"A taijutsu instructor…? You want to focus on close combat?"
Senju Akari looked at her son in disbelief.
He had only been to the training grounds for a single day, and already he was asking for a new direction. Of all possible paths, he had chosen the most demanding one.
Taijutsu meant pain.Endurance.Repetition without shortcuts.
She had seen shinobi like Might Guy running endless laps around Konoha, pushing their bodies well past exhaustion. That kind of life was brutally unforgiving.
"Kuroha," she said gently, crouching in front of him, "taijutsu is exhausting. You don't need to work that hard. You can live a safe, comfortable life."
"I don't want easy," Kuroha replied without hesitation. "Taijutsu suits me."
He met her eyes, serious in a way that felt wrong for a child his age.
"I want to train my body."
Akari hesitated.
Finally, she nodded slowly. "I'll talk to your father. If he agrees, we'll look for an instructor."
She sighed. "But you don't get to decide alone."
Kuroha nodded, unsurprised. "He'll agree."
Then he added, "I want to choose the instructor myself."
Akari gave him a helpless smile. "Let's go home first."
She thanked Uchiha Shin before lifting Kuroha and carrying him away. As they walked, their voices drifted back.
"What did you learn today?""Shuriken throwing. I'm accurate now.""You're serious?""Of course."
Shin watched them leave, conflicted.
The boy didn't lack ambition.He simply refused to be owned by it.
I should speak with Jōan sometime, Shin thought. That child shouldn't be allowed to waste this talent.
Inside Konoha, in a spacious office lined with ledgers and route maps, a man sneezed loudly.
Uchiha Jōan frowned. "Am I getting sick?"
Ever since taking over the family business, he had barely rested. Perhaps his body was finally protesting.
I should eat better, he thought absently. And we still need to consider another child…
His door burst open.
"Boss, we have a problem," an aide said urgently. "One of our shipments was intercepted while passing through the Land of Lightning."
Jōan stood at once. "The escort team?"
"They're injured, but alive. The medics have them now."
Jōan exhaled slowly.
"Good. Then we'll eat the loss." He straightened. "Reassign personnel, reroute the cargo, and double the escort for the next shipment. Compensate the injured fighters properly."
"Yes, sir."
Once the aide left, Jōan's expression darkened.
These attacks were becoming too frequent.
Someone was testing his trade lines.
I need stronger deterrence, he thought. Not just numbers.
By the time he wrapped up work, dusk had settled over the village.
"My son's back already?" he asked.
"Yes. Lady Akari picked him up. He seemed happy."
Jōan smiled immediately. "Good. I'll head home."
"Father's home!"
Jōan barely made it through the door before scooping Kuroha up.
"Did you miss me? Look, I brought snacks."
He squinted. "You look thinner."
"Wash your hands," Akari said flatly. "Dinner's ready."
The warmth returned briefly.
Then a servant hurried in and whispered something into Jōan's ear.
His smile vanished.
He stepped outside, returning moments later with a heavy expression.
Kuroha watched quietly.
"Father," he said after swallowing his food, "what happened?"
"You wouldn't understand," Jōan replied, rubbing his temple.
Kuroha tilted his head. "Have you tried explaining?"
Jōan hesitated, then sighed. "Our trade caravans have been attacked several times. Different routes. Different regions. We're losing people."
Kuroha's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then hire more guards," he said. "We have the money."
"It's not that simple," Jōan replied. "With tensions between villages, capable shinobi aren't willing to take private contracts. And recruiting too openly draws attention."
Kuroha considered it for a moment.
"Then don't look outside," he said. "Look inside."
Jōan blinked. "Inside?"
"Recruit from the Uchiha," Kuroha continued plainly. "There are plenty who need work, have skill, and already belong to your name."
The room went quiet.
Akari looked at her son.Jōan stared at him.
Slowly, the merchant leaned back.
"That…" he said carefully, "might actually work."