For the next couple of days while getting things set up, Sakura studied up on her new surroundings and the fertility of the ground in which she was growing her plants "I think I got it" Sakura said on their third day in Hidden Sand.
Ready to attempt fixing up the greenhouse "Let's go then and afterwards perhaps we could hit the market and check if the merchant in your parents book still runs that stall" Karin popped up from the couch having been lazing for a bit.
"Just a moment…ah yes, done" Haku frowned, then smiled as he finished the last bag for the cactus flower tea he was going to be selling, with that the three of them headed from the house and were immediately joined by Baki.
Thankfully he left them alone for the most part "Need to go somewhere I presume" Baki guessed easily, seeing the determination in Sakura's verdant irises and he should have known when she told him that she wanted to see the greenhouse.
And nine minutes later "As you can see no one has used it for a long time and the only thing that likes to grow are these" Baki explained upon entering the abandoned greenhouse and Sakura recoiled at the mess of weeds.
Before taking a deep breath "Shadow Clone Jutsu….pull up every single weed that you find, start a compost pile, we'll use it as fertilizer" Sakura ordered her ten clones that poofed into existence then got to work herself.
Karin watched with open enjoyment on her face "Oh looks like your starting huh" Kankuro poked his head in through the flap opening of the greenhouse upon having felt their chakra here when he'd been on his way to hang out.
"Pretty much, and once she's done we're gonna check out the market" Haku nodded, throwing the warning at Baki, Karin was currently to engrossed in watching Sakura to actively participate in a conversation apparently.
Kankuro quirked a brow "Aren't you two going to help her, I mean you guys are her partners in that business right" Kankuro inquired, as Sakura cleaned up the greenhouse with clones as her only help.
"Would..but the truth is, I suck at gardening in general, can't grow a plant to save my life, every time I've tried the flower or herb has died, but Sakura, I've seen her bring a practically dead plant back to life and it was amazing" Karin admitted.
She wasn't the only one as Haku made a noise in the back of his throat in agreement "Plus, I'm still learning the ropes of taking care of plants so don't have half as much experience as Sakura in tending" Haku said.
He also knew however that if Sakura asked it, he and Karin would jump in to help without a seconds hesitation "Don't worry you'll get the hang of things eventually Haku" Sakura chimed in, rising and dusting her clothes off.
Now that all the weeds had been dealt with "Time to go to the market I assume" Baki commented, basically letting Sakura take the lead since Team Thirteen had visited the village market at least three times already since arriving.
Which meant that they were quickly becoming accustomed to the Hidden Sand Village "Can I ask what it is your looking for exactly" Kankuro frowned ten minutes later, once Sakura had bought some herbs for the greenhouse.
Sakura didn't answer right away merely continued wandering until coming to a stop "Excuse me are you Asuka Takashi-san" Sakura inquired of the much older woman with long dark blonde hair and pale green eyes.
The woman's head snapped up "I am and you are…one of Kazekage-sama's guests" Asuka greeted with a kind smile "So what can I help you with, are you looking for something specific or perhaps you want to see my collection of books that are on sale" Asuka questioned.
"Interesting, but later, I'm actually looking to make a deal with you to trade goods, I don't know if you remember but you once had a deal with Haruno Trading Company, my parents and we're starting that back up under a different name Fragrant Blossom" Sakura explained.
Gesturing to Karin and Haku "Kizashi's daughter good god you grew up, I think the last time I saw you, you were an itty bitty thing about 2-3 maybe, I also heard you died" Asuka lifted a dark blonde brow on the pinkette.
Earning a grimace "Long story short I had amnesia and for the first three years I lived about a days walk from here in a small now abandoned village" Sakura answered simply not really wanting to go into details.
Asuka's eyes widened "Hmm come to think of it, we did have a couple people a few years back arrive from some village that's in Hayashi no Kuni, is that the village your talking about" Asuka inquired curiously.
"That's the one and now I know they all just left and didn't simply die" Sakura nodded, thinking of the pro's and con's of the empty village, if she planned to eventually take over Kusagakure, expanding the territory would be in her best interests.
Or she could change Kusagakure and build her own village, a medical village, that sounded like a better idea in her mind really "Something about their doctor dying and her apprentice disappearing soon after" Asuka said.
Sakura gripped the strap of her bag tighter in response "Anyway about that deal, we have many things to trade that you can sell" Sakura reminded, deliberately foregoing mentioning any more about her past in the village.
"Ah yes….what do you have exactly, all I have is old dolls that I try to fix up and my secret book collection" Asuka nodded, gesturing to her stall, it was fairly empty and to be honest she'd been thinking about finding something else to do.
The pinkette picked up a doll "I make wooden figurines and stuffed animals, plus all three of us have books out in Konohagakure, in exchange I'll add my own touch to these dolls and you get a sixty percent cut of all sales made" Sakura offered.
Baki and Kankuro looked at her like she was crazy "Deal and to seal it, I'll give you one of the books in my collection that no one has ever been interested in before for free" Asuka agreed almost immediately.
Followed by handing over a book that she pulled out from beneath her stall, Sakura grabbed it gently only to be shocked "Right here's the figurines and stuffed animals, that should be enough to last a week to see how well they do and the books" Sakura handed over their own goods.
With that the first exchange was made "Back to the greenhouse to plant those herbs right" Haku guessed as they wandered down the streets of Sunagakure, Sakura was clutching the book Asuka had handed her to her chest.
Making him wonder about it until she stowed it in her bag for the time being "There you are, I came to visit you at the house but you weren't there so I figured you were here only you weren't so what's up are you finally getting started" Temari greeted.
Upon them re-entering the greenhouse "Got it in one Temari" Karin grinned, watching Sakura again as the rosette made more clones and instructed them to till the ground until it was nice and soft for planting the seeds in.
Only to do something unusual afterwards "I've never seen someone do that before" Temari frowned watching Sakura as she focused chakra into her hands then placed her palms on the ground and poured her chakra into the earth.
"Chakra is our foundation of life, its the same for plants, they'll use it as a fertilizer to grow big, strong and healthy, I learned this trick a long time ago" Sakura lectured in a quiet voice while keeping her eyes closed.
Feeding the earth her chakra to make it nice and enriched with essential nutrients for plants for several years "Who did you learn it from" Gaara asked, making his own appearance, having heard what Sakura had said a minute before hand.
Sakura opened her eyes at that "My mentor, her name was Isha Uzumaki" Sakura answered before rising to her feet and dusting her clothes off again not that it helped because her clothes were dirty that only a good washing would fix.
Baki narrowed his eyes "Like the name on that book you received from Takashi-san" Baki commented, putting the pieces of the puzzle together and coming to a probable accurate conclusion that Sakura was the apprentice of that medic woman from that village.
"Yes, I was her apprentice, the woman Asuka-san mentioned" Sakura relented to his questioning gaze, not elaborating on her reason for leaving because she simply didn't want to at the moment and Baki thankfully understood.
With that she focused her full attention on planting every single herb she'd bought or brought with her from Konohagakure, working long and hard over the course of the morning, despite the heat rising in the greenhouse causing them all to start sweating.
Kankuro didn't know how she did it really "Finally finished are you" Haku asked once Sakura stood, dusting her clothes off not that the action did her any good, she was covered in dirt, and in some places it was really caked on because of the sweat.
She nodded her head "The hard part is over hopefully, all that's left is watering and then cultivating the herbs once their at peak growth" Sakura grinned, eyes shining with pride that she could even do something like this.
So she set out to water all the plants and got done in time for lunch "I don't know how you do it" Kankuro shook his head, unable to comprehend the amount of time it must have taken Sakura to learn how to do all that.
In response he got a smile and a shrug "Come on you three we're going to a restaurant, to not only celebrate you getting your first deal sorted out but for all your hard work, then, Sakura, Karin and I are going to a onsen for female bonding" Temari declared.
Gently nudging the two younger kunoichi ahead of her "What are we meant to do in the meantime then" Kankuro grumbled at his sister, speaking up for himself, Gaara and Haku, who merely looked amused.
"The same thing of course, you could show me to the weapons shop Kankuro, Gaara, then take our own turn at an onsen" Haku suggested after a moment, really wanting to get along with Sakura's cousins.
Kankuro nodded in acceptance "Is there a reason you want to see the weapons shop" Gaara asked, while not letting the kunoichi out of his sight, likewise next to him Baki was doing the same even if they all were more than capable if something happened, he wasn't going to take chances.
Not where Karin and Sakura were concerned "Probably to get his own deal worked out, which means I need to get a move on as well and find a merchant to trade my own merchandise" Karin chimed in.
And Haku nodded just as they arrived at the restaurant "When was the last time you three relaxed, to just have fun or go out" Baki frowned, their expressions told him that it had been a long time which extremely bothered him for some reason.
Once they were all seated and their orders had been taken "I think the last time I actually let myself relax to have fun was back in Kumogakure before we went on that C rank mission when I still had amnesia" Sakura admitted sadly.
Unable to remember truly having fun in Konohagakure to be honest "You truly don't consider Leaf as your home huh Sakura" Kankuro commented, sensing that Sakura was long to return to the village she chose.
"Me either really, don't get me wrong we have wonderful friends there now but Cloud is and always will be the place I call home" Karin said, Baki narrowed his eyes on Haku who had yet to say anything.
When he realized he was expected to add his own input to the conversation Haku sighed "Home isn't necessarily a place for me, home is people, Karin and Sakura to be precise, I'll follow them anywhere because they are my home when I had no where and was lost" Haku announced.
Baki bit back a grimace "Does that mean you also intend on going to Kumo once they have to go back" Gaara questioned, already knowing the answer, even as Haku nodded, a determined look in his doe irises.
Temari hid a grin at Haku's devotion to her little cousin "Say Sakura, you ever had a crush on someone" Temari inquired suddenly, enjoying the way Haku nearly spewed his green tea after he'd taken a sip.
Sakura looked up at the blonde, thought over the question for a moment "Hmm I can't say I have really….actually scratch that, I did have a tiny minuscule crush on Darui when I was ten but I grew out of that, other than that nope" Sakura explained.
Haku held back the urge to groan and resigned himself to waiting even longer for Sakura to notice that he existed as a potential love interest "What about Haku" Karin grinned, unable to help herself, she had to find out exactly how Sakura felt at that current moment.
"Uh…well Haku's really nice, he's got a nice personality, any girl would be lucky to have him" Sakura said, not understanding the point that Karin was trying to make indicating she didn't have any feelings beyond that of friendship for Haku yet.
Karin resisted the urge to bang her head on the table because now things were awkward "It's just a matter of being ready for that kind of thing really so try not to push yourselves into falling in love" Kankuro managed to save the conversation.
While Sakura nodded, helping Haku relax as he realized she hadn't exactly rejected him "Looks like we're heading for the weapons store" Baki chuckled after they'd all finished eating and had paid for their meal.
Immediately Temari shepherded Karin and Sakura away from them in the direction of Suna's hotspring, "Can I ask how your business started" Gaara asked, once it was just the four of them, though Baki was definitely lagging behind.
Trying to mainly let them take the lead "It was Sakura, my first day in Leaf, she bought material and decided right then and there to start up a similar business to what her parents use to have, only by making everything herself" Haku informed.
Stopping when Kankuro did who indicated that this was the weapons shop "Welcome, is there anything I can help you with" the store owner greeted with a flat smile, clearly unimpressed with the Konoha-hitai-ate that the doe eyed brunet was wearing.
In fact he was also wearing a Kumo and Suna hitai-ate as well but the one on his head was more noticeable "Yes you can, I'd like to make a deal with you, if you agree, you'll be only the second shop to have the courtesy of selling the weapons I make" Haku stepped forward.
Delivering his statement in such a way that it would hopefully catch the man's attention and intrigue him "Oh and what's so special about your mediocre weapons, that I bet I could get anywhere else in another village" the man snorted.
Obviously not believing a word the teenager had said, Baki stepped forward intending on doing something but Haku shook his head "Actually you can't, see my weapons are specially made out of my kekkeigenkai" Haku smirked lightly.
Pulling out a bowl and filling it with water, then manipulating it's form with his water release only to concentrate and freeze it in a specific form, a slightly more unique looking kunai because he didn't want everything to look the same like back in Leaf.
Immediately the man behind the counter froze, eyes growing wide as he grabbed for the kunai and found it cold to the touch 'Haku's got him hook, line and sinker' Kankuro mused inwardly when the man managed to compose himself.
Then demand for a deal to be made "And I want all you have to offer is that understood, I won't ask for more than a twenty percent cut of all sales made as well" the man as he introduced himself as Satou Umeko practically begged.
"Mm no….a fifty/fifty cut and you throw in some of these little puppets to sell back in Konohagakure, Fragrant Blossom is a trading company after all" Haku shook his head, chuckling at Satou's scowl.
Satou's head snapped up in surprise "But that's….those are hardly worth a fifty percent cut of all sales made" Satou frowned, clearly confused, Haku knew what he was doing however, apparently as he picked up one of the small puppets.
And inspected it "Perhaps, but there are always improvements to be made, these are small and usable as potential decoys, say one is in a rough situation, unable to make hand signs, one could put a genjutsu tag in the puppet, and use it to escape" Haku explained.
"Very true, well if your certain that you want to give me fifty percent of what these weapons of yours are going to make then I have no choice but to agree do you think you'll have the weapons ready by tomorrow" Satou relented.
Seeing that he was getting the better deal of having new weapons among his stock "Here, there's a months worth in there hopefully but if you need more, I'll stop in about two weeks from now" Haku placed a scroll down.
Having already prepared the weapons ahead of time and got about two weeks worth of small puppets "That was smart of you Haku, how you reeled him in like that" Kankuro commented once they'd left the store.
"I learned that you have to make people interested in what your trying to sell by first showing off a bit, otherwise they won't go for it, Sakura's really good at it" Haku said, mind wandering to Sakura and how she was doing with Karin and Temari.
All of whom were enjoying a nice relaxing soak in the hotspring "I wonder if Haku managed to get the weapons store owner to agree to a deal with him" Karin hummed, letting all the tension in her body melt away from the heat of the water.
"Knowing Haku, I have no doubts he did fine Karin-chan" Sakura announced having faith in the brunet, he was a competent partner in their business after all so of course she was always going to believe in him that he was able to properly hold up his end of the partnership.
Temari snickered at Karin's groan of exasperation "By the way I don't think I got around to apologizing for what my brothers and I did to you and the others Karin, so I'd like to say I'm sorry for you ending up in the hospital along with those other four" Temari apologized solemnly.
Still feeling really terrible about that, ruby orbs focused on her "It's fine, I mean it's not like that's even the worst thing that's happened to me or Sakura even" Karin shrugged her shoulders a moment later.
Deciding to simply accept the apology "Right" Temari grimaced before perking up "So I know we talked about crushes earlier, is there anyone you like Karin" Temari leaned forward in anticipation as Karin froze.
Crimson orbs growing wide and Sakura proved to be perceptive "It's Nawaki isn't it Karin-chan" Sakura piped in causing her adopted sister to go bright red but nod when Temari stared at her hoping for some kind of response.
"Yes Sakura, I like Nawaki Senju, there I said it and that's also why I did what I did because I couldn't stand seeing the person I have a crush on be hurt" Karin grumbled good-naturedly, feeling better now that she'd confessed out loud.
They stayed for another hour before finally getting out of the onsen to head back to the house after making a pit stop in the market again for Karin to locate a stall to make a deal with a merchant to trade and sell some of her own merchandise.
Upon returning Haku was there, dressed in his casual attire "Have fun did you, so did I" Haku greeted, seeing the happiness twinkling in their eyes as they plopped down on the furniture that decorated their living room.
For awhile the three of them sat in silence, reading or scratching down things in a notebook, until it was an hour before dinner "Feeling like curry how about you two" Sakura snapped the book shut and stood.
Karin popped up "Sounds great, does that mean we're eating out tonight or are you going to make a batch of your own curry" Karin asked, stretching her arms above her head before letting her arms drop once she'd popped her spine.
Sakura tilted her head to the side in contemplation before deciding that she wanted to be lazy for once "We're going out to eat" the pinkette declared, then vanished up the stairs to her room in order to change out of her ninja wear.
When she came back down, Haku had the breath knocked out of him, Sakura was wearing a short grey kimono that had short sleeves with a light blue obi tied around her waist paired with white thigh length shorts and off white ankle high open toed sandals, her hair was left down.
And it reached her knee's, "Careful Haku, Sakura might begin suspecting you have a crush on her if you keep staring like that" Karin teased, padding down the stairs a few minutes later, only to see Haku staring at Sakura with a look of intense longing in his doe irises.
As Sakura grabbed her clutch bag "You look nice to Karin" Haku complimented, like usual Karin had chosen to wear something purple, a kimono top with tight sleeves that went to her elbows, that was a dark blue with light purple edges, a purple thigh length skirt and black shorts and sandals.
Opposite of Sakura, Karin's hair only went to her shoulder blades and she had it tied in a loose side ponytail to hang over her left shoulder, as for himself, he was wearing his usual casual clothes that he didn't often wear.
A moment later Sakura was ready but just as they were exiting the house, Baki showed up "Kazekage-sama wishes for you to dine with him, all three of you" Baki informed, derailing their plan to eat curry.
But Sakura wouldn't dare complain "Lead on then Baki-san" Sakura smiled lightly, either way she still wasn't going to have to cook that night so it didn't matter what she was going to eat, turns out, ten minutes later as Team Thirteen crowded around the dinner table.
In the Kazekage mansion, none of her cousins were very good cooks so they'd ordered curry from a restaurant amusing Sakura to no end "I'm glad you were able to make it, considering you like to make your own meals ninety percent of the time" Rasa greeted.
"Don't worry about it Kazekage-sama, we'd already been on our way out to eat dinner at a restaurant anyway so having dinner with you makes no difference in the long run" Sakura waved her hand lightly.
Polite to a fault "Very surprising" Kankuro hummed, helping his sister to dish out the curry, and Sakura got her favorite sweet potato curry, courtesy of him drilling Haku in preparation for this meal because he'd known it wouldn't be long before his Father invited the trio over for dinner.
Karin smiled softly "Maybe Kankuro but we really just wanted to relax tonight and have fun for once, which we can still do while getting to know you all better" Karin pointed out, while waiting patiently for the Kazekage to take the first bite.
Only then did she dig in "I meant to ask earlier but how are you three settling into the village so far, I know you've kinda kept cooped up but surely you won't do that the whole time your here right" Temari asked.
"Great Temari-san, I believe, we're actually happy here, no stress or fear of being kidnapped out of our home, we can take the time to relax and not worry so much about training as well as we focus on our business but I don't think we'll be staying cooped up the whole time" Haku said.
Rasa nodded inwardly to himself "Don't forget I also intend on sending you out on a mission, perhaps in another week or so, I've heard reports of a nest of venomous snakes forming nearby and I'd like it gone before anyone gets hurt, because its a popular area for civilians" Rasa stated.
Completely nonchalant about the whole thing "Hear that Haku, I could teach you how to make snake jerky, that would be really popular back in Konoha even Kumo" Sakura chimed in, turning the whole thing into an opportunity.
Temari and Kankuro stared at the rosette with wide eyes "You can do that, I had no idea" Gaara frowned, not having thought snakes were good for anything, except for poisons and the like, showed how much he and his siblings knew.
"Making jerky out of them isn't the only thing, their scales could be turned into jewelry, skin for pouches or other things, it's just a matter of figuring out how to do such things" Sakura grinned, massively enjoying herself.
By the end of the meal, even Rasa couldn't hide his amusement as Team Thirteen were escorted by Baki who probably wouldn't have to show them around by the end of the week, back to the family house so that they could be lazy and go to bed early once they were tired enough.