The sunset grew redder, with rays of golden light piercing through the clouds, sprinkling over the distant peaks like fireworks. As the area stained with sunset hues broadened, the sun finally set, glowing crimson, vibrant as fire.
Bathed in the evening glow, carrying the spring breeze, a group of children who had played outside all day clustered together and returned to the Uchiha settlement.
The backpacks they had taken out in the morning, now bulging instead of deflated. The lunch of "slate-grilled meat" at noon filled these kids' bellies, making them forget all about the snacks and food they had brought from home, like cakes, rice balls, and sandwiches.
Uchiha Toshiro, who took on the role of a 'butcher,' processed the wild boar in a straightforward and brutal manner—removing the head, skin, and entrails, burying the parts that were either too smelly or hard to deal with.
Even after such processing, there was still nearly 200 pounds of edible meat left.
Before heading home, they divided the meat into about twenty portions, wrapped in leaves, and distributed it among everyone.
Uchiha Toshiro did not distribute the meat equally. Those who went hunting with him, like Ryuho and Shu, as well as orphans from single-parent families or those who had lost both parents, received more generous portions.
In this world, the mortality rate was high, whether one was an ordinary civilian who couldn't even handle a chicken or a powerful ninja who had successfully harnessed chakra.
They could die from diseases, get caught in the crossfire of ninja battles, fall victim to wars between the five great nations, or suffer misfortunes from missions taken by ninjas—life was fragile, regardless of the world.
"I'm back!" After bidding farewell to his friends, Uchiha Toshiro swayed back home.
"Ah! Right on time! Go wash your hands; dinner will be ready in a bit!" The 18-year-old girl, shedding the naivety of her youth and turning into a bright, beautiful maiden, was entering the prime of her life.
"How was your day with your friends?" Uchiha Mikoto asked, having full trust in her 'brother.'
Describing someone like Uchiha Toshiro with terms like clever, hardworking, resilient, disciplined, mature, and thoughtful would not be an exaggeration. Sometimes, she even thought he might become an extraordinary figure capable of changing the clan, the village, or even the entire ninja world.
Unaware of his 'aunt's' high hopes, if Toshiro knew, he would be utterly speechless.
Despite possessing the mature soul of a thirty-year-old, his usual behavior made him stand out among peers.
Becoming a ninja was a necessity, given the dangers of this world and the inevitable future tragedies. Another part was his curiosity about supernatural powers.
"Today was really enjoyable," he responded while extracting a piece of boar meat wrapped in leaves from his backpack and storing it in the refrigerator.
The refrigerator, a new product launched last year, wasn't too popular due to its high price. Convincing Uchiha Mikoto to buy one took quite some effort, but the benefits were apparent…
"I heard you've been getting close with someone named 'Akira' from the police force. How is it going? Any plans for marriage?" Sitting at the dining table in the living room, the two chatted while eating.
"You're just a kid, just focus on eating and playing! This has nothing to do with you…" Annoyed and embarrassed at being teased, the girl glared at Uchiha Toshiro.
"How's the development of the special hemostatic medication going? Any progress?"
"Speaking of that, the progress is very promising. In about two weeks, we should be ready for clinical trials!"
It's still the 38th year of Konoha. The village, having won the Second Ninja War, was quietly gathering strength, recovering from the wounds left by the war. The pioneering efforts in medical systems, proposed by 'Tsunade', had just begun…
A year and a half ago, diverting Uchiha Mikoto's excessive attention from himself and ensuring his future safety, Toshiro suggested developing a fast-acting hemostatic coagulant for battlefield use. After more than a year of arduous development, it was finally about to yield results.
"So soon! Have you tested it on animals? How's the effect?"
Such rapid progress was thanks to Uchiha Mikoto's outstanding talent as a medical ninja. Using the family's secret healing recipe as a base, she worked to replace the expensive ingredients, significantly lowering the cost of the remedy.
"The effect is quite perfect! For wounds no longer than 15 cm and no wider than 3 mm, it can quickly stop the bleeding in 10 seconds to three minutes, depending on the depth. Its efficacy, especially on non-penetrating wounds from shuriken and kunai, is outstanding…" The excellent results were inseparable from the family-provided secret recipe.
As old rivals of the Senju, lacking in recovery and medical ninjutsu prowess, the Uchiha sought alternatives in healing ointments and evasion techniques.
"Oh, is the effect that good? Will the clan include this medication in the standard ninja medical supplies?"
Toshiro's unintended suggestion had caused some changes within the clan.
Being a large, strictly regulated clan, any new medication developed from the family's secret formula would face obstacles before being promoted throughout Konoha.
"It's not that simple. Even if clinical trials go well and the clan agrees, we still need to get past the village's approval!"
The Uchiha clan's internal opposition didn't worry Toshiro much. Since the internal turmoil thirty years ago, the Uchiha Clan Leader's selection was influenced by the village. At the very least, they wouldn't rashly think about rebellion.
"That's why we need to seek advice from that 'princess'…" To replace the nearly irreplaceable main ingredients, Uchiha Mikoto not only combed through the clan's library but also received significant help from that 'princess.'
"I believe the clan will likely agree, and with that princess's mediation, the village shouldn't pose much of a problem! After all, reducing ninja casualties is something the Third Hokage wouldn't refuse."
"And with Konoha's vast demand compared to the police force, as long as the secret formula remains protected, many idle clan members could find decent work."
Despite the large scale of the Uchiha clan and its substantial holdings, there were many non-ninja idle members with employment needs.
(Chapter End)