The Way Through Stone Village (Naruto)

29: Small Talk

[OP: "Bitter Water"--The Oh Hellos.]

Day 41:

Finally that day ended, and the next morning everyone was in a much more dismal mood.

Tsunade and Suzushi appeared after breakfast, of course not knowing the meal times, and just expected to get food out of the pantry.

Shine informed them that everyone here helped with the housework and cooking now--and they would be expected to also.

"I don't do that," Tsunade said. 

"If you don't, you can sleep outside," Shine said.

"Excuse me?" Tsunade said. "You're talking to a Sannin, girl. I don't think you understand the situation here."

"I think I do," Shine said, meaningfully. "But rules are rules. Surely, if our little 13-year old girl can pull her own weight, you, a Sannin should have no trouble contributing to the flow around here. You can start by helping do the dishes, since we just cleaned house yesterday."

"As a reminder," Sakura said. "You didn't clean house, Shine."

"Sakura, I've cooked several days already," Shine said. "And I am going to do laundry today, to make up for not helping yesterday. Which was agreed to before. Sorry you weren't there for it, but I won't slack off either, no worries. I suggest you remove any personal items you don't want me to wash."

Sakura turned red. "Fine."

"I see you and Sakura still do not get along," Tsunade said.

"Well she's a lot like you," Shine said, walking away  without explaining that remark.

Tsunade frowned.

"That woman is very strong willed," Suzushi observed. "I believe I see why they consider her a threat here."

"Quiet," Tsunade said. "Don't speak of that to them."

Suzushi clammed up.

"And I'm not washing dishes," Tsunade asked. "I'd sooner break them over someone's head."

***

"Okay, are you sure that a battle of wills with Tsunade is the right way to go?" Temari asked Shine, when they went into a different area to discuss things. "They're watching us."

"I know it's not the most diplomatic way to handle this," Shine said. "But I've considered it and I think if we just let her do as she wishes, she'll think we're afraid. Best to act confident. She can tell Onoki that we're cheeky but it's not exactly the mark of cult to wash dishes and clean a house. If anything, that's ordinary. Also, if I boss her around, it will seem as if I'm not trying to make any kind of impression, and the less she thinks we're doing on purpose, the better for now."

"That is...very sly," Kankuro said in amazement. "We're going to basically be fooling her by acting like we're not trying to."

"Well, it's not really a lie," Shine said. "We are not doing anything wrong, and we are concerned with keeping things tidy around here and working well together. It's just that that is all I want her to see for now, while you know there is more to our work."

"Shine, you really have the mind of ninja even if you have the heart of a DJ," Temari had to admit. "That's kind of genius...if it works. But if it backfires, we're in trouble."

"Yes...but do you have a better idea?" Shine asked.

"I wish I did," Temari said. "But all the other options seem to make us look like wimps or like we're hiding something...and we need to discuss that also."