#v. KISS OF OLEANDER (Blank Period)

[hatredcurse]

"Ino." Shino says, appearing from seemingly nowhere. "I heard that your flower shop is having an aphid problem, is it the case?" || @kikaichuno

Ino's eyes shoot back, her body tempering itself from unleashing a vicious chop to Shino's throat, having not recognizing him at first.

" Oh, Shino, " a smile quickly decorates her lips mixed with a little shame," you heard about that? "

Waving her hand, dismissing the embarrassed blush on her face, she says, " I left the flowers in charge of some part-timers and somehow the aphid situation got out of control. I tried spraying the plants down with unfiltered water, but it only seems to work for a handful of days. "

" I know it's in their nature to be attracted to nitrogenous plants, but they are inviting all sorts of pests. It's stressing out the other fauna. " ' Stressing me out too '.

[hatredcurse]

The brunette was standing in front of the Yamanaka flower shop before she chose to go inside. Giving oneself a lovely bouquet didn't sound so bad. A bouquet that would not be placed on the nightstand next to the hospital bed she had been in for over five years. No. Finally, she could arrange them in a lovely vase somewhere in her modest flat. She approached the blonde woman, sheepishly smiling at her. "Uh, haaah…" "I would like to buy flowers, b-but I'm not sure..." She paused abruptly. Her ears began to ring, and red sand poured from the walls. She was suddenly sucked into the illusionary world. In actuality, what appeared to be a few seconds was a day on the other plane. When she returned to reality, she shook her head and reached for it with her hand. She took a slow glance around her surroundings. Flowers… "A flower shop?" The brunette asked in confusion. She wasn't sure what she was doing there. This is why she should have gone with her nurse. Too stubborn she was. || @kyuusou

It was one of the rare times that Ino was actually in shop. Some of the part-timers wanted off for various celebrations, that she switched her schedule around and left the Barrier Committee with fewer helping hands today.

Wilting buds to be pruned, vegetables to be harvested, fresh seeds to be gestated, everything was lined up perfectly to the tasks she set out to do. She hummed, keeping herself company through all the tasks until the bell jingled from the door edge kicking it and broke her meditation with the hose in her hand.

" Welcome in, " Ino chimes over the shelves of vegetation, wheeling around towards the door to greet the customer.

" Oh- " her lips parted, ready with suggestions until she noticed the listlessness within the brunette's eyes. A sort of clinical phasing between present and disassociation. The Yamanaka couldn't fight her nature, hovering a nurturing hand near the Uchiha, urging her into the safety of the shop and away from the door or any fragile clay pots.

" Yes- were you wanting some flowers? " The question was simple, yet an important gauge of the woman's cognizance, " for decoration, perhaps? "

[hatredcurse]

" Humble? Possibility. I can't really tell you where I rank among the others. I'm was not necessarily a child prodigy nor a jinchuriki nor selected by any influential sage or power to study under. I am just me and all that I offer is really a noble name and niche intelligence. " Came another shrug of her shoulders. Ino had learned early on if she endeavored to compare herself endlessly to her classmates, she would forever feel inadequate, so she just chose to focus on what she knew she could do best that others couldn't.

An abrupt laugh escaped her, then a quieter coughing giggle after that, " you might be right! I am too forgiving. My leadership consider it a flaw. "

Hm. Parried well. Instead of unsettling her, it appears she's back to hiding her intentions; clearly, he was too hasty there.

"Curiosity can be very dangerous," he retorts, though he knows very well that she knows that. "In any case, either you are quite humble, or you are hiding the extent of your feelings. In truth, I do not know how Konoha treats it's kunoichi."

"And if not being insulted is the only way to judge, then your standards are far too low."

[hatredcurse]

" Oh? I'm not necessarily trying to hide it, " Ino leans forward a touch, minimizing her presence," I can't help my curiosity. "

" Not quite. I don't believe we are equals, even if I could convince you otherwise, you'd never believe that, " she said in observation, " I get treated- hm. " Pausing, she thinks on it. " I guess average. I certainly don't get princess treatment, if that is what you're assuming. " Just like any other kunoichi. Not necessarily remarkable other than what utility she provided to both her village and clan. She can't rank herself above her peers either, so more of an invisible asset, if anything.

" You haven't insulted me, even if your tone is as sharp as the edge of a knife's blade. "

"Such an answer shows that you're not as deft as you believe. Diplomatic answers often reveal more than you intend; now I believe you must have some kind of personal involvement with intelligence services, if you're going to be evasive on that point alone."

What her actual role or involvement was, he didn't know. He wasn't sure he cared. But when someone offered an opportunity to throw a verbal jab, it was unwise not to take it. Perhaps he might manage to throw her off guard. As it stood, she was remarkable capable in a debate.

"I must wonder what sort of attitudes you are normally treated with, if you believe I am treating you with baseline respect. Did you expect me to regard you as my equal? I would be insulted, were our positions changed." That was a lie, but a small one. He was trying to gauge her feelings on what he'd said before; in Iwa he was considered beneath even the most inept of shinobi by virtue of being a host. If she regarded his curt, barely hidden hostility as respect, he could only wonder what sort of treatment she expected in her own village.

[hatredcurse]

" Trust me I know, " she said. She won't mention her occupation as an interrogator, as it might spark conflict now, but she understood more than anyone the value of intimate information.

" That's inevitable, but Naruto is merely a man to me, liable to be subjected to all the criticism and adoration that comes with being one. And I'll keep it that way for as along as I'm alive, " a shrug of her shoulders, " well luckily I am not from Iwa, so I don't mind the scrutiny. You're treating me with baseline respect, it is only proper I return the notion in kind. "

"All engagements are battles; the most innocuous of conversations can breed the most important information. Surely they teach you this in Konoha." Iwa had a downright awful reputation of using literally everything to get ahead; it was entirely different to the way Konoha shinobi were trained.

"It does not matter what you wish would happen, or what he wishes. By becoming a hero, he will be worshipped. Either now or in the future, when all living memory has faded, the same way you worship the first Hokage's deeds. I agree that men are not worthy of worship, but humans are foolish creatures."

"In any case, it's not a crime. But engaging with someone who is less than human would certainly raise eyebrows where I am from."