Three months ago, after Tomohisa Ishikawa had taught the Clone Jutsu from the Three Basic Jutsu, he proceeded to teach the Transformation Jutsu and the Substitution Jutsu.
Veigar had already mastered both the Clone and Transformation Jutsus, but the Substitution Jutsu remained an insurmountable hurdle for him.
It wasn't that he was unwilling to train—it was that he lacked the necessary resources.
As an orphan who relied on the village's subsidies to survive, Veigar simply didn't have the extra money to buy a training log for practicing the Substitution Jutsu.
If he could use an alternative object in place of the training log, he wouldn't hesitate. However, his understanding of the Substitution Jutsu had yet to reach the level where he could freely choose suitable replacements.
The kunai and shuriken he used for throwing practice had already cost him dearly, forcing him to grit his teeth and save up for them.
Still, Veigar refused to abandon the Substitution Jutsu. It was a crucial survival skill, and the Academy regularly assessed students on the Three Basic Jutsu. Mastering the Substitution Jutsu was non-negotiable.
Since he couldn't cut expenses, he had to find a way to increase his income.
Though only six years old, Veigar was already a ninja student. With chakra coursing through his body, he was far stronger than an average adult.
This was the fundamental difference between a ninja and an ordinary person.
Thus, after school, Veigar made his way to the village slaughterhouse, intending to find a job there and earn money to support his training expenses.
Veigar had another reason for choosing the slaughterhouse—he intended to use his Phenomenal Evil Power to absorb the Life Essence of the slaughtered livestock.
For the past few months, he had been gathering Life Essence from fish, and as a result, his chakra reserves had grown significantly compared to his peers.
If an average student required a certain amount of chakra to perform the Clone Jutsu, Veigar needed only 70-80% of that amount to achieve the same result.
While chakra control played a role, the primary reason for this advantage was the greater density of Veigar's chakra.
Working at the slaughterhouse would be a win-win situation for him.
After all, the Life Essence contained within livestock was far superior to that of ordinary fish.
Standing outside the slaughterhouse, Veigar's eyes burned with determination as he watched the animals being slaughtered within.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he knocked on the entrance gate.
Hearing the knock, the slaughterhouse owner, Tomiyasu Saburo, turned his head. Upon seeing the small figure at the door, his face twisted into an expression of impatience.
"Hey, brat, go home," Saburo grumbled. "This isn't a place for kids to play."
Veigar noticed Saburo's annoyance but remained undeterred. He voiced his intentions clearly.
"Uncle, are you the owner of this slaughterhouse?"
"I'm a student at the Ninja Academy. I want to work here and earn some money."
Veigar didn't mention his orphan status to gain sympathy, nor did he ask if they were hiring—because he knew he would be refused outright.
After all, he was far too young.
Saburo raised an eyebrow in surprise upon learning that Veigar was a ninja student seeking employment.
"Do you even know what kind of place this is?"
"You're too young for this kind of work. Go home."
The surrounding workers also turned to look at the small boy standing outside the gate, curiosity piqued by his request.
Knowing that his age alone was not convincing, Veigar decided to prove his capability with action.
"Seal."
Forming a hand seal, he gathered chakra into his feet and leapt, clearing the two-meter-high gate with ease, landing gracefully inside the slaughterhouse.
The workers were stunned by his agility. If they had been in his position, they wouldn't have been able to do the same.
Before Saburo could respond, Veigar quickly continued, "Uncle, I really need this job. Please tell me where I can find the boss."
"I can endure hardships, and no matter what kind of work it is, I will get it done."
"Please trust me."
After speaking, Veigar bowed respectfully to Saburo.
Recovering from his initial shock, Saburo looked at the boy's skill and determination before asking, "I am the boss. My name is Tomiyasu Saburo."
"Now tell me—why do you want to work here?"
"Do your parents know?"
Veigar straightened up and answered, "Boss, my name is Veigar Koshima."
"My parents have already passed away. I am an orphan, and I need this job. Please let me work here."
"I truly need this opportunity. I beg you."
Saburo studied Veigar carefully for a while before finally saying, "I do need an extra hand. If you can clean this entire slaughterhouse before sunset, I'll hire you."
Veigar looked straight into Saburo's eyes and responded with firm resolve, "Yes! I will do it."
"Thank you, boss."
Saburo simply waved his hand. "Get to work."
With that, he turned back to his own tasks, leaving Veigar to prove himself.
Taking a quick survey of the slaughterhouse, Veigar swiftly gathered the necessary tools and began cleaning.
Time passed little by little, and throughout the afternoon, Saburo occasionally glanced at the diligent little figure tirelessly working. A faint smile formed at the corner of his lips.
So far, Veigar had met his expectations.
He didn't shy away from filth, worked hard, and left every area he cleaned looking noticeably better.
"Boss, do you think he'll last?" one of the workers asked in a hushed tone, pointing at Veigar.
"We'll see," Saburo replied with an amused smirk.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon and the workers prepared to head home, Veigar—though exhausted and breathing heavily—had completed his task. The entire slaughterhouse was spotless.
Waiting until all the workers had left, Saburo finally turned to Veigar, pulling out a thousand ryo from his pocket and offering it to the boy.
"Here. This is your pay for today."
"Boss, this…"
Veigar hesitated. Although he needed money, he wasn't interested in a one-time payment—he wanted permanent employment at the slaughterhouse.
"Take it."
"I'm satisfied with your work, but you're still too young. This place isn't suitable for you."
"This thousand ryo is yours. Find another job somewhere else."
Veigar knew then—Saburo was rejecting him.
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