Chapter 11: Chapter 11 - The Star-crossed Lover of Firestone City
The next day.
Arriving in Firestone City after a few days' journey, Noctus Gaunt and the Uzumaki family were instantly struck by the impressive sight of the surrounding mountains, their peaks touching the clouds. The city itself bustled with the activity of a prosperous mining town, its streets lined with the prosperous commerce that the mines supported.
The sharp scent of ore mixed with the earthy aroma of stone and soil filled the air, providing a stark reminder of the city's main source of wealth.
As they walked through the town, Noctus and his party took in the sights. Market stalls brimming with goods, miners in their rugged attire discussing the day's yield, and the distant clatter of machinery echoing from the mines.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Noctus remarked, scanning the lively market square. "A perfect blend of natural wealth and human endeavor."
"It's truly a great achievement, it wasn't that long ago that our land was equally as prosperous, I'll never forget my first time in Uzushiogakure Village," Uzumaki Hachi sighed.
"One day, we'll rebuild it together, Hachi. For now, let's keep our wits about us." Noctus chimed.
Hachi nodded, he wasn't really that sad anymore about what happened, but seeing the beautiful city made him nostalgic.
After browsing the markets and scouting out the city, Noctus locked in on a location to stay temporarily.
Choosing to ensure the safety of the family, Noctus decided to leave Haru and Hana in a well-appointed hotel in the center of town. "You both rest here. Hachi and I have some business to attend to. In the meantime, please keep up your studies, Hana," he instructed.
"Yes, Gaunt-sama."
"Got it, Noctus-sama!"
After hearing their reply and ensuring their comfort, Noctus and Hachi headed toward the more shadowy parts of Firestone.
Based on the information obtained in Fireport, Noctus and Hachi located the entrance to the black market—a nondescript doorway nestled between two large warehouses at the edge of the city. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of illicit goods and whispered secrets.
After equipping a mask for himself and Hachi, Noctus waved his wand and cast a simple enchantment on the mask to lower their sense of presence.
Noctus wanted to be as lowkey as possible, so he did not use his disguised identity of Tom Riddle. After all, if things go to plan, this city would become his base of operations in the future.
Navigating through the dimly lit corridors, Noctus's eyes flickered with anticipation. Stepping past the whispering hooded figures, Noctus approached a bartender, who was in charge of this black market.
"Are you here to post a task or accept a task?" The bartender asked while wiping a wine glass.
"Neither, we'd like to make a purchase," Noctus replied.
"Information, goods, or people?" The bartender continued, unphased.
Noctus wasn't surprised that the black market dealt with human trafficking, so he continued with his inquiry.
"Information."
"Name?"
"Yamada Tomokazu."
Upon hearing the name, the black market manager suddenly paused his actions with a raised eyebrow.
Scanning the mysterious mask thatt hid all descript features of Noctus and Hachi, the black market manager restrained his gaze and put down the wine glass, reached into a compartment under the bar, and pulled out a piece of paper.
Seeing Noctus' surprise that he had the information on hand, the bartender chuckled.
"Surprised? You're not the first to inquire about the youngest son of the Yamada family. In fact, you're the third group this month."
Noctus thought for a moment and then understood.
"It seems the mines owned by Yamada-san are more coveted than I thought."
"Indeed, and just like all the others, I'll leave you with a word of advice. The Yamada family are not to be messed with, even if he's an estranged son." The bartender said mysteriously with a hint of ridicule in his eye.
"Thank you for the warning, how much will it be?" Noctus replied, ignoring the mocking in the bartender's eyes.
"100,000 Ryo."
Noctus didn't flinch and put a stack of bills on the bar counter while retrieving the information.
"Much obliged, dear guest. Is there anything else I can help you with?" After counting the money, the black market manager felt happy that he made more money from a hopeless sucker targeting the youngest son of the Yamada family again and replied.
"That'll be all, a pleasure to do business with you," Noctus said and then turned and left with Hachi.
"Haha, please, come again."
After leaving the depressing atmosphere of the black market exchange, Noctus read the information on Yamada Tomokazu with Hachi in an abandoned street corner.
"Just as I suspected," Noctus murmured as he read. "He's a man caught between his desires and his family."
According to the dossier, Tomokazu was indeed in love with a Chunin kunoichi named Mayumi Chiaki from Konoha. Despite his noble status, his family's disdain for his choice of a commoner as a spouse had led to significant familial strife. Sarutobi Hiruzen, under pressure from the noble Yamada family, had been forced to disapprove of the marriage publicly.
Frustrated and heartbroken, Tomokazu had chosen to leave Konoha to avoid any further harm to Mayumi Chiaki, dedicating himself to managing the family mine in Firestone City. His efforts were met with success, though his heart remained with Chiaki, his work a mere distraction from his unresolved romantic aspirations.
Armed with this knowledge, Noctus formulated a plan.
"Hachi, next, I will act alone. Take this money and find us a suitable home. From now on, Firestone will become our base of operations."
"Yes, Gaunt-sama."
Noctus handed Hachi the suitcase filled with Ryo obtained for the Fireporty City Lord. After accepting it, Hachi left to accomplish his task.
After Hachi left, Noctus removed his mask and headed toward the residence of Yamada Tomokazu.
Approaching Tomokazu under the guise of a potential business partner, he was led in by the family guards. After waiting nearly an hour, he was shown into Tomokazu's opulent yet somber office.
As Noctus entered, Yamada Tomokazu did not raise his head to look at him but continued writing something on a piece of parchment.
"What do you want?" Tomokazu asked in a monotone voice, clearly disinterested.
Noctus did not beat around the bush and decided on a head-on confrontation.
"Yamada-sama, I understand your situation and I believe I can offer you a solution to your predicament," Noctus began, capturing Tomokazu's full attention with his confident demeanor.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Tomokazu warily replied.
Noctus smiled and then said a name, "Mayumi Chiaki."
Tomokazu, a tall man with an air of resigned dignity, looked skeptical yet desperate enough to listen. He was not surprised that someone knew about his love affairs, as his status meant he would not have many secrets to ninjas.
"And what would that solution entail, Mr...?"
"Gaunt. Noctus Gaunt," Noctus introduced himself. "A Wizard hailing from the western continent." Noctus decided to make use of the background thought up by the Uzumaki family.
After he finished his words, Noctus raised his wand and twirled it around, casting a wordless charm on all of the furniture in the room, causing it to shrink, grow, and move around wildly.
Tomokazu was shocked at the display, he had stayed for a long time in Konoha trying to learn ninjutsu, but he had never seen anything like this.
"What is this? An Illusion, genjutsu?" Tomokazu asked cautiously.
"I assure you, Yamada-sama, that this is no mere fantasy. I am not a ninja, but you will find that my tricks can come quite in handy."
Stepping forward, under the watchful but curious eye of Tomokazu, Noctus placed his hand on Tomokazu's shoulder and then apparated with him outside of the city.
After an instantaneous winding teleportation, Noctus arrived in a nearby forest just outside of the city with Yamada Tomokazu.
Immediately after landing, Tomokazu became nauseous and puked out his lunch on the ground.
Noctus chuckled and commented, "Don't worry, it happens to everyone on their first time."
After Tomokazu calmed down and took note of his surroundings, he took notice of Firestone City in the distance.
"This is…space ninjutsu? No…how did you do that?"
As someone from one of the five most powerful families under the daimyo in the Land of Fire, Tomokazu knew of the existence of space-type ninjutsu such as the Flying Thunder God Jutsu of Konoha. However, what Noctus just performed was not like any of the descriptions of that ninjutsu.
"Magic, Yamada-sama. With magic, I can conjure things that you can only imagine in your wildest dreams."
With a wave of his wand, Noctus transformed the surrounding trees, dirt, and leaves into tigers, elephants, and even a dragon.
Yamada Tomokazu was awed by the incredible display, he was not sure if this was all simply a genjutsu and he was still sitting in his office or not, but a hint of hope arose in his heart.
After Noctus dispelled the conjured beasts, he approached Tomokazu once more and apparated back into his office.
Landing back in his strange office jinxed by Noctus' magic, Tomokazu dizzily walked over to a comically large sofa chair and leaned on it for support.
"Please, give me more warning next time," Tomokazu said in an aggrieved voice.
Noctus chuckled and shrugged.
"You'll get used to it. Now, about my offer? I don't know if you're interested, Yamada-sama."
Yamada Tomokazu scanned around his rearranged office before locking his gaze back on Noctus, weighing the risks in his mind. Not long after, he gave a nod.
"Can you fix my office first, Gaunt-san?"
"Please, just call me Noctus."
Noctus waved his wand and rearranged Tomokazu's office back to the way it was. Tomokazu watched in amazement again as paper and pens that were scattered on the ground flew by themselves and arranged themselves exactly how it was before Noctus came. Only the slight shaking of inertia was left to prove that something magical just happened.
Tomokazu walked back over to his desk and reached into his cabinet for a bottle of wine. After opening the cap and taking a swig, he finally calmed his nerves and turned back to Noctus.
"What do you have in mind?" Tomokazu asked with a hopeful gaze.
"I propose to use a jinx that will make your father agreeable to your marriage with Miss Mayumi Chiaki. Not only that, but I can also cure him of his ailments, ensuring he stands by your side against any naysayers within your family or beyond."
Tomokazu's eyes widened with a mixture of hope and incredulity. "You can do that? Truly?"
"Yes," Noctus confirmed with a nod. "In return, I ask for your loyalty and assistance in establishing a business front here, a venture in weapons and medicinal supplies."
After a brief moment of contemplation, Tomokazu readily agreed. "If you can reunite me with Chiaki, you have my word. My resources and networks are at your disposal."
With a handshake sealing their fateful agreement, Noctus set about implementing his plan. Over the next few days, he prepared for the arrival of the funds from the city lord of Fireport and began laying the groundwork for their business venture. Tomokazu, invigorated by the hope Noctus had given him, began to mobilize his considerable resources.
Together, they planned not just a business, but a power base from which Noctus could monitor and influence the geopolitical landscape of the ninja world, all under the guise of a legitimate trade enterprise. As they worked, the bond between them strengthened, setting the stage for a partnership that's sure to change the fate of the entire ninja world.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
xancia
xancia I plan to speed things up a bit in the next few chapters. This is a kingdom-building type novel so I don't want to be bogged down in too much detail. That'll cause me to lose motivation. Please add the story to your collection, comment, and send power stones to help the novel, thank you.
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