Naruto led Jiraiya and Sai through the bustling streets of Konoha and stopped in front of a modest shop.
Jiraiya looked around, puzzled. "Naruto… are we buying drinks or something?" he asked, scratching his head.
Sai tilted his head, equally confused. "Naruto, what are we doing here?"
Naruto smiled faintly, pointing at the shop. "This place won't sell alcohol anymore. Tenten is turning it into a ninja tools shop."
Jiraiya let out a low whistle of surprise. "Huh? But the previous owner's drinks sold like crazy! I loved them! Why would they stop?"
Naruto chuckled. "It's Tenten's decision. She plans to run a ninja tools shop here—everything a ninja might need: kunai, shuriken, scrolls, and other tools."
Jiraiya groaned dramatically. "So I've been outmaneuvered by Tenten… I never thought that girl would be so capable and… wealthy!"
Naruto shot him a knowing glance. "Originally, she didn't have enough money, but I bought a stake in her company to help her secure this shop."
Sai's eyes widened. "You… paid for it?"
Naruto nodded. "Yes. Not just me—Neji and Lee also helped. It's a joint effort, but Tenten is still the boss here."
Jiraiya blinked twice, then crossed his arms. "Naruto… why bring us here?"
Naruto smiled mysteriously. "Pervy Sage, you're about to marry Tsunade. I know you don't want to borrow my money, not because you can't, but because of pride. You're worried about your reputation as a master writer."
Jiraiya snorted indignantly. "Who said I needed money? I have enough!"
Naruto waved a hand dismissively. "Old man, when I trained with you, every time you got royalties, you'd go out drinking with women, and your money would vanish. Your savings basically disappeared."
Jiraiya went silent. He couldn't argue.
Naruto turned to Sai. "Sai, you're great at drawing. Working with Jiraiya-sama is perfect for you. You already have Ino to think about, and even though her family is prominent, a man still needs his own income. Helping Pervy Sage finish a few manga projects will definitely make money, especially with the popularity of Icha Icha Paradise."
Sai listened seriously, nodding.
Naruto pointed to the shop. "Here's my idea: we'll set up a dedicated workspace. A store for your manga production, like Orochimaru's lab, but for comics."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "A store just for work?"
"Yes," Naruto said firmly. "From now on, Pervy Sage and Sai, you'll work here exclusively. Focus on your creations. Sound good?"
Jiraiya's eyes twinkled. "I like it. Practical, quiet, plenty of space."
Sai smiled politely. "I have no objection."
Naruto grinned. "Great! Come with me; I'll show you the shop."
He led them down another street, away from the bustling commercial district. For this kind of work, the location didn't need heavy foot traffic—just a good space and proper decoration.
They arrived at a quaint, old shop that previously sold calligraphy, paintings, calendars, and other small decorations. The elderly owner no longer wanted to maintain it.
Sai's eyes lit up. "Naruto, buy this place! Upstairs we can work, downstairs we can display our art and sell it. Perfect!"
Naruto chuckled at Sai's enthusiasm. "Pervy Sage, what do you think?"
Jiraiya examined the property thoughtfully. "No problem. Plenty of space, upstairs and downstairs—excellent."
Naruto smiled. "Okay, it's settled. We'll take over this shop!"
When signing the contract, the elderly owner was delighted. Selling it to prominent Konoha figures was an honor, and having a young artist like Sai use it for his drawings ensured the store would continue its legacy.
"Come by tomorrow for the keys," the owner said. "I'm moving out tonight to return to the countryside."
Curious, Naruto asked why the owner wasn't staying in Konoha. The elderly man laughed, "Thanks to you, Naruto. You've made Konoha lively again. Life in the countryside is much safer for me now!"
Naruto smiled, pleased that his actions had positively impacted another person.
After waving goodbye, Naruto suggested they check Tenten's shop. Jiraiya, seeing the sun's position, decided to leave first—he wouldn't make it home before dark.
Sai watched Jiraiya leave and sighed. "Jiraiya-sama has really changed. He used to be so carefree."
Naruto snorted. "Carefree? That's Pervy Sage for you—charm and mischief all in one."
Sai frowned slightly. "What does marriage bring to a man?"
Naruto glanced at him in surprise. "Brother, you're not married yet… haven't even really become a man… and you're already reflecting like that?"
Sai smiled faintly, hugging his drawings. "Goodbye, Naruto," he said softly before heading off.
Once Sai left, Naruto approached Tenten's shop. By now, she had the keys and had begun preparations.
Inside, Tenten, Neji, and Lee were busy tidying the space.
Lee asked, "Do all these decorations have to be moved out?"
Tenten nodded firmly. "Yes. Everything must be relocated!"
Lee sighed. "Well… think of it as training."
Neji glanced at him with mild exasperation. "Lee, you're really good at hard work."
Tenten scowled. "What are you talking about, Lee? Stop slacking! Go move that banner over there!"
Neji, looking at the hangings, commented, "The store's decorations aren't bad already. No need to overdo it with cloths and banners."
Tenten pouted, waving a hand. "No! My ninja tools shop won't look like this! It has to be perfect, the way I imagined it!"
Neji shook his head. "Fine… we'll follow her lead."
At that moment, Naruto walked in, smiling at the commotion. "Looks like things are getting busy!"
Tenten grinned. "Naruto! Come see how the ninja tools shop is shaping up. What do you think?"
Naruto glanced around and nodded. "Looks excellent. If Tenten designed it, it's bound to be amazing."
Tenten's face lit up. Praise from Naruto was priceless.
Neji, watching, sighed. "No wonder Hinata was impressed by Naruto… this guy is impossible to ignore."
Naruto chuckled, giving a thumbs-up. The shop was taking shape perfectly—a dedicated space for ninja tools and a workspace for Sai and Jiraiya's manga, blending business with creativity in Konoha.
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