It was a weird running joke among clanned students at the Academy that it was inexplicably assumed that they were loaded because of clan status. The reality was something closer to the opposite: Sasuke's monthly allowance extended mostly to cover lunches on field trips, study scrolls, clothing, weaponry, and just enough spending money to 'encourage saving'.

Saving for what specifically, he wasn't sure, but he was fairly certain that this counted as something that could be saved for: Konoha's spring weaponry expo in full swing, most of the main streets in the business districts crowded over with vendors from all corners of Fire and myriad other countries. Previous years had always seen Sasuke forced to tag along with one parent or another, but Fugaku and Mikoto had both been busy this year, and Itachi's free time was close to nothing.

The latter was the only damper on Sasuke's spirits, but even that didn't keep him from keeping a close hand on his wallet and a covetous eye on the stalls. He'd seen one particularly elegant set of long-bladed kunai yesterday, due up for auction today, and had managed to push his way to the front of the crowd just in time for the set to take the place of honour.

"First bids?" The stall owner called, all smiles, and Sasuke glanced around, waiting to see where the valuation would start.