The rain had faded to a light drizzle, coating Amegakure's metal towers in a silver shine.
Ryouhei Kurozawa stepped through the village gates, carrying a heavy pack filled with Ryo, dried bamboo shoots, and a notebook full of new trade contacts from the Grass Village.
His worn cloak dripped rain, and his sneakers squished in the mud. Behind him, Kaede walked quietly.
One guard gave him a quick nod. "Good haul?"
"Didn't die," Ryouhei replied, shifting the pack on his back. Kaede's eyes were on him, but he kept walking.
The village smelled of rust and wet stone. Merchants hid under tarps, shinobi walked in pairs, and kids ran through puddles. His shop came into view, the patched roof still holding. Tetsu waved from the doorway, apron flapping. Aya peeked out, hands covered in herb powder.
"Boss! You're back!" Tetsu shouted, almost tripping over a crate.
"stop calling me that," Ryouhei said, but he smiled. He dropped his pack on the counter—coins clinking loudly. Inside, the shop smelled like cedar and mint. Shelves held mint, fennel, and yarrow soap. Waxed wraps hung neatly on a rack.
Tetsu and Aya leaned in as he unpacked. "Dried bamboo shoots," Ryouhei said, tossing a bundle to Tetsu. "From Yuna in Grass. Thin, kind of shady, but she loves our soap and wraps. She wants regular deliveries. Got some Ryo and dried plums too."
Aya blinked. "Grass Village? That's pretty far."
"Worth it," Ryouhei said, opening his ledger. He noted: 200 Ryo from wraps, 150 from soap, plus extras from Yuna. Under contacts, he wrote:
Yuna – Grass trader. Wants 20 wraps, 15 soaps monthly. Follow up in 2 weeks.
Haru – Food/textiles. Leads caravan. Offered trip in 10 days.
The door opened. Hina walked in, her face hard. She scanned the goods: bamboo, plums, stacks of wraps.
"Not bad," she said, picking one up. "You actually made it back."
"Had to," Ryouhei said calmly. "Grass has better prices than the Border Ring. Yuna's deal saves us money."
Hina grunted. "Don't get cocky. Soma's pissed. Says you're undercutting traders."
Ryouhei tensed. "Soma's been scamming folks for years. I'm just giving them a better deal."
"Truth doesn't matter," Hina snapped. "He has friends in land of fire—maybe even shinobi. Be careful." She paused at the door. "Medics want more yarrow soap. Don't mess it up."
After she left, Tetsu scowled. "Soma's such a jerk. Why's he even care?"
"He's scared," Ryouhei said. "I'm new. Not one of them." He didn't mention the whispers he heard earlier—a woman calling him greedy, another agreeing. It stung more than he wanted to admit.
Tetsu knocked over a jar of wax. "Crap!" he cried, trying to clean it.
Ryouhei sighed. "Easy, kid. Wax costs money." He knelt to help. "Treat inventory like a knife—don't swing it around. Every spill wastes Ryo. Got it?"
Tetsu nodded, red-faced. "Sorry, Ryou. Won't happen again."
"You're doing fine. Just focus." As they cleaned, Aya sorted plums, her hands steady. Ryouhei watched Tetsu scrub. The kid was a handful, but loyal.
"Hey, Tetsu," he said. "Still want to learn how to haggle?"
Tetsu's face lit up. "Like how you made that deal with Yuna?"
"Exactly. It's about reading people. Tomorrow, we'll practice. Watch how I talk to the next customer."
"Sweet!" Tetsu said, dashing off to grab more jars.
Ryouhei leaned back. Grass was a win.
His hand brushed the kunai with the snake symbol—he'd picked it up after the Grass attack. It reminded him of Orochimaru, or at least his followers. He couldn't tell anyone yet. He tucked it deeper into his pack and decided to keep listening for news.
In Konan's Tower
Konan sat at her desk, the rain tapping gently on the windows. Kaede stood in front of her, cloak still wet, giving her report.
"The trip to Grass went smooth," Kaede said. "Ryouhei sold almost everything—soap, wraps, even some cards. Made a deal with Yuna a trader in grass. He's planning another trip with Haru, the merchant with the straw hat."
Konan nodded. "The attack?"
"Three shinobi. No headbands. Ryouhei threw a mud-covered wrap to confuse them. It worked. Gave me an opening." Kaede hesitated. "It was dumb. But it worked."
"He thinks fast," Konan said, touching a scroll.
Kaede continued. "Soma's spreading rumors. Says Ryouhei is undercutting locals. People are starting to talk. And his contacts are growing."
"Keep an eye on those contacts," Konan said firmly. "Every name. Every trade."
Kaede nodded. "Still on guard duty?"
"Yes," Konan said. "He's useful. But unproven. Protect him. Watch him. If he slips…" She let the silence hang.
Kaede bowed and left. Konan turned to the window. Ryouhei's soap was in medical tents. His wraps helped shinobi. His cards made children laugh. Small things—but they mattered.
She picked up a soap bar he'd left her—mint, chamomile, lotus. It smelled clean. She set it down, thoughtful.
Back at the Shop
Ryouhei sat at the counter, writing in his ledger. Rain tapped the roof. Tetsu and Aya had gone, their tasks done. He wrote:
Grass trip: 350 Ryo.Extras: Bamboo, plums.Deal: 20 wraps + 15 soaps (Yuna, monthly).Next trip: Haru, 10 days.Soma: Spreading rumors. Watch him. Stay calm. Keep quality high.
His eyes drifted to the kunai again. If the symbol meant Orochimaru, trouble might be coming. But he needed more proof.
The door creaked. It was Koji, the limping mushroom trader. "Heard you're back," he said, placing a basket on the counter. "Soap for these?"
Ryouhei smiled, setting the ledger aside. "Let's talk." As they haggled, he heard voices outside.
"Outsider's too big for his boots," someone muttered. "Soma says he's bad news."
He kept smiling, handing Koji a fennel bar. But inside, he felt the pressure. Soma wasn't just angry—he was building support. With the right allies, Soma could be dangerous.
Ryouhei glanced at the metal pin on the shelf—Konan's angel emblem. It meant protection. But also a warning. She was watching. She valued his work, not him.
The rain picked up. Ryouhei closed the ledger and stretched. Problems were building in Amegakure. Still, he felt a spark of hope.
Yuna's deal. Haru's offer. These were steps toward something bigger. Maybe he could bring in bamboo mats, dried food next. If he proved himself, even Konan would have to see his worth.
He smirked. "Soap, wraps, cards. Screw chakra."
The shop felt warm despite the storm. Ryouhei picked up a broom and started sweeping, already thinking about his next move.