Konoha's intentions

"So you really are back. How about going out for a drink tonight?"

As night approached, Tsunade stopped by Karn's food store. Finding him next door directing people as they tidied up, she called out to him.

"I'll pass on dinner, Tsunade. My place still needs sorting out, so I probably won't have time."

But no sooner had Karn finished speaking than Xia Chuan stepped forward. She first bowed slightly in apology for interrupting his conversation with Tsunade, then continued, "If you mean tidying up the residential courtyard out back, why not leave that to me, Karn? I know where to buy household goods, and I can get the cleaning done quickly."

"..."

Karn let out a helpless sigh. This mature store manager was usually pretty perceptive, so why was she being so dense today? He had obviously made up an excuse because he didn't want to go. Why had she stepped in?

He knew Xia Chuan meant well, but this time her kindness had backfired. For Tsunade to find him the very day he returned, someone must have notified her. It took only a moment's thought to figure out who.

Tsunade stepped forward and patted Karn's shoulder. "Since Xia Chuan has offered, you might as well come with me."

"All right. I'll leave my place to you, then, Manager Xia Chuan."

Karn nodded and handed Xia Chuan the money for the purchases, then followed Tsunade to an izakaya. She had two great passions: drinking and gambling. Even while small-scale fighting continued on the front lines, Tsunade could throw herself wholeheartedly into enjoying bars and gambling dens.

This is the first time Karn has called me Manager Xia Chuan. Does that mean he recognizes my abilities?

After thinking it over, Xia Chuan decided that was very likely. She turned and went back into the store, planning to call two more people to help her get Karn's rooms ready. The place had already been cleaned once; it just lacked furniture and household supplies.

Once they reached the izakaya, Tsunade deftly ordered several bottles of shochu, some grilled meat skewers, and a few side dishes. Karn ordered a cup of tea and a bowl of noodles for himself. He really was a little hungry. Since he couldn't eat at home, he would make do here.

When the shochu arrived, Karn firmly refused Tsunade's attempts to get him to drink. She muttered a few things like "boring," then happily downed several cups herself.

"Tsunade, we know each other well enough. Why don't you just tell me what you want?"

After a few bites, Karn found the noodles rather ordinary. He pushed the bowl aside and spoke to Tsunade.

She drank far too recklessly. If she got drunk, he certainly wasn't going to take her home. He had neither the strength nor the inclination.

"You noticed?" Tsunade asked, her face slightly red. Perhaps the flush came from drinking too quickly just now.

"Since you've figured it out, I won't beat around the bush. Konoha wants to buy another batch of medicine. You brought plenty this time, didn't you?"

Tsunade set down her cup and spoke to Karn. Konoha Hospital had now exhausted its medicine. A large number of wounded had accumulated early on, the battlefield in the Land of Grass needed a shipment as well, and the various shinobi clans also had injured members.

They had flooded into Konoha Hospital all at once, and the medicine purchased last time was almost gone. Although the war on the Land of Rain front was largely over, Kumogakure was stirring again near the Land of Hot Water, and there was Kirigakure, among others.

Once a major war broke out, every shinobi village had its own agenda.

Karn nodded and said to Tsunade, "The same medicines and quantities as last time. Does Konoha still want them?"

"Yes. I hope you can sell this entire batch to Konoha too..." Tsunade paused without finishing what she wanted to say.

Karn finished for her. "But Konoha's finances are tight, and you don't have the money to pay for the medicine. Is that right, Tsunade?"

"I really can't hide anything from you." Tsunade rolled her eyes and poured herself another cup. Given her position, asking to buy on credit was difficult. Besides, Karn seemed particularly hard to negotiate with when money was involved, as his decisive refusal of their last proposed deal had shown.

Though she knew it would be difficult, Tsunade had a mission to fulfill, so she asked anyway. "Then could we get a batch of medicine on credit?"

"I'm sorry, Tsunade, but I can't sell medicine on credit. If you don't have cash, I accept gold, jewelry, and other valuables in exchange."

Karn's refusal was unequivocal. He absolutely could not set that precedent. His business was still in its early stages. If he extended credit on only their second transaction, Konoha might push for even more in the future.

"Gold and jewelry? I'll ask Teacher Sarutobi. But the village's finances are in a very difficult state right now, and the daimyo's funding still hasn't arrived."

Karn quickly interrupted Tsunade before her drunken rambling went any further. With a serious expression, he said, "Wait, Tsunade. Please don't tell me Konoha's confidential information. I'm only a merchant. I came here to trade and make money, and I have no interest in anything else."

Tsunade looked apologetic and reined herself in a little. Then she asked, "Ah, sorry. Sometimes I can't keep my mouth shut when I've had too much to drink. Anyway, how are Xia Chuan and the others doing at work?"

"Pretty well. I've already promised Xia Chuan that once the business expands, her friends and relatives will get priority."

"Thank you so much. Otherwise, even the Senju Clan would have trouble finding places for them..."

The news lifted Tsunade's spirits. Many of those people had risked their lives on the battlefield in response to her second grandfather's call. If the Senju Clan ignored them, she would find it very hard to live with herself.

Now that Karn could offer them well-paid work, Tsunade was quite grateful to him.

"By the way, if I expand my business to other parts of the Land of Fire, can Xia Chuan and the others leave the village?"

"Of course. Some of them know ninjutsu, but they aren't registered shinobi. They're free to leave the village."

Tsunade answered casually. Her words put Karn somewhat at ease. Compared with outsiders, these members of the Senju Clan who no longer used their surname were people he could feel comfortable trusting.

They chatted for only a little longer before Karn said goodbye and left. Tsunade, meanwhile, intended to keep drinking for a while.

The next day, Karn gave Xia Chuan some instructions about the pharmacy, then prepared to leave for the capital of the Land of Fire.

It had the largest bookstore in the Land of Fire, and Karn believed the ten novels he had brought would certainly suit the Shinobi World's current tastes.

Five were highly explicit and violent; the other five were highly explicit and suggestive.

In this world of shinobi plagued by frequent wars, surely only books filled with soft, voluptuous curves could bring a little comfort to its anxious people.

But before Karn could leave Konoha, an ANBU shinobi found him.

"Mr. Karn, Lord Hokage requests your presence."