Naruto: Not a Ninja, the System

The black market had no combat power. Nearly every person in charge of a branch was just an ordinary civilian. None of them had any idea who had actually founded the organization.

Even in the outside world, the origin of the black market remained a mystery.

It had now existed for five years, and during that time, its primary function had been to relay intelligence between various factions.

So, no matter how far someone tried to trace its origins, no one could possibly suspect that it was the work of the Hoshino family.

After all, the family's businesses on the surface were already colossal.

The mining industry was practically monopolized. With the Hyuga Clan's cooperation, locating rich mineral deposits was a breeze. The Byakugan's penetrating vision played a vital role, making the impossible easy.

Thanks to this, profits from mineral resources had flowed into nearly every corner of the Five Great Nations.

And now, with their expansion into agriculture, no one would ever guess they were involved in anything else—much less something as shadowy and far-reaching as the black market.

Maybe it was his age or a growing sense of unease, but Fu—the loyal servant who had been with Jaxon for years—was increasingly worried.

Despite trusting the boy-turned-mogul deeply, Fu still couldn't stop himself from asking:

"Young Master, we've been spending so much these past few years. Why are you so intent on gathering children from the various villages?

"Six years ago, we already took in over 200 Uzumaki children. And now there are hundreds of agents stationed across the ninja world as spies. I just don't understand. What is the point of all this?"

Fu had never asked such a question before. For over a decade, he'd simply followed orders, burying himself in the work, never asking about the why—only the what and how.

But now, the spending had become astronomical. Even with the Hoshino family's vast resources, how much longer could they sustain this level of consumption?

Fu had personally witnessed the rise—from richest clan in the Land of Fire to perhaps the wealthiest in the entire world. But he also saw how much it cost.

Jaxon, seeing Fu's concern, gave a warm smile.

"I understand what you're thinking," Jaxon replied. "Over the last ten years, we've invested nearly five billion ryo into this initiative. But believe me—the returns will far exceed what we've spent."

"Others may not understand this Young Master's ability," he added with a knowing look, "but surely you do, Fu?"

"There will come a time when there's too much to do, and not enough of us to do it. We need people."

Fu's stern face softened, and his lips curled into a faint smile.

"That's true," he admitted.

Jaxon had never made a bad investment. Every move he made, even the most baffling ones, eventually yielded incredible results.

But the truth was, Jaxon wasn't chasing profit this time.

He was altering the secondary storyline.

As for how much money it cost? It didn't matter. His daily earnings far outpaced his spending. Money, to him, was simply a tool—a resource with no emotional value.

Still, Fu often wondered: why bother?

Jaxon already had everything—status, power, and influence. Why continue down this risky path, doing things that brought no thanks?

But he never voiced those thoughts.

"Oh, right," Jaxon said suddenly, "how's the training going for the Uzumaki children?"

"This old servant isn't personally involved in their training," Fu replied, "but according to the Jonin overseeing them, some of the kids show remarkable potential."

As he spoke, an image popped into his mind—a red-haired girl, full of spirit, with a personality completely opposite to Jaxon's calm demeanor.

Thinking of her, Fu added with a chuckle, "That girl, Xuanwo Yunnai—she said she misses you. Should I ask her to visit?"

Jaxon laughed. "You mean A-Li?"

He remembered her well—just one year older than him, full of energy, and a personality that overflowed with enthusiasm.

Before the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan, Konoha had stood idle. They hadn't sent aid. They only came afterward to extract the Sealing Technique records and rescue the Whirlpool Princess.

Most of the other children were abandoned to their fates.

In the original storyline, barely a handful of them would survive.

---

Years Earlier

"Children? Just a child?"

The old man stared at Jaxon, confused.

This was the first time Jaxon had entered Uzushio. The man before him looked to be in his sixties. He had red hair and wore the headband of the Whirlpool Country.

Despite his age, he didn't seem feeble. His gaze was sharp, and his presence carried the weight of leadership.

Jaxon stood silently, his mask concealing his expression.

The old man narrowed his eyes. "My name is Vortex Ashina. I don't know who you are, but I want to understand—why have you sent people to gather our Uzumaki children?"

Ashina's face did not hold anger or fear. Instead, there was sorrow in his eyes.

He didn't know Jaxon's identity, nor could he guess his intentions. But as patriarch of the Uzumaki, he could sense the absence of malice.

"I want to change this world," Jaxon replied quietly. "Ninjas shouldn't be treated like tools. They shouldn't have to die so young because of someone else's greed."

Ashina was silent for a long moment.

Then, he nodded slowly and asked, "Can you protect them?"

"Not yet," Jaxon answered. "But I can give them a safe place to grow up. A chance to live."

Ashina inhaled deeply, his emotions surging beneath the surface. Then, with surprising humility, he bent down in a low bow.

"I'll leave them to you. There's no hope left for the Whirlpool Country. As long as they survive, that's enough for me."

Jaxon stared at him through the mask, puzzled.

"You trust me that easily? Aren't you afraid I'll use them for something… terrible?"

Ashina smiled faintly.

"Staying here means certain death. Going with you? It's a chance. I can feel you don't mean them harm."

Then, with a heavy sigh, he turned toward the back door.

"Follow me," he said.

---

Outside, a stretch of barren land lay ahead—overgrown with weeds, dry and bleak.

Ashina stepped forward.

In an instant, a transparent barrier shimmered into view. The empty space changed dramatically. Hidden behind the illusion was an expansive, secret training ground.

---

Back in the Present

Fu's mind drifted back to that moment. Ashina had placed the future of his people in the hands of a masked stranger.

And now, years later, hundreds of Uzumaki children had survived. They trained, studied, and grew stronger under Jaxon's care.

Their fate had changed.

The story had changed.

Jaxon gazed out at the golden autumn sky.

What he was building couldn't be done overnight.

He wasn't just preparing soldiers, or building a business empire. He was reshaping the ninja world from the ground up—one child, one decision, one deviation from the main plot at a time.

Øóffer going on for diamond tier

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