The weather is getting hotter, and Konoha is as lively as ever, perhaps even more popular than before. As the Chūnin Exams approach, more and more strangers pass through the village.
After spending the morning, Mizuki accompanied Tsubaki to visit several shops that were up for sale. From Mizuki's perspective, it didn't make much of a difference. As long as the location wasn't too remote, with Konoha's prosperity, anything would sell.
With his limited knowledge of real estate, Mizuki couldn't determine which properties were good investments, so he relied on whether they were pleasing to the eye. After rejecting areas that were too close to potential danger zones, such as those affected by Orochimaru's invasion or the Sand ninja's attack during the Chūnin Exams, the two finally chose a shop closer to the main road near Konoha Hospital. As for the attack by Pain three years later, they completely ignored it. If Konoha were destroyed in the future, the best course of action would be to find a secluded spot and live in peace. By then, the ninja world would probably have nothing to do with them anyway.
"Let's rent it for two months first," Mizuki suggested. "If it goes well, we can consider buying it. It's too risky to purchase it outright. What if business doesn't pick up? After an attack, the price could drop, and that would be more cost-effective."
However, Tsubaki, who typically followed Mizuki's suggestions, surprisingly disagreed this time. Her attitude was surprisingly firm.
"I think it's a good place. The seller is eager to sell, and the price isn't too high. If we buy it now and open the shop, we can set it up the way we want."
"Huh?" Mizuki blinked, momentarily surprised. He was used to Tsubaki being obedient, but it seemed she had her own mind. After all, she was a capable ninja. Her insistence was likely due to her belief in the potential of the place rather than simply following her fiancé's every word.
"Then it's up to you," Mizuki said with a smile, not too concerned. It wasn't a big deal. Sometimes, he realized, he was more focused on being comfortable and giving himself and those around him more options, rather than making grand decisions.
Mizuki observed as Tsubaki, normally reserved and quiet, bargained confidently with the seller. It was a side of her he hadn't seen much before. It made him reflect on his own shortcomings—he was just a man struggling with jealousy and greed. He wasn't an elite ninja; his talent was average. If it weren't for his knowledge outside the norm, he wouldn't have any real influence. Meanwhile, hardworking people like Tsubaki seemed far more decisive than him, and he found himself feeling like a mere speculator, preoccupied with minor gains.
"I need to find some reliable people to help me," Mizuki muttered to himself. "For vision and maturity, experience and status are necessary."
"Are you still upset?" Tsubaki asked, noticing Mizuki's distracted expression.
"What? No, I'm not upset at all," Mizuki reassured her with a smile.
"Good," Tsubaki said, though she still seemed a little uncertain. "You've been so quiet, I thought you were unhappy."
"I'm sorry I worried you. I was just lost in thought."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Let's not talk about that right now. Let's go check on the flowers we planted together. It's been a while since we've been to the cabin in the back mountains."
"Okay, let's go! But it's quite a distance, are you sure you're up for it?"
"Don't worry, I'm doing fine. Let's go early and come back early."
The cabin in Mizuki's memory was as it had always been—small tatami mats, simple furniture, but it felt clean and homely. The only difference was that more rows of brightly blooming flowers surrounded the house. Mizuki wasn't sure what species they were, but they were pleasant to look at.
Mizuki sat on the tatami, taking a glass of water that Tsubaki handed to him. He drank it all in one go.
"This cup is too worn out. I'll need to get a new one. I'll be coming here more often in the future."
"Okay," Tsubaki agreed, though her tone suggested she wasn't sure if she'd actually remember. Her simple style often led her to forget such things. "I'm tired after the walk. You should rest a little longer."
"I'm a bit hungry. Let's eat first."
"Well, all I have is bento. It's not much of a meal."
"It's fine. It's still delicious."
They ate their simple meal and rested for a while. Tsubaki tended to the flowers in the garden, and Mizuki sat quietly, enjoying the rare peace.
After a while, when the weather had cooled down, Mizuki suddenly stood up. "Tsubaki, I want to take you somewhere."
"Okay," Tsubaki replied, though she sounded a bit puzzled.
Along the shaded path, Mizuki and Tsubaki walked swiftly.
"Is this the place you mentioned earlier?" Tsubaki asked, still a bit unsure.
"Yes, it is."
"But," she hesitated, "didn't you say you'd never get involved with Orochimaru again?"
"Of course, I meant it. I haven't lied to you. Didn't we seal the Orochimaru incident together?"
"Then why are we going there? Please don't get involved with him again."
"You worry too much," Mizuki assured her. "I'm not going to Orochimaru. It's like trying to find skin on a tiger. I'm too weak to deal with him now. I just want to see something for myself."
Tsubaki was still uneasy but followed Mizuki as they made their way to the location. Once there, Mizuki opened a series of traps, revealing a small abandoned laboratory.
"See, Tsubaki? There's nothing here, and it's safe. Nothing to worry about."
But Tsubaki was still cautious, inspecting every corner before her gaze fell on a strange medicinal device. "What's this?"
Mizuki's expression shifted. "It's a device I used to activate the potion we sealed. It's a tool that even a beginner could use to replicate the formula."
Tsubaki remained wary. "Why are we here, then?"
"We're here to destroy it," Mizuki explained. "It's a useless piece of equipment now. Let's just get rid of it. It's taking up space."
"Destroy it? But why come here to do that?"
Mizuki grinned. "I'm using this abandoned lab to store things. No one wants it, and it's a good place to hide my experiments."
"You want to store your experiments here?"
"Exactly," Mizuki nodded. "It's too cramped at home. I need more space, especially for the creatures and plants I'm working on. It's just easier here."
Tsubaki seemed to accept that. "I still don't understand all of this, but I'll help however I can."
"You don't have to do much. Just take care of things when I'm not around. Record the data. It's not that difficult."
"Alright," Tsubaki agreed hesitantly.
Mizuki had planned to wait until after the Chūnin Exams to set this up, but he feared time would slip away. So, he moved forward with the plan now, using the opportunity to prepare for what lay ahead.
"Tsubaki, could you pull out a hair for me?"
"What?"
"Come on, or I'll pull one out for you."
"No, I'll do it myself." Tsubaki reluctantly complied. "What do you need it for?"
"I want to show you something," Mizuki said with a smile. "You'll understand when you see it in a few days."
He pointed to a petri dish nearby. "Do you see that? Is that my hair?"
Tsubaki leaned in closer and stared at the object. "How could that be?"
The creature inside the dish resembled a monstrous figure, its claws and fangs apparent. But Mizuki had been feeding it chakra, and its form was slowly becoming more human-like. Still, the beast-like features remained.
"You were surprised, huh? I wondered if I was becoming a monster, too," Mizuki said, a bit of pride creeping into his voice.
"What is this green liquid?" Tsubaki asked, clearly baffled.
"This is my greatest achievement from the past few months," Mizuki explained. "A potion only I can create. Without it, Moonlight Gale and Mountain Castle Qingye wouldn't have survived. This is my first true success in this world."
Mizuki shared this with Tsubaki not just to explain his work, but to show her the future he envisioned. Even though Tsubaki hadn't shown her concerns overtly, Mizuki knew there was worry beneath her calm exterior. He had kept a lot hidden, and now, with the Chūnin Exams approaching, he needed to prepare for everything, including the people who would be walking beside him.