Destroy That Dangerous Potion!

Miyamoto Sakura turned the jade ring on her fingertip, her smile never reaching her eyes. "As it happens, my trading company is about to purchase a batch of foreign goods.

Would the two of you be willing to discuss it in detail? I guarantee the price won't leave you at a disadvantage."

She stepped aside to clear the way, while the guards behind her had already assumed a gesture of invitation.

Aoba was about to refuse, but Asuma beat him to it. "The honor is ours."

He gave Aoba's back an inconspicuous push, signaling him to follow.

After passing through a winding corridor, the three arrived at a teahouse by the water.

Miyamoto Sakura sat seiza on the tatami mats and personally poured tea for them.

Scalding tea streamed into celadon bowls, and the rising steam blurred her face. "Do you two know why those people didn't dare lay a hand on me just now?"

Asuma cradled the tea bowl in both hands, the steam making his eyes sting. "We'd like to hear the details."

"Because my father is the Anbu commander stationed here from Konoha."

Miyamoto Sakura ran a fingertip along the rim of her tea bowl. "And you—"

She suddenly grabbed Asuma's wrist. "The chakra fluctuations on you aren't something ordinary merchants should have."

The teahouse instantly fell deathly silent. Aoba's short blade was already drawn, while at some point, the guards behind Miyamoto Sakura had placed their long blades against the two men's throats.

Yet Asuma remained unusually calm. He set down his tea bowl and allowed himself to be restrained. "Miss Miyamoto, you misunderstand. We're merely..."

"Stop pretending."

Miyamoto Sakura released him and leaned back against the cushion. "My people have had their eyes on you ever since you entered the dock district.

What ordinary merchant