Upon arriving at the Hokage's office, Kain noticed that in addition to Tsunade, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura were also present.
"Kain-san, I apologize for the sudden invitation, but we have an important matter to discuss," Hiruzen Sarutobi greeted him with a polite tone, even though the situation was quite urgent. Konoha's medical ninjas were spread thin, and the village heavily relied on the medicine that Kain provided. His medicines had proven to increase the survival rate of the wounded by fifty to sixty percent, which was crucial in the ongoing war.
Without these medicines, the village risked suffering greater losses. Kain's supplies had become vital for Konoha to sustain its forces and prevent heavy casualties.
"I understand what the Third Hokage means," Kain responded. "However, I cannot offer the medicines on credit. In fact, I had to pay a large sum for the last batch of supplies. If I can't recoup those funds, I won't be able to provide further medicines in the future, and you might have to find another supplier."
Kain wasn't interested in hearing a long explanation. He wanted to cut to the chase. Credit and price were non-negotiable for him. If he agreed to loosen his standards now, it would set a bad precedent. Future negotiations could easily become more difficult if he showed leniency, and it was clear to him that Konoha would take advantage of that.
Hiruzen sighed internally, understanding the businessman's standpoint. He was trying to navigate the fine line between Konoha's financial difficulties and Kain's firm stance. Still, the Third Hokage forced a smile and asked, "Then, what kind of collateral would you accept?"
It was clear that Konoha didn't have the upper hand in this situation. They needed Kain more than he needed them, but Hiruzen couldn't afford to let those medicines slip away to another village. Despite numerous attempts, Hiruzen's Anbu had failed to uncover how Kain was smuggling the medicines in. It remained a mystery.
"I'm willing to accept various forms of collateral," Kain began, "including jewelry, jade, gold ornaments, or even utensils that are a few hundred years old. However, the pricing power remains with me, and I assure you, I won't deliberately undervalue them."
As soon as Kain mentioned setting his own prices, Utatane Koharu's expression soured. She had tried inflating the value of a few houses during a previous transaction, and she assumed Kain was subtly calling her out.
"Alternatively, you can offer me protection," Kain continued. "I'm heading to the capital of the Land of Fire for some business negotiations, and I could use some guards."
Although Kain had firearms in his backpack for protection, he knew they wouldn't be enough if he encountered a Jōnin-level attack. He needed skilled ninjas to ensure his safety.
Mitokado Homura, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked, "Would you accept ninjutsu scrolls as collateral? Konoha has a vast collection."
"Ninjutsu scrolls?" Kain shook his head. "No, Elder Homura. I'm not a ninja. Ninjutsu scrolls hold no value to me. A best-selling novel would be far more appealing."
With that, Mitokado Homura seemed to accept Kain's position and fell silent.
After this exchange, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Very well, Kain-san. Konoha will require the same amount of medicine as before. We'll send you a list of collateral for you to review."
Kain agreed, and an Anbu agent escorted him out of the Hokage building. The medicines were stored in the warehouse behind Kain's food store, ready to be distributed between the pharmacy and Konoha's immediate needs.
Later that afternoon, after a meal, Kain was again summoned to the Hokage building. This time, however, he wasn't taken to Hiruzen's office. Instead, Anbu led him to a different house, where only Mitokado Homura was present.
"Kain-san, here is the list of collateral for this transaction," Homura said, handing Kain a detailed inventory and gesturing toward a box on the table.
The box contained forty kilograms of gold, a hundred pieces of jewelry, a separate box of accessories, and over thirty antique utensils. Kain examined the items closely. Some of the antique utensils were more casually arranged, clearly indicating they had been passed down through generations. Mitokado Homura confirmed this, explaining that they were contributions from the Senju clan, dating back at least five hundred years.
These "antiques" had a long heritage, but for the most part, they didn't hold much value to Kain. However, he realized that, with the right marketing, he could present them as cultural treasures and turn a considerable profit.
Moving on, Kain inspected the jewelry and gemstones. Most of the gems appeared legitimate, though some had visible cracks or poor quality, which he promptly rejected. This clearly embarrassed Mitokado Homura, who silently cursed Utatane Koharu for including them.
Finally, Kain opened the box of accessories, most of which seemed authentic. But when he picked up two pieces that still had traces of dried blood, he paused. These items were probably looted by the Root division, and Mitokado Homura, recognizing Kain's reaction, quickly diverted his gaze, pretending to notice something wrong with the room's corners. The situation was clear — Danzo's division had been involved in some illicit activities.
"Other than what I've set aside, this looks acceptable, Elder Homura," Kain finally said, closing the box.
Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement. The remaining rejected items would likely be used to settle housing debts. After all, Konoha had plenty of houses, especially with the village expanding.
"The next thing to discuss is the commissioned tasks," Kain reminded him.
"Of course," Mitokado Homura replied. "We'll need to involve the mission team to provide a more detailed assessment."
Hiruzen Sarutobi might allow some flexibility when it came to trade items, but the missions were Konoha's reputation on the line. Neither Sarutobi nor Mitokado Homura would tolerate any tampering when it came to the village's credibility.