26This takes place some time after chapter two but before chapter three.
I do not own Naruto.
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Satoru Mina was a relatively well-known figure around Konoha, especially amongst civilians. Having arrived with nothing but a measly backpack 30 years ago, the woman had built a name for herself, owning not one, but two stalls at the marketplace - something that was no easy feat. The Village Hidden in the Leaf was a good enough place to live and to sell her dry herbs, not to mention she quickly became respected by medics for her vast knowledge of phytotherapy. Aside from that, though, she thought of herself as a pretty average woman; she had a loving if a bit grumpy husband, a well-behaved son, and business that prospered without much prompting. She was quite satisfied with her life.
Of course, living in a ninja village had both its ups and downs. Mina, just like many other merchants, believed Konoha to be a safe place only if you stuck to the civilian parts, away from shinobi business. The ninja did their part and the merchants did theirs, and there was often no need for one to get involved with another.
Accidents were bound to happen occasionally, however.
It had been nothing, really. The middle-aged woman had been unfortunate enough to get caught in the middle of a group of rowdy academy students playing ninja, and aside from a sprained wrist and a few bruises, no harm had been done. She had gone to the hospital, they gave her first care, and that should have been it.
"Ah, Satoru-san." The merchant turns around at the sound of her name being called, already knowing who it is and allowing a pleased smile to form on her lips as she gazes down gently at the child in front of her.
"Chiyuki-hime, what a pleasure to see you!" Mina sees the widening of brown eyes and the following narrowing, and she hurries to reassure the child. "Oh, please don't make that face. This is nothing, I'll be good as new in just a few days!"
The dark blonde child has a calculating expression that would have scared the woman had she not been used to it, but again, she has lived in a shinobi village for thirty years. Seeing such an expression in a toddler is far from unusual. However, she almost giggles at how cute the little princess looks. She refrains from it, certain it would not be welcome.
"Did you go to the hospital?" Satoru's heart warms at the obvious concern the child is showing for her.
"I did, dear. The medic-nin was kind enough to stop the swelling, but the bruises need to heal by themselves."
"Why didn't the medic heal you properly?" The middle-aged woman is startled by the coldness in the normally content child's eyes, something she had never seen before. Then, and only then, is Mina reminded of just whose daughter Chiyuki is.
"Because I'm not a ninja, hime. Medic-nins have to save their chakra to heal shinobi."
A heartbeat passes, then a suffocating aura presses down on the woman, vanishing as quickly as it came. Confused and slightly scared, the merchant watches as Chiyuki's face transforms into a scowl, one she had seen a few times on Biwako-sama. The child, for some reason, is more than pissed off.
"When I'm hokage, this will not be acceptable. Please wait just a little more, Satoru-san."
Mina can do nothing but look on with baffled, wide eyes as the child stomps away, determination in every tiny step.
