Reiki made his way to a small restaurant near the village entrance. It was here that he met Prime Minister Sanada, a man who had proven to be an invaluable ally.
"Brother Reiki," Sanada greeted with a grin. "You called me out here—what do you need this time?"
Reiki appreciated Sanada's straightforward nature. It made their dealings efficient. "I have a list of items my teacher needs me to purchase," Reiki said, handing over the document.
Sanada's eyes flickered with curiosity as he scanned the list. These were supplies that should be readily available in Konoha. Why the need to go through him? And if it was just about standard ninja tools and special equipment, why did Reiki come personally?
"Brother Reiki, there's more to this than just buying supplies, right?" Sanada inquired, sharp as ever.
Reiki nodded. "Yes. I need ten times the amount on this list. And I won't be paying in money—I'll be settling with potions."
Sanada's eyebrows shot up. Potions were highly valuable, especially if they came from Reiki. "And when would you be able to provide these potions?"
"I can give them to you in advance, but I need the supplies delivered as soon as possible. Also, get a large-capacity sealing scroll. I don't want to be burdened with too much at once," Reiki said.
"Potions as payment? Should I calculate them at market price or—"
"Set the price to ensure you're not at a loss, President Sanada," Reiki replied. "And I'll need some basic medicinal materials in bulk. You should be able to procure them without much trouble." He handed over another list.
Sanada's eyes gleamed. "Leave it to me. How many potions can you provide now? I'll need them to convince the other members of our chamber of commerce."
"Basic potions: 12,000 sets. Intermediate potions, specifically for stamina and rage, 10,000 sets. As for high-end potions, I can give you 100 bottles, but don't sell those lightly," Reiki said, handing over a few sealed scrolls. "The effects are detailed in this manual."
Sanada couldn't hide his excitement as he read the manual. His hands trembled slightly, and he stood up abruptly.
"Calm down, you're the president of a chamber of commerce," Reiki teased. "Will this be enough for your explanation?"
Sanada nodded, eyes alight with ambition. "More than enough. Thank you, Brother Reiki. I'll handle this swiftly." He paid for their meal and left in a hurry.
As Sanada walked away, a sly smile tugged at Reiki's lips. He had seen that look in Sanada's eyes—a hunger for more than just commerce. Sanada didn't want to be a simple merchant forever. He knew that in the ninja world, wealth was important, but to safeguard that wealth, one needed power.
Reiki trusted Sanada wouldn't release the high-end potions into the market. Sanada was already cultivating his strength, evident by the auras of more than a dozen capable ninjas who always accompanied him.
---
With his business done, Reiki returned to Tsunade's yard.
"Reiki, Morishita came by earlier," Tsunade said when he walked in. "He mentioned that he'll be training Asuma intensively, so there won't be any missions for now. Where do you plan to go tomorrow, the hospital or the Hyuga compound?"
"Teacher, I'll start at the hospital and finish my daily tasks, then head to the Hyuga clan," Reiki replied. He looked at Tsunade's tired face and felt a pang of worry. "By the way, teacher, has the integration of medical ninjas into combat units progressed?"
Tsunade's expression turned serious. "It's difficult. The biggest issue is the lack of actual combat data for medical ninjas. Right now, only my and your experiences are documented, and that's not enough to convince everyone."
Reiki frowned. "So, are you planning to send more medical ninjas on missions to gather data?"
Tsunade nodded. "Yes."
"But…" Reiki hesitated. He knew how dangerous missions could be. Even he had faced severe risks, despite his unique abilities. Most other medical ninjas wouldn't have the same safeguards. And with the current turbulence in the ninja world, their missions would only become more perilous.
"Don't worry about it now, Reiki," Tsunade said, trying to reassure him. "Come to the training ground."
Reiki understood what that meant: a sparring session with his teacher.
---
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen was deep in thought as an ANBU operative finished his report.
"Reiki has been in contact with the children at the orphanage? He took them to dinner and provided financial aid?" Hiruzen murmured, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Tsunade had been heavily involved in pushing for the integration of medical ninjas into combat units. Meanwhile, Reiki had connected with the Hyuga clan and now the orphanage. Was Tsunade positioning herself for something greater? Was she preparing to bolster her reputation for a run at the Hokage title?
Hiruzen sighed. Among his three disciples, Tsunade was currently the most engaged in the village's development. Orochimaru had disappeared into the shadows, and Jiraiya hadn't returned from his travels. Tsunade, however, was dedicating herself to Konoha's progress. And Reiki, with his influence and connections, was only strengthening her position.
But the more capable Tsunade appeared, the more concerned Hiruzen became. Tsunade's independent nature made her unpredictable, not an ideal candidate for the controlled role of Hokage.
Hiruzen closed his eyes, the burden of leadership weighing on him.
Would Tsunade's ambition become an asset or a threat to the stability of Konoha?
---
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Up to Chapter 420 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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