Chapter 26: Layer upon layer
Feeling happy at the smooth aquisition of sage powers, Mizuki made his way through the streets, turning quite a few heads in the process, a good looking young man might not be rare in Konoha, but one taking the time to dress right, coupled with a warm smile was indeed a rare breed.
As Mizuki made his way through the streets, going towards the academy, a voice stopped him in his tracks.
" You need something son..!? "
Called out an old man with greying hair, looking over to the source of the voice, Mizuki saw an old man calling from inside his stall.
' Small store, with wear and tear, no up to date clothes, a hurried way of speaking, lacking grace.. possibly civilian. '
Flashing a smile at the old man, Mizuki made his way towards his store.
" Sure, what are you selling? "
The old man looked taken aback at an actual response, but quickly collected himself back up as he enthusiastically introduced his wares.
" Well I got these carvings, see this one belongs to konoha! Not enough? How about this ? This one is of the Hokage! Look at this quality! It's the best piece of work in my store, a young man such as you can surely see the quality?! "
The old man kept introducing his wares as Mizuki took a look at the statues in question, his eyebrows raised slightly, stopping his checking of wares, Mizuki instead, now looked towards the old man with an amused smile on his face.
After a while the old man stopped talking awkwardly as he found Mizuki smiling at him, instead of his wares, sputtering slightly the old man said in a loud voice
" What is it?! You want to rob this old man? Is that it? "
Chuckling slightly, Mizuki shook his head as he picked up the monument of the Third Hokage, and started tracing his fingers along the figure.
Mizuki took his time, he was moving his fingers along the exterior of the statue, as if checking for something, it's folded hands, the Hokage robe, it's top hat. Mizuki was feeling the texture throughout the statue in a very amused way, curiously the seller had gone quiet during this action, staring at Mizuki with shadowed eyes.
Chuckling once more, Mizuki said to seller in a definitive tone.
" Are you certain what you have here, is something of your creation? "
The old man frowned as he looked at Mizuki, he proceeded to speak in a harsh tone
" What are you on about?! Quit bugging an old man like me or I'll call the guards! "
With an unhurried smile on his face, Mizuki said with a smiling face yet an amused tone.
" It's not smooth "
Stopping in his tracks as for a second, the old man, as if chewing on his words, spit out his sentence.
" ... What's not? "
Showing the texture on the wooden statue of third Hokage to the seller, Mizuki said one more time.
" It's not smooth "
The old man had gone quiet, no more hollering could be heard from him, he had his fists slightly clenched, hidden behind his rough robes... after a while, he spoke, in a low voice he said to Mizuki.
" It was made by my grandson, it's normal for it to have few defects.. "
Mizuki smiled widely, as if gotten the confirmation of something.
He looked towards the old man with his wide smile, as he slowly waved the Thrid's statue infront of him, the old man kept looking at Mizuki, not once did he look at the waving statue in his hands, it was as if he was waiting for his next actions according to Mizuki's words.
But sadly for the old man, Mizuki had decided to go along with what he had already let the old man know, he simply decided to say it with determination.
" But it is not smooth. Old man "
The old man became deathly still, a while later, slowly, in a hoarse voice he asked.
" And what if it isn't.. what can I do about that now.. this is all I have.. take it or leave.. "
An exchange with multiple meanings was happening at very this moment. The old man was wondering if this was going to be it, the day he was waiting or was dreading?
A/N
Part 2 for old man pov coming up, providing further context.
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