The issue of Rinto stepping into a large hole in the playground remained unresolved.
Uchiha Ryota was taken home by his parents, too frightened to stay.
After learning the full story from Nakaru Daisora, the parents chose not to apologize to Rinto. However, Rinto didn't care. In the Uchiha clan, some possessed incredible talent, but most were just ordinary individuals with no promising future.
What pleased Rinto more was that Mr. Nakaru Daisora granted him an exemption from the practical class, replacing it with personal tutoring instead. Rinto was highly satisfied with this arrangement. As long as he could return to the shop on time for work, these minor inconveniences didn't matter.
During the only afternoon class, Rinto sat at the back of the classroom. His deskmate was the white-haired boy from earlier—Jiraiya. At this moment, Jiraiya sported an unruly afro, his eyes slightly downcast, with two red lines painted on his cheeks. He wore a gray-green, flame-patterned robe tied at the waist.
"Rinto, you're really strong! How do you train?" Jiraiya leaned over the desk, using the students in front as cover, speaking in hushed tones.
Seeing this, Rinto followed suit, whispering back, "When you forge iron, the more you swing the hammer, the stronger you become."
"Can you teach me?" Jiraiya asked excitedly.
Rinto nodded without hesitation. "I'll bring you a blacksmith's hammer next time. Find something sturdy to strike, and keep hitting it every day. Your strength will naturally improve."
Hearing this, Jiraiya was overjoyed. He had witnessed Rinto's power up close. The sheer momentum alone was enough to make people shudder, let alone the destructive force.
Imagining himself gaining such strength, Jiraiya couldn't help but laugh, thinking of how he could impress Tsunade.
Rinto smiled as well. He had to admit—Jiraiya was truly an optimistic guy.
Still laughing, Jiraiya pointed to the empty seat in front of Rinto. "Hey, do you know where Uchiha Ryota is?"
Rinto was stunned for a moment. So, the troublesome kid from the Uchiha clan had been sitting right in front of him all along!
"I'm not sure, but I think his parents took him home to change his pants," Rinto speculated, scratching his head.
Jiraiya didn't laugh but instead leaned closer, whispering, "Rinto, you should be careful. Uchiha Ryota holds grudges. Besides, their clan..."
Jiraiya didn't finish his sentence, but Rinto understood.
The Uchiha clan was known for their pride, deeply rooted in generations of history. Their mindset was often at odds with the Will of Fire ideology set forth by the First Hokage. Despite their formidable combat abilities, their tendency to isolate themselves from the rest of the village made them somewhat alienated.
However, this very division could work in Rinto's favor. If he clashed with the Uchiha, he, seemingly alone and vulnerable, would naturally lean toward the Hokage faction for support. This, in turn, would earn him trust from key figures in Konoha.
Politics was inescapable, and Rinto knew he had to play the game wisely.
Time passed quickly, and the class soon ended. Rinto left the Ninja Academy along with the crowd of departing students. As planned, he headed to work at Kato's Ninja Tool Shop.
Thanks to his Magnet Style, Rinto's forging skills had advanced considerably. The weapons he crafted were of exceptional quality, and Kato's shop had gained a stellar reputation. This led to a constant shortage of ninja tools, especially Senbon. According to reports from the front lines, the Senbon produced at Kato's shop were renowned for their sharpness and durability.
For ninjas, high-quality weapons were a matter of life and death. A poorly crafted tool could mean disaster in battle. Rinto's Senbon, being both sharp and resilient, had a high recovery rate, proving invaluable on the battlefield when supplies ran low.
Lifting the shop's curtain, Rinto stepped inside.
Unlike when he first arrived at Kato's shop, it was now bustling with customers. Many ninjas in green vests moved about, inspecting the displayed weapons.
Uncle Ippongi, rubbing his hands together with a greedy smile, weaved through the crowd. Spotting Rinto, he hurried over.
"Hey, brother! You're finally here! We have some big special orders. Can you check if we can take them?"
"How big are we talking?" Rinto asked instinctively.
Grinning, Ippongi draped an arm over Rinto's shoulders and discreetly made an "eight" gesture with his free hand.
"All mine?" Rinto asked.
"All yours!"
Rinto grinned. This wasn't just a large order—it was proof that the shop's reputation had been firmly established. In forging, especially in weapon-making, quality was everything. Once that foundation was secure, success naturally followed.
As they moved toward the counter, Ippongi continued, "We have a few key orders—the Moonlight clan's custom ninja swords, armor pieces for the Akimichi clan, and some goods my old man needs for trade. His order isn't urgent, so he can wait. The important one is the Moonlight family's swords. They're a big client, so put extra care into that one."
Rinto nodded, took the order, and walked into the forge.
Interestingly, Magnet Style had an almost supernatural effect on blacksmithing. Rinto still couldn't determine whether it was a Kekkei Genkai or something else entirely.
The rhythmic sound of metal striking metal echoed through the shop as Rinto worked. The steady blast of the bellows accompanied the passing time.
At six o'clock, Kato's Ninja Tool Shop closed for the day.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, Rinto emerged from the forge, pretending to be utterly exhausted. In the front hall, Uncle Ippongi leaned against the counter, his face glowing with satisfaction as he counted stacks of bills.
"Rinto-kun, you've worked hard," Ippongi said with a beaming smile.
"Hey~ I work so hard. Don't you think I deserve a little extra pay?" Rinto teased.
"More money?" Ippongi's face stiffened as he instinctively clutched the money tighter. "You're joking again! We're partners, not boss and employee. How can I give you a raise?"
Rinto sighed. "Fine, you have integrity. Just remember—our stock of iron ore and charcoal will only last until tomorrow. Make sure to restock."
"Not enough again? We just got a shipment last week! That was supposed to last two weeks! Damn it, Rinto, don't leave—come back!" Ippongi cried.
Ignoring his protests, Rinto slipped out of the shop, disappearing into the street.
Later, in a dense forest outside Konoha, Rinto unwrapped a bundle of weights from a cloth sack, his eyes gleaming with excitement. These weights, forged from leftover materials, were small but extraordinarily heavy due to the unique properties of Giant Forging and Magnet Style.
There were four weights in total, wrapped in sturdy burlap. Together, they weighed nearly 400 kilograms. Combined with the iron powder stored in his body, the total weight he carried was close to 500 kilograms.
Just standing up with them made Rinto feel like a sinking anchor. As he took a few slow steps, he could hear his muscles and bones groaning in protest. He knew this was his body struggling under the extreme burden.
But this was exactly what he wanted.
Once he adapted to this weight, he was confident he could overpower an entire group of Chūnin with sheer physical strength alone. As for Jōnin? They had special skills and abilities beyond brute force.
For now, though, Rinto was content. His training had begun.
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