Equipment Creation

Creak-

"Oh, you're here, hero lad."

The weapon shop's wooden door swung open. Elhart looked up, saw who had arrived, and greeted him warmly.

Glancing over the dazzling array of weapons displayed throughout the shop, Ye Uchiha asked, "Is my equipment ready?"

"Yes. I forged two pieces of equipment according to your specifications, and they're both in here. I worked an entire day and night without sleep to make them, but I finally pulled it off."

Elhart hauled two wooden boxes out from beneath the counter and set them on top, speaking with unmistakable pride.

Ye Uchiha opened the boxes and picked up the two pieces of equipment inside: the black cloak patterned with red clouds worn by the Akatsuki of the Naruto World, and an exquisitely crafted Tachi. Several heavy money pouches also sat in one corner of a box.

"The weapon's design must come from your world, lad. Its shape and style are unusual, but they do have their merits. Unfortunately, this sort of blade wears down easily, so its durability is a little worse than that of other weapons."

Stroking the thick beard on his chin, Elhart studied the Tachi in Ye Uchiha's hand and spoke with confidence.

The Tachi had originated from the Tang Dao. Its edge was as thin as a cicada's wing, capable of slicing through iron like mud and cutting a hair blown against it. But that was also its limitation. The blade was so thin and light that it was easily damaged during use, and severe damage would render it completely useless.

Akatsuki Cloak [Armor]

Equipment requirement: LV35

Physical defense +170

Magic defense +210

HP +1200

MP +500

SP +465

Agility +92

Evasion +20%

Traits: (Scale armor: reduces elemental damage from enemies by 30%, with a chance to reflect damage from attacks below LV35.

Swift movement: greatly increases the wearer's agility and movement speed outside combat.

Grudge curse: when the armor is damaged or removed, the wearer enters a "Weakened" state for ten minutes, reducing all attributes by 20%.)

Wait... what the hell was this grudge curse?

Looking at the Akatsuki Cloak's final trait, Ye Uchiha couldn't help feeling a little unnerved.

Wasn't this just the Akatsuki's "take off your cloak and die" rule from Naruto?

Putting it on and then taking it off would practically raise a death flag. Most of the Akatsuki members' deaths had something to do with it. Before taking off their cloaks, they looked impossibly cool and radiated overwhelming presence. Afterward, they got beaten like dogs and died in all sorts of gruesome ways. Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.

Blackscale Great Sword [Weapon]

Equipment requirement: LV32

Physical damage +172

Magic damage +149

Attack speed +0.5

Fire damage +20%

Dark damage +20%

Traits: (Iron cleaver: attacks apply a 25% armor-piercing effect, which can stack up to four times.

Ill omen: each time damage is dealt, there is a small chance of inflicting a curse on the enemy.)

The stat bonuses from these two pieces of equipment amounted to almost half his own stats at his current level, and they came with all sorts of bizarre traits. It was starting to feel more and more like playing a virtual online game.

Although he wasn't particularly happy about the Akatsuki Cloak's grudge curse trait, surely he wouldn't trigger the death flag as long as he never took it off.

"I've already sold the Subdragon materials. I won't charge you a transaction fee this time. The remaining money is all in the box. After deducting my crafting fee, you've got two hundred gold coins and seventy-two silver coins. That's enough to cover an ordinary family's expenses for ten years, so don't blame me if you lose it."

Elhart pointed at the stacks of money pouches inside the box and offered the friendly reminder.

"Thanks." Ye Uchiha put the two pieces of equipment and the coins into his Sealing Scroll and thanked him sincerely.

Elhart's help had saved him a great deal of trouble. Ye Uchiha was quite happy to accept such genuine kindness.

The weapon shop's door opened again, drawing both men's attention. Naofumi Iwatani entered with a little brown-haired girl sporting animal ears and dressed in rags. An iron collar encircled her neck, and iron cuffs bound her wrists.

"Welcome! Oh, isn't it the shield lad?"

"Ye?" Naofumi Iwatani looked at Ye Uchiha in surprise. He hadn't expected to run into someone he knew here.

"I ordered some equipment here the day before yesterday," Ye Uchiha said. "I just came to pick it up."

"By the way, who's the little girl beside you?"

Ignoring their odd looks, Naofumi Iwatani said, "A slave I bought yesterday, Raphtalia. Since I use a shield, all I can do is protect. I need a sword to fight for me."

"So you want to train her to be your weapon? But this girl doesn't seem to be in very good shape."

Ye Uchiha immediately understood Naofumi Iwatani's intentions, but the little girl seemed to be in a poor mental state. Her eyes were hollow and lifeless, and numbness and fear mingled on her pale, delicate face. She showed none of the lively energy a child her age should have. She felt like an exquisitely made doll.

During the Shinobi World's Warring States era, Ye Uchiha had seen more children like her than he could possibly count. With both parents dead and their homes lost, they had no choice but to wander. They had no reason to live, merely clinging to life through their remaining survival instincts.

Ye Uchiha could somewhat understand why, in Naruto's story, not one of the many orphans Orochimaru had taken in as experimental subjects wanted to betray or abandon him. They were even willing to sacrifice themselves. To those who had once possessed nothing, Orochimaru, who had reached out and pulled them from that living hell, was a god. Even if that god was merely using them, they would follow him without hesitation.

"A child this young?" Elhart frowned, displeased with Naofumi Iwatani's actions, but said nothing more.

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of her. I did spend most of my money buying her, after all. Now give me a weapon she can use. My budget is six silver coins. If you have any clothes you're getting rid of, bring those out too," Naofumi Iwatani said flatly.

"Is this country the problem, or have you given up on yourself, lad...? Never mind. Six silver coins, right? I'll throw in the clothes for free."

Elhart sighed softly, filled with conflicting emotions. Muttering to himself, he fetched several daggers and a set of clothes, then shoved them roughly at Naofumi Iwatani to express his displeasure.

Naofumi Iwatani didn't care in the slightest. He chose the dagger that felt most comfortable in his hand, then passed it and the clothes to Raphtalia, gesturing for her to go to the changing room and put on her equipment.

After they chatted in the shop for a while, Ye Uchiha said, "You two carry on. I've got something to do, so I'll be leaving."

"Remember, if you ever want any custom weapons or equipment, come to me first!" Elhart called to Ye Uchiha as he was leaving.

"Got it. If I need anything like that, you'll be the first person I come to."

With that, Ye Uchiha pushed open the door and left Elhart's weapon shop, leaving Naofumi Iwatani and Elhart staring at each other in a somewhat awkward silence.