After spending the rest of the day with Ino and Hinata, Ren returned to the Sunagakure the next day. Ino even surprised him by handing him a finished pet project he had given her two months ago. She had quite the trouble getting the technique Ren wanted her to develop, working without turning the caster into a vegetable. Ren was starting to lose hope, so it was a pleasant surprise.
Now he only needed to coerc-, ahem, persuade Kankuro to be his test subject. Should be easy. The boy usually folded like a wet paper tissue after Temari was mentioned.
Walking through the streets of Sunagakure, Ren ignored the slightly gloomy atmosphere that spread through the village, trying to find Kankuro. He had already been at the Puppet Division headquarters, but he was out.
So, Ren decided to turn on his sensing techniques and follow the trail of Kankuro's chakra all the way here. Looking at the half-built building in front of him that his senses were telling him was his destination, Ren raised his eyebrow in amusement at the unexpected development.
This was the new SCMC headquarters. The Samira's Cool Merchant Company, dreadful name, Ren rolled his eyes upon reading the sign above the front door. The company was a new one, and Samira, or as some might recognize her more under the name of Samui. was trying to build in the Land of Wind.
Recently, her trade caravans were bringing a lot of goods to Sunagakure, and her company had become the biggest beneficiary of the new economic boom in Sunagakure. Everybody prospered thanks to it. The Suna people had goods they never even dreamed would come to their village, and Samira was getting richer and richer.
The war and the low-key hostile attitude of the Wind Daimyo only helped her, as some big-time merchants decided that trading with Sunagakure was not worth making the nobles upset, or they temporarily lost access to their suppliers, or the war made the trade difficult in some other aspect.
Thus, there wasn't much competition for her in the market right now, and Samui was very eager to make use of the situation. She wanted to entrench her company in the economic foundation of Sunagakure so deep that not even the Kazekage would be able to unlodge it without breaking a hip.
Honestly, Ren was quite useless when it came to large-scale economy or running a company. He didn't understand the first thing about it. And he wasn't about to put in the effort into learning about it, either.
He was quite ambivalent about it. He recognized that it could be useful to learn this stuff, but at the same time, if he wanted money, he only needed to sell some seals or products from his seals. So, why bother?
In a way, he realized he might not be that much different from the other ninjas. It was just... in this world, power was power and money was money.
But most importantly, as far as he was concerned, free time was free time.
Seeing how busy Samira was keeping her company going, Ren quickly decided that it just wasn't for him. But she was genuinely having fun with it, and Ren was happy that the impassive girl had found a passion for something.
He still felt a tad guilty about the mental opsie they had done to the woman. Somebody had to. Especially since there was a snowball chance in hell it would be Ino's conscience that would stir awake one of these days.
Shaking his head, Ren walked into the building and involuntarily donned an amused smirk when he noticed Kankuro arguing with the helpless-looking receptionist, gnashing his teeth in frustration.
Approaching closer, Ren started to hear the tail end of their talk.
"What do you mean, you won't be able to accept our order!? It's just wood! You are providing wood for half of the building sites in this damned village!" He complained with exasperation seeping into his rising, frustrated voice.
"That might be true, shinobi-san, but as you have stated, we are already providing this village with an enormous amount of wood. We simply don't have any free stock that's not already contractually promised to somebody else." The receptionist politely explained before adjusting his glasses. "I am sorry, but you came too late."
Kankuro let out a long, suffering groan and gave the receptionist a helpless, pleading look. "Can't you do something? We are at war, for fuck's sake. The puppetry division needs wood to repair our puppets after the recent battle. We are willing to pay a premium, too."
Hearing him, Ren inwardly chuckled. Even he knew that this was not going to accomplish anything. He should have asked to see somebody higher up the chain before giving such a proposal. He might have been lucky.
But the poor receptionist had his orders, and Ren recognized the man as one of the homeless guys whom he had given some food to shortly before the assassination attempt on him happened. Ren doubted he would deviate from his instructions and risk losing his job.
"Even if you say that..." The receptionist helplessly shook his head, and Kankuro's shoulders slumped as he grumbled under his nose.
It wasn't that the puppetry department couldn't get wood elsewhere. Usually, they would send several teams to the borders and simply chop enough trees to replenish their losses. But that would take time. Buying the materials locally now that there was a supplier was infinitely faster and simpler, even if it would cost them money. Their problem had always been that they had enough budget for their needs, but nowhere to spend it.
Yet, it seemed they neglected to establish a proper deal beforehand. Trying to get one at the last moment was a matter of luck, and it seemed they were shit out of that particular resource.
Deciding to intervene, Ren cleared his throat and greeted the puppeteer, "Hey, Kankuro. Having trouble?"
Kankuro quickly turned around, his expression turning into a surprised one."Ren? What are you doing here?" He paused before his face lit up as he exclaimed, "Wait! Are you finally looking for a house, so I wouldn't need to keep being so mortified at hearing my sister and you having your fun during the night!?"
Ren's lips twitched downward. That only happened once. They always used privacy seals that didn't let any sound from the room escape. They had forgotten to activate them only one time, months ago, but Kankuro just couldn't let it go.
Ren rolled his eyes at him, ignoring the now embarrassed-looking receptionist. He realized this wasn't even aimed at him, but rather, it was supposed to be a small revenge against the poor receptionist.
"No." Ren dryly answered, inwardly promising to later sic Temari at him for this. "I am looking for you. I need your help with some testing."
Excitement filled Kankuro's eyes. The last time Ren needed help with testing, it had been for the Wind Dome technique, and Kankuro had become a very sought-after teacher for it in the village. He loved it!
But then he remembered his current duty and his lips stretched into an awkward and reluctant smile. "I don't exactly have time right now..." He trailed off in a disappointed tone.
Ren glanced at the receptionist, who tried to pretend that he was busy and wasn't listening to them. "Maybe I could help you get what you need?" He offered, and slyly looked back at Kankuro, who had instantly become wary.
He recognized that look. Temari sported it every time she had 'permanently borrowed' his stuff.
"... It's going to cost me, isn't it?" Kankuro asked with a resigned caution.
"I'll give you a bro-in-law discount?" Ren joked with a shrug.
"Right. What, instead of an arm and a leg, you will ask only for a leg or something?" Kankuro snorted and crossed his arms under his chest with an amused scowl. "My internal organs are not for sale, you know?"
"Stop being such a drama queen. Who would want your organs? I bet they aren't even tasty." Ren played along and let out an exasperated sigh. "Shut up or I will let Temari decide the price."
Kankuro genuinely winced, "Never mind. Shutting up." He nodded. "I will pay! Save me, senpai!" He threw his hands up in the air.
"Well, come on." Ren chuckled, beckoning him to follow. "We need to go and see Samira to get you your wood. I doubt the one you get in the morning would be enough to play games with your dolls." He said and got a shove from Kankuro for his efforts to be nice.
How rude.
Secretly, Ren was delighted about how the situation turned out. He was a bit worried about how to make Kankuro okay with having a technique that messed with his mind tested on him. Especially one created by Yamanaka.
Those were notoriously dangerous for anybody who didn't go through the Yamanaka training from a young age. It was one of the reasons why their secret mind arts were never stolen. Anybody who tried it turned into a vegetable.
Over time, as more and more attempts failed, ninjas developed a healthy caution of mind techniques. Even the Shadow Clones were not that dangerous, yet only a very few ninjas ever learned them. And those who knew them usually didn't use them all that often.
But now that Kankuro had given his promise, he wasn't going to take it back. Besides, Ino always did an amazing job. He was going to survive it.
Probably even mentally intact.
"Oh, I almost forgot you know the Samira chick." Kankuro exclaimed, still blissfully ignorant of the nefarious things Ren wanted to do to him in the near future. "Ya know… Sure, she is some great morning wood material, but I hope that's not what you mean by helping me get the wood I need."
Hearing him, Ren returned the shove to Kankuro with a snort. "Why? Is it not hard enough for your dolls?"
"Ass." Kankuro replied as they laughed, leaving the bewildered and flushed receptionist behind.