Chapter 2. "Sasuke likes you very much," he said. ...

Although you sometimes find Itachi's riddle-solving nature annoying, you still have to thank him for the financial support that allowed you to successfully open your first shop.

The reason this shop isn't located in Konoha isn't because you need to avoid being discovered by others, but because the rent in Konoha is much more expensive than you might think.

Although Konoha is a village, its commerce is quite prosperous due to the long-term peace it enjoys, which results in shop rents being far higher than you can imagine.

Moreover, even if you grit your teeth and open a shop in Konoha, it will be difficult for you to gain a foothold among all the shops. So you settle for second best and open the map to find the location of your first shop. By the way, it cost you some money to light up this map.

This isn't an ordinary map, because you've also enabled data analysis mode (and this also costs money).

If your previous impression of this world was that even children had to take on murder cases, then this map will truly open your eyes. According to data analysis, almost every place in this world is either at war or embroiled in internal strife, and there are countless areas where the government is controlled by gangs.

Hahaha—this world can actually get even more chaotic! You couldn't help but laugh out loud again when you first saw this map.

However, this chaotic situation also has its advantages. As we all know, no matter how noble the descendants of the wealthy may seem, when it comes to accumulating their first pot of gold, none of them have clean hands. That's right, all the groundwork you laid beforehand was just to lead to your decision.

You plan to choose a location in a turbulent area where rent is negligible and there isn't much competition. The only thing to worry about is your shop being robbed.

So you used the money you saved on rent to reinforce the shop's security. It has to be said that your decision was risky, but as the saying goes, you can always try your luck. You've already failed once or twice before, so failing again isn't unacceptable.

After much deliberation, you chose Kirigakure in the Land of Water as your first shop. There are few shops in this area, which means there are no competitors. Once your business stabilizes, you can dominate the market or even achieve a monopoly.

Because your current level and funds are not enough, your choices are very limited. There are only sushi restaurants, ramen restaurants, and a fruit shop. You have been to the ramen shops in Konoha. They are always packed with customers. Moreover, in the Land of Water, a country that is rainy all year round, eating a bowl of ramen can be very comforting. So, I decide that you are the one!

You've chosen a good location; the ramen shop is right here.

Should I open a ramen shop in [Land of Water - Hidden Mist Village]?

Click OK.

Please name your shop.

【_____ Ramen Shop】

After thinking about it, you decided to target that very popular ramen shop in Konoha, so you typed: —Raku Ramen Shop.

You probably wouldn't be able to tell these are different store names unless you look closely, right?

Congratulations on opening your first store!

[Ramen Shop Recipe Unlocked]

Don't just offer verbal congratulations, give me some real reward! You open your email and find only a ramen recipe book inside, and you realize once again how stingy this system is.

You've invested all the money Itachi gave you, and the newly built ramen shop is still just a shell. You still need to hire people, do renovations, install chandeliers and seats, and install special cleaning equipment in the kitchen. Otherwise, the hygiene and quality of the ramen will decline, causing customers to experience [diarrhea] or even [food poisoning] debuffs, which will lead to bad reviews.

Working in the food service industry is indeed both tough and tiring.

Fortunately, not long after the renovation was completed, you welcomed your first batch of guests, followed by the second batch, and so on. People in the oppressive atmosphere of Kirigakure found solace in the steaming ramen.

Zabuza, who had just returned to the village after completing his mission, overheard his colleagues discussing the newly opened ramen shop in the village.

"It seems to have opened suddenly. There was no such store before; it just appeared overnight."

"Overnight? Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"

"Anyway, the ramen at that ramen shop is really good. We should hurry up and go, or we won't be able to get a number if we go too late."

Zabuza passed by the ramen shop. Warm light shone through the curtain, carrying the aroma of broth that dispelled the perennial gloom and mist of Kirigakure. Zabuza lingered in front of the door for a while before finally lifting the curtain and stepping inside.

*

You have to say it again, running a restaurant is really tough and tiring. Your first store took a lot of your energy and effort. You haven't been sleeping well these days, and you look listless during the day. Meiqin thought something was wrong, so she kindly told you that you could tell her about any troubles you had.

Her son always likes to strike up a conversation with you, is that a nuisance? Of course, you're talking about her eldest son; her youngest son can't even talk yet.

To be precise, he can't speak in complete sentences, but he can call people by name. He can say "mom," "dad," "sister," and "brother" without hesitation, and he can even call you by your name.

"Mingxi—Mingxi—" he calls you in a drawn-out, indistinct voice. At this point, you would hug him, poke his cheek, and pretend to be angry, saying, "That's rude. You should call me 'older sister'."

“Mingxi.” He chuckled.

You just can't do anything with him. You gently pat his back, completely unaware that Itachi has been standing behind you for a while. He doesn't say a word, just quietly watching your interaction with his brother with gentle, smiling eyes, until you turn around and are startled, Sasuke in your arms almost flying out of your arms.

What's this guy up to? Standing silently behind you, is it a ghost?

“Sasuke likes you very much,” he said.

"Here you go." You handed Sasuke to him, as if returning something to its rightful owner.

Itachi readily hugged Sasuke and asked, "Have you been sleeping poorly lately?"

"What?"

"Your dark circles are a bit noticeable." He used one hand to touch your dark circles.

You can't sleep well if you have to review the day's sales and gross profit every night. You also have to check the store's cash flow. Unless you own the store, you always feel like you're just working for someone else.

You take a step back, and he says, "It's not a big deal." His sudden closeness directly crosses the social safety distance, but he doesn't seem to think so, and his expression remains innocent and natural.

Itachi responded, and that evening he brought you a calming tea and an envelope. You know that it contained some of his mission funds. You think his parents probably knew that he was secretly using his mission funds to subsidize you, but they didn't say anything, which probably meant they tacitly approved.

But you don't really need his funds anymore, so you accepted the calming tea he gave you, and returned the envelope, saying, "I don't need this anymore."

Itachi tilted his head. "But didn't we already agree on that?"

Huh? What did we agree on?

"Is it because you feel that accepting these things would be a burden?" he asked again.

No, that's not it. You're not the kind of person who would burn yourself out. After being a corporate slave for so many years, you know that burning yourself out will eventually kill you. So you don't take many things to heart. You don't know what Itachi is thinking, but you just say what you mean, "No, I simply don't need it anymore."

Itachi lowered his eyes, seemingly disappointed, but after a few seconds, he suddenly smiled and said, "Aki, you can be really direct sometimes."

"Isn't this better?"

"That's good."

Itachi didn't leave immediately, but sat down next to you. Judging from his posture, you knew he was going to have a long talk with you again. This guy... always likes to talk to you about things that are vague and unclear. Sometimes when you get impatient and say something sharp and direct, he listens very seriously and even says, "As expected, you can learn a lot from chatting with Aki."

"What do you want to tell me this time? Is it about the mission?" You sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, propping your head up with one hand.

“It’s not those.” Itachi shook his head. “I heard that these past few days, whenever you go to school, there’s always someone waiting for you at the exit of the Uchiha clan compound… So, are they your good friends?”

You remember now, someone was indeed waiting for you, but you don't remember what they looked like. After all, because of your outstanding appearance, there were always people surrounding you at school. You're past the age of liking to be admired, and this kind of popularity only brings you trouble.

"Oh, we're not really good friends, just classmates."

"I see." Itachi said thoughtfully, "If Aki makes any friends in the future, please remember to introduce them to us."

Is it really that important? Do we need to introduce them to each other in person?

You absentmindedly hummed in response, then handed the empty water glass back to him and said, "I'm going to sleep now."

Itachi, carrying a water glass, walked to the door and whispered to you, "Goodnight."

"good evening."

If you wake up the next morning and find that familiar envelope next to your pillow again, you know that Itachi probably came by again in the middle of the night.

What a hassle. You didn't want to communicate with him much because you noticed his stubborn personality from the first time you met him.

They treat you like family without considering your feelings, and they extend goodwill to you without considering your feelings, which makes you feel a bit troubled.

Because every gift comes with a price tag, you sigh, get up, wash up, have breakfast, and go to school. Today, no one is waiting for you at the exit of the Uchiha clan compound to go to school together. When you get to the classroom, your deskmate whispers to you, "Mingxi, your brother told them yesterday not to get too close to you."

See? You said there would be a price to pay, and that price is his interference in your life.

A note from the author:

----------------------

This is what a weasel looks like, always conscientiously contributing to the household chores from a young age [starry eyes].

[I'd also like to recommend the upcoming Hunter x Hunter novel next door, "Transmigrated into an Insectoid Novel, But a Chimera Ant Version"]

After a predictable and sudden death, you find yourself in another world—or more accurately, you've transmigrated into a book.

The system has prompted you that you have transmigrated into a Zerg novel.

The newly formed Zerg are confused and brutal, and need your guidance to steer them in the right direction.

Oh, you know, it's the basic formula of Zerg writing.

[They have an innate longing and yearning for you; as the anchor of the Zerg and this world, you will be worshipped.]

Yes, it has a very classic Zerg-style feel.

When you really come into this world—

You're staring at the Ant King named Meruem.

You: Huh? Huh! Why didn't it say it was this Zerg race?!

*

Meruem, who descended to the world as the King of the Ants, was told by his guards the moment he gained access to the light, "Your Majesty, your destined guide is waiting for you."

A guide? Destiny, what does that mean?

He, who still could not fully understand the meaning of these words, came to the palace, came to the door, and pushed it open.

The woman behind the door looked at him with her dark eyes.

At that moment, he felt a tremor in his soul.