"Of course, you've worked hard these past two days, ahaha~" Tsunade laughed awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood. However, Kain's expression didn't change, so she continued, "Well, it has been confirmed in the past two days that your medicine is indeed as effective as described. I've already sent a message to Konoha, and we'll definitely purchase it in large quantities soon."
Kain let out a small sigh of relief and replied, "That's good. To be honest, I've been away for quite a while. It would be great if we could finalize the transaction quickly."
Tsunade smiled, trying to reassure him, "Don't worry. If there are no complications, a group will be returning to Konoha in three days. I'll be going back with them, and we can conclude the negotiations then."
Kain glanced at her, hesitating for a moment, before he asked, "I was just curious. Given your strength, do you really need to go back right now just to oversee a transaction? If it's not convenient to answer, you can just ignore the question."
Tsunade shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. "There's no issue in answering. The war is almost over, so I'm going back with the wounded. Sand Shinobi is retreating, and they've lost the will to continue fighting. Under the combined pressure from Konoha and Rain Shinobi, Sand Shinobi's casualties have far surpassed ours, all thanks to Danzo's strategy. If the fighting continued, Konoha would suffer heavy losses, but Sand Shinobi would collapse. That's why they've conceded."
She paused before continuing, "My role here is no longer as critical. At this point, the best thing I can do is to return to the village and contribute at Konoha Hospital."
Kain nodded, accepting her reasoning. He didn't know if time flowed differently between his world and the ninja world, but he had already been in the ninja world for five days. He estimated that he could only afford to stay for about 20 more days before his absence in his own world might raise alarms, possibly leading to police involvement and missing person reports.
Several days later, Tsunade led a group of wounded back to Konoha, with Kain among them. Since he wasn't a ninja, Tsunade made arrangements for him to travel in a carriage. She understood that Kain would soon be a distinguished guest in Konoha and should be treated accordingly.
The journey took some time, and by the time they arrived in Konoha, it was already late afternoon. As they entered the village, Tsunade looked back at Kain with a hint of pride. "Here we are—this is Konoha. How do you like it?"
Kain looked around, unimpressed. "It's not bad. So, what's next?"
Tsunade clicked her tongue, seemingly annoyed by his lack of enthusiasm, but she continued, "First, I'll find you a place to stay. There are still plenty of vacant houses available."
"Your house?" Kain's expression stiffened, and he quickly interjected, "That's not necessary. Any hotel will do. I'm here for business, not to overstay my welcome in someone else's home."
Living in Tsunade's home, in the heart of the Senju clan's territory, was the last thing Kain wanted. He had no desire to entangle himself further in the affairs of Konoha's elite.
Tsunade waved off his concerns. "There aren't any hotels in Konoha, and the only other options are unassigned houses or ninja apartments. Neither of those is suitable for you. My house has plenty of space, and it's in the Senju compound, so you'll be well protected."
Kain was momentarily taken aback. Konoha, a village without a single hotel? What had she been so proud of earlier? Konoha had only existed for a little over 30 years, and it was still primarily a military village. Civilian businesses were a recent development, and inns simply didn't exist.
Tsunade's suggestion to have Kain stay in her home was more than just hospitality. In truth, she had already informed Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, about Kain's arrival, and he had given his approval. The real reason was more strategic: Tsunade's grandmother, Uzumaki Mito, had the unique ability to sense the malice in people's hearts. By having Kain stay in the Senju compound, Mito could easily monitor him without his knowledge.
Mito's perceptive abilities had recently uncovered several spies within Konoha, and there was no doubt that if Kain harbored any hidden animosity toward the village, it would be detected. Given the importance of the medicine Kain had brought, Sarutobi Hiruzen was not taking any chances. The medicine could shift the balance of power in the ongoing war, and if Kain were an agent of another village, particularly Rain Shinobi, it could spell disaster for Konoha.
Kain studied Tsunade for a moment, realizing that this was not a matter for debate. He sighed, "Fine. I suppose I'll accept your hospitality, Tsunade-san."
Despite his initial discomfort, Kain knew that continuing to press the issue would be pointless. Under Tsunade's guidance, he was led to the Senju clan's compound. The wars had decimated the once-powerful Senju clan, and the clan lands now felt vast and empty.
Once Kain was settled into one of the vacant houses, Tsunade gave him a final set of instructions. "You can rest here for the day. Tomorrow, I'll take you to meet Sarutobi-sensei, the Third Hokage."
"Got it," Kain replied. "I'll stay here unless something urgent comes up."
"You don't have to be that cautious. If you want to go out and explore, just let me know," Tsunade remarked, feeling a bit exasperated by Kain's overly cautious behavior. He seemed to have no interest in spying on Konoha or meddling in their affairs.
Meanwhile, in another part of the Senju compound, Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen stood next to Uzumaki Mito, holding a crystal ball. With great respect, he asked, "Mito-sama, would you kindly use your ability to sense good and evil? We need to know if this man harbors any malice toward Konoha."
Uzumaki Mito closed her eyes and focused on Kain's presence. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and said calmly, "He bears no malice."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, visibly relieved. "Thank you, Mito-sama. I'll make the necessary arrangements for tomorrow's negotiations."
With that, Sarutobi left Mito's side, preparing for the important business dealings that lay ahead. The medicine Kain had brought to Konoha could change the course of the war, and ensuring a smooth transaction was now his top priority.