Early the next morning, just as Uchiha Rìtiān's ice cream shop opened, a group of people in ninja uniforms arrived.
Their leader was a middle-aged ninja with a stern expression. "You're Uchiha Rìtiān? We're from the Konoha Military Police Force. Someone reported that your shop doesn't have a business license."
Uchiha Rìtiān sneered inwardly. The Military Police Force? Aren't they our own Uchiha Clan members? Who's bored enough to report their own people?
"A license? Of course I have one!" Uchiha Rìtiān pulled out the license bearing the Hokage's seal. "Look, Lord Hokage issued it himself!"
The middle-aged ninja took it and looked, and his expression immediately changed. It really was Lord Hokage's seal!
"Since you have a license, never mind." The middle-aged ninja awkwardly led his people away.
Watching them leave, Uchiha Rìtiān rubbed his chin. It seemed Konoha's waters were even murkier than he had imagined.
Over the next few days, business at the ice cream shop grew increasingly brisk. Uchiha Rìtiān introduced new flavors such as matcha, mango, and Oreo, and every one was a hit.
As he earned more and more money, Uchiha Rìtiān's private stash grew at a rate visible to the naked eye.
But Uchiha Rìtiān wasn't satisfied. Just selling ice cream? That's setting my sights way too low! As a transmigrator, how could I not come up with more inventions?
And so, Uchiha Rìtiān began working on new gadgets.
His first invention: the Chakra Flashlight.
The principle was simple: specially made crystals stored chakra, which a formation converted into light. With just a tiny injection of chakra, it could shine all night.
For ninja who often patrolled at night, this thing was practically a godsend! Previously, nighttime patrols required either torches or the Illumination Technique. Torches were too conspicuous, while the Illumination Technique consumed too much chakra.
Uchiha Rìtiān made a few samples to test the market, and they sold out the moment they hit the shelves!
"Wow, this flashlight is so bright! And it barely uses any chakra!" one ninja exclaimed in delighted surprise.
Encouraged by his success, Uchiha Rìtiān kept at it and introduced his second invention: the Chakra Hand Warmer.
It used the same principle, replacing light with heat. Tucked inside one's clothes in winter, it kept the wearer toasty and immediately became a favorite among girls.
"Little Rìtiān, this hand warmer of yours is so handy!" Uchiha Mikoto-Uchiha Rìtiān's mother-held the hand warmer, unwilling to put it down.
Next, Uchiha Rìtiān introduced a whole series of gadgets, including the Chakra Mini Fan, Chakra Alarm Clock, and Chakra Razor. Every one was hugely popular.
The Chakra Alarm Clock, in particular, woke people with vibrations without hurting their ears, making it a godsend for anyone who struggled to get out of bed. Quite a few ninja made special trips to buy one, saying that when they stayed at inns during missions, their greatest fear was failing to wake up in the morning. With this alarm clock, they no longer had to worry.
Uchiha Rìtiān's little shop had completely transformed from an ice cream shop into a general store, and its name changed to "Rìtiān General Store."
To accommodate the growing number of customers, Uchiha Rìtiān also introduced a membership system-customers who spent a hundred ryō could get a membership card, giving them five percent off future purchases and points they could redeem for gifts.
Once he introduced this tactic, customers became even more enthusiastic about spending. To accumulate points, many people shopped exclusively at Rìtiān General Store.
Business was booming beyond belief, and Uchiha Rìtiān counted money every day until his hands cramped.
[Ding! The host's business empire has begun to take shape. Reward: Business Talent +1. Title acquired: "Marketing Master"!]
Uchiha Rìtiān chuckled. Marketing Master? You bet! Back in the day, I even read Principles of Marketing! The four Ps, customer personas, scarcity marketing-I know all those tricks inside out!
While making money, Uchiha Rìtiān didn't forget to train. After all, in this ninja world, strength was what truly mattered. No amount of money was any use without the strength to protect it.
Every evening after closing the shop, he secretly slipped into the little grove behind the clan grounds to train. Taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu-he neglected none of them.
For taijutsu, he learned the Uchiha Clan's basic techniques from Itachi and devised a few dirty tricks himself-kicks to the groin, eye pokes, toe stomps, and the like. They weren't exactly honorable, but they worked!
For ninjutsu, he had long since mastered the Three Basic Jutsu and was now practicing Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique. But he was too young and had limited chakra, so the fireballs he spat out were only a little bigger than ping-pong balls...
When it came to genjutsu, he did have some talent. With the Sharingan's help, after all, he learned genjutsu with half the effort and twice the results. He could now use simple genjutsu on small animals.
Uchiha Rìtiān's chakra reserves grew rapidly. With the system's bonus to chakra extraction efficiency, combined with his "infant-level" physical talent, his training progressed at an absurd speed.
His chakra reserves were now on par with an ordinary genin's. And he was only five!
His Sharingan was also steadily improving. Although it still had only one tomoe, its perception grew sharper and sharper. He could now even see the direction chakra flowed. Though it still couldn't compare to the Byakugan, it was already quite impressive.
Itachi sometimes trained with him. Whenever he saw how quickly Uchiha Rìtiān improved, he fell silent for a long time.
He had awakened his Sharingan at seven and was already hailed as a genius. Yet Uchiha Rìtiān had awakened his at five and was improving even faster than he was...
"Little brother, what kind of monster are you...?" Itachi couldn't help remarking.
Uchiha Rìtiān chuckled. "Brother, this is called being exceptionally gifted! Go ahead and envy me! Don't worry. Once your big brother here becomes a badass, I'll take you to the top!"
Itachi rolled his eyes, not bothering to respond. Yet inwardly, he felt a faint sense of anticipation. This little brother of his always managed to surprise him.
One day, while Uchiha Rìtiān was organizing merchandise in the shop, he suddenly heard two customers nearby chatting.
"Have you heard? The Ninja Academy is enrolling students next month!"
"Yeah, my boy's been looking forward to this day for ages!"
Uchiha Rìtiān's interest stirred. The Ninja Academy is enrolling?
Thinking about the timing, it was about right. Itachi was seven this year, just the right age to attend the Ninja Academy. As for himself, although he was only five, with his talent, skipping ahead a little shouldn't be a problem, right?
"Brother!" Uchiha Rìtiān ran to the back to find Itachi. "The Ninja Academy is enrolling! Let's sign up!"
Itachi was reading. Hearing this, he looked up. "You want to go too? You're only five."
"So what if I'm five?" Uchiha Rìtiān puffed out his chest. "Genius knows no age limits!"
The corner of Itachi's mouth twitched. "Father won't agree."
"I'll talk to Father!" Uchiha Rìtiān declared confidently. "He'll definitely agree!"
That very evening, Uchiha Rìtiān went to see Fugaku.
After hearing Uchiha Rìtiān's request, Fugaku remained silent for a long time.
"Are you sure you want to attend the Ninja Academy? You're only five. Studying alongside children older than you will be hard."
"I'm not afraid of hard work!" Uchiha Rìtiān clenched his little fists. "I'm going to become the strongest ninja!"
Seeing the determination in his son's eyes, Fugaku felt somewhat heartened.
"All right." Fugaku nodded. "I'll speak to the academy. But whether you get in will depend on your own abilities."
"Don't worry, Father!" Uchiha Rìtiān jumped up in delight. "I'll definitely pass the entrance test!"
Leaving Fugaku's room, Uchiha Rìtiān was brimming with happiness. Ninja Academy, here I come!
What Uchiha Rìtiān didn't know, however, was that while he was swept up in excitement, a plot against the Uchiha Clan was quietly brewing in Konoha's shadows.
Before you continue