The next day, the "Peace" Supermarket resumed normal operations.
A few clerks went out in plain clothes to maintain vigilance and to purchase gas masks in preparation for a potential confrontation with the Amegakure Shinobis.
Konan, needing to maintain the illusion of her death, did not appear in public but hid in the supermarket to recover.
After all, she had just gone through a battle to the death and urgently needed to restore her strength.
In the manager's office, Seiya and Konan reunited after a long time, and he affectionately called her "Konan-neesan" upon seeing her.
"Seiya-kun, it's been a while! Did you miss your Onee-chan?"
Facing the two-year-old Seiya, Konan dropped her cold facade, sincerely revealing a gentle smile.
"Yes!"
Seiya 's voice was loud.
"Onee-chan missed Seiya-kun very much too! Come, let Onee-chan hug you!"
As she spoke, Konan bent down and lifted Seiya from the crib into her arms.
"Mmm, you've gotten heavier again!"
Konan gently pinched the little one's soft cheeks and chubby arms.
"Heehee!"
Hearing that he had gained weight, Seiya felt quite pleased.
He was very well-behaved at every meal and was constantly praised by his mother!
"I'm sorry, Seiya-kun, Onee-chan was in a hurry this time and didn't bring you a gift."
"It's okay!" Seiya waved his hand. "Konan-neesan... as long as... you're okay!"
Seeing her faint yesterday had truly frightened him.
He only managed to calm down after watching many episodes of cartoons!
"Haha!"
Konan laughed heartily, gently flicking Seiya 's nose.
"You must stay healthy too, so your mother doesn't have to worry."
"Mhm!"
Seiya puffed out his little chest, displaying his robust growth.
Meanwhile, Megumai strolled leisurely back and forth inside and outside the store as usual.
The female owner of the flower shop next door propped up a lounge chair by her door, basking in the rare sun.
Before long, the proprietress took the initiative to chat.
"Seiya's mom, have you heard? The Daimyo's daughter is coming here to visit with the princess."
Megumai paused in her steps. "Coming to Kouun City?"
"Mhm mhm!"
The proprietress sat up from her lounge chair in a serious manner and lowered her voice to share a secret:
"It's said that this tour is in preparation for selecting a fiefdom for the princess after she comes of age. Many cities along the route, from the capital to the northern stronghold, are candidates!"
"Just rumors, not necessarily true," Megumai said dismissively. "The world is not very peaceful right now, and traveling outside is not a wise move."
"Look at you!" The proprietress pointed a finger towards Megumai with a slight lift of her chin.
"You are clearly thinking like an emperor using a golden hoe to farm! Wouldn't the Daimyo equip his daughter and granddaughter with samurai guards? Who would dare to cause trouble!"
"That makes sense," Megumai smiled knowingly, humbly accepting the lesson, but then added,
"But I still think something is not quite right. It's easy to dodge an open spear, but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. A noble's tour should be kept secret, yet it is widely known to the public now. Even with samurai guards, it's not safe."
The proprietress pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "That's true!"
She immediately dismissed the matter, enthusiastically sharing another anecdote.
"I heard that a very unique gambler has arrived in the city. He throws huge sums of money in various casinos and loses everything, never winning even once! And this is happening without anyone setting up a trap!"
Megumai raised her eyebrows and smiled. "How do you know no one is setting up a trap?"
The proprietress immediately looked serious, adopting an 'I know what I'm talking about' expression.
"Casinos usually let the gamblers win a little first, right? Then they gradually lead them on to lose everything. This person, however, has never won even once. He's so unlucky! Being called the 'Big Fat Sheep' is no injustice at all!"
"Losing every single bet, that's no ordinary person," Megumai echoed with a sigh, now clearly understanding the identity of this charitable gambler.
"Who says otherwise? What couldn't he be doing with that money? He just has to give it all to the casino! If he bought a bunch of flowers from me, he could at least enjoy some fragrance!"
The proprietress clicked her tongue, feeling deeply perplexed.
A moment later, she tossed this subject aside too and asked, "Seiya's mom, where is your Seiya-kun? I haven't seen him all morning, and you haven't brought him out to sunbathe!"
"He'll come out in the afternoon."
Megumai answered with a smile, chatted for a few more sentences, and walked back into the store.
On the street, people came and went.
On the rooftop, the sunlight gradually melted the accumulated snow.
Megumai and Konan's team remained on high alert but did not wait for the Amegakure Shinobis who intended to attack the "Peace" Supermarket.
Half a month flashed by in the blink of an eye, and not a shadow of an Amegakure Shinobi was seen.
Time did not allow Konan to continue waiting.
The conflict in the village was still in full swing, and she needed to return in time to manage affairs, or things could easily descend into chaos.
Therefore, Konan had no choice but to abandon the plan of waiting for the prey to come to her.
She quickly and secretly relocated the personnel, documents, and assets of the "Peace" Supermarket.
Once the commotion passed, they would resume operations under a new guise.
Since Megumai had resigned as manager and had not joined Akatsuki, she did not participate in this highly confidential operation.
Instead, she took her son and said goodbye to all her acquaintances one by one.
The Shinobi World is unpredictable. Having said goodbye today, they might not meet again in the future.
Seiya was still young and didn't fully understand all of this, but he knew he would soon no longer see the beautiful and kind Konan-neesan, the cute and cheerful cashier Onee-chan, and the chattering flower shop lady...
The sadness of separation lingered in the little boy's heart.
Snowflakes drifted down from the sky.
Megumai held Seiya , leaving the city streets to return to the mountain cave in the suburbs.
In the canyon, no human figures could be seen.
Seiya nestled in Megumai's arms, silent, his mind replaying the scenes of saying goodbye to everyone and exchanging good wishes.
"Baby, are you thinking about Konan-neesan and the others?" Megumai asked softly.
"Mhm."
Seiya really wanted to go back on his word and not leave the supermarket.
But he had promised his mother before, so he couldn't break it. Seiya finally and silently suppressed the sadness of parting.
A mother knows her son best.
How could Megumai not know her son was feeling low?
She immediately tried to comfort him. "Baby, you don't have to be unhappy. Even though we've left, we will still have a chance to meet again later."
"Really?!" Seiya 's eyes lit up.
"Of course." Megumai paused and added, "As long as you remember them when you grow up."
"I'll definitely remember!" Seiya was full of confidence.
Megumai smiled faintly and said no more. How much can a two-year-old child remember?
Even if he remembers now, how much will remain a few or a dozen years later?
After comforting him, Megumai continued to focus on their journey, occasionally humming a children's song to interact with her son.
After an unknown amount of time, just as the mother and son were enjoying their peaceful moment, a sound of slicing air suddenly came through the heavy snowfall!
The sound of sharp weapons flying rapidly through the air!
Megumai's expression turned cold, and a pattern of Sharingan tomoe instantly appeared in her eyes.
The next moment, her figure flashed and disappeared from the spot. The snowy ground was densely packed with Kunai.
Immediately afterward, the explosion tags tied to the Kunai detonated with a boom!
In the canyon, the sound of the explosion was deafening, echoing loudly.
The accumulated snow on the branches rustled and fell...
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