Ishida sat before the low table in his room as he prepared to write a proper report on his progress and findings so far. He picked up the brush and dipped it in ink and began writing.
[All five understandings secured without issue.
The Morita Lodging Line
- Courtyard and storehouse granted for use.
- Space sufficient for initial storage and small demonstrations.
- He expects enhanced rooms to remain supplied.
- Ready for formal contract.
The Aoyama Store holders
- Warehouse behind eastern workshop granted.
- Already half-cleared; will be fully ready in days.
- Eager for clean-burn and preservation plates.
- Ready for formal contract.
The Shibata Ink makers
- Partnership only, no space requested.
- Will finish and brand own inks using modules.
- Will stock small selection of household seals for her customers.
- Her finished inks to appear on Pavilion shelves.
- Awaiting samples; ready for contract.
The Nakamura Transport Kin
- Partnership only.
- Will test security, weather, and temperature tags on short hauls.
- Will offer Lotus seals to travelers as a service incentive.
- Branded wagon services to be featured in the Lotus store.
- Samples to be sent in one week; contract discussion second week.
The Ueda Grain Brokers
- Partnership only.
- Will use preservation tags on overflow grain.
- Offers direct bulk route for Konoha rice to Capital markets.
- His grain to be featured in the Lotus Store.
- Ready to formalise before flood season.
Properties are modest, unremarkable, and well-placed.
Additional matter concerning the young master's personal request.
Four craftsmen identified through a reliable source.
- Kuroda Gen: Former noble sword fitter, now independent forge (backyard pit). Skilled in fine edges, balance, hidden mechanisms. Bitter, no heavy debts.
- Eastern gate leatherworkers (Yoshida family cluster, three workshops): Reinforced vests, hidden sheaths, layered hides. Tax arrears; approachable.
- Southern gate apprentices (two brothers, formerly Hoshino-allied): Precision fittings, clasps, small mechanisms. Young, no notable contracts. Could be pulled in.
These are capable of discreet shinobi-grade work. Source confirmed viable. No contact made yet, awaiting your arrival or the young master's.
Recommend you depart Konoha within three days of receiving this. Bring sample modules, plates (preservation, clean-burn, security, temperature), and contract blanks.
I will remain at my current location until your arrival. Katsuro stays with me; Sumi carries this scroll and will escort you back.]
Ishida drew the standard closing mark, three vertical lines and then stamped on it to reveal a lotus, at its center, a single blooming lotus flower, drawn in clean, minimal lines with eight symmetrical white petals opening outward.
It is then enclosed in a thin circle barely visible unless viewed up close, keeping the focus on the flower itself.
Looking at his handwork, Ishida let out a satisfied hum and placed a tag on the scroll which immediately dried the ink before he rolled it up.
Looking out of his window, he calculated that it was nearing the evening hours so he decided to get this matter over with as early as possible.
Picking up the scroll, he stuffed it into his sleeves where it mysteriously didn't fall out from and stood up.
Patting his clothes to look straighter, he made his way out of the room.
Arriving at the common room, he spotted the duo of Katsuro and Sumi still at their card game. He wondered if they had nothing better doing but he wouldn't voice his question.
As soon as he neared them, they both paused and turned their faces towards him.
"Ishida-san, isn't it too early for dinner?" Katsuro said with a smile.
"That's not why I came down." He said directly as he took a seat at their table. "I've come to make a rather unique request of you."
"How unique a request are you talking about?" Katsuro asked. He could recognise the look in his eyes, this was not a request they could decline straightforwardly.
Sumi shot him a glance but he shook his head causing her to sigh slightly.
"I need this scroll delivered to the Lotus store in Konoha as soon as possible." Ishida said as he pulled out the scroll from his sleeve and placed it on the table.
"This goes above the scale of the mission. I'm sure you know that." Katsuro said with a soft smile. "I haven't spent much time with you but from what I've gathered about you, you wouldn't be making this request without an extra reward."
"Hmm." Ishida nodded in acknowledgement. "Very astute of you Katsuro-kun."
"The one who delivers the scroll remains there to escort a certain individual or individuals from the village back to the capital."
"In return for these extra inclusions into your mission parameters, the reward money would be doubled." Ishida gave a very friendly smile. "What do you think?"
Katsuro and Sumi exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in the other's eyes. 'This merchant sure knows how to spend.' They thought.
"Ishida-dono," Katsuro cleared his throat. "You only needed to ask. Truthfully, no matter if you doubled the reward money or not, we would've still accepted your request."
"Is that so?" Ishida rubbed his chin, then shrugged. "Regardless, it will remain as I have said. Escort the individual this scroll is addressed to, to the capital."
"And who is the scroll addressed to?" Sumi looked over the elegant lotus seal used to seal the scroll.
"The head of the Lotus store." Ishida replied.
"Oh? Your infamous young master?" Katsuro immediately looked interested at the prospect of meeting and escorting the one Ishida wouldn't stop ascribing all forms of praises on.
Ishida chuckled wryly. "The young master is not the head of the Lotus store, he's the owner. The recipient of this letter goes by Hasumi Hina. She's the head of the store."
"Hmm. I see." Katsuro said. He didn't really understand but it wasn't his business to do, so he looked at Sumi.
"Sumi-chan, with your speed, how long do you think it'll take to arrive at the village?"
"If I run uninterrupted, it'll take 12-13 hours." Sumi said after a brief pause.
"So you'll be at the village by the early hours of dawn if you left now." Katsuro looked out to see the position of the sun and surmised and she nodded.
Ishida watched as they discussed and was not surprised when Sumi said she could cover the distance it took them 4-5 days to cover in less than half a day.
At his level of experience, what hasn't he experienced?
Watching Sumi put away the scroll, he pulled out a stamp and held it out to her. "Use this to get an immediate clearance to the head."
"What's this?" Sumi asked, observing the stamp.
"My badge." Ishida replied. "With it, you'll be treated as though you were me."
"Cool." Sumi said as she put it away. "I would hate to deal with unnecessary work upon arriving."
"It's not like anyone would hinder you." Ishida chuckled. " Upon seeing the scroll, they should know you carry important information."
"The importance of the stamp is to prevent unnecessary eyes from seeing the scroll in the first place." He finished.
Katsuro and Sumi nodded with renewed understanding. "That makes more sense." Katsuro mumbled to himself while Sumi stood up from her chair.
"I'll go get a few things I'll need for the journey." She said and turned to leave.
"Do be careful on the road." Ishida stood and bowed slightly behind her.
"Hmm." She hummed and disappeared from his view.
…
…
Graduation was only a few months and while a lot of people were excited about it, Murakami wasn't.
This was not because he wasn't prepared, far from it, he had long outgrown the academy but that wasn't his concern.
Others might be blinded by the prospect of becoming a Shinobi, but they forget the responsibility that comes with it, especially with the war going on.
Murakami was well aware of this and knew that there was a high possibility of dying from a randomly misplaced or a deflected shuriken or kunai if not properly guarded.
So while had assigned Hina and Ishida to find capable hands in the leather and metal crafts, he still needed to worry about where to find quality materials.
Unfortunately, there were no merchant groups or caravan that handled raw materials; animal hides and mineral ore.
This world was home to numerous exotic beasts that it was a wonder why humans remained at the top of the food chain.
When you put chakra into the equation, then it made sense.
Murakami knew all this and understood that procuring the right material required him to speak to people in certain circles.
Of all the clans in Konoha, Murakami knew only two that deal in animal related fields.
The Nara and the Akimichi clans.
The Nara clan were dear rearers and as such, would have an extensive connection to wildlife.
The same applied to the Akimichi clans. They are heavily invested in food related businesses and as such, would also have an extensive connection in that field.
While he knew this, he wasn't about to go knocking on the gates of such big clans when he could go about it in a stealthier and risk free way.
Katsuro Nara.
Casting a glance towards the young boy walking beside him with eyes that look one moment from completing closing shut, he couldn't help but shake his head.
It was people like this that kept him on edge the most. People he could get no reading from.
Murakami was a sensor whose perception ability made him able to read people's energy and most kids his age had a noisy energy about them, but Katsuro Nara had none.
Murakami shook his head and shook his head. There was no use thinking about something that would become clear in a few minutes.
Soon, the two reached Murakami's house and Katsuro's eyes stretched open as Murakami unlocked it and went inside.
Not minding the look of confusion on the Nara's face, Murakami said. "Welcome to my home."
"You…I thought you were an orphan." Katsuro stated.
"I am." Murakami nodded.
"Well this isn't an apartment just any orphan can afford." Katsuro argued as he observed the building interior.
The interior might look sparse but it held a certain air of lavishness.
"I see no reason to explain the reasons as I'm sure you understand." Murakami said to which Katsuro paused but then nodded.
"True." he said and walked up to a mat and slumped down on it.
Murakami went into another room in the house and came out with a kettle and two cups.
He placed the plate down and Katsuro couldn't help looking at him with a peculiar expression.
"Do you have to be so formal?" Katsuro asked.
Murakami paused for a moment. "I'm not being formal, I like having a cup of tea after a long day at the academy. I invited you so isn't it obvious to share a cup?"
"Eh..? Well…yeah." Katsuro was at a loss at what to say. Murakami had always been someone difficult to read since he was always in his head.
Murakami silently stirred the pot of a now hot tea, much to Katsuro's surprise, but the Nara knew better than to act on his curiosity.
"So…why did you invite me to your place?" Nara asked.
"Hmm." Murakami hummed to himself as he poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Katsuro before pouring himself another one.
"Do you like riddles?"