Inside Naruto's mind, Goku's thoughts drifted. "Time flies... Wonder if those Saiyans made it to Earth yet? How are Krillin, Gohan and the others doing? They were supposed to revive me or teleport me before Saiyans arrived. I hope it's too late…" Goku paused before shouting, "King Kai!? Can you hear me!?" Sighing Goku muttered, "Still nothing…"
Naruto chimed in, "Goku Sensei, I don't think we are in same Universe as your Earth, It might be possible the time flows differently compared to your Earth and here, but don't worry, there are ways of crossing dimensions in this world, I just need to be super strong for it, as soon as I am able to, I will help you reaching your home Sensei!"
"Thanks kid, I wish while I am waiting there were something to train with inside here, man, I miss training on King Kai's planet... Ten times gravity, now that was a workout. "A familiar enthusiasm crept into his mental voice. "You should try it sometime, kid. It'd do wonders for your strength."
Naruto nearly tripped over his own feet. 'Seriously?' he thought, rolling his eyes internally. 'Does he think I'm a Saiyan or something? Ten times gravity...' It wasn't just feeling heavier, every organ would be under ten times the strain. A normal person would be crushed instantly. Forget ten times, - even double gravity was a massive burden.
"Meeeow?"
Just then, a small white cat darted out onto the path ahead. It froze upon seeing Naruto, ready to bolt.
"Meow~" Instead of chasing, Naruto crouched slightly and let out a soft, questioning sound, surprisingly close to a cat's meow.
"Mrrow?"
The little cat paused, its escape forgotten. It tilted its head, then cautiously approached, sniffing the air around Naruto, its whiskers twitching as if confirming something only it could sense. After a moment of silent appraisal, Naruto straightened up.
"Ooh meow meow ooh meow," Naruto chirped.
"Meeeow, Meow? Meeeow! MEOW!"
After this brief exchange, Naruto said, "Hey, can you take me to Nekobaa's place?"
The cat gave a distinctly affirmative dip of its head and then vanished into the undergrowth with a blur of white fur. Naruto didn't hesitate, plunging into the trees after it.
Before long, they emerged into a hidden clearing dominated by a rustic, slightly weathered house. Stone statues resembling beckoning cats flanked the simple gate. The white cat gave a final flick of its tail along with "Meow", it disappeared around the side of the building.
"No matter how many times I come here, I can never find it on my own," Naruto murmured, pushing the wooden gate open with a soft *creak*. Even with his heightened ability to sense others, this place remained hidden unless a cat led the way.
"That's the protection of the Nin-Neko clan," came a calm voice from within. "Only a cat can find this place."
Sitting comfortably inside was an old woman, a pipe held loosely in her hand. She wore dark grey, cat-ear-like ornaments on her head, and her nose was large and slightly rounded. Her eyes were half-lidded, giving her a deceptively sleepy, yet kind, appearance.
'Way kinder than the Third Hokage,' Naruto thought immediately. This was Nekobaa, Konoha's legendary weapons merchant. Rumor had it she was the Uchiha clan's exclusive supplier - a connection that somehow allowed her and the Nin-Neko clan to endure even after the Uchiha massacre.
"Nekobaa," Naruto said, bowing his head respectfully. The feeling was genuine, alongside Teuchi at Ichiraku Ramen, Nekobaa was one of the very few people in Konoha who showed him absolutely no malice. He treated that rare acceptance with the highest regard.
"Ah, Naruto. Back again," Nekobaa said, taking a slow puff from her pipe, a faint smile touching her lips. "What is it this time? Kunai? Shuriken? Need some explosive tags?" Her shop dealt in the essential tools of the ninja trade – kunai, shuriken, smoke bombs, soldier pills – the standard gear found in any shinobi's pouch. Despite some advanced tech like wireless radios, combat in this world still heavily relied on these basics.
"I need this replaced with a heavier one," Naruto said, tapping the turtle shell on his back. "And this time, I also need two sets of weighted wrist guards and a set of leg guards. Heavy ones." He still wasn't ready to double the shell's weight – worries about his height lingered – but adding weight to his limbs felt like a good compromise.
Nekobaa let out a dry chuckle, shaking her head slightly. "Naruto, this is a weapon shop. You can find training weights on Konoha's main street."
Naruto spread his hands helplessly. "You know nobody else will sell them to me, Nekobaa." It was the simple truth. Why else was his little green toad wallet usually so full? He could barely spend money anywhere in the village, except here and at the ramen stand.
Nekobaa was silent for a moment, watching him through her half-closed eyes before blowing out a slow smoke ring. A flicker of something – memory, perhaps pity – crossed her face. She knew about the Fourth Hokage and his wife, of course, Minato's custom kunai had been crafted right here. And like most influential figures in Konoha, she knew exactly who Naruto was.
"Alright," she said finally, the business-like tone returning. "I'll get you heavier ones." She extended her right hand, palm up. "That will be three thousand Ryo." Sympathy didn't negate the rules of the Nin-Neko clan, business was business.
"Here you go," Naruto said, pulling out his Gama-chan wallet and handing over the bills.
"Leave the shell you're wearing. Come back for the new set tomorrow."
"Okay, Nekobaa. Thanks!" Custom orders took time, even for weights.
Naruto turned to leave, but just as he reached the door, it creaked open again. Two figures entered – one taller, one small. Both wore jackets emblazoned with the unmistakable red-and-white fan crest on the back. Uchiha. Konoha's most prominent clan.
"Nekobaa," the older one said respectfully.
"Nekobaa," the smaller one echoed quickly, mimicking his companion.
Nekobaa's eyes narrowed slightly, though her smile remained. "Ah, Itachi. And little Sasuke. What can I do for you today?"
"Shuriken! Shuriken!" Sasuke burst out before Itachi could speak, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Big brother promised he'd teach me shurikenjutsu!"
Itachi gently ruffled Sasuke's hair, a fond look in his eyes. "He's eager," he said softly to Nekobaa, then requested, "Twenty shuriken and five kunai, please."
"Five thousand Ryo," Nekobaa stated. Standard tools, but quality materials cost, though Naruto suspected Nekobaa still gave him a significant discount on his specialized gear. It was her own quiet way of helping.
"Hey! Don't mess up my hair!" Sasuke protested, ducking away from Itachi's hand with a blush and a pout. "I won't get any taller!"
Naruto barely spared them a glance. He noted the older Uchiha, Itachi, seemed neutral, much like Nekobaa. But the younger one, Sasuke... the moment the kid saw him, Naruto felt it – a faint, prickly thread of malice. It was almost imperceptible, but growing up bathed in the village's hostility had made Naruto incredibly sensitive to it.
' Itachi Uchiha, huh?' Naruto thought as he slipped out the door. 'Fine by me. Don't particularly like you either. You scum.' He had no interest in engaging.
"Who's that? So rude. Doesn't even say hello," Sasuke grumbled, watching Naruto go. For some reason, despite his complaints, Sasuke felt a strange, inexplicable fondness for the other boy. But the tsundere Sasuke would never admit it.
Itachi remained silent, his dark eyes fixed on the doorway Naruto had just passed through, his thoughts unreadable.
Nekobaa took another slow draw from her pipe. " Naruto Uzumaki," she murmured softly after the door closed. "A pitiful child."