The streets of Konoha stood quiet under moonlight, almost too quiet for the Raikage who was on a diplomatic visit

“Tch. Of all the damn days…” he said

He cast a glare toward the empty market as if it’s personally taunting him. Stalls were closed, shutters drawn, even the food carts were packed up. It was the kind of silence that made his footsteps sound loud

He had miscalculated his trip. He left Kumo empty handed, confident that he’d pick up a worthy gift along the way — something classy but simple, like a bottle of rare sake or a fancy scroll, a relic, anything. But all the shops between borders had either been beneath the dignity of the occasion or closed when he arrived

This ordeal set him back and now it was already past eleven

“What kind of damn village goes to sleep this early?” he muttered, his voice filled with annoyance. He glanced down a narrow alley where a dim lamppost hummed like an insect.

“I should’ve just grabbed the damn sake” he growled to himself, just when he was just about to call it a night — find some half-decent inn, pass out, and figure out how to apologize to the Hokage in the morning without looking like a thoughtless brute — something caught his eye.

A light… from a shop… still open!

He narrowed his eyes as he quickly approached the shop. The sign above the wooden door read “Yamanaka Flower Shop”, written in elegant lettering. The moment he stood there he was enveloped by a soothing aroma that took him by surprise. It was entirely different from the frigid, sterile air of late-night operations or the oppressive humidity of Kumo

“A flower shop open at this hour!? Lucky me I guess…” he thought as he pushed the door and stepped inside

The shop was larger than it looked from outside — wide and open with soft and warm lights hanging from the ceiling. Long wooden tables stretched across the room, each covered with rows of meticulously arranged fresh-cut flowers, half-wrapped bouquets and vines hanging from aisles like green curtains

The overhead lamps casted a warm glow over polished floors and glass vases. The scent was rich and layered — rose, jasmine, and lavender. It pulled him in without meaning to.

He stepped deeper inside, boots echoing faintly on the hardwood as he wandered past bouquets wrapped in silk paper, ornamental potted trees, and exotic arrangements.

No one else was around.

It took him a moment to realize it — the silence, the lack of any footsteps or chatter. It was just him.

Then, suddenly, at the far end of the shop, behind a counter partially hidden by a tall stand of blooming lilies, he saw her.

A woman — tall and effortlessly stunning. Long blond hair swept up into a loose, practical knot, a few strands framing her face in that casual, effortless way that only made her look more graceful. She wore a fitted, sleeveless crop top in deep violet, the mesh detail across her shoulders showing just enough skin to catch the eye, paired with a matching high-slit skirt that revealed her toned legs and the confident ease and boldness of someone who knew exactly how to carry herself.

She had the kind of beauty that turned heads without trying. The kind of woman who didn’t need attention but never lacked it. Even from across the room, her presence was magnetic — bold and commanding in a way that could bring any man to his knees

She hadn’t noticed him yet.

He stood still for a moment, eyes locked on her, captivated the only other soul in the whole place. “Wow, what a fine young woman” he muttered to himself, almost forgetting he’d come here on business

Her back was half-turned toward him, one hand holding a phone to her ear, the other lazily twisting a fallen leaf between her fingers as she spoke

Ay decides to approach her and announce himself but suddenly stopped, noticing she was already engaged on a call

‘I should not interrupt her in middle of a call’ he thought

He stepped slightly to the side, his gaze still focused on her. His ears tuned in, trying to hear what the conversation is about

“I swear, Hinata, I’m not even asking for much anymore,” Ino said, her voice edged with exhaustion “I just want him to act like he remembers we’re a couple now. Or hell — like he remembers I exist”

A soft murmur of Hinata’s voice crackled from the phone, calm, gentle and supportive

“No, it’s not just the missions. I mean… yeah he’s busy, being an ANBU is no joke, but even when he’s home, it’s like he’s still somewhere else. I’ll be talking, and he’s already three thoughts ahead, reading a scroll or getting ready for another mission…”

“Honestly I don’t even remember the last time we had sex”

A mischievous smug appeared on Raikage’s face as he hears those words, he leans in more to hear this conversation better

”And even if I try to initiate things, he acts like sleeping with me would jeopardize the entire ANBU network. Pretty sure even his kunai get more action than I do”

Ay stood still, tapping in on that conversation he wasn’t supposed to, while a number of thoughts ran through his mind

“No, don’t tell me to ‘give it time’ Hina… I’ve been giving it time, a lot of time! I’m running out of patience and lube. At this point I feel his mission scrolls get more touch from him than I do,”

“can’t you just ask Naruto to give him some time off Hina?”

Hinata murmured something again, maybe trying to offer a solution

“I know Naruto can’t exactly pull Sai off missions just because I’m lonely, but… just give Sai a night or two off every now and then, or maybe a day or two off so he could spend time with me. I just want to have a conversation more than asking what he wants for his next mission”

Ay slowly gets even closer, trying to get a clearer view

“I’m tired, Hina,” she said quietly. “Maybe if I disguised myself as an intel report, I’d finally get some attention from him”

Hinata again calmly murmured something, probably saying she’ll talk about it

“Thanks a lot Hina” she took a pause. Then, with one last sigh “If it doesn’t work maybe I’ll just ask Naruto to assign doing me as his mission”

A low chuckle escaped Ay’s throat before he could stop it. Just a small sound, but in the quiet shop, it carried.