Becoming the Tsuchikage in the Naruto World

Chapter 17: Ninja Tools

After leaving the contribution office, Ishiro was in high spirits as he headed towards the exchange center.

Ishiro had been here before, buying a chakra test paper, but back then, he was penniless. Now, with 1,100 contribution points, he felt like a millionaire and was determined to browse everything.

The exchange center was less crowded than usual, likely due to the war, which had led to a shortage of personnel. However, the variety of ninja tools available was impressive. There were all kinds of tools—some Ishiro had seen, some he hadn't. He had been worried that there might be a shortage due to the war, but it turned out he had been mistaken. The exchange center, dedicated to providing tools for ninjas who contributed to the village, always had enough stock. While some items might be out of stock in normal stores, here, with contribution points, there was no shortage.

Ishiro didn't rush into making a purchase. He decided to look through everything first and then make his choice.

After browsing, Ishiro realized that the selection for someone his age was quite limited. Most of the items in the exchange center were geared toward full-fledged ninjas, and the sizes didn't fit him. For example, the Wind Magic Shuriken was too large for him, both in size and weight.

In the end, he picked out several small blades, some kunai and shuriken. He didn't choose the regular-sized kunai, as the ones used at the ninja school were smaller, made specifically for younger students.

He also picked up a short sword. While labeled a short sword, it was closer to a longsword for him. Ishiro wasn't sure how he would use it yet, as the sword techniques he had learned at the school were basic, and his body wasn't suited for such weapons at the moment.

He also bought three explosive tags and five soldier pills. He had considered getting some protective gear, but the staff informed him that they didn't have anything that fit his size, so he passed on that.

In addition to combat gear, the exchange center had various miscellaneous items, such as weighted gear for physical training. Weighted gear wasn't something to be taken lightly, as improperly designed weight could negatively affect the body. However, there were lighter sets available, presumably designed for younger ninjas, and Ishiro picked the lightest one—5 kilograms—deciding to gradually adjust to it before moving on to heavier weights.

The kunai and shuriken cost him 50 contribution points, the explosive tags were 100 points each, and the short sword was the priciest at 500 points. The soldier pills were 10 points each, and the lightest weighted gear was 30 points. Altogether, Ishiro spent 930 points.

With the remaining 170 points, plus the points left over from his book transcription work, Ishiro decided to buy medicinal herbs from the exchange center, as their quality was far better than what could be found outside. He planned to buy all his supplies here as long as his contribution points allowed.

After spending all his points, Ishiro wasn't upset. He had earned it all unexpectedly, and he still had 100,000 ryo in cash. No need to panic; everything was fine.

Carrying his short sword and a pile of other items, Ishiro headed home. He had considered buying a ninja tool pouch, but the prices were astronomical. A standard pouch with a half-cubic meter capacity cost over 3,000 contribution points. Even a smaller pouch that could hold only a few kunai, shuriken, soldier pills, or explosive tags was 500 points. Ishiro decided to pass on the pouch for now. He believed he would eventually learn to make his own ninja tool pouch, and when that time came, he would make one for himself.

At home, Ishiro first put on the weighted gear. From now on, unless he faced an actual battle, he wouldn't remove it. He then modified some of his clothes, adding extra pockets to hold his shuriken, kunai, explosive tags, and soldier pills.

After organizing his gear, he headed back to school. He had taken a half-day leave earlier to meet with Ishikawa-sensei, and now it was almost noon, so he had to hurry back.

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When Ishiro arrived at school, he was immediately surrounded by his classmates, all curious about the short sword in his hand. Some students used unsharpened practice short swords at home, but no one had ever brought a real one to school. Ishiro hadn't expected such a reaction and was unsure how to handle it. He didn't want to leave it at home after what had happened that night. Without a weapon, he felt vulnerable.

Fortunately, one of the more well-informed students, whose relative worked at the contribution office, had heard about a student from the ninja school killing an enemy Chunin. He hadn't realized the person referred to was Ishiro, but after seeing him now, it all clicked. The student immediately blurted out, "Ishiro, the student who killed the enemy Chunin, that was you, right?"

The room went silent. Even Ikura, who had been confused about why Ishiro brought a short sword to school, stared at the speaker in surprise. Ikura, the strongest in the class with abilities already at the lower ninja level, knew that facing a Chunin directly would be a near-impossible feat for him.

After a brief pause, the classroom erupted in chatter, with several students asking the speaker how he knew.

The student explained what he knew, though it wasn't much—his relative had mentioned it in passing, but he had thought it referred to a senior student. When he saw Ishiro, the pieces clicked together.

After hearing the story, the rest of the class turned expectantly to Ishiro, eager for more details. It was almost lunchtime, but it seemed no one had any intention of resting.

Ishiro thought for a moment before replying, "How about we go to the training ground to talk? We don't want to disturb other classes."

The others quickly agreed and packed their things, heading to the training ground, as there wasn't much time left before the practical lesson would begin.

Once they reached the training ground, Ishiro began, "Actually, the reason I was able to kill the Chunin was that he underestimated me, plus a bit of luck." He then detailed the situation, explaining that the most significant reason he survived was that the Chunin didn't take him seriously. He added, "If he had been cautious, he could have killed me the moment I dispelled the Transformation Jutsu."

After Ishiro finished explaining, the students began discussing what they would have done in his place and how they would have handled the situation. Ishiro appreciated the atmosphere, feeling that his experience was helping his classmates grow.

At that point, Ikura approached Ishiro and asked, "Can you tell me what it felt like to fight against a Chunin?"

Ishiro nodded, then paused before replying, "Strong. Very strong. The biggest reason I survived was that he didn't take me seriously. If he had, I would have been dead the moment I dispelled the Transformation Jutsu."

Ishiro then went on to describe the intense fear he had felt, how he had been in a desperate situation, and how, in that moment of desperation, he had forced himself to remain calm and analyze the situation to find a way out.

Everyone listened intently. They had been training at the school for nearly three years now and had learned many ninja techniques. Students in higher years, just about to graduate, were preparing for real battles. They understood the gravity of Ishiro's words.

Ikura thought for a while and then said, "I understand. Now I know what I lack compared to a real ninja."

Ishiro was taken aback, then realized that what Ikura was referring to was the same willpower he had experienced that night. "You mean..."

"Yes, the willpower. My strength is at the lower ninja level, but I've lost to real ninjas a few times, even though they weren't as skilled as me in many aspects. Now, I understand what I'm missing, and I know how to push myself. Thank you, Ishiro. Once I find the willpower a true ninja has, I'll challenge you. You've taken the lead for now, but I won't stay behind for long."

After saying this, Ikura turned and walked toward the training ground, likely to ask Ishikawa-sensei for time off to train.

Ishiro speculated that Ikura was going to practice. He wasn't worried about the challenge Ikura had mentioned. He knew his own limitations. Although his victory over the Chunin had been the result of various factors, his true strength still lay in the middle of the class rankings.

If the roles were reversed and he had faced Ikura instead, Ishiro was sure he would have lost.

The reason for that was simple: Ishiro relied on ninjutsu, which gave him many options, but when facing someone like Ikura, who excelled in physical combat, the advantage was clear.