A/N: Don't forget those stones after reading this... Took me a while to write this so vote accordingly.
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Location: Outskirts of Konoha – Farmlands
The sun was just rising and the day's labor had already begun without ceremony. Farmers were already in their fields, moving with a practice routine.
Hashimaru adjusted the strap of the satchel slung across his chest as he walked down a narrow dirt path between the farms.
He had spent years dealing with struggling merchants and desperate tradesmen, but farmers?
They were a different territory entirely.
Unlike merchants who thrived on market shift and negotiations, farmers valued stability and certainty.
If the Young Master wanted their loyalty, they needed to believe in his vision, not as a business opportunity, but as a necessity for their survival.
Hashimaru's first stop was a mid-sized farm owned by a man named Takeshi, a third-generation farmer known for growing high-quality grains.
Unlike many farmers who struggled to maintain consistency, Takeshi's harvests were reliable, his workers disciplined. If Hashimaru could get Takeshi on their side, others would follow.
Approaching the farmhouse, Hashimaru spotted Takeshi standing near a wooden cart, supervising workers as they loaded sacks of grain.
The man was in his late forties, his muscular frame hardened by years of work. His face was lined with sun-worn wrinkles, and his eyes studied Hashimaru as he approached.
Hashimaru greeted him with a respectful bow. "Takeshi-san, I presume?"
The farmer wiped his hands on a cloth and gave Hashimaru a slow once-over. "That depends. Who's asking?"
Hashimaru offered a polite smile. "My name is Hashimaru. I represent a growing business in Konoha, the Lotus Store."
Takeshi's expression remained neutral, but his brow furrowed slightly. "Lotus Store? Can't say I've heard of it. We don't get many merchants out this way."
"That's exactly why I'm here," Hashimaru said smoothly. "We're looking to build partnerships with reliable farmers, and from what I've heard, your harvests are among the best."
Takeshi grunted, crossing his arms. "I don't do business with you merchant folk who only show up when the harvest is good."
Hashimaru chuckled. "Then it's a good thing I'm not here for a single season's trade. I'm here to offer you something long-term."
Takeshi raised an eyebrow but gestured for Hashimaru to continue.
Hashimaru reached into his satchel and pulled out a sealed scroll and opened It to reveal the content written on it.
"Our fine establishment wants to create a stable supply network. We're offering farmers like you a fixed price for your harvests, no matter how the market fluctuates."
Takeshi scoffed. "Fixed prices? That's risky. What if market rates go up? I lose out."
Hashimaru remained calm. "True. But what happens if the market crashes? What if bandits attack more frequently? What if war demands shift, and the village prioritizes rations for shinobi, leaving you and your workers struggling?"
Takeshi hesitated before he exhaled slowly through his nose and shook his head.
"I've weathered market crashes before," he said. "Bad seasons come and go. What worries me is signing my harvest away and watching you profit while I'm locked into a rate that no longer favors me."
His eyes narrowed. "Stability for merchants often means farmers carry the cost."
Hashimaru met his gaze evenly. "Then don't sign your harvest away," he said. "Sign away your uncertainty."
Takeshi frowned and Hashimaru continued. "We take the risk, not you. If the season is bad, we still buy. If bandits strike, we still pay. If the market collapses, the loss is ours."
He tapped the dirt with his sandal. "All you have to do is grow."
Takeshi didn't answer right away.
He stared past Hashimaru, eyes drifting to the fields stretching behind him, the neat rows of crops, the soil he'd broken with his own hands season after season.
"We take the risk, not you."
'Fancy words of a Merchant.' He thought to himself. He'd heard plenty of those before. And yet… not like this.
Bad years flashed through his mind. A late winter that ruined half his yield.
Bandits skimming off carts before they ever reached the market.
The village authority redirecting grain to shinobi stores, leaving civilian sellers scrambling for scraps all in the name of war effort.
No merchant had stood beside him then.
When the harvest was good, they came smiling and when it wasn't, they vanished.
'If this… Lotus Store truly bought no matter the season… if they paid even when the fields failed… that wasn't profit they were offering.' He thought as he glanced at the scroll suspended in front of him. 'That was safety.'
A dangerous safety.
Because once you leaned on something like that, once your tools, fertilizers, and buyers all came from the same hand… pulling away would be almost impossible.
Takeshi clenched his jaw as a clause of contract caught his attention.
This isn't a deal for one harvest, he realized. It's a leash. A comfortable one, but a leash all the same.
And yet…
He looked down at his calloused hands.
Comfort was a luxury. Stability was survival.
Slowly, his gaze returned to Hashimaru.
He was weighing him.
Seeing the change in the farmer's eyes, Hashimaru continued, pressing his advantage.
"With us, you'll have guaranteed sales and will never have to worry about finding buyers or getting fair prices. We'll also provide improved farming tools, fertilizers, and preservation techniques, all at a reduced cost, so your yields increase."
Takeshi's frown deepened. "And what's the catch?"
"No catch," Hashimaru said smoothly. "Just exclusivity. You sell to us first. If we refuse, you're free to sell elsewhere. But as long as you work with us, you'll never have to haggle for prices again."
Takeshi looked at the contract again, rubbing his chin.
Before he could respond, a younger man stepped out from behind the cart. He was in his mid-twenties, wearing a straw hat and a skeptical look.
"This sounds too good to be true," the young man said. "Who's to say your store won't exploit us later?"
Hashimaru turned to him, smiling. "You must be Daisuke, Takeshi-san's son."
Daisuke crossed his arms but nodded.
Hashimaru put on an earnest expression. "I understand your hesitation. You don't trust merchants, and you have every reason not to."
"But the Lotus Store isn't run by greedy traders, it's owned and run by someone who started from nothing, someone who knows the value of long-term relationships over short-term profit."
Takeshi's gaze sharpened. "Who are they?" he asked.
Hashimaru shook his head with a wry smile. "Even I don't know. I only take orders from above."
Takeshi frowned, leaning back slightly. "So, you're telling me you're making deals on behalf of a ghost?"
Hashimaru chuckled. "A ghost that pays on time, secures the best deals, and sees further than most men I've met. Does it matter who they are when their vision is this clear?"
Takeshi exhaled, rubbing his chin. "I suppose not… but it does make me wonder."
Hashimaru nodded, "Yes. And whoever they are, they understand this isn't just about profit anymore, it's about positioning yourself before the next wave hits."
He glanced toward the distant fields, then back at Takeshi. "The war's already upended everything. Routes are unsafe due to bandits and shipments are disappearing, and food is being pulled to the front lines faster than it can be grown."
"A single bad season, or one raid, can wipe out a farm like yours."
Takeshi's eyes narrowed as the weight of the words settled on him.
He was just a farmer, what does he know about market trends and the world economy?
Every harvest he'd trusted to market prices. But it suddenly seemed fragile.
Hashimaru continued, his tone calm but insistent. "This deal isn't about charity. It's about making sure your work actually reaches someone, and that you don't get caught in whatever chaos that may unfold."
"Those who don't act now? They'll be the first to lose everything when the next shock hits."
A long silence stretched between them.
Takeshi exchanged a look with his son, then exhaled. "This is a lot to consider."
Hashimaru smiled. "Of course. Take your time. We're not asking for an answer today, but understand this, we're offering stability. Not just for you, but for your workers, your family, and Konoha itself."
He placed the contract on a nearby crate and stepped back.
"We'll return in a week. If you're interested, we'll discuss further. If not, no hard feelings."
Takeshi sighed, picking up the scroll. "I'll think about it."
Hashimaru nodded. "That's all I ask."
With that, he turned and walked back down the dirt path.
Later That Evening – Lotus Store
Hashimaru arrived back at the Lotus Store's private office, where Hina and Ishida were already waiting.
Hina, seated behind her desk, glanced up as he entered. "How is it going?"
Hashimaru sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Not bad. I met with one of the prominent farmers in the village. He didn't agree on the spot, but he's considering it. His son was skeptical, but they'll come around once they realize the alternatives are worse."
Ishida who was sipping on a cup of tea in the office smirked. "Farmers aren't quick to trust, but once they do, they're loyal."
Hina nodded. "Good work. We'll give them time, but we'll need more than one farm."
Hashimaru tossed another scroll onto the desk. "I already scouted a few others. Some are smaller, but if we get enough of them under contract, the larger farms will feel pressured to join."
Hina's eyes gleamed. "A slow but steady takeover. I like it."
She picked up a second scroll and passed it to Hashimaru. "While you're working on that, we also need to start preparing warehouses. We can't just buy crops, we need to store and distribute them efficiently."
Hashimaru unrolled the scroll, scanning its contents. His brows furrowed. "Ishida-san mentioned some old storage spaces near the river district. Are we securing those?"
Hina shook her head, her expression darkening slightly. "We were too late. The village has already taken them over for war logistics. They're being repurposed to store war supplies for deployed shinobi."
"Tch. That complicates things." Hashimaru clicked his tongue as his frown deepened.
Ishida-san stroked his beard. "It was inevitable. The war effort takes priority in the village's eyes."
Hina tapped the table lightly. "Which means we need alternatives. That's where you come in, Hashimaru. Secure new storage locations, preferably outside direct village oversight. The Young Master's investment needs to remain protected from sudden government intervention."
Hashimaru's eyes glinted with understanding. "I'll handle it. I know a few merchants who might have private storage space. If not, we can always build new ones."
Hina paused then nodded. "Do what you must, but make sure it's discreet. We can't afford unnecessary attention right now."
Hashimaru rolled up the scroll and grinned. "Looks like I'll be busy."
Hina smirked. "Aren't we all?"
The meeting room was quiet for a moment as Hashimaru put away the scroll into his pouch while Ishida-san methodically poured himself another cup of tea.
Hina observed them both, her mind already shifting gears toward the next issue at hand.
She exhaled softly and straightened her posture. "Now, Ishida-san," she said, "When do you intend to leave for the capital?"
Ishida-san, who had just taken a sip of his tea, set his cup down with a measured clink. "I've been ready for a while now," he admitted. "But I'm still waiting on the Hokage's office to approve the bodyguard request I submitted."
Hashimaru snorted. "Bodyguards? Old man, are you really that scared of taking a simple trip?" His lips curled into a smirk, his tone playfully mocking.
Ishida-san scoffed, waving a dismissive hand at him. "You call it fear, I call it common sense. I'm not foolish enough to travel alone when I don't have to."
He leaned back slightly, a knowing look in his eyes. "Besides, I want to see just how far the Young Master will take this business. Considering he started with my old shop, I'd rather not die before witnessing the heights he'll reach."
Hina chuckled, covering her mouth slightly with the back of her hand. "That's a fair point, Ishida-san," she said, amused at the old man's thoughts since it matched hers. "It wouldn't do for you to miss out on all the excitement."
Hashimaru scoffed but shrugged in reluctant acceptance. "Alright, fair enough. Still, I thought you'd just hire a couple of Genin rank shinobi for this. We're within the Land of Fire, after all. It's not like you're heading into enemy territory."
Ishida-san shook his head. "One can never be too careful, Hashimaru. I classified it as a C-rank mission, which means Chūnin will be involved."
Hina raised an eyebrow at that. "A C-rank mission? Ishida-san, you're squandering the store's money." Her tone was halfhearted, more teasing than an actual rebuke.
Ishida-san smirked and crossed his arms. "Bah, it's just money. My son and his family are still in the capital, relying on me. I'm not taking any unnecessary risks."
Hashimaru let out a chuckle. "So you are scared."
Ishida-san laughed but didn't deny it. "Call it what you will, but I intend to return in one piece."
The room relaxed with the shared laughter, after a moment, Hina tapped a finger against the table, bringing their focus back.
"Ishida-san, do you have any contacts in the metal and leatherwork sector?"
Ishida-san furrowed his brows slightly. "Metal and leatherwork? That's an odd request. We didn't discuss anything about that in the last general meeting."
She nodded. "It's not for the store's immediate needs. The Young Master requires their services for personal reasons."
Ishida-san's expression turned solemn at that, recognizing that if the Young Master had made a personal request, it was not something to be questioned lightly.
He gave a firm nod. "I'll do my best. I know a few people, but I'll need to check if they're still in business. War disrupts everything."
"That's fine," Hina said, satisfied. "Just make the arrangements quietly."
He nodded again, and for a while, no one spoke, the air filled only with the quiet sounds of tea being sipped and the distant noise from outside the store.
Despite the late hour, none of them seemed eager to leave just yet.
Plans had been made with responsibilities assigned, and now all that remained was execution.
The war outside their walls would continue shaping the world, but that didn't mean their world would come to a stop.
Within the confines of the Lotus Store, they were crafting their own future.