Sora Yamanaka 19: Chapter 19: Mrs.
Sora Yamanaka Ten-plus minutes later, Tsunade stopped in front of a flower shop.
Since she was going to “pay her respects” to Hashirama.
It wouldn’t be right to go without bringing some flowers.
She stepped forward and pushed open the shop door.
The wind chimes on the door tinkled.
“Hello, what can I get for you?” A gentle female voice came from behind the flower rack.
Tsunade looked up.
A woman with long, silky blonde hair walked out from behind the flowers.
She looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight.
Her face was gentle, and she was wearing a purple short-sleeved top.
Her cuffs were stained with a little pollen and water droplets.
Mrs.
Yamanaka Upon seeing her, the woman was clearly stunned for a moment.
Then, a pleasant, surprised smile appeared on her face.
“Oh?
Is that Lady Tsunade?
Why are you here?” The person before her was none other than the wife of the current head of the Yamanaka clan.
Sora Yamanaka.
In the original body’s memories, Tsunade had met her a few times.
But they weren’t very close.
It was basically just a nodding acquaintance at some family gatherings.
The other party’s enthusiastic attitude was somewhat unexpected.
Sora Yamanaka walked over quickly, not even having time to take off her apron.
She looked at Tsunade, her light brown eyes revealing clear respect.
And even a hint of…
admiration?
“Lady Tsunade, it really is you!” Sora Yamanaka’s voice carried a touch of excitement.
“We’ve heard about what happened with the Hyuga Clan…
Lady Hoshina and the child were able to be safe thanks to you!” She paused, clasped her hands together, and said earnestly: “You are truly amazing.” So that was it.
Tsunade grinned.
She hadn’t left the Hyuga compound for some time.
It seemed that the old man, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had been working behind the scenes.
The titles of “Konoha’s Number One Female Fist” and “Guardian Deity of Women.” They had probably already spread among the circles of women in the various clans.
“It’s nothing.” Tsunade waved her hand, trying to appear a bit humble.
“We’re all women; if I don’t help her, who will?” “Besides, it’s not easy for us women to survive in the Ninja World, so we should help each other even more.” Sora Yamanaka’s eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly.
Her face was full of emotion and admiration.
“Lady Tsunade is right!” Tsunade chatted a bit more, and Sora Yamanaka grew more excited the more she listened.
Feeling that the timing was right, Tsunade quickly changed the subject.
If she kept bragging, even she would feel embarrassed.
She pointed to the bouquets displayed in the shop.
“Um…
Mrs.
Sora Yamanaka, I’d like to buy a bouquet of flowers.” “Of course!
What kind of flowers would you like?” Sora Yamanaka immediately entered work mode, her smile gentle.
“Chrysanthemums,” Tsunade said.
The smile on Sora Yamanaka’s face paused slightly.
As a flower shop owner, she was extremely sensitive to the symbolism of chrysanthemums.
In Konoha, chrysanthemums were usually used for paying respects to the deceased.
“Lady Tsunade…
are you…” Her voice lowered, carrying a note of caution.
Tsunade waved her hand: “It’s nothing, I just missed my grandfather.
I’m planning to go pay my respects early tomorrow morning.” Sora Yamanaka finally breathed a sigh of relief, her expression relaxing again.
“So that’s it…
Shodai(1st)-sama is truly worth remembering by everyone.
Please wait a moment, I’ll pick out the freshest bunch for you.” She turned and walked toward the flower rack, selecting them with skilled movements.
Tsunade didn’t wait idly in place and followed her into the shop.
The flower shop wasn’t large, but it was arranged elegantly.
Flowers of various colors were arranged in categories.
They were vibrant and looked well-cared for.
“Mrs.
Sora Yamanaka, the flowers in your shop are really well-kept.” Tsunade praised casually.
“Especially those rose pots; the petals are full and the colors are vibrant.
It must be the result of regular pruning and controlling the light, right?” Sora Yamanaka, who was bundling the chrysanthemums, looked up in surprise upon hearing this.
“Lady Tsunade knows flowers too?” “I know a little bit.” Tsunade grinned.
In her past life, she could mingle with women, so she naturally mastered many feminine skills.
Appreciating flowers, tasting tea, chatting…
These were all required courses.
Although it was mainly to pick up girls, it might have miraculous effects now.
She walked over to a pot of purple flowers and bent down to smell them.
“Violets, the floral language is ‘eternal beauty and love’.” Tsunade straightened up and pointed to a bunch of white flowers next to it.
“Lilies symbolize purity and nobility; they are very suitable for newlyweds or to congratulate a newborn.” She spoke as she walked, from the floral language of roses to the meaning of carnations.
From the arrangement techniques of baby’s breath to the emotions represented by tulips of different colors.
She spoke with great authority.
Sora Yamanaka’s movements had long since stopped.
She stared at Tsunade with wide eyes, the light in them growing brighter and brighter.
“Lady Tsunade…
you…
you actually have such deep research into flowers?!” Her voice was full of disbelief.
“Many professional florists might not even know this knowledge!” “Just a hobby.” Tsunade shrugged, though she was secretly overjoyed.
It seemed these skill points weren’t added in vain.
She had originally planned to just buy a bouquet and leave.
But seeing how enthusiastic Sora Yamanaka was, her eyes were almost turning into stars.
She decided not to rush off.
She had originally intended to develop good relationships with the various ninja clans.
The Yamanaka clan was also a major Konoha clan.
Forming the “Ino–Shika–Chō” iron triangle with the Nara Clan and the Akimichi clan.
It carried significant weight in Konoha’s political landscape.
Today was an excellent opportunity; how could she miss it?
“Mrs.
Sora Yamanaka, I see you have flower tea here?” Tsunade pointed to several glass jars placed behind the counter.
“Ah!
Yes!” Sora Yamanaka immediately snapped back to reality, as if she had found an opportunity to show off her treasures.
“I blended them all myself!
Would you like to try some?” “Sure.” “Please wait a moment!
I’ll brew some right away!” Sora Yamanaka almost trotted to the back room.
Before long, she brought out a set of exquisite tea ware and several small porcelain jars.
The two sat down at a small tea table in the corner of the flower shop.
Sora Yamanaka elegantly scalded the cups, took the tea, and brewed it.
The moment the hot water was poured, an elegant aroma mixing floral and tea scents permeated the air.
“This is ‘Morning Dew Rose Black Tea’ that I blended myself.” Sora Yamanaka pushed a cup of pale red tea toward Tsunade, her eyes filled with anticipation.
“Please have a taste.” Tsunade picked up the teacup and first observed its color: The tea soup was clear and bright, with a faint golden rim.
Then she smelled its aroma: The sweet fragrance of roses and the mellowness of the black tea were blended just right.
She took a sip.
The tea soup was warm and smooth, with the rose aroma melting on the tip of her tongue.
Followed by the slight astringency and sweet aftertaste unique to black tea.
“Not bad.” Tsunade put down the teacup and commented.
“The roses used are buds picked in the early morning that haven’t fully opened, which preserves the aroma best.” “The black tea base is Lapsang Souchong with moderate fermentation and a honey scent…
right?” The teapot in Sora Yamanaka’s hand almost slipped.
She opened her mouth, and it took a long time before she could make a sound: “…Completely correct.” “The ratio of tea to flowers is about 1:3.” Tsunade continued.
“But next time you could try adding a little bit of dried bergamot peel, which could make the overall aroma layers richer.” Sora Yamanaka stared at her blankly, and after a few seconds, she stood up abruptly.
“Wait a moment!” She ran back to the back room and this time brought out several plates.
On them were various exquisite little snacks.
“These are flower cakes I made!
Made with edible petals, please have a taste!” Tsunade didn’t stand on ceremony and tried them one by one.
“This is cherry blossom cake, the sweetness is moderate, but the texture of the glutinous rice flour could be a bit finer…” “This is osmanthus cake, the osmanthus aroma is very authentic, but the honey could be swapped for locust flower honey, the taste would be more elegant…” “Hey, this lavender cookie is interesting, but there’s too much lavender, it’s a bit bitter, try reducing it by a third next time…” Every time she tasted something, she commented casually.
Every sentence hit the mark.
Sora Yamanaka went from initial surprise, to later excitement, and then to the end.
She rested her hands on the tea table, leaning forward.
Her eyes stared fixedly at Tsunade, her breathing becoming rapid.
“Lady Tsunade!” Her voice trembled with excitement.
Tsunade’s performance was definitely not ‘knowing a little bit’!
These details, if one wasn’t someone who loved flowers to the extreme and studied them to the extreme.
It would be impossible to say them at all!
She grabbed Tsunade’s hand and held it tightly.
“I’ve opened a flower shop for so many years, blending flower tea and making flower cakes; I’ve always had to figure it out on my own, and there’s no one around who can discuss these things with me.” “Everyone thinks I’m just a…
housewife who likes to fiddle with flowers.” Her eyes were a bit red.
“But you are different!
You understand me!” “Every word you said, I understand!” “Those subtle differences, those clever ideas for pairings…
Oh my god, I’ve never met someone like you!” Tsunade was a bit embarrassed by her sudden outpouring of emotion.
“Ahem…
Mrs.
Sora Yamanaka, you’re exaggerating too much…” “No!
Not exaggerating at all!” Sora Yamanaka shook her head vigorously, let go of her hand, and turned to bring out a huge pile of things.
More flower tea jars, unopened flower cakes, and even several notebooks of floral art handwritten by herself.
“These!
These are all for you!
Take them back and try them!” “And this notebook, it contains my insights from these years of blending flower tea and making snacks, take a look.” “If there’s anything wrong, you must tell me!” Tsunade looked at the “gifts” piled up like a small mountain before her, and the corner of her mouth twitched.
“This is too much, I can’t carry it.” “It’s fine!
I’ll help you pack it up!” Sora Yamanaka didn’t give her a chance to refuse at all.
She found several large paper bags with nimble hands and began stuffing things inside.
Rose black tea, jasmine green tea, chrysanthemum goji berry tea…
cherry blossom cake, osmanthus cake, rose cookies…
And even two pots of a new orchid variety she had just cultivated, which were said to be particularly difficult to keep alive.
“This orchid…” Tsunade wanted to decline.
“Please accept it!” Sora Yamanaka stuffed the flower pots into the bags as well, her eyes earnest.
“Only someone like you who truly understands flowers is worthy of taking care of it!” Tsunade: “…” She looked at those bulging large paper bags that were almost bursting.
She looked at Sora Yamanaka’s expression of “If you don’t accept it, I’ll cry for you to see.” She finally sighed.
She knew that Sora Yamanaka was just too excited.
It was the feeling of having guarded a flower house for many years and finally meeting a kindred spirit.
“Alright then…
I won’t stand on ceremony.” “Great!” Sora Yamanaka was so happy she almost jumped up.
When Tsunade walked to the shop door, carrying large and small bags, wobbling.
The sun was about to set.
Sora Yamanaka walked her all the way to the door, grabbing her sleeve reluctantly.
“Lady Tsunade, you must come again next time!” “I’m recently researching making pastries with lotus petals; once I succeed, I’ll invite you to taste it first!” “Also, I have many precious flower seeds and tea recipes at home; you must come and take a look!” “By the way, next Wednesday we have a tea party for the women of our clans; are you free?” “I’ll introduce you to the wife of the Akimichi clan; she also especially likes making snacks.” Tsunade was a bit dizzy from being bombarded by her enthusiasm, nodding repeatedly.
“Okay, okay, I’ll definitely come if I have time.” “That’s a deal!” Sora Yamanaka’s eyes sparkled as if she had received a massive promise.
Even after Tsunade had walked a long way, she could still see her standing at the shop door waving vigorously when she looked back.
Tsunade weighed the heavy “spoils of war” in her hands and grinned.
“Mrs.
Yamanaka, mission accomplished!” She was in a great mood, humming a little tune as she walked home.
Of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans, the Yamanaka clan had started off well.
Next, should it be the Nara Clan or the Akimichi clan?
Or should she first consolidate the relationship with Mikoto?
“But the most important thing right now is…” She looked at the carefully wrapped bouquet of chrysanthemums in her hand.
“Tomorrow morning, go ‘visit’ grandfather.” …..