the village.

Their client, Uncle Yamada, was an elderly man with graying hair and a face full of worry.

"Oh, ninja sirs, you're finally here."

Uncle Yamada pointed at his crooked, lopsided fence and the basin-sized hole in his roof, sighing heavily.

"I've lived in this lousy house for decades. It leaks air everywhere. Fixing it is just a waste of effort."

"If I weren't so short on money, I'd really like to tear it down and build a new one."

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a look, and both saw the deep helplessness in each other's eyes.

They picked up hammers and nails, preparing to begin the tedious repair work.

Meanwhile, Sen circled the decrepit wooden house once and rubbed his chin.

"Uncle, do you really want to build a new house?" Sen suddenly asked.

"Of course I do. I dream about it." Uncle Yamada gave a bitter smile. "But where would I get the money?"

"Money isn't the problem."

Sen snapped his fingers, a mysterious smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"I just want to ask what style you like. Chinese? Japanese? Or a luxurious European-style house with floor-to-ceiling windows and a viewing balcony?"

Uncle Yamada froze, staring at Sen as though he were an idiot.

"Kid, do you have a fever? What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"

Naruto ran over as well and tugged at Sen's sleeve.

"Big bro, what are you up to now? We're here to fix a house, not get into real estate."

"Who said we aren't getting into real estate?"

Sen rolled his eyes at Naruto.

Looking at the ruined little wooden house before him, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck his mind.

These past few days, he had been pondering how to maximize the value of Wood Release.

Killing and arson could raise his level, but they were too conspicuous and did not fit his low-profile way of life.

But what if... I used Wood Release for infrastructure?

Not only could he openly practice the fine control of Wood Release, but he could also earn some extra cash along the way.

It was killing two birds with one stone!

This broken house is perfect for a little practice.

Sen made up his mind.

He walked over to Uncle Yamada and patted his chest.

"Uncle, do you trust me?"

"As long as you do, today I'll let you live in the grandest mansion in Konoha Village!"

Uncle Yamada looked at him, half believing and half doubting.

Kakashi also lifted his head from his book with interest, wanting to see what this kid was going to pull this time.

"All right, everyone back up. Don't let the wood chips hit you."

Sen waved his hand, signaling everyone to retreat outside the courtyard.

He walked to the center of the broken house and took a deep breath.

His hands suddenly came together before his chest!

"Wood Release: Four Pillars House Technique!"

With Sen's low shout, a massive surge of green chakra instantly poured into the earth beneath his feet.

"Rumble—!"

The ground throughout the little courtyard began shaking violently, as though an earthquake had struck!

Uncle Yamada dropped onto the ground in fright, while Naruto fearfully clung to a nearby tree.

"B-Big bro! Are you demolishing the place?!"

Before their horrified eyes.

The originally dilapidated little wooden house was instantly dismantled by an invisible force, like building blocks being taken apart.

Planks, beams, and tiles turned to dust in midair.

Then!

Four enormous wooden pillars, each requiring two people to wrap their arms around, burst from the ground like towering columns holding up the sky!

Between the pillars, countless thinner wooden strips grew wildly at a visible speed, intertwining and connecting.

Walls, floors, a roof, doors, windows...

In barely a dozen seconds, the outline of a house appeared out of thin air before everyone's eyes!

But it was not over yet!

Sen's hands remained clasped together, and fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

This was his first attempt at such precise chakra control, and it was no small challenge for him.

"Internal structure, formed in one piece!"

Inside the already formed wooden house, countless tiny wooden strips grew from the floor once more.

Like the hands of nimble craftsmen, they rapidly wove and shaped themselves.

Tables, chairs, beds, wardrobes, even the stair railings!

All the furniture was seamlessly formed from Wood Release, without needing even a single nail!

In just one minute.

When the tremors finally stopped.

An antique, perfectly structured, luxurious two-story wooden villa, even giving off a faint scent of wood.

Had appeared out of thin air atop the ruins!

Sunlight spilled across the brand-new roof, reflecting a warm, polished sheen.

The only sounds left in the air were Naruto and Sasuke's heavy breathing.

Uncle Yamada was completely dumbfounded.

His mouth hung open as he pointed at the mansion before him, which looked even grander than the daimyo's residence, but he could not say a word for a long while.

At some point, Kakashi's copy of Icha Icha Paradise had fallen to the ground.

Three words were written all over his dead-fish eye.

"You can do that?"

Sen let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He walked up to the petrified Uncle Yamada and snapped his fingers.

"Uncle, come back to earth."

"Two floors, fully furnished, move in with just your bags, plus a full set of solid wood furniture."

Sen patted the brand-new doorframe, smiling like a crooked merchant.

"What do you think? Satisfied with the quality of this project?"

"Sat... satisfied..."

Uncle Yamada's lips trembled, and it took him a long while to find his voice again.

Then, with a thud, he dropped to his knees before Sen, tears streaming down his aged face.

"Immortal! You must be an immortal sent by the First Hokage to save me!"

He clung to Sen's leg and refused to get up, insisting on setting up a longevity memorial tablet for him.

Sen did not know whether to laugh or cry. It took all his strength to help the old man back up.

In the end, Uncle Yamada tremblingly dragged a heavy wooden chest out from beneath his bed.

When he opened it, it was packed full of neatly stacked banknotes!

"Lord Immortal! These are my life savings!"

Uncle Yamada grabbed a thick handful of banknotes and forcefully stuffed them into Sen's arms.

"This little bit of money is only a token of my gratitude! You must accept it! Otherwise, I won't sleep peacefully for the rest of my life!"

Sen looked at the enormous sum in his hands—at least several hundred thousand ryo—and his eyes instantly lit up.

He had only wanted to practice a little. He had not expected an unexpected windfall!

The reward for this D-rank mission was way too generous!

From that day onward.

A strange legend began spreading among the civilians of Konoha Village.

A mysterious "infrastructure fanatic" had appeared in the village.

Whosever house was broken, whosever bridge had collapsed, whosever road was uneven.

As long as they could afford the price.

By the next morning, it would be restored to look brand-new, or even ten times better than before!

In just a few days.

Sen became Konoha Village's hottest "gold-medal contractor."

He secretly took on private jobs every day, earning a fortune.

His ninja tool pouch was stuffed with banknotes collected from villagers all over, heavy with money.

At the morning assembly that day.

Kakashi watched Sen stroll over leisurely with another sack of money.

Then, with practiced ease, Sen pulled out a stack from the sack and stuffed it into Kakashi's hand.

"Kakashi-sensei, this is today's tribute. Use it to buy a few new copies of Icha Icha Paradise."

Kakashi accepted the thick stack of banknotes, and the expression beneath his mask was exceedingly complicated.

He looked up at the luxurious bathhouse rising from the ground in the distance.

Then he looked down at the substantial "hush money" in his hand.

He sank into deep thought.

"Is it... really me leading him on missions?"

"Or is he leading me... to wealth and prosperity?"