The Shopkeeper of Konoha

The following day dawned with a picturesque scene—a blanket of snow several inches thick had settled overnight, accompanied by a significant drop in temperature. However, inside Aoto's home, the occupants remained oblivious to the changing weather. They were completely engrossed in the library, their minds captivated by the pages they devoured.

As they delved deeper into their reading, their amazement grew, leaving them with an insatiable hunger for knowledge. They continued studying, discussing, and reading throughout the day. The passion for learning consumed them so entirely that even Hot Pie, usually responsible for cooking, didn't have the chance to prepare a meal. As hunger gnawed at their stomachs, they collectively decided to visit Ichiraku Ramen's shop.

At the shop, Edward and the others savored their meals with great satisfaction. They understood that mastering the intricacies of magic required more than a single day's worth of effort; it would take time and dedication.

Early the next morning, Shikuro arrived at the shop, only to find it closed. He had to make his way to Aoto's home and knock on the door. When it swung open, he was greeted by the sight of everyone inside, sipping tea, and new faces in their midst.

"Hello. Is this a bad time?" Shikuro inquired hesitantly.

"No, not at all. Come in. These are our new colleagues," Aoto replied, surprising Shikuro. It was evident to him that these individuals were not locals but hailed from distant lands. Since they were granted entry into Konoha, their documents were in perfect order, indicating no issues or concerns.

However, Aoto remained a mystery to Shikuro. He still wondered how Aoto had crossed paths with John and the others, but it seemed that he might never uncover the truth.

"Hello, I am Shikuro Aburame. I will be in your care from now on," Shikuro introduced himself.

Edward and the others warmly greeted him and offered their own introductions. However, it was Corazon's introduction that caught Shikuro off guard. A bodyguard? That was peculiar. Shikuro had assumed Aoto would only hire individuals skilled in specific fields.

Did Corazon possess formidable combat skills? Shikuro couldn't help but feel an urge to test this man's prowess, to understand his strengths and weaknesses, as their partnership was crucial in safeguarding Aoto.

However, such matters could be addressed later. At present, everyone was enjoying breakfast, and Shikuro was even invited by the grandmother to join them. As a man of few words, he listened intently as they regaled each other with tales of their lives beyond Konoha.

Their conversations painted a vivid picture of a world utterly different from his own, and he struggled to grasp the meaning of half their words. After the meal concluded, Aoto spoke up.

"So, Shikuro, what do you aspire to do in life?" Aoto asked, purposefully waiting until everyone else had left the room, leaving them alone.

"Life? Um... I am here to serve you until death," Shikuro replied, bowing his head. He couldn't comprehend why he was being asked such a question. After all, that was the agreement he had been forced into.

"No, I understand you are bound by the seal, but if you were free, what would you choose to do?" Aoto inquired genuinely.

"Um... I would continue protecting Konoha, as I have always done," Shikuro responded after pondering for a moment.

"How about protecting humanity as a whole?" Aoto suddenly proposed.

"Protecting humanity? I don't understand," Shikuro admitted, puzzled by the concept.

"Imagine there was an enemy hell-bent on eradicating all life in this world. What would you do then?" Aoto questioned.

"What? That's absurd! There is nothing that could wipe out all humans. Not even the tailed beasts possess such power," Shikuro stated, fully aware that discussing the tailed beasts was considered taboo. He assumed Aoto already knew of their existence, as people of high authority like himself were privy to such knowledge. Aoto until this point has shown knowledge that he himself didn't have a good grasp about so he for sure knew that Aoto knew of other tailed beasts too, in addition to Kyuubi.

"Who said I am talking about the tailed beasts. There are much more dangerous things in this world." Aoto said while putting his serious face. "The tailed beasts alone were tamed and distributed to the villages by Hashirama Senju. It didn't require an army; he accomplished it alone, So they are not really a threat."

"What?" Shikuro's eyes widened in astonishment. This part of history had remained concealed from him and most likely from others as well. It felt somewhat shameful that other villages had received tailed beasts from Konoha, only to later turn ungrateful.

"He distributed them to other villages?" Shikuro inquired, seeking confirmation from Aoto.

Aoto nodded solemnly. "But... but after the First Hokage's demise, the other villages attacked us," Shikuro recalled.

"So? Does that matter? But that is not the question I'm asking, Shikuro. I want to know if you are prepared to defend humanity when the time comes," Aoto redirected the conversation, leaving history for another discussion. A sense of dread washed over Shikuro upon hearing this question, but he clenched his fist resolutely.

"As long as it doesn't harm Konoha, I am willing to fight anything that threatens the well-being of people worldwide," Shikuro affirmed.

"Good answer. Come with me." Aoto said as he seemed very glad with the answer of Shikuro and led him to a closed room on the side. There, on the side, was a door made out of wood which looked ancient and mysterious.

Aoto opened the door and went with Shikuro inside. There he saw something that blew his mind. The sheer size of the library was something out of the ordinary and he was sure that this huge room wasn't a part of the home of Aoto. He was in awe looking at this place so much so that he was speechless.

"What.. What is this?"