Chapter 16: 3years & Side hustle

Early chapters: patreon.com/Reborn_noob

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Konoha Year 29 - Three years had passed in the blink of an eye.

In the bustling black market of the Fire Capital, Toko flicked her short black hair impatiently. "Ugh! Sensei's always vanishing on these secret missions. Makoto, why don't we follow him this time?"

The Uchiha shook his spiky-haired head while examining a merchant's wares. "Bad idea. Yuta-sensei's tracking skills are sharper than a hawk's. Want to be left doing D-rank missions back home?" His wandering eyes suddenly locked onto a stall's ore collection.

"How much for these minerals?" Makoto asked the vendor, a glint of interest flashing across his sharingan.

Meanwhile, in a grimy corner shop, a cloaked figure in sunglasses bargained fiercely with a bulbous-nosed merchant.

"Eighty percent or nothing," the cloaked man stated flatly. "Final offer. Cash payment delivered here." He slid a scrap of paper across the counter.

The merchant mopped his sweaty brow. "B-but the weapons market's crashed since the peace! Seventy percent would barely—"

"Eighty. Take it or watch your profits walk."

"Deal!" The merchant squeaked, remembering all too well what happened last time they'd tried cheating this client.

Two years prior, when this mysterious seller first appeared with mountains of high-grade iron sand, the daimyo's greed had overridden his caution. 

The ambush party—comprised of the capital's finest ninja—had lasted precisely three seconds before being buried under a tsunami of iron. Only the merchant survived to deliver the cloaked man's message: 'Try that again, and I'll paint your palace red.'

The daimyo still kept Konoha ninja on permanent guard duty.

"Good doing business." The cloaked man vanished as suddenly as he'd appeared.

After weaving through back alleys to confirm no tails, the figure shed his disguise in a shadowed doorway. 

Silver hair glinted in the dim light as familiar fox-like eyes scanned the surroundings—none other than Yuta.

'Why am I here?' He sighed. Because three kids, a pregnant wife, and Konoha's postwar housing crisis don't pay for themselves.

The village's victory in the First Shinobi War had triggered a population boom. 

What was once affordable land now cost a small fortune. Even with his jōnin salary and mission fees, Yuta needed… alternative income streams.

Thus began his iron sand operation—using his magnet release to extract ore from remote riverbeds, refining it through earth-style techniques, and funneling it through black market channels. 

A far cry from teaching bright-eyed genin, but needs must when the wolf's at the door.

Yuta allowed himself a wry smile. Reincarnated into a ninja world, still slaving for real estate. But one glance at the family portrait in his pocket—Kiko radiant with their coming twins—banished all complaints.

He melted into the crowd, already planning how to surprise Makoto's team with their "unexpected" reunion.

The Konoha marketplace offered no opportunities for Yuta's venture—every profitable sector was already controlled by established clans. Revealing his Magnet Release to compete would raise too many questions about his heritage.

The capital, however, presented perfect conditions. As Fire Country's ruler, the daimyo maintained massive weapons stockpiles, requiring constant iron sand supplies. 

After careful reconnaissance, Yuta identified the daimyo's black-market intermediary—a portly merchant with wine-stained cheeks who handled sensitive transactions.

Their two-year arrangement had proven mutually beneficial. The profits not only funded Yuta's family home construction but also secretly bankrolled Orochimaru's research.

Yuta had discovered Orochimaru's private lab a year prior. The revelation brought mixed feelings—Of course it would be him—but this younger Orochimaru hadn't yet endured the tragedies that would twist his path. 

During an "accidental" meeting, Yuta issued quiet warnings against unethical extremes while offering financial support.

His motivations were twofold: genuine admiration for Orochimaru's brilliant, unorthodox mind, and pragmatic prevention of Danzo's potential influence. 

When Yuta's bloodline abilities eventually became public knowledge, having the Snake Sannin as an ally could prove invaluable against Root's scheming.

Yuta arrived at the rendezvous point to find Uchiha Makoto and Toko waiting precisely on time.

The third member of their original team, Might Duy, had ascended beyond genin missions after a fateful encounter with the Hokage.

Sarutobi's visit to Duy's home had sparked unexpected results. Within weeks, despite his tactical shortcomings, Duy earned chūnin promotion through sheer combat prowess. 

His new teammates initially mocked what they perceived as pity advancement—until a disastrous mission against Rain ninja forces.

Cornered and outmatched, Duy unleashed the Six Gates.

The aftermath left eight enemy ninja dead—including two jōnin—scattered across a cratered battlefield like broken dolls. 

Duy spent three months hospitalized, but emerged a legend. The Third Hokage personally awarded him special jōnin status, cementing his reputation.