Natsumi nearly dropped a noodle in her lap. "You want to go shopping?" she demanded in disbelief. "With what money? I've only got a few ryou in my emergency fund, and I don't think either of us are in any shape to pick up another mission on the side." The village didn't look very kindly on that sort of initiative, anyway. And her emergency fund wouldn't go very far...

She caught herself calculating exactly how far it would go--a tee-shirt, certainly, and bandages to bind her breasts, and a pair of second-hand sandals. Maybe even a few meals. But lodging was out of the question, if night caught them still on the road. Technically, shinobi in distress could requisition supplies and shelter from any merchant or inn-keeper in Fire Country, but few civilians were willing to help bloody-handed killers. In Natsumi's slim experience, reminding them of the law only made things worse. And while she had once managed to win her chuunin team shelter on a rainy night by beating the bartender at darts, the bedbugs really hadn't been worth it.

Surely the monks wouldn't sent Asuma off without a shirt, even if he ended up returning to Konoha yukata-clad. Natsumi could beg more bandages off Hideyoshi, and probably they'd be willing to give her sandals as well. She still wouldn't be able to afford a hotel room for the two of them, but they might be able to spend the night in some farmer's hayloft with no questions asked. Even if she limped the whole way, turning one day's journey into two or three, they could make it back.

But shiny things?

"You can buy souvenirs next time." She stirred her noodles and took another bite of bitter greens. "You'll have a beautiful new scar to remember this mission by, anyway. Isn't that more than enough?"