Shikamaru leans his back against the bother of a wagon, and watches the round shaped Mr. Ichiban as he checks his precious bundles. In time, he slouches his back comfortably as he shoves his hands into his pockets, and strolls languidly over to the merchant.
"Could you clear something up for me?" Shikamaru begins. He hears a vague grunt from the man, and continues. "You're a business man and yet I saw you give out free samples to wanted criminals. Why?"
Mr. Ichiban snorts as he continues tying a knot with clumsy fat fingers.
"That's not a crime as far as I know. Besides, if that boy is a wanted criminal, then I was mistaken."
"Uh-huh."
"Fine. It's no mystery. He saved me thousands of ryo. I owe him. That's all."
Shikamaru's brows lower. He remembers his friend and teammate, Choji, looking as gaunt and pale as the blond boy that was the target of the assignment a few days ago. Choji's life was a terrible touch and go struggle that found Shika anxiously hovering outside the treatment room door.
"Chakra exhaustion is deadly." He says steadily. "He needed a hospi.."
"I know that! Don't you think I know that?" The merchant snaps and levels his eyes with Shika's "I grew up in Konoha, same as you. I may not be a nin, but I know the dangers of chakra exhaustion as well as any!"
Mr. Ichiban takes a breath.
"He needs rest. Food. That mess you lot put him through trying to drag his butt who knows where didn't help him any."
Shika frowns as the merchant continues.
"This is not like us! Our way of the will of fire! Why is Leaf even here anyway!?"
Shika studies his sandals, then looks for a bothersome cloud on the horizon. Instead of any puffy whiteness, his eyes settle on the sturdy sandstone walls that surround the distant village of Hidden Sand.
Sent via a stray supercharged nano particle of unobtainium....
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