TPMITWON Chapter 17: Souta's Finances

Meanwhile, the meat's interior, darker and denser, displayed coarse fibers indicating the strength of the predatory bird. A strong smoky aroma teased the nose, bringing a pleasure that could only be derived from food roasted over an open flame.

A drop of the bird's fat remaining on the fattier part of the meat slowly melted, giving a tempting sheen. Coarse desert salt was sprinkled over the meat, providing a deeper and more complex flavor, as if reminding one of the strong simplicity amidst the harshness of this desert.

Pakura stared at Souta's food, appearing silent for a moment. Pakura gazed at the roasted bird meat with eyes that could not hide their curiosity.

Souta, noticing the gaze, smiled faintly. With a calm motion, Souta cut the roasted bird meat into small pieces and placed them on a small available plate. He then handed the plate to Pakura, with a hint of hesitation.

"At least eat this meat as my initial payment," Souta said, his voice softer yet attentive.

Pakura nodded slowly, accepting the plate containing the pieces of roasted bird meat. Pakura did not say many words, but his expression said it all. Without hesitation, Pakura began to eat the meat.

Seeing Pakura eat, Souta felt a bit relieved. Perhaps, even though life in this world was filled with strange things, sharing food was a simple way to build bonds with others.

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After they both finished eating, Souta and Pakura stood up from their seats. With a natural motion, Souta and Pakura reached into their pockets and pulled out some bills, then handed the money to the aunt who owned the shop, who smiled warmly while accepting their payment.

The small shop was still bustling with other customers enjoying their meals, while the aroma of Sunagakure's distinctive spices lingered in the air.

Souta and Pakura then walked out of the shop, the sun slowly rising in the vast desert sky. Thin clouds floated high, almost motionless in the pale blue sky.

The dry desert wind blew gently, carrying fine grains of sand that occasionally swirled in the air before falling back to the ground.

Clay buildings lined the street, with walls that appeared rough due to erosion from the wind and heat that had worn them down over the years.

As they walked, Souta began to think about his finances. In one meal, Souta had spent 100 Ryo. That was quite a large amount considering his monthly allowance was only around six thousand Ryo.

Now Souta started calculating in his head—if he ate twice a day, in the morning and at night, then in one day he would spend 200 Ryo.

With that amount, Souta could survive for a full month if he really economized. However, that calculation only covered food expenses. What about other needs? Clothing, ninja equipment, and perhaps unexpected costs if Souta got injured or needed something urgently?

Souta sighed deeply. Living as a shinobi was not just about fighting, but also about surviving in other aspects—including managing finances wisely.

In the midst of his thoughts, Souta realized that they were both heading to the same place as yesterday. Pakura's footsteps were unwavering, as if he had indeed planned to bring Souta here from the start.

Upon arrival, Pakura turned to face Souta, crossing his arms in front of his chest, and his eyes locked directly onto Souta.

"Sit down and close your eyes," Pakura commanded in a serious yet unhurried tone. "I will try to make you feel Chakra. Once you can feel Chakra in your body, the next step is to learn to sense Chakra in the air."