Title: A weapon of wits
Author: hercat
Summary: Shinobi Shopping

XianTzun-san smiled as he brought the small box up from behind the weapons counter.

"I have to tell you Iruka-sensei, this is the oddest request I've had in a long while." Iruka gently lifted the weapon from its cushioned case. It looked exactly like a regular kunai, something Iruka hadn't expected but was very impressed by. "Go ahead, you can use the handle, it won't break."

Iruka spun the knife in a practiced move and tried drawing it. "The balance is much better than I'd expected."

"Yeah, I put lead in the handle to compensate. Made it heavier though, you'll have to use it fairly close range. Here, I made a pair of metal ones for practice purposes. No extra charge."

"XinTzun-san, I couldn't. It's too much."

"Oh, go on. You always overpay, and if you get yourself killed where will I get those scrolls TenTen is so fond of? They're already made and who else will want such an overweight kunai?"

"Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu XinTzun-san. You're a true craftsman. Could I get two more of the filled glass kunai please? I've thought of some other ways to use them."

"More ways? I still can't think of one. Like I said, these are the strangest weapons I've ever seen." Iruka snorted and smiled at the curiosity. No, the use of these unusual knives would remain his secret.

"You should see some of the things my students come up with" said Iruka. "Every time they invent a new technique, who do you think they try it on first? Their parents? Of course not. It's the poor sensei who gets the collapsing chalk board, wire trap chairs and exploding kunai dogs. I've had to deal with enough exploding chalk to level Konoha, and I still can't look at muffins without feeling sick."

XianTzun was laughing as he wrapped the handles of the kunai, fingers practiced from years of such work. "I'll bet you were glad TenTen was a year ahead of your class."

"You have no idea. Mazuto-sensei had three, three nervous breakdowns that year. I may not be a Jounin, but I'll put my awareness of airborne objects up against anyone in this village. If TenTen wants to practice hers, assistants are always needed."

XianTzun smiled, putting the special kunai in the padded box and wrapping all three.

"I'll tell her that, but I doubt she'll take you up on it. My daughter doesn't have much use for children."

"I didn't either when I started." Iruka chuckled and rubbed at the back of his neck. "I guess they kind of grow on you after a while."

"Ah, like mould. Here you go." Iruka took the package. "I'll have the other two by the beginning of next week. I figured you'd want more than one." Iruka passed over a pair of scrolls.

"The second one is an experiment. Let me know if it works properly."

"Will do Iruka-sensei. Happy hunting."

Iruka watched as XianTzun shook his head behind him. He knew he was starting to look paranoid, working so steadily on scrolls, new jutsu and weapons. There were even rumors that he was preparing for the Jounin exam, despite the fact that the timing was all wrong. But as his father had once said, you didn't have to see clouds to know a storm was coming.

And Iruka could taste rain on the air.