Naruto: Not such a simple trader

Minato maintained a sweet smile on his face, watching as Kisuke finally stopped for a moment and looked at him with surprise, though his expression was very gentle and soft.

"It seems like you've gotten used to it, haven't you? Little Minato," it was fun to see how the little boy stopped smiling to reveal his shyness, his eyes widened slightly, blinking faintly, before pressing his lips together, showing a slight blush.

"W-well..."

Riruka kicked Kisuke again for teasing Minato. "Respect the boy, Kisuke."

Usui blinked slightly, his plate was already empty. When he heard Minato start speaking, he looked at him.

The boy was undoubtedly very expressive, as his expression was very soft, seeming to feel deeply grateful, seeing how he clutched the shirt he was wearing that day.

" A-and I... well, I really appreciate everything you've done for me, this meal... it was the first time I've eaten something that tastes so good to me, it felt... made with love, with so much care that I didn't expect to receive, considering it's the first time you've met me," a little nervous, he played with his shirt.

Riruka became moved. "Minato, for how little time you've spent befriending Usui, I know you'll be a great boy. Besides, it's the first time I've seen you around the village, with your hair, you stand out more than anyone else." She gave him a playful smile, watching the boy gently touch his hair, something curious to know.

" A-ah, well, I never... go out since... I always thought I wouldn't have anyone to spend the day with, but I met Usui, and to me, he's someone who makes me want to get to know him more," now his excitement was visible.

Usui's emerald eyes widened a bit more, but he tried to give a smile.

For Usui, he was happy to see that Minato felt comfortable with his parents, that he got to experience at least once the love of a family, to feel happy about receiving it.

Kisuke had set aside his playful and silly demeanor, now becoming more subtle. "Little Minato, with how little you've told us about all you've done at just four years old, if you want to become a great ninja, I have no doubt you'll do great things. Keep aiming high, because when you least expect it, you'll be at the top. Do you want to be Hokage? Just keep walking the path you're forging right now, I know you'll make it." When it came to giving such speeches, his father was really good at it, Usui always said.

Minato heard for the first time the words of someone supporting him. " D-don't you think my dream is unattainable?" His blue eyes showed hope.

Kisuke gently shook his head, a closed-lip smile on his face. "Of course not, the world is full of stories of people who achieved what others considered impossible. Why couldn't you be one of them?"

Those were the best words little Minato had heard, his big smile marked on his face, his small hands trembling slightly, he gave a small bow to show gratitude. "I-I... thank you for those words, Mr. Ku-Kumo."

Usui silently looked at his father, squinting his eyes. This was what he had, he knew his father acted silly and childish just for him, but he was really a man who knew what to say, the right words at the right time.

Kisuke noticed the boy was trembling a bit, it was possible that many had tried to take away the thought of being Hokage from him, from what he had just said at the meal. The man put his hands inside the long sleeves of his yukata and looked up at the ceiling for a moment. "Many will tell you that what you want is impossible, that you're dreaming too high, that you should settle for less. But remember that all great success stories began with someone who refused to accept those limits. You don't need the world to believe in you; the only thing that truly matters is that you believe in yourself. The path may be long, it may be full of obstacles, but as long as you keep moving forward, you'll always have a chance. And if you ever feel like it's all becoming too difficult, remember why you started. You're not just fighting for a dream, but for the person you will become by making it come true." Those were words he had been told too many times, thinking now that he was saying them to a young dreamer like he once was.

Minato didn't want to look at them, his eyes were slightly glassy, but when everything ended, there was only a soft murmur, barely audible, expressing his gratitude.

Kisuke looked at Minato fondly and stroked his hair. "I suppose it's time for you to head back now."

The boy blinked softly, staring at the man. When he turned, he looked at Usui, who never stopped looking at his parents and Minato.

" A-ah, I... I think I've stayed too long here, I-I really appreciate this meal, it was... the best meal I've ever had," Minato wasn't lying, Riruka's seasoning was quite exotic, making him wish for more.

Maybe he could learn to cook like her.

The 'Kumo' family stood up to look at Minato, and Riruka hugged him with excitement. "Ah, Minato-kun has to leave! But you can come here anytime, okay?" She saw how Minato had a somewhat sad look, it didn't seem like he wanted to leave.

" R-really?" He raised his face to look at them.

Kisuke crossed his arms playfully. "Of course! If you at least make a face and don't treat me as badly as Usui does, look, Usui, this is how you should treat me," once again, his silly face appeared, and the stoic boy didn't even flinch.

"Mhp."

" Ah! You hurt me with that disdain!" He clutched his heart and spun exaggeratedly on his axis.

Minato let out a small laugh, not losing his smile, his cheeks aching to keep it, but he was so happy about it. " I-I thank you... I... I want... I want..." His voice lowered, causing both Riruka and Kisuke to look at him, blinking.

"Yes?"

"I want... to keep coming to see you," it was a soft whisper, making Usui's parents feel moved.

"As many times as you want, Minato-kun."

Minato smiled again, to say goodbye to both parents, and then looked at Usui, with a very different look than before, because he saw that although Usui had difficulty expressing himself, his actions and kind heart showed him something he never expected.

"Thank you... Usui."

It was a soft murmur, which Usui clearly felt, a shock in his heart, so soft and vibrant.

And on his little sharp face, a barely perceptible smile, but one that Minato was able to witness with difficulty. It was the only thing he needed to say goodbye to the family that had accepted him so easily.

When Minato left for the orphanage, Usui stayed there, feeling that warmth in his heart.

A warmth he had never felt in his present heart, he just blinked softly.

Now he looked at his parents, who only looked at him with joy, because it seemed that he had found a rather unique friend.

[...]

Nearly two months had passed, and it seemed the family was starting to have a new member. Usui and Minato always played, watching as the boy ran to the place far from Konoha village, always with his big smile and waving his hand back and forth.

Usui sometimes, between games, noticed that Minato helped him practice his body, at least basic things to build some resistance like he had, since he didn't have as much as he thought he did.

But since meeting Minato, his heart had been opening up, as Usui seemed more expressive than before, something both parents appreciated.

Minato wanted Riruka to teach him how to cook, the way she made delicious food. She felt happy, though she scolded Usui playfully, who seemed to not want to cook.

But there was something his son said while cooking. He seemed somewhat anxious, his hands fidgeting on the table.

"Yes, Usui?" The woman spoke softly, watching how Minato cooked. Seeing such a small child already so independent always saddened her, but it made her happy that he had initiative.

"Mom... have you thought about adding more things to the sales list?"

"Well... maybe your father will add more ninja weapons like shurikens, senbon, among other items."

"Have you thought about... opening a business here?"

Riruka looked at her son curiously, seeing Usui talk about the family business. Of course, when he was a little older, Kisuke would teach him blacksmithing, but she only sold a few artifacts.

"Once we told you that we tried selling food, but it didn't work, seems like it's the least popular item. Well, we're merchants, son, we couldn't keep a business."

"I have many ideas to implement, mom, something I'm sure many will like," Riruka looked at her son curiously. It was the first time Usui spoke so much, she almost wanted to shout for Kisuke to witness it himself.

Minato finished the food, carefully moving the pot, then looked at Usui with that curious expression. "What is it, Usui?"

One thing Usui had noticed was that on many occasions, he spoke about things Minato never understood. What are dispensers? What is industrial machinery?

Sometimes he didn't understand, but he tried to pretend he did so Usui wouldn't feel disappointed.

"We need to find a few things... to make it happen." Usui was tired of having tea and pure water, there was no carbonated drink that he loved so much like the late American.

He really craved a soda, but not just any soda. After all, he was a biochemical engineer.

Of course, he knew how to make many foods, chemistry had helped a lot. He just hoped his parents would listen to him.

Usui's face was serious as always, but his soft voice spoke again. "I want to add something new to the business, mom, you'll see that our money will grow so much, we won't know where to keep it."

Now Riruka was interested, she smiled and put her hand on her hip. "Alright, little boss, what do we need to start?" She just wanted to fulfill her son's whim, though she couldn't take it seriously. A four-year-old wanting to contribute to the family business? No merchant had likely thought of that, or it would be heard all over the ninja world.

"We need to talk to dad because I'll need his help too for this little project, I'll go get him." Riruka and Minato watched as Usui left the kitchen, both tilting their heads to the left, mostly out of curiosity to know.

Why did Usui seem so excited in his silent language?

...

Bringing dad in, I'm more than excited, I'm tired of jasmine tea, menthol tea, I can't stand any more time without drinks like that, I missed Coca-Cola, the soda I had every morning. I've noticed all this time studying what's sold in Konoha, and there are so many limited things.

Ramen, dangos, and recently it seems they will open a place to cook your own meat. But where is my junk food? That food that, although I deny it, I do miss sometimes.

It's time to implement curiosity into my parents, if no one else does it, then I want us to be the first to do it. The years studying recipes secretly to make food and flavorings had to bear fruit.

With the help of fixing so much machinery in so many places, making companies and mass-producing products could be easy for me, but... for now, that will be on pause. If I think about implementing things from where I come from into this somewhat boring place, I won't deny it, if Minato wasn't here, I think I could go crazy in this monotony, maybe even more than I already am.

I arrived with my dad and looked at the three of them. "We need to get a few things, I'll tell you and you can tell me if we already have them."

"Well, I guess my son is already behaving like a kid," my dad didn't take me seriously, thinking I was just doing this to get more attention. I just want a bubbly drink again!

"Well, first I need to know if we have... uhm..." I really don't know if it's called the same as where I come from. Also, in my time since I was reborn here, things don't always have the same names. Some fruits changed their names so suddenly that when I said one, they just stared at me.

I had no choice but to draw it. I hadn't done it in a while, but it wasn't anything I couldn't do again. I showed my drawing, watching how my mom became fond, surprised. "Ah, my boy draws so... beautifully! So much so that... I can see a... sugar stick?" I knew the name had changed, but did they call it a stick? Incredible, could it be more direct?

"Yes, do we have a sugar stick?"

"You're lucky, son, because we have it, but it was for our own enjoyment. Sugar isn't that common here, we traded with other merchants who sold it. We have it. What else do we need?"

I'll have to draw things for them to understand. Minato watched the drawings, amused, looking at my parents and then at me.

Slowly, I started showing them from the sugar cane, and if that wasn't enough, I showed honey, then cilantro, and lime.

They all said we had it, and it could be easily found in Konoha.

The problem is... we need to get carbonated water, but there's none here!

I sighed. "We have everything, but there's one more thing missing... something I'll have to do." It's something I clearly have to do.

I know how to get carbonated water, but I never thought I'd have to create something from scratch. I hope I have the creative merchant talent my parents have.

Because I won't just sit back and wait years to drink a drop of soda again, I miss the effervescence!