It was a quiet afternoon, with fine snow fluttering down from the sky.
The rooftops were pristine white, like silk and satin.
Pedestrians on the road either wore raincoats or carried umbrellas.
A cold wind brushed past, bringing a bone-chilling coldness.
Megumai stood under the eaves, holding Seiya.
The mother admired the snow while the son played with a cartoon balloon.
There were far fewer people on the streets now than before.
Everyone realized that the current situation was unstable and had reduced their outdoor activities.
However, the supermarket's revenue had skyrocketed.
Nearly all customers who came in were purchasing heavily and stockpiling goods.
The early signs of a chaotic era were evident.
Megumai's feat of instantly killing the strong man a while ago had spread throughout the neighbourhood, becoming a topic of conversation after meals.
Most people passing the supermarket couldn't help but quietly glance at the mother and son, thinking that this Manager Tojo truly kept her talents hidden.
They had thought she was an ordinary person, but she turned out to be a shinobi with astonishing strength.
No wonder the supermarket owner chose her back then.
Sigh, there really is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
There was no 'good first impression'; it was all an inside job!
The snow kept falling.
Megumai pinched her son's little cheek, "Baby, would you like to go out and play sometime soon?"
Seiya 's eyes lit up, and he replied with a soft, milky voice, "Where are we going, Mama?"
"The outside world, those places you see on TV."
"Are we leaving... the toy base?" Disappointment appeared on Seiya 's face, and his hand movements on the balloon stopped.
The 'toy base' referred to the supermarket.
The supermarket was full of dazzling, diverse goods.
Most of Seiya 's toys came from here.
In his view, the supermarket was a treasure mountain.
Every trip around, he might discover a new, fun treasure.
Suddenly learning that they were leaving the supermarket, the young boy was somewhat unwilling.
Megumai smiled gently and consoled him, "There are lots of fun toys outside too, and Mama will buy them for you then. There are also very beautiful and wonderful sights, and Mama and Baby will travel together and enjoy the scenery..."
"Okay! Let's go!"
Seiya raised his little hand and readily agreed.
In his little mind, if he was with his mother, everything was fine.
Moreover, he wouldn't lack for toys, so what reason was there to resist leaving?
Megumai adjusted her son's hat and smiled, "We can't leave yet, we have to wait for your Konan-Oneesan to arrive."
"Konan-neesan..."
This sparked Seiya 's thoughts.
He didn't have a concept of the exact time, but he felt like it had been a long time since he last saw Konan-neesan-so long that he had already finished reading the picture book she gave him last time...
A moment later, Seiya 's eyes suddenly lit up.
He excitedly threw down the balloon, patted Megumai's arm with one hand, and pointed with the other hand at the person approaching in the distance.
"Mama! Konan-neesan is here!"
"Huh? Really? Let Mama see."
Megumai followed the direction her son was pointing and squinted for a long time.
It wasn't until the person came closer that she recognized it was Konan.
Once the Mangekyo Sharingan is activated, one inevitably begins to gradually fall into darkness.
Over the past four years, Megumai's eyesight had deteriorated to varying degrees, making it quite difficult to see things far away.
As of now, she could no longer see as far as Seiya .
After confirming the person was Konan, Megumai grew suspicious.
According to custom, Konan should have come to inspect the 'Peace' Supermarket at the end of the quarter, yet it was only the middle of the quarter now.
Why would she arrive so early?
Megumai's eyes flickered slightly, and she hugged the son in her arms tighter.
...
Times change and the world shifts.
Konan was no longer the girl from two years ago who was outwardly cold but inwardly kind.
After hiring Megumai as the shop manager, she returned to Amegakure, and not long after, she went with Nagato and Yahiko to meet Hanzo the Salamander to discuss important matters, but they were tragically ambushed.
Yahiko heroically sacrificed himself to protect Konan and Nagato.
Their trusting nature toward Hanzo the Salamander ultimately cost them dearly.
Konan and Nagato were deeply distressed and remorseful.
To prevent their childhood friend's tragedy from happening again, the two survivors learned their lesson, hardened their hearts, and no longer easily trusted others.
Konan thus transformed into someone who was cold both outwardly and inwardly.
However, perhaps because they had met before Yahiko's death, or because the 'Peace' Supermarket was managed exceptionally well, or perhaps because of the innocent Seiya, Konan did not treat Megumai coldly; instead, she grew to trust and care for her more.
Every time Konan came to inspect the 'Peace' Supermarket, she would bring many gifts for Megumai and Seiya.
This time, she arrived empty-handed, her face like frost.
Seiya excitedly waved and greeted her, "Konan-neesan!"
Megumai watched quietly.
Konan's lips curved slightly, and she tried to offer a smile to Seiya.
Then, her already pale face grew even more bloodless. Her thin lips had lost all trace of red.
Step after step.
Konan slowly but resolutely walked to the front of the supermarket, glanced at the business-as-usual store, breathed a sigh of relief, and then immediately lost consciousness, collapsing weakly.
Megumai's eyes narrowed, and she quickly reached out to support Konan.
Seiya cried out in alarm and asked, with a slight whimper, "Mama, Konan-neesan... is she dead?"
Megumai kissed her precious son's cheek and comforted him, "Don't worry, Konan-neesan is just sick and needs rest. She'll wake up in a little while."
...
Anyone with eyes could see that Konan's condition was not optimistic.
In the underground infirmary of the 'Peace' Supermarket, the female employee's expression was grave as she used chakra to examine Konan's physical condition.
After a while, she withdrew her chakra, shook her head at Megumai beside her, and sighed.
"Manager, Lady Konan is seriously injured and has been afflicted with a potent toxin. I can alleviate the injuries somewhat, but I am powerless against the poison."
"What poison?" Megumai asked.
"It should be Hanzo's Salamander Poison." The female employee was certain.
Since falling out with Hanzo, the Akatsuki organization was often attacked, and many members had been poisoned by the Salamander's toxin.
Although the female employee lacked the talent to cure it, she was very familiar with this poison.
Facing the unconscious Lady Konan now, the female employee was at a loss, extremely anxious, yet also very helpless.
Aside from Konoha, Sunagakure, and Hanzo himself, other organizations were hindered by a lack of medical talent and had not developed an antidote for the Salamander Poison.
Once poisoned, one could only wait for death.
The female employee's face was covered in worry; for a moment, she even forgot to treat Konan's injuries first.
"No need to worry, I have the antidote."
With that, Megumai summoned a scroll, unrolled it, and took out a bottle of pale blue liquid from within.
The female employee's body trembled with surprise and joy. She abruptly stood up, "Manager! You..."
Megumai's expression was calm as she instructed, "Give it to Konan to drink and cure her. Everything else can wait."
"Yes, Manager!"
The female employee happily responded, took the medicine, and started the treatment.
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