After listening to Tsunade's explanation, Kain finally understood what had happened at the Jōnin council meeting. Tsunade had spent several days preparing a detailed report on reforming the medical system, but it seemed that the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was hesitant. Although he likely found the plan beneficial, the costs involved were probably too high, and with no clear reasoning to reject it outright, he chose to delay the decision.
However, for Tsunade, this issue couldn't be postponed. Her urgency likely stemmed from her brother's injury, which fueled her determination to push the reform forward. She believed that a fully established medical system would save many ninja lives, especially during times of war.
"If you think about it, the Third Hokage shouldn't have refused such a good proposal. In the early stages, it doesn't require much funding," Kain said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
Kato Dan, who had been quietly listening, felt the need to defend the Hokage. From his perspective, Kain, a common civilian, didn't understand the complexities of Konoha's leadership. Before Kato Dan could voice his thoughts, Kain continued speaking.
"Tsunade, do you think maybe you overwhelmed the Hokage by proposing too much at once?"
Tsunade frowned at his suggestion, feeling somewhat puzzled. "Overwhelmed? I only proposed what was absolutely necessary for the reform. It's not my fault the old man lacks vision."
Kain shook his head gently. "Even necessary reforms need to be taken step by step. If the Hokage had agreed to everything at once, you'd be overburdened. You'd be the first to burn out from exhaustion."
He continued, laying out a more structured plan. "For example, adding medical classes to the ninja academy could be one of the first steps. Assigning two medical ninjas to teach older students would be manageable, and it wouldn't cost much. In the aftermath of war, Konoha Hospital is still fully staffed, so it should be feasible."
Tsunade began to listen more intently as Kain explained his reasoning. "For the development of medical ninjutsu, you could lead that effort within Konoha Hospital. It could be done without disrupting the treatment of patients, and there's no reason the Hokage should object to that."
Kain added, "The first-aid training you mentioned? It might be wise to focus on female ninjas, who are often more inclined to learn these skills. If some choose not to, there's not much you can do about it. But at least those who learn can save lives on the battlefield."
He concluded, "The key is to focus on the parts of the reform that don't require immediate financial investments. Once these initiatives start showing results and the medical ninja team expands, the Hokage will be more open to your other proposals."
Kain's insight into the phased approach to the reform resonated with Tsunade, who now saw a clearer path to achieving her goal. She smiled for the first time that day. "You're right. This way, I can make progress, even if it's slower than I'd like. But what if the old man still refuses?"
Kain replied in a half-joking tone, "If he still refuses, it means the problem isn't the reform—it's personal. And if that's the case, you might as well quit and work for me. I'll pay you 500,000 ryo a month."
Tsunade's eyes widened slightly, and she laughed. "500,000 ryo? Are you serious?"
Before she could entertain the thought further, Kato Dan interjected, clearly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "Tsunade, the Hokage won't hold anything against you. Konoha Hospital depends on your leadership."
Sensing the tension, Kain quickly reassured Kato Dan, "Don't worry, Kato-san. I was only joking. Even if Tsunade wanted to work for me, I wouldn't accept her. This is purely business."
Kain's calculated response was meant to ease any potential suspicions Kato Dan might have. While Kain maintained a delicate balance as a businessman in Konoha, he knew that being seen as too close to Tsunade, a prominent ninja, could draw unwanted attention from figures like Sarutobi Hiruzen or even Danzo.
Tsunade also realized Kain's cautious stance and chimed in, "Kato, it's just a joke. Besides, I have a lot of work to do in Konoha."
With the tension somewhat diffused, Tsunade shifted the conversation. "By the way, Kain, are you going to treat us to some of those pastries Kushina was raving about?"
Kain raised an eyebrow. "You also know Kushina?" He then added with a grin, "Well, one hundred thousand ryo for the regular pastries, and I've got a new batch of premium cakes for 400,000 ryo. Do you want some?"
Tsunade coughed, nearly choking on her tea. "400,000? What are you, a bandit?"
Kain shrugged. "You're paying for the best cake in the ninja world. A commoner like me can't just steal money from ninjas, can I?"
The conversation became more lighthearted, and they moved away from the heavy topic of medical reform. Kato Dan, who was still somewhat new to the dynamic between Kain and Tsunade, remained mostly silent. He was still getting to know Kain, and his connection with Tsunade was not yet strong enough to contribute much to the conversation. He sipped his tea and nodded in agreement occasionally, but it was clear that his presence was more as an observer.
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Kain's assistant, Miwa, entered to report something. "Boss, there are three orphanages in Konoha Village. Shall I take you to see them?"
Kain nodded and quickly wrapped up his chat with Tsunade. "Let's go, Miwa-san. We should bring something for the kids."
He grabbed a box containing several stacks of ryo, a total of 1.5 million, which he planned to donate to the orphanages. His intention was not only to help but also to build a good reputation. Feeding hundreds of war orphans for a month with that amount of money was a small price to pay for the goodwill it could generate.
As Kain visited each orphanage, he was warmly welcomed by the headmasters. They were overjoyed by his generosity and made sure the children expressed their gratitude. At each stop, Kain discreetly asked if there was a girl named Yakushi Nono among the orphans, but he had no luck until the third orphanage.
At the final stop, Kain found a girl who matched the description. When he inquired about her, the headmaster explained, "Her name is Nono. She's very bright and was attending the ninja academy, but she recently dropped out to help out here because we're short on funds. She insisted on returning to help her friends."
Kain smiled and said, "It would be a shame to let her talents go to waste. Why don't I cover her expenses so she can continue her education? In fact, if there are any other children with the potential to go to school, I'll support them too."
The headmaster was overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you so much, Mr. Kain. You've helped us more than I could ever express."