His sensei was such a slave driver. Looking down at the essay he wrote on Tobirama's measures in the first war, and how he created ANBU especially to target the leaders of invasion groups.
Targeting merchants to cripple the other villages economic perspective and to also have an eye on the shinobi inside and on those on the front, because who knows what radical ideas they could have.
His pink pen gently fell down on the wooden floor, rolling around the dust and the dust mices that gathered in their first, oldest and now the only shop in the Konoha's market center.
His mother sent him to clean here while she stays with Sakura, some stomach problems and that she started walking around everywhere and any little pain sends her crying.
Blowing a hair strand away from his eyes and glancing around the room with an irrational light bulb that shone whenever it wanted only, at the mess of sugar, tea leaves, fabric and few shinobi weapons.
He sighed and got up from the chair and the table of old wood to take the broom and started sweeping the dust. He picked the pen and put it back on the table and thought of Tobirama.
The man who built and made reality Hashirama's ideal. The idea man and the practic man, a duo perfect for what they accomplished.
Though again, Senju was absorbed by the village, a necessary sacrifice to Uchiha, to the other clans scared of favouritism. Now even Tsunade doesn't go by Senju, just Tsunade.
She even was missing in action. Though everyone actually knows that she was given a break indefinitely from shinobi duties by her old sensei. The hokage.
A glint of metal caught his attention. Under the shinobi weapons there was a tanto. Taking a hold of it and weighing it in his hands. It was light, the metal, barely touching the blade and drawing blood.
Sucking the scratch, sharp. His father promised training and did train with him during his free time, that happened very rarely, he doubt he knew that much, but was enough to give Ren a base.
As for taking from the stocks? Well, things happen and items disappear. Chuckling internally as pocketed it in a hidden corner.
Then continuing like nothing happened in the shop. Arranging the tea leaves based from where they come, the slight bitter taste was local, the sweet with hues of spicy from Suna, and even from an Uzo region?
Interesting, it seems this was really an old stock of tea if they had from there.
It's a bit strange that his parents didn't focus on anything specific and brought stuff that would have a slight higher price here in Konoha. There was no brand, no image tied to Haruno family shop.
There was everything and nothing. Though he didn't knew specific needs of the civilians or the shinobi here to have any ideas.
A knock at the door. Strange. Today the shop was closed since it was a cleaning and restock day, who could be?
Raising on his feet's edge to look over the tiny window and see who could be. It was a woman in police vest with a gentle smile and a lavender hair colour.
Uchiha at the door? For what reason? In any case, he unlocked the chain and raised his head at the woman.
She smiled and said, "Good afternoon," then her eyes shone with merriment," Oh I know you, you are Izumi's little classmate. You are such a bad boy for making my dear girl cry, I will take you to the prison."
Izumi's mother. Taking him to the prison and why she had that smile and for what reason she knocked.
"Good afternoon police-san? I think it was in the code that Uchiha policemen should introduce their name and the motive for their intruding in the going of civilian life, so, I am very sorry to ask, but what's your name, madam?" as he quirked an eyebrow
She laughed, while her eyes looked around the shop. Searching for his mother? Or was looking at what things they had in stock.
A survey on the conditions of merchants in the village? For what reason? The Uchiha also had their own merchants, usually clan members who remained civilians and works in commerce.
"Sayo. Mother of Izumi-chan the one you made cry in the class, just a bad boy, arguing with a girl? You have no manners, must talk with Akira and explain why her son is so rambunctious," Leaning on her right leg while a hand was on her hip.
"Mother is busy with Sakura, her teeth are appearing and stomach problems make her cry constantly, so mom is not here, if you want to transmit something I will dutifully convey the message," tacking a half step back while a hand was on the door.
Her head perked, "And you are cleaning the shop by yourself. Such a dutiful kid, my dear Izumi reads all day boring books, while look at you already responsible and helping your parents. Hmm, Akira must be really proud of her son, no?" She took a half step to be close again.
"The shop is peaceful and since my parents need help while I wanted to study, I see no problem in also cleaning since I order my thoughts that way," Ren took another half step back, "Though I am afraid I will no longer be able to help them and be dutiful, since Sayo-san says I was bad and need to caught and sent to prison," letting his head down.
Sayo nodded sagely and with a hawk precision pinched his cheeks, "That's true, I will sadly bring the news to Akira, my dear friend remains without her son, but the law is the law. Such a cute kid can't be free from consequences."
Ren was nonplussed. She dared to touch him and his personal space, bristling and slowly pushing her hand away, while noticing how soft and taken care was her skin.
No active duty, or recently came back in the work? Hard to gouge, "So, say Sayo-san, I need to finish the cleaning and my essay for academy, was there any specific reason for visit my parents shop when it's closed?"
"Fine, fine, it seems my presence is here is not welcomed, a pity when Akira will know how her son treats customers. I am sure she will be thrilled," laughing again, and pointing at the Uzo stack of tea, "Can you give me a few ounces of tea leaves, I had ran out and only your mother has this good stash. A pity what happened to Uzo and their skills."
Ren didn't know the prices, though maybe his mother did write them in the notebook or on the paper tags. Glancing at the tea bags and seeing a note with their prices, "Exactly how many ounces of tea leaves?"
She was tapping her chin, "make it ten and, since you get along so well with my little girl, please do come for a tea," her smile was getting brighter.
To go to this woman house? No, never. It was exhausting just to talk for some minutes with her, to be in that lion's den. No.
Ren prepared the bag with the leaves, "That will be five hundred ryo."
Then after he took the money, "As for the invitation, it would be a pleasure to spend time with Izumi-san and you Sayo-san, though I am busy with my little sister, my homework and training, and my parents are so busy that they need a helping hand."
Scratching his head, "I can't promise that I will have enough free time to enjoy for myself, I can't even think of going for a tea and spend time with Izumi-san."
Sayo sighed, "Ah, it's hard to have a civilian life, your mother has trying times these days, I am glad your father got that promotion, send him my congratulations," waving slightly, and finishing with, "Have a nice day Ren-kun, next time don't make my girl cry."
Wagging her finger and leaving.
These Uchihas were a pain. Maybe the state was right in their method to escape from them permanently.
Ren thought as he closed the door and sighed. With a hand over his heart.