"Is that called tofu pudding?" Tobi scratched the back of his head. "It's really delicious!"
Even though he didn't need to eat, the feeling of eating was still quite nice.
Tobi felt that he had already grown fond of this sensation. It had become his second favorite thing, right after his love for drawing poop.
"Where should I go now?" After finishing the tofu pudding, Tobi thanked the auntie and left directly.
Looking ahead, he had no idea where to go.
And the people here were really strange!
Even though he wasn't going to work, why did someone come to ask him something every time he approached a shop?
"Maybe finding a job wouldn't be bad?" Tobi rubbed his chin and muttered. "That way, Lord Madara wouldn't have to worry about money anymore."
He could support Lord Madara himself.
"Hey, kid."
Just as Tobi was deep in thought, a middle-aged man nearby called out to him. "Come here for a second."
"What is it?" Tobi walked over curiously.
"Help me out, will you?" The man clutched his stomach. "I have something urgent to take care of. Can you watch the shop for me?"
"Do you need to poop?" Tobi looked at the man's stomach. "What does pooping feel like?"
"..."
The man's face darkened. Was this kid some kind of weirdo?
But...
"Gurgle!!"
"I'm leaving it to you." The man clutched his stomach and rushed out. "The prices are all written on the tags. Just check them yourself. I..."
"Gurgle!!"
"I'll be right back." The man left with a pained expression.
"Uh..." Tobi scratched his head in confusion. "I can't read!"
And besides...
Did he really trust him that much?
But seeing that the man had already left, Tobi helplessly stared at the colorful items in front of him. "What are these things?" He picked up a red one and sniffed it. "It smells really good."
But...
"Eating things costs money!" Tobi tugged at his black hair in frustration. Finally...
He sighed and put the item back, muttering, "Lord Madara told us not to cause trouble."
Just then...
A blue-haired little girl walked in, followed by an orange-haired boy and a red-haired boy.
"Five strawberry-flavored and five orange-flavored candies, plus three lollipops!"
"Candy?" Tobi looked at the three children and scratched his head in confusion. "What's candy?"
Instantly...
All three children looked at Tobi with pity.
The orange-haired boy sighed and said, "He doesn't even know what candy is. How sad!"
"Idiot!" The little girl retorted bluntly. "He's the one selling candy. Of course he knows. He's just messing with us."
"Maybe he's new here?" The red-haired boy rolled his eyes. "This guy obviously isn't the usual fat shopkeeper."
Then...
"That's so pitiful!" All three children looked at Tobi with sympathy.
Tobi stared at them speechlessly. "The shopkeeper stepped out. I'm just helping out. Do you want to wait for him to come back?"
"We have class soon." The orange-haired boy looked at the blue-haired girl. "Should we come back after school?"
"No!" The girl crossed her arms and shrieked. "After school will be too late. What do you think, Nagato?"
"Me?" Nagato scratched his head. "I don't care. Besides, Mom says eating too much candy will give you cavities."
"That's why I'm only buying three lollipops!" The girl said matter-of-factly. "One for you, one for me, and one for Yahiko."
"What about the rest?" Nagato asked curiously. There were still five strawberry candies and five orange candies left.
"Those are all mine, of course!" Konan declared.
"..."
Yahiko and Nagato exchanged glances, then reluctantly nodded in surrender to her authority.
"How about we just take the candy, give him the money, and have him pass it to the shopkeeper?" Yahiko suggested, looking at Tobi.
"Yeah!" Konan's eyes lit up. She nodded. "Let's do that. Nagato, go get the lollipops!"
"Why me..." Nagato wanted to refuse, but under Konan's gaze, he sighed and nodded. "Fine."
Then...
"You have to give this to the shopkeeper, okay?" Konan carefully took out the money and eyed Tobi warily. "Don't run away, or the police will come after you."
"Got it, got it." Tobi nodded helplessly. "I'll give it to him."
Hearing Tobi's confirmation, Konan nodded in satisfaction. Then, she took out a red candy and handed it to Tobi. "This is for you. This is what candy is."
With that, she happily left with Yahiko and Nagato.
Tobi looked at the candy in his hand, then at the ones on display. "So this is candy?"
He popped it into his mouth.
Instantly, his eyes brightened.
"This is so sweet and delicious!"
And this flavor...
"Is this strawberry?" Tobi smiled slightly. "Lord Madara would probably like it." He glanced at the pile of candies. "I wonder what the other flavors taste like?"
But...
"No!" Tobi immediately turned away. "Lord Madara said not to cause trouble."
Just as Tobi was debating whether to secretly take a few...
"Thanks for your help." The shopkeeper returned, smiling warmly at Tobi. "Had a stomachache from breakfast."
Tobi sighed. Seems like he was too slow. He handed the money the kids had given him to the man. "Three kids came by earlier to buy candy. Here's the money."
"Oh, was it Konan and the others?" The man nodded understandingly. He took the money, then grabbed a handful of candies and wrapped them in paper. "These are for you, as thanks for watching the shop."
"For me?" Tobi stared blankly at the candies being handed to him. A strange feeling welled up inside him.
"Yep, just some candy." The man smiled. "Take it. Consider it your payment."
"This..." Tobi scratched the back of his head and grinned foolishly. "Thank you!"
...
"Where did Tobi go?" Uchiha Madara lay on the recliner on the balcony, basking in the morning sun. "Why hasn't he come back yet?"
He had known Tobi left in the morning.
Though he wasn't sure why Tobi went out, considering how diligently he had taken care of him all these years without ever stepping foot in the outside world, Madara didn't stop him.
"What an interesting country." Uchiha Madara watched the people working in the distance and sighed. "But this peace won't last long."
Only the Infinite Tsukuyomi, as described on the stone tablet, could bring lasting peace to the shinobi world.
Yet as he watched the laborers toiling away, their faces filled with happy smiles, Madara's lips unconsciously curled into a faint smile.
He stared blankly at the working people.
"Maybe..."
"I should go out and see?"
Just then...
"Lord Madara, I brought you something delicious!"