Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 34: Butterfly Effect
The sales for the Uzumaki Scroll Shop did not die down even after the initial excitement faded. Instead, they continued at a steady pace, with each branch of the shop consistently generating around two million ryō per day.
Although all three types of scrolls, Healing, Fire Stove, and storage scrolls are sold well, the most stable and reliable source of income came from the Fire Stove Scroll. It was practical, affordable, and accessible to nearly everyone. Housewives, shinobi, and even merchants all bought one. The price of each Fire Stove Scroll was cheaper than a bundle of firewood, which made it an easy choice for families trying to save money.
Some people had tried to reverse engineer the Fire Stove Scroll, hoping to produce their own copies. But unlike the Healing Scrolls, these particular scrolls were designed with a self-protection mechanism. If the parchment was tampered with, either by applying chakra or by tearing open the protective seals, it would instantly burn into ashes, leaving nothing behind. This made it impossible to copy without understanding the exact fuinjutsu patterns. On top of that, Raiken had specifically demanded that the scrolls be designed for mass production, ensuring that the Uzumaki clan could continue supplying them quickly and efficiently.
Because of the overwhelming popularity of the Fire Stove Scroll, the demand for firewood and charcoal dropped drastically, almost to the point of nothing. No one wanted to buy expensive firewood when fire stove scroll sold even cheaper.
This sudden change struck a heavy blow to the charcoal merchants. Unlike small-time firewood sellers, charcoal was controlled by a limited number of people, mostly nobles and elites who owned charcoal mines. These men had long enjoyed monopolies, living in wealth and comfort while ordinary villagers had no choice but to buy their products.
Raiken won't even care about them because they are using normal civillian to dig the charcoal mines and they are many people died due to charcoal collapse.
Now, that monopoly was crumbling.
One noble, whose entire business revolved around charcoal production, could not contain his fury. His profits had fallen sharply within a matter of weeks. Eventhough people had chosen to use fire stove scroll, they are people who still use charcoal when they are being offered much cheaper compared to the scroll. A bundle of charcoal is half the price of Fire Stove Scroll.
After selling the Charcoal at low price, they finally lashed out in anger and reported the issue to the Daimyō himself.
At first, the Daimyō dismissed the complaint. He did not wish to intervene in something as trivial as new merchandise disrupting the market. However, when his own family charcoal business began to suffer losses, and considering the enormous amount of tax revenue collected from the charcoal trade every year, he could no longer ignore it.
They are a law in land of fire that being stated that every mines need to pay taxes, for ninja they didn't need to pay anything instead they need to protect Konoha. So what Uzumaki clan received is for them, not to Konoha and also the Daimyo.
A month after the Uzumaki Scroll Shop first opened, the Daimyō finally raised the matter with Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage of Konoha.
But that is the story a month later, right now it was only a week after they are selling a scroll and Raiken cannot turn blind eyes because it involved civillians, the ordinary villagers whose livelihood depended solely on selling firewood. These were not people with land to farm or have some wealth to become merchant to exploit. Their survival had always depended on gathering and selling firewood from the forests. Some of the stronger ones occasionally supplemented their income by hunting wild animals, but firewood was the core of their living. After the Uzumaki Scroll Shop entered the market, no one bought their firewood anymore.
It was a harsh reality. When cars were invented, carriage drivers lost their jobs. When gas and electric stoves became widespread in the modern era, hardly anyone used firewood or charcoal anymore. This was progress, but progress always came with victims.
Raiken himself did not realize the full extent of the damage until the Uchiha Police Force began reporting the gossip spreading through the village by the firewood seller.
"Because of the Uzumaki, we can't survive!"
"Why did the Hokage even allow them to come here?"
"My child will starve… no one will buy my firewood anymore…"
When these complaints reached Raiken, he was taken aback. The elders of the Uzumaki clan were equally shocked. An emergency meeting was immediately called.
"Master, what should we do?" asked Kenshiro, one of the senior clan members now he had become elders.
Raiken leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Finally, he spoke. "I have one idea. How about we stop buying parchment paper from outside merchants and instead develop it ourselves? That way, we cut costs, and in the process, we can open new jobs for civilians."
The elders murmured among themselves. Kenshiro frowned and raised a concern. "Master, are you suggesting we employ civilians? That would indeed provide them with work… but we don't have the proper technique to make paper ourselves."
Raiken smirked slightly, as though he had already prepared for this moment. "Don't worry. I already have the knowledge. For now, investigate and find out exactly how many people have been most affected by the collapse of the firewood trade. Focus only on those who solely rely on it for their livelihood. We can't help everyone, but we can help those who are suffering the most."
"Understood, Master," Kenshiro and the others replied in unison.
Of course, Raiken did not truly know how to make paper, not yet. But he had a secret advantage. Through the Livestream Store, he could purchase knowledge and skills from the modern era. The system's products were often several times more advanced than anything in this feudal-like world. If he could obtain the proper manuals, the Uzumaki could not only start producing their own parchment at a cheaper cost, but also create an entirely new industry within Konoha.
The price to buy such knowledge from the system would be cheap compared to the fortune they currently spent purchasing paper from merchants. It was the perfect solution: provide jobs for displaced civilians, secure loyal support from the common people, and make the Uzumaki clan even stronger. For Raiken, the crisis was no longer a threat,it was an opportunity.
[Hodor Hodor donated 2000 stars, he find you amusing and wishing you to teach his son how to manage the family business]
Raiken was shocked seeing a huge amount of donation, although they are living different world but some people loves to see those who are good in business.
---Kumogakure---
"What? The Uzumaki managed to seek refuge in Konoha?" asked the Third Raikage.
"Yes, Father. Our latest report confirms that they have already reached Konoha," reported A.
"Damn!" The Third Raikage hand unknowingly crushed the corner of the table. "We sacrificed our ninja so Konoha would grow weaker without them. If the Uzumaki join the war, we will lose our advantage of using the Tailed Beasts in battle."
Author Notes: To read advance chapter you can go to my patreon.
Chapter 58: Reform
Chapter 59: Hatake Sakumo
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