Chapter 14: 14. First acquaintance

At the end Aoto still insisted on taking them to a good barbecue and celebrating themselves a bit. Teuchi and Ayame had helped a lot so Aoto felt a little obligation to them. But it was very apparent that the rumors were flying high and low about the possible war that was going to arrive and thus the environment around was pretty depressing. 

Aoto tried his best to not let it affect him and have the best evebing possible at that moment for him. After a grand feast, everyone was back at their homes and Aoto tried not to have random thoughts in his head while sleeping. He knew that if the world wasn't already doused in the flames of his inclusion through butterfly effect then there shouldn't be any war for a long time. The only bad things that was going to happen was genocide of the Uchiha and the death of Neji's father. 

Other than that everything should be fine. Business and the economy could only boom when there was stability. Sure, war drives many inventions and probably provides employment in return to the general public, but that's just living under fear. 

If he wanted to use the system to the maximum he needed to make sure that there was a stable economy and business and for doing that he needed proper communications with other villages and countries. 

Only proper understanding with other people would lead to lesser wars and a more peaceful state. His previous world too had problems as there were wars in some countries but it shouldn't be forgotten that 40-50 years in the past the same world was in more shit than it was when Aoto left.

Of course many factors played their part but proper communication was always the key. And Aoto needed to see if he could change anything about this particular problem using his system. While Aoto was having those thoughts he drifted off to deep sleep. 

The next week. 

Aoto had been selling the joints like hot cakes. Everyone who had been smokers were already loving the weed and surprisingly, they have stopped smoking their regular cigarettes and only went for his product. Ken didn't expect that. But nonetheless he didn't care. 

It was on the third week of his cannabis sale that something happened. Well, by the terms 'something happened' it meant there was a new customer for Aoto's joints. A person who he had quite a good idea about. 

Asuma Sarutobi. 

Probably the most well known smoker ninja of the town. Aoto had always felt bad with how he died in the hands of Hidan later and for him that arc was probably the best arc of Shippuden. Though the arc of Pain was gold, at the end Naruto used the Talk No Justu and every bad thing that had happened was restored. 

That took away his immersion. But Aoto wasn't foolish enough to think that any kind of arc would be based on the feelings of the viewers. It was the real world now and if he could avoid all the fights he would. 

"Welcome to the Yamazaki Shop. How can I help you?" Aoto tried his best to put up a normal face when Asuma came in. He didn't have his beard as of yet and was clean shaven to which felt weird as he had only known Asuma with his beard in his memories. 

"Hey.. I heard this shop sells some kind of divine cigarettes? Can I buy some?" 

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"Uh.. I don't know if what I sell is divine or not but I do sell something different." Aoto tried his best to be both polite and confident about his products. 

"Well, I heard from one ninja saying that your cigarettes are the best. Can I try?" 

"Sure. Here... Since it is your first time, we have a policy about the first sale being free. You can try this at home and then you can judge. How does that sound?" 

"No, I don't want to rip off anyone.. Here is the money." Asuma said as he handed over 25 ryo for one cigarette. 

"Each and every first customer gets the first one free and it would be incredibly unethical if I do something against the rules I set. If you want to pay, you buy the bread. That will help." 

Asuma was surprised how adamant and clear this small guy was when selling. He had seen the world and went outside Konoha. All he had seen was deception and killings and this went on even in their own village. He didn't like how his own father had conducted things and there was a growing disagreement between them. So seeing such a small guy with crystal clear eyes made him smile. 

"Okay kid. I will take one loaf of bread and the cigarette. If I like it, hand me 10 packs." 

"That is also not possible. A person can only buy a pack which contains six in one week. This thing is addicting and can hinder your senses. You are a ninja. All the more reason to not be addicted to this." 

Asuma'e eyebrows arched as he continued looking at the kid. He was more surprised now. He had gotten to know of the cigarette from a fellow shinobi and he also heard how the sale was very strict, but he didn't pay attention as he thought it would be because of the cost. 

But from the looks of it, it was totally a different reason. 

"That's a nice ethics you got kid. I hope you can grow up with the same mentality." Asuma said as he took the bread and the cigarette. 

"I hope so too. Wish you happy smoking."

Aoto sighed in relief after Asuma left. Ninjas were known to be more sensitive to the lies. He knew too much at this point and he wasn't an assassin of any sort that could fool people around easily. If it was Itachi or Shishui, Aoto probably would be shaking on his knees now.