In the ninja world, there are many secret medicines, some of which can significantly enhance a ninja's abilities at the cost of damaging their physical foundation.
For example, Uchiha Sasuke, after seeking Orochimaru, consumed many harmful forbidden drugs. Many ninja clans possess such drugs, with the Akimichi clan's Three Colored Pills being among the most powerful.
Ninjas devise various methods to enhance their strength, and secret medicines are one of them. Compared to them, health supplements are much simpler, aiming mainly at restoring some vitality and maintaining the body. Hence, Ikemoto readily agreed to Yoichi's request.
However, being a ninja himself, Ikemoto didn't quite grasp why Yoichi needed these drugs. He only knew the task was manageable for him, especially with the generous reward Yoichi offered, equivalent to three S-rank missions.
Ikemoto initially planned to conduct a simple study, but given Yoichi's emphasis and the substantial reward, he felt obligated to take the task seriously to justify his client's trust.
The next day, Yoichi visited Elder Kenji again to discuss the situation and intended to sell the drugs confiscated from the Shimura family.
Originally, the Shimura family planned to sell these drugs to Konoha, possibly someone in agreement with Danzo. The security team's investigation confirmed this. However, now that Konoha wouldn't be receiving them, drugs, being in high demand in the ninja world, could be easily sold elsewhere for a potentially higher profit.
Elder Kenji nodded, assuring Yoichi he would handle the matter.
Elder Kenji also mentioned that the Shimura family was planning to transfer a warehouse, which contained goods and money not as vast as those confiscated by Konoha but still significant. He asked Yoichi if he was interested in checking it out.
Naturally, Yoichi agreed. If anyone in Konoha harbored the highest grudge against Danzo, it was him.
The Shimura family, though not numerous, had some ninjas operating externally. Elder Kenji planned to send two squads to give Danzo another lesson. Most of the money earned by the Shimura family in business provided funds for Danzo, as the Third Hokage wouldn't allocate substantial funds to the Root, focusing instead on his Anbu.
Danzo had to finance Root's development with his own money, but Elder Kenji certainly wouldn't give Danzo that opportunity!
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"Hiruzen!"
The door to the Hokage's office was forcefully opened, prompting everyone inside to look towards the entrance. Following this, Danzo walked in with a grim expression on his face, accompanied by Homura and Koharu, the other two advisors.
Hiruzen let out an internal sigh and then turned to Minato, saying, "Minato, you may leave for now."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Minato, having already received his assignment, left the office as the discussions to follow were beyond his involvement.
With Minato gone, Hiruzen took a moment to light his pipe, his expression filled with dissatisfaction as he asked, "Danzo, what seems to be the problem now?"
"It's not me; it's the Uchiha clan that's causing trouble. They're practically rebelling!"
Danzo, with evident displeasure, knocked his cane against the floor before nearly yelling at Hiruzen, "Another one of the Shimura family's business operations outside the village has been destroyed. They've even killed seven of my ninjas!"
"Is that so?"
Hiruzen was genuinely unaware of this incident. The Anbu is limited in number, dedicating half of their forces to gather intelligence from across the ninja world, leaving insufficient resources to monitor all the clans within the village.
"Was it the Uchiha clan's doing?"
Danzo replied with a dark tone, "Who else but them? This is the Land of Fire. It couldn't possibly be the Cloud ninja. Hiruzen, this is the second time now!"
"Who allowed you to use such methods? It's utterly foolish. Now, even Sakumo is quite displeased with you; you nearly caused his son harm!"
Hiruzen rebuked Danzo, his expression just as grim. Hiruzen had placed his trust in Danzo by giving him autonomy, only for him to resort to such folly.
The idea of leaking information to other ninja villages was absurd. If not for Hiruzen's directive to keep this matter from spreading, the village's perception of their leadership would be severely undermined.
"Now is not the time for such discussions, Hiruzen. If you can't make the Uchiha stand down, then I must mobilize the Root."
"Ridiculous!"
Hiruzen slammed the table in anger, "Danzo, are you trying to incite internal conflict within the village?"
Danzo, unyielding, retorted, "Even if it leads to internal conflict, it was the Uchiha who provoked it first. Hiruzen, don't forget the Shimura clan has already lost forty-six members!"
Danzo was reluctant to engage the Root in a clash with the Uchiha; the Uchiha's dominance was too strong, and even with several hundred police force members, not all of whom were radicals, Root couldn't compare.
Pitting ninja numbers and strength against the Uchiha, Root would be at a disadvantage, potentially ruining Danzo's years of effort.
Hearing Danzo's words, Hiruzen fell silent, acknowledging the substantial loss to the Shimura clan, albeit due to Danzo's foolish actions.
Both fell quiet until Koharu interjected, "Hiruzen, what about the medicine bought by the Shimura family, intended as village reserves and seized by the police force? When will it be returned to the village?"
Hiruzen, feeling helpless, suggested, "Koharu, let's not dwell on that. Those drugs have likely been sold by the police force already. We'll have to repurchase them."
Hiruzen was about to mention it was fortunate they hadn't paid yet but stopped himself, considering Danzo's presence, opting for a different response.
The loss was to the Shimura family, not the village, and while Hiruzen wasn't overly concerned, the Shimura family had made considerable profits in the village before; this loss wouldn't cripple them.
"I'll speak with Fugaku to halt this matter. Danzo, keep yourself and the Root in check for now; refrain from operating within the Land of Fire. Investigate the Cloud Village instead."
"Koharu, you handle the medicine repurchase. Homura, please deal with the Daimyo; it's best if you discuss that matter with the Daimyo personally."
"That matter, Hiruzen? Are you referring to the Iron Mine in the River Country?"
After taking a puff of his pipe, Hiruzen slowly said, "Yes. The Daimyo hasn't reached an agreement with the Daimyo of the River Country. I plan to send Sakumo to handle it."
'Danzo's thoughts turned cold at the mention of sending Sakumo. If Sakumo successfully managed this, his prestige could even surpass that of a Hokage's aide, especially since Sakumo had previously aligned with the Uchiha.'
(End of Chapter)