Chapter 12.

Sana led her on a tour of the market as he promised and coincidentally the lady Muteki bought her clothes from is also a dealer in fabrics and silk. She is a bit awkward but Etsuko is nice enough. Like Sana, she also had reacted greatly to the news of Muteki's shop opening. The pitiful woman bawled her eyes out when they told her and continued sobbing even as the women made a deal. Watching Etsuko left Muteki angry and she was even more ticked off when they met the lumber merchant. A barely-adult woman using two walking sticks strapped to her arms with scraps of cloth. Apparently, Hoshiko has cerebral palsy and can't afford the equipment she needs to move around. Muteki inquired why she couldn't just carve a proper set of crutches to which Hoshiko informed her that even varnished wood doesn't hold well in this rainy environment. They would also eventually mold and disintegrate. So, it's a waste of time to put in that kind of effort if she would have to make them again in a few weeks. The disabled woman needs a solid metal set, ones that can last her years. This is why the merchant keeps whipping up her own from scrap wood until she can save up the funds. Muteki thought about donating money to help her buy them, but she could tell the merchant would turn down her offer immediately and possibly the entire contract if the smith so much as hinted at it. She is correct, for Hoshiko isn't a fan of pity. Help is fine, but pity is intolerable. This deal is all the woman will need and she was happy to take it. With lumber, fabric, and ore handled Sana figured they were just about done but Muteki had one more place she wanted to visit.

"I need someone who provides sealing jutsu tools like ink? You know a guy?"

"I don't. Shinobi dealings are outside of my expertise. You will have to find that one on your own. I apologize."

"Nah, no reason to apologize. You've been a tremendous help and this can wait until after the shop opens. I have enough supplies for now. Well, I should let you get back. Thank you. I'm looking forward to working with you all." She waved at the elder merchant as she split paths with him and he did the same. Muteki has a feeling they all will work together well. Each of them wishes to prosper and will fight for the chance of success. It's a good quality to have in their careers. Now she just has to hear back from the glorified city pigeon to let her know where her shop is. When that happens Muteki will let that woman know of her first request. A devious smile stretched across her lips at the thought.

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The next day.

Muteki heard a tapping on her window. Another one of the blue haired woman's paper butterflies are just outside the glass waiting to greet her. Muteki got up from bed to let it in. The sentient origami flew inside and hovered in front of the weaponsmith's face. The smith snatched the sheet out of the air to unravel the message. It's a map with a key wrapped in the butterfly's 'body'. Muteki caught sight of a note the woman left on the bottom corner of the map and read it aloud.

"Your shop. Whenever you wish to request our services visit the building also highlighted on this map. Bring a note with whatever you desire and hand it to any shinobi guarding the building's entrance. Tell them it's for our leader and they will handle the note accordingly. Regards, Konan… Oh her name's Konan! Phew, thank God I don't have to figure that out now. That would have been awkward~" Muteki started to clean her room up and gather her stuff. A contract, suppliers, and a shop- All that's left is to stock the shop's shelves. She must forge kunai and shuriken alongside a few katanas and tantos to start. The smith doesn't plan on sleeping for the next few days, she already has her coffee barrel filled. The caffeine addict also prepared ground coffee for when she inevitably needs a refill. All she'll require is that barrel and she'll be able to work nonstop. She may not have had a chance to start purchasing from her new vendors, but Muteki still has a good amount of raw materials within her storage scrolls. That- along with all of her tools. She can at least open her store for now while they wait for the trade route.

'It will all fall into place. Just have to throw in some elbow grease with a brain cell or two.' Muteki had her stuff all packed up nice into a single bag she draped over her shoulder. She took out just one last piece of paper from the hotel's desk to write a letter to Konan.

'This nonsense with the shipments needs fixed and that 'group' needs spanked.' Her hand is swift and aggressive, almost scratching the paper into shreds with force. The vendors need food, rent, CRUTCHES- these living conditions they are being forced into are unacceptable to the weaponsmith.

'Rogues are making it difficult to ship anything into the Rain Village. My suppliers need a safe trade route and I want your shinobi to make it happen. It's wreaking havoc on your economy- fix it and help me and your people. Win, win. Wouldn't you agree? I asked where they would want the route to start and these are the coordinates they gave me. Their guys will meet your guys there in 10 days and you all can work it out from there-

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"'-I don't care how it's done. It just needs to be done. You can thank me later."' Konan finished reciting. The room of Akatsuki holograms are dumfounded. The first thing this smith wants is to establish and defend a trade route.

"A DAMN TRADE ROUTE!? IS THIS BITCH INSANE?!" Hidan squawked. Kakuzu has never agreed with his partner more.

"She expects this for free?" Not a single member, including Pein and Konan, expected her to ask for so much. And right out the gate no less. Kisame quietly chuckled and Itachi remained silent.

"Oh, she's audacious. I'll give her that much. What do you think, Itachi?" His partner didn't respond while Pein raised a single hand to alert the room that he wants silence.

"It is out of line, but I have been meaning to address this issue for some time now. I'm not particularly fond of the idea of this being at the whim of the weaponsmith yet nonetheless, a deal is a deal and it is a problem." Pein informed the group. He then took a moment to consider who of the Akatsuki should tackle this mission. Since they are the reason this agreement was made in the first place, the Akatsuki should be held responsible.

"-Kakuzu, Hidan- you should take this mission for you two will benefit the most from it." Kakuzu raised an eyebrow.

"How so?" Hidan also wanted to know and kept quite so Pein can elaborate.

"Our organization receives a large portion of its funds through our village's taxes. If their economy crashes, we all suffer with it. Also, any rogues you find may be disposed of however you two see fit. For a bounty hunter this is a prime opportunity to prosper is it not? And Hidan… this could mean sacrifices for your God, correct? The harsher you two handle the mission the better. Make it known that the Hidden Rain Village is not to be targeted. Once word gets around, we can replace you with Rain Jounin so you can get back to your original obligations with the Akatsuki." Hidan held his chin as he contemplated.

"Hmmmm, Lord Jashin always loves sacrifices…. Yea, that's good enough for me. I'm in." Many of the other members internally scoffed at how quickly he had changed his tune while Kakuzu outwardly scoffed.

"Figures… Fine- if there is money at stake then we will take the mission but I swear if that woman doesn't start earning her keep, I will get involved." Pein closed his eyes with a hint of a shrug.

"This is fine with me." Hidan had one last thing to add.

"Hey yea! While we're on the whole 'earning her keep' thing. I want my scythe sharpened after this, Konan. It'll need it when I'm through with this mission." His smirk is devious. It doesn't take a mind reader to know what Hidan is thinking about.

"I will bring it to her when you return, Hidan." The two immortals are fairly satisfied so the pair took their leave to begin their trek to the location Muteki gave. Still furious but if what their leader said is true, they'll allow it to slide this time. The other members continued with the meeting but not much is being said. They are still in the process of building their reputation. The whole purpose of this meeting is for Pein to hand them their missions. It was quick and soon enough there is only Pein and Konan left in the room. Konan sighed and shook her head.

"I apologize, I didn't believe she could be so demanding." Pein is unaffected by the smith's request.

"Neither did I but it's fine. If her reputation is accurate, it will all balance itself out." They had searched for quite awhile before settling on the Smith Muteki. Her specialty is what really drew the Akatsuki to her. A smith who incorporates sealing jutsu and chakra manipulation into her work with an eye for unique and revolutionary weapons. One who studied the ancient works of Takumi Village and repurposed their techniques into her own unique form of weapon making. A 'mad genius of weaponry', they should have guessed she would have some quirks.

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Muteki stared at her new home with stars in her eyes. It's a corner building located at a particularly busy intersection with other businesses surrounding it such as restaurants and bars. Its hilariously skinny and quite tall. The bottom section has a typical door and Muteki spotted a few windows going up the sides of the structure. She can figure from the building's odd shape that each room is likely stacked on top of the other. But above all else- It's perfect and it's HERS. The smith is pretty sure she's shedding a few tears but the rain is hiding them, so she doesn't feel embarrassed. With shaky steps Muteki went to the door and opened it with her key. After she entered, the weaponsmith was happy to notice shelves are already on the walls and a large table is set up on the other side of the room. Clearly where a register is supposed to be. There are a couple windows but they really aren't big so the room is left a little dreary.

'This is the Rain village though. Windows are probably depressing here.' She can see a spiraling stair case right behind the table that not only goes up, but down. Turns out the shop has a basement along with whatever is above. Muteki is so enwrapped with the shop she almost didn't notice the rain still hitting her back.

"Shit, I just moved here and I'm already messing up the place!" She hastily got inside and closed the door behind her.

'Ok, moving on…' Just as she was about to start exploring the interior, a thud echoed throughout the room starting from the entrance. She opened the door again to see who was there but there is no one.

"Hmmm. Must be hearing things. Thought someone knocked-" She went back inside- the second time she was left unaware of Reiji's assassination attempt.

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Author's notes-

Mystic Moon Flower- I am so glad this story brought you so much happiness T-T that review made my year thank you!