He read it twice, then looked up. "This is real?"
"She doesn't give random orders," Kaede said, crossing her arms. "You're protected now. But that also means you're being watched."
---
Konan stood alone in her tower, the rain streaking down the windows like liquid silver. Outside, Amegakure's endless storm washed over the village, but inside, her thoughts were clear and sharp.
She had watched Ryouhei Kurozawa closely—more closely than anyone knew. A man without chakra, without weapons or jutsu, yet quietly building something important in the cracks of the village's broken life.
His soap was more than just soap. It was clean wounds in the medic tents, a small comfort in dark times. His card game brought laughter to children trapped indoors by rain and fear. His new idea—waterproof wraps—showed he wasn't just surviving; he was thinking, inventing.
She sensed a rare kind of talent in him, not of power, but of usefulness.
In a village ruled by pain and control, usefulness was a kind of strength. Something she could harness.
And the profit his soap could bring—the trade opportunities—were not to be ignored. Amegakure needed resources, supplies that lasted, goods that could spread influence beyond the walls. If Ryouhei's little business grew, it could become a valuable asset—one that didn't rely on jutsu or violence.
That was why Konan had given the order: protect him. Shield his work. Keep him alive and growing.
Because in the tangled web of the village's future, even a man with no chakra could become a key thread.
---
The next morning, the rain had softened to a light drizzle. Ryouhei packed his bag with care: a few bars of soap wrapped in cloth, some card decks, and a handful of waterproof wraps.
He checked his list again—neighbors, nearby towns, and villages along the trade roads.
Tetsu waved from the doorway, grinning. Ryouhei nodded back, feeling the weight of the task ahead. This wasn't just about selling soap anymore. It was about proving he was useful beyond Amegakure.
The air was cool and smelled of wet metal and earth as he stepped outside.
Kaede stood quietly in the shadows, watching from behind a corner. She didn't say anything, but her eyes followed him.
At the village gate, two guards stepped forward.
"Where to?" one asked.
"Nearby villages," Ryouhei said. "To sell soap and wraps. I'll be back soon."
The guard nodded and let him pass.
He took a deep breath as he crossed the gate, feeling the lighter rain on his shoulders.
His first stop was Shimono, a small village surrounded by green hills. The muddy streets were quiet. Vendors were packing up for the day.
Ryouhei set up near the entrance. He laid a cloth on a crate and arranged his goods neatly.
People walked by with little interest, but then a mother approached. Her young son was soaked and dirty.
"Soap?" Ryouhei asked, holding out a bar with a citrus scent.
She looked it over and nodded. "We don't have much medicine. Maybe this will help."
He wrapped it carefully. "Try it. If it works, I'll be back next week."
Word spread slowly. Farmers asked about wraps to protect tools from the rain. A blacksmith bought a dozen bars to clean his hands after work.
With each sale, Ryouhei grew more confident.
But things weren't always smooth.
One day, a sharp-eyed trader named Jin walked up.
"You're from Amegakure," Jin said. "Why are you here? Don't your people stay hidden?"
"I'm just here to help," Ryouhei replied. "People need clean soap and dry gear."
"Or you're just here to make money," Jin said.
"Both," Ryouhei admitted. "If I help others and earn something, we all benefit."
Jin studied him. "I'll let people know."
By the time Ryouhei left Shimono, his pack was full of Ryo and trade goods. He also had new contacts.
His next stop was Mizuwa, a larger town with a busy market and many shinobi. People there were more cautious. Some seemed uneasy, likely due to rumors about the Angel's rule.
Ryouhei set up near a well.
Kaede was nearby again, watching from a shadowed alley.
She stepped forward. "Don't relax. Outsiders aren't trusted here."
"I understand," he said. "I'm here to listen. To offer something useful."
She looked at him, gave a small nod, and disappeared back into the shadows.
Over the next few days, the wraps and soap sold well. Still, Ryouhei felt the pressure. His success was growing—but so was the risk.
So he moved forward, one market, one village, one conversation at a time.
The road back to Amegakure was muddy. Ryouhei walked with care, his pack heavier than before.
Each village had welcomed his products slowly, but more warmly with time. Each trade felt like another small step toward being trusted.
He'd talked for hours in crowded markets, explaining his goods to strangers. Sometimes he'd play War with children to draw a crowd. Farmers and shinobi traded coins or tools for his soap or wraps.
And Kaede had never been far. Always watching, sometimes warning him, but never interfering. Her silent presence reminded him of the protection he now carried.
When the village gates came into view, he let out a long breath. The guards recognized him and let him in without a word.
Rain had returned. It tapped gently on rooftops as he entered the shop. The scent of mint and cedar filled the air.
Tetsu jumped up. "You're back!"
"I sold a lot," Ryouhei said, setting down his pack. "Farmers want more wraps. The blacksmith liked the cedar soap."
"Told you it'd work!" Tetsu beamed.
Ryouhei smiled, but noticed Kaede standing at the door, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Later, the door opened again. Konan stepped in, cloak damp from the rain. Her eyes found him instantly.
"Welcome back," Konan said as she stepped inside, her cloak still damp from the rain.
After a pause, she added, "The bar the one you gave me last time is nearly gone."