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…
The civilian market district was already stirring by the time Hiro, Masaki, and Tsunade stepped into the Lotus Store.
Tsunade paused at the threshold, her brows lifting faintly.
She hadn't expected this.
Not because Konoha lacked wealth, but because she'd never ventured into this part of the civilian district before.
The store was far more refined than the usual stores she was familiar with, tasteful in a way that felt out of place despite the chatter outside.
"So this is where civilians shop?" she murmured under her breath, more impressed than condescending.
Masaki and Hiro, however, moved forward without pause with casual yet confident steps as if stepping into a second home.
One of the clerks behind a front counter spotted them and immediately lit up.
"Hiro-chan! You're here!" the girl grinned, setting aside her paperwork. "Didn't think we'd see you again so soon."
Hiro smiled back, raising a hand in greeting. "Just escorting a guest today."
The clerk continued to beam at Hiro, her eyes softening as she regarded him "It's good to see you again. I swear, you're the busiest one here, always running around."
She said, stoking the young boy's ego and as expected…
Hiro shrugged nonchalantly. "What can I say? Gotta make sure everything runs smoothly. It's a full-time job being a 'captain.'"
He gave a playful wink, his chest puffing out just slightly.
Masaki rolled his eyes but couldn't quite hide the fond smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You say that like it's your actual title."
He didn't bother to hide his amusement at Hiro's little antics, though he respected the boy's confidence.
Tsunade watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow, mildly intrigued by how naturally the two boys moved through the store.
They clearly knew the place well.
Hiro spoke with the clerk without hesitation, while Masaki navigated the place as though he had been coming here for years.
There was an ease to them that made Tsunade wonder just how deeply the orphanage was connected to this place.
"What brings you two here today?" the clerk asked, still keeping an eye on the busy store floor as a couple of workers passed by, nodding in greeting.
"We're here to drop off something for Murakami-nii," Hiro said casually, as if that explanation settled everything.
"You are?" Tsunade asked, raising an eyebrow. Last she checked, she was the one dropping off something.
Hiro shot her a sidelong glance. "You're here to drop off fruit for him, right?"
Masaki turned his attention back to the counter. "Is Hina-nee in the office, by the way?"
The clerk nodded. "Yep, she's upstairs. Hina-sama will be the best one to ask about his whereabouts. If you're looking for him, she's the one to meet."
Hiro gave a sharp nod. "Alright. Thanks, Ayame-chan!" he called, already turning toward the stairs.
Tsunade followed behind them, glancing around the store. It wasn't as busy as the market outside, but everything moved with a quiet efficiency.
The workers moved with focus and purpose, and Tsunade noticed how each person seemed to have a sense of pride in their work.
Tsunade watched them for a moment. Everyone here seemed comfortable with each other. They joked, moved around without getting in each other's way, and none of the clerks spoke with the usual stiffness she was used to seeing from adults around important people.
Weird.
It didn't feel like a store.
As they reached the stairs, Tsunade took a deep breath, feeling something more than just curiosity pulling her forward…she didn't know what it was, but it was there.
Just as Hiro was about to lead the way up, they were met with the sight of Hina herself, descending the stairs
She was dressed simply in a dark blue kimono with the Lotus Store emblem embroidered on the sleeve, a striking contrast to the ease in her steps.
Her expression softened as her eyes landed on the group.
"Well, if it isn't Hiro-chan and Masaki-chan," Hina greeted, her tone warm. "And who might this be?"
Hiro wasted no time. "It's Tsunade, Lady Tsunade, I guess." He waved a hand casually toward the woman at the bottom of the stairs.
Masaki took a half-step back, clearly not interested in drawing attention to himself, but his eyes flickered to Tsunade, waiting for her response.
Tsunade glanced at Hina, surprised by how poised and collected the woman seemed despite being in a more casual setting.
She had assumed someone like Hina would be more like the other caretakers of the orphanage, but Hina exuded a quiet authority that felt more refined.
A flicker of surprise passed through Hina's features which she expertly tucked away behind a polite smile.
"Good afternoon," she greeted, her tone turning composed. "Do you need something?"
"We're here to see Murakami," Hiro answered, hands now tucked into his pockets. "She brought fruit for Murakami-nii. I was just about to take her upstairs. Thought you'd know where he is."
Hina nodded lightly. "I do. He's upstairs."
She couldn't outright deny his presence since the other clerks had probably seen him come in.
Hina glanced down at the folded slip of paper in her hand. It contained the figures she'd been reviewing earlier.
Inventory, recent orders, and a few notes she still needed to discuss with Murakami when he wasn't poisoned.
She folded it again and slipped it into her sleeve.
"Would you mind waiting just a moment?" she asked, already stepping past them with a graceful dip of her head. "I'll take you up shortly."
Without waiting for a reply, she moved down the stairs.
Tsunade watched her go, her brows drawing together faintly.
There was something about this lady's presence. Calm and capable, but not quite what she expected from someone who merely ran a store.
Masaki leaned against the railing as they waited, casting a look toward Hiro. "Still think she's just the manager?"
Hiro chuckled and shrugged. "She's the boss. We just visit."
Masaki sighed. 'That's right. What does any of that have to do with me?' he thought.
They didn't wait long.
Within minutes, Hina returned, the slip of paper gone from her hand, her demeanor unchanged.
"Thank you for waiting," she said simply. "This way."
They followed.
Tsunade said nothing, but she found herself paying closer attention as they moved through the store.
Something about the place still felt strange.
She just couldn't put her finger on what.
…
Murakami POV
The third floor was quiet now that it was just me and Aiko. Hina had left some minutes ago and should be returning anytime soon.
I leaned back against the wall, breathing slowly as another wave of nausea rolled through my stomach.
I much preferred this position since I didn't have to open my eyes to a spinning ceiling.
The poison had settled into a strange rhythm by now. My head still felt light, my thoughts still blurred, and a faint warmth now lingered beneath my skin.
A shallow basin sat beside me, containing the remains of what I'd thrown up earlier.
Aiko knelt nearby with a small vial in her hand, examining it briefly before uncorking it.
Then I heard footsteps on the stairs.
More than one person.
One set was light.
Children.
Another was steady and familiar.
Hina.
And the third…
I frowned.
I didn't recognize those footsteps.
The door slid open and Hina entered first, followed by Hiro and Masaki, and behind them came Tsunade.
Of all people.
I stared at Tsunade for a moment.
This was the last place I wanted her to see me.
Half-dazed from poison, sitting beside a basin, with Aiko preparing a neutralizer.
Wonderful, but this wasn't what concerned me.
What concerned me was that she was standing inside the Lotus Store.
This could be troublesome.
Tsunade's eyes moved around the room before settling on me. Her gaze lingered briefly on the basin, then shifted to Aiko and the vial in her hand.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"I've been better."
My voice came out slower than I intended.
Her brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't ask what had happened. We barely knew each other, after all.
Instead, she lifted the small bag she had been carrying and placed it on the table. "I brought these. Grandma insisted."
I glanced at the bag. "Fruit?"
She nodded. "Oranges and persimmons."
I looked at her for a moment before giving a small nod. "Thank you."
She shrugged as though it wasn't worth mentioning.
Aiko returned her attention to me and began administering the neutralizer. I stayed still, waiting for the nausea to settle.
Tsunade watched quietly.
Her gaze eventually wandered across the room, taking in the scrolls, ledgers, and shelves around us.
"So this is where you spend your time?"
"Among other places."
She nodded, her eyes lingering on the room for another moment.
"You don't seem like the usual Genin."
I looked at her.."I'm not sure what that means."
"Neither am I," she admitted with a sigh.
That answer caught me slightly off guard.
I almost smiled. "Fair enough."
Behind her, Hiro whispered something to Masaki. The younger boy snickered, and Masaki immediately gave him a warning look.
I ignored them.
Tsunade remained where she was, seemingly content to observe rather than ask questions.
For once, I appreciated that.
I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes letting the neutralizer do its work.
Of all the things I'd expected to deal with today, an unexpected visit from Tsunade Senju while I was still recovering from my first poison trial certainly wasn't one of them.
This day had taken a strange turn.