The Way Through Stone Village (Naruto)

7: A Marketplace Theft

[OP: "There Beneath"--The Oh Hellos]

The construction site was more like a cleared space with some caution tape around it.

Wally walked up to someone who was walking down the street to ask them what it was for.

"Oh, that?" they said. "I think they were going to make a nursery there or something. But after the War it's been put on the back burner."

"Oh, that's too bad," Wally said. "Low priority?"

"More like not enough people to complete it," the person replied.

"I see," Wally said.

"Did you hear that?" Ino asked Sai and Jugo excited. "A nursery."

"Yes, I think it's too bad that the children don't have anywhere to live," Sai said.

Jugo nodded, but he didn't know what either kind of nursery was.

"Huh?" Ino said. "No, no, Sai, I think he meant a plant nursery."

"Oh?" Sai said. "Are you sure?"

"Only hospitals have nurseries for kids," Ino insisted. "And they have a hospital already here. I saw it on the way in."

This was true in the ninja world. Childcare wasn't really a thing.

"Good news." Wally buzzed back to them. "This is right up your alley, Ino. Know anything about nurseries?"

"We have one at the flower shop," Ino said. "We grow most of our own flowers." She turned to Jugo. "We also have a small greenhouse, just for the exotic ones. Some people like them."

"I bet we could have that place finished fro him," Wally said. "And, best of all, it's not used for war."

"It could--" Sai began.

"Not directly at least," Wally cut him off.

"But...it's just a vacant lot..." Ino gestured at it. "Do you really think we could do that?"

"Please, I've built space generators in 2 hours," Wally scoffed. "This should be nothing. Just need a nail gun, and screw driver, and some blueprints to be phased into my brain by my Martian Manhunter friend."

Blank looks.

"Might need actual blueprints...." Wally amended. "But still, I've built a ton of stuff. This is nothing. I bet if everyone else was helping we should do it no problem. And the village does need it."

"It sounds fun," Ino said, "if the Tsuchikage was okay with us doing this."

"Shine would know how to pitch it the right way." Wally rubbed his chin. "My girl can make anything sound like a good idea."

"That sounds dangerous," Sai said with a straight face.

"She is," Wally said.

Ino giggled slightly. "You two are so cute...even if you are old."

"I'm not old!" Wally cried. "You're just a young whipper snapper! That what's Granny would call you."

"What is that?" Sai asked.

"Whatever it is, it's young," Wally said.

"Why would someone being dangerous be a good thing?" Sai wondered also.

"Don't you want your girl to be able to defend herself?" Wally said. "And you--if you get knocked out or something."

"I don't have a girl," Sai said. "I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that. Like a slave?"