Chapter 202: A Business Worth Hundreds of Millions
The Anbu and the Police Force worked hard for several days and finally recovered the exploding tags scattered throughout Konoha.
Tsunade was actually quite happy about it.
Although they were an old version of exploding tags, they were still usable, and adding them to the Village's treasury saved a large sum of money.
After this incident was handled, she refocused her attention on the Artisan Village.
As a major consumer of ninja tools, Konoha could not afford to lose this supply source.
If a sufficient supply of ninja tools couldn't be guaranteed, it would inevitably lead to increased casualties among the Ninjas on missions.
Naruto arrived at the Hokage Office.
Besides Jiraiya, he also saw Kakashi, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
"Yo, Naruto, long time no see."
Kakashi waved with a smile.
Judging by his facial expression, he was quite happy.
It made sense when you thought about it.
He had gained a lovely wife and was about to have a good baby.
"Kakashi-sensei, how come I don't see you reading icha icha paradise?"
Naruto was still a bit unaccustomed to it.
"Quit it, quit it."
Kakashi waved his hand and said, "From today on, I am irreconcilable with vice."
Naruto gave him a strange look upon hearing this.
He's been trained quite well.
But someone didn't like hearing those words.
Jiraiya's face fell, and he shouted angrily, "Kakashi, you traitor!"
"Shut up!"
Tsunade suddenly slammed the desk and said, "This is the Hokage Office, not a place for you to be shouting!"
Jiraiya pulled his head back, his momentum instantly weakening.
But his heart ached.
He had lost another kindred spirit.
Tsunade snorted coldly and said, "Learn from Kakashi; for someone who's supposed to be a senior!"
Naruto suddenly realized a blind spot.
Tsunade actually had no reaction to the mention of gambling.
Could it be that she already...?
But why hadn't her initiative achievement been completed yet?
"According to Shikamaru's report, the ones who attacked Sunagakure were the Four Symbols Heavenly Beings from the Artisan Village."
Tsunade rubbed her temples and spoke of serious business, "This also explains the anomaly Kakashidiscovered. But now that three of the Four Symbols Heavenly Beings are dead and one has fled back, I don't know what the situation is in the Artisan Village."
"Then I'll go take a look."
Jiraiya volunteered.
The Anbu and the Police Force were already on the right track; whether he was there or not wasn't a big problem.
More importantly, he hadn't felt the warmth of a young lady in too long.
He planned to take this opportunity to go out for a stroll.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, looking him up and down.
Jiraiya forced himself to remain calm and said, "It's just the right time for Naruto to come with me and continue his path of cultivation."
"Do you think this guy still needs cultivation?"
Tsunade pointed at Naruto and complained, "He's smarter and more mature than you."
"How is that possible?"
Jiraiya couldn't help but widen his eyes.
What's wrong with you?
Is my image in your heart already inferior to Naruto's?
He's only fourteen!
"Nothing is impossible."
Tsunade replied coldly; she truly felt that way.
She used to think Naruto might not be steady enough in character, but now she found him quite reliable.
Especially his influence on Jiraiya and Kakashi.
"I can't accept this!"
Jiraiya froze.
"Do you want to fight?"
Tsunade slammed the desk and stood up, saying, "I think you haven't been hit in too long, and your head isn't clear!"
"..."
Jiraiya was scared into submission.
"I'll go to the Artisan Village with Jiraiya-sensei to check the situation,"
Naruto stepped in to defuse the situation, saying, "Tsunade-nee, don't worry, I'll definitely keep an eye on him for you."
Tsunade immediately broke into a smile.
She liked this guy more and more.
Jiraiya left the Hokage Building with a long face.
Naruto followed behind, suddenly remembering something and saying, "Kakashi-sensei, here's a gift for you."
"What is this?"
Kakashi looked at the pill in his hand.
"To nourish your body."
Naruto explained.
It was a Dragon-Tiger Vigor Pill produced by the system, an absolute tonic.
Kakashi hesitantly accepted the unidentified object.
Finally, he asked, "Did Sakura make this?"
After getting a 'no' for an answer, he visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Naruto's mouth twitched.
You really are his teacher.
Do you know Sakura that well?
But to be fair, Sakura's skills had improved quite a bit now.
After Kakashi left, only Jiraiya and Narutoremained.
"Disciple."
Jiraiya changed his expression and asked, "Were you serious about what you said to Tsunade?"
"Of course."
Naruto looked at him and said, "I never lie."
Like I'd believe you.
Jiraiya glared at him and asked, "Are you going to listen to her or me?"
"I'll listen to whoever is the boss."
Naruto spread his hands and said, "She's the Hokage."
Jiraiya almost misunderstood the first half of his sentence.
He almost wanted to say that he was 'big' too.
"What about the Hokage?"
Jiraiya looked skeptical, "Don't think I don't know you. If you really listened to the Hokage, Hiruzen-sensei would probably knock on your door in the middle of the night."
Don't make it sound like a ghost story, okay?
Of course, if it were someone cute like Menma, it wouldn't matter.
"Jiraiya-sensei, you've clearly been doing very well in the Anbu these past six months, why not keep it up?"
Naruto sighed and asked.
Being told this by him, Jiraiya felt a slight sense of guilt.
It was just that a leopard can't change its spots.
Sometimes he really couldn't control himself.
It was like knowing that self-pleasure is bad for the body, but there are always moments when the urge takes over.
"Let's go do the mission first."
Jiraiya patted his shoulder and said, "You've probably never been to the Land of Artisans; we'll head to a country near it."
The Land of Artisans was very small.
It might not even be as large as the Land of Fire's Metropolis.
It was a country formed by a gathering of artisans.
Their only source of income was selling ninja tools.
But because of this, during the previous Ninja World Wars, they were often threatened by the Five Great Nations and even forced to lower their prices.
The fundamental reason was that they were too weak.
Jiraiya and Naruto spent half a day reaching the Artisan Village.
"Something's not right!"
Jiraiya's expression suddenly became grave.
According to Kakashi's previous report, the Artisan Village was empty.
But in his perception, there were clearly many people.
And two of them were exceptionally dangerous.
"Welcome, Dharma King, to our humble abode."
"..."
Jiraiya was silent for a moment before saying, "Should I call you Wuming, the Master of Langya Pavilion, or Merlin?"
"Call me Merlin."
Merlin smiled and said, "What wind blew you to this remote Village?"
"That's what I should be asking you."
Although Jiraiya had discussed many things with him, he always remembered that he was a Ninja of Konoha, not a Dharma King of the White Lotus Sect.
His eyes turned to the strange young man next to Merlin.
The dangerous aura he sensed earlier came from the two of them.
But Merlin's wasn't intense, while the other's was so intense it made his scalp tingle.
There was no doubt.
This person possessed the strength to threaten him.
"It's nothing, just that the Artisan Village and the White Lotus Sect have started a partnership."
Merlin said casually.
"Do you think I'll believe that?"
Jiraiya said helplessly, "We're friends after all, can't you tell some truth?"
"This is the truth, my friend."
Merlin looked pained, "This attitude of distrust is quite heartbreaking."
"..."
Jiraiya felt like he had seen this kind of tone somewhere before.
It was so familiar.
He suddenly turned his head to look at Naruto.
"?"
Naruto was confused.
Jiraiya turned back to Merlin and said, "I don't care if you're cooperating with the Artisan Village, what I want to know is what the future supply of ninja tools will be like?"
"Same as usual."
Merlin showed a kind smile, "But no more price-cutting."
"Konoha never does such things."
Jiraiya shook his head and said, "But other hidden Villages might not be so sure."
As a high-ranking member of Konoha, he naturally knew about the Artisan Village's affairs.
But what he said was also the truth.
Konoha's external attitude had always been very friendly.
At least on the surface.
In the shadows, Danzo probably did it the most.
People like Senju Hashirama, Minato Namikaze, and Tsunade disdained such things.
"Very well."
Merlin nodded and said, "If it's at market price, the supply will continue as usual, you don't have to worry."
"Konoha will send someone to coordinate with you later."
Jiraiya said thoughtfully.
He was unwilling to come into conflict with the White Lotus Sect.
Setting aside his own good impression of them, considering their strength, it wasn't necessary.
It would only result in unnecessary losses for Konoha.
"Let's go."
Jiraiya didn't plan to enter the Artisan Village.
Who knew what kind of dragon's den it was inside.
He was quite familiar with Merlin's methods.
The guy who had caused a stir in the Land of Firein just half a year.
"Jiraiya, are you really not considering the position of Dharma King?"
Merlin spoke up, "You should understand what the White Lotus Sect wants to do."
"I am a Ninja of Konoha."
Jiraiya was as firm as Liu Xiahui refusing the temptation of a beautiful woman, "I will not betray Konoha."
"How is it betrayal?"
Merlin knew that the most important thing in his heart was Konoha, and he smiled, "If one day the White Lotus Sect controls the Land of Fire, wouldn't that be equivalent to controlling Konoha?"
"..."
Jiraiya was stunned.
That seemed to make sense.
So it wouldn't count as defecting?
No, no, no, I can't think like that.
"We'll talk about it when that day comes."
Jiraiya gave up on arguing.
If the White Lotus Sect really had that ability, being a Dharma King when the time came didn't seem too bad either.
Merlin glanced at Naruto and nodded, saying, "Who knows? Maybe you'll join even sooner."
Jiraiya paused, said nothing more, and left with Naruto.
"What do you want to do next?"
He asked.
As Tsunade had said, continuing the cultivation journey didn't really make much sense.
"I'll wander around various parts of the Ninja World."
Naruto didn't really mind, "And leave some Flying Thunder God Marks along the way."
Jiraiya's eyes lit up.
That was a good idea.
The correct way to use the Flying Thunder God Technique.
If there was another Ninja World War, it would surely give them a surprise.
A moment later, Naruto left a Shadow Clone and his main body returned to the Artisan Village.
"How's the situation?"
"Not bad, the other hidden Villages don't suspect anything, all that's left are Sunagakure and Hidden Mist."
Merlin wasn't surprised by his return.
"Oh? Iwagakure and Kumogakure actually agreed too?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Kumogakure didn't say anything more after seeing Sasuke, and as for Iwagakure, they were all beaten back by Sasuke."
Merlin pointed to the cold-faced Sasuke next to him, "Before long, even more powerful guys will probably come."
"I see."
Naruto wasn't very worried.
The most powerful person in Iwagakure was none other than the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
The rest were slightly inferior.
Sasuke was practically begging for Ōnoki to come.
But Naruto estimated that this guy might try to show off again only to get beaten up.
"I'll stay behind."
Naruto thought for a moment and said.
What else could he do?
He couldn't just let Sasuke die.
It would be hard for him to explain.
"Then you send me back to Langya Pavilion; this godforsaken place doesn't suit me."
Merlin didn't want to stay; Langya Pavilion was more fun.
"I think you've been corrupted by feudalism."
Naruto complained.
"I'm going back to build a better future."
Merlin retorted.
"..."
What does it feel like to be annoyed by yourself?
Naruto directly took out the enma sword and slashed down, saying, "Do it yourself."
Merlin was stunned for a moment and said, "You've actually got a new trick, it seems you've been blessed by the RNG gods lately."
He joked and disappeared into the space tunnel.
Sasuke, on the other hand, directly opened his Mangekyo Sharingan to observe.
The more he looked, the more troublesome he found it.
The Flying Thunder God Technique was already hard to deal with, and now there was another Space-Time Ninjutsu.
How was he supposed to fight!
Just wait for the Ninjas from Iwagakure.
Sasuke wasn't afraid of Naruto; he just felt he didn't have a guaranteed victory, so he'd put it aside for now and improve his strength first.
He had already vaguely touched upon the Susanoo.
Maybe that Tsuchikage could provide some pressure.
Sasuke had only heard of Ōnoki and didn't know his true strength.
But he could make comparisons.
They were all Kage, so Ōnoki should be similar to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And Orochimaru had killed the Third Hokage.
So Sasuke, who knew Orochimaru's strength, didn't have much reverence for Ōnoki.
But they didn't wait for Ōnoki; the one who came was Mei Terumī.
Naruto leaned against the doorway, observing this former elder sister.
Dignified and confident.
He had already put on the persona of The Hermitfrom the Tianming Organization.
"It's quite a surprise that the Mizukage-sama would come in person."
Naruto said with a light smile.
"Because the Hidden Mist Village can no longer afford war, so I did some investigating in advance."
Mei Terumī tucked her hair back, looking like she'd just had a narrow escape, "Now it seems I was indeed lucky."
Judging by the strength shown by Naruto and Sasuke—that is, code names The Hermit and The Fool—in the Hidden Cloud Village, it was enough to deal a devastating blow to the Hidden Mist Village.
"So, what does the Mizukage-sama want to talk about?"
Naruto offered the same terms as Konoha, "If it's about the supply of ninja tools, just follow the market price; there's no need for further discussion."
Mei Terumī was slightly surprised.
But she was also a bit hesitant.
The Hidden Mist Village was one of those that had previously cut prices quite severely.
Because they were poor.
Only after becoming the Mizukage did she realize how terrible the Village was.
Due to years of internal strife, not only had many excellent Ninjas been killed or injured, but the population of the Hidden Mist Village had also plummeted, and the economy had taken a nosedive.
They were practically poorer than Sunagakure.
She gritted her teeth and asked tentatively, "Is there any room for a price reduction? If your organization needs anything, we can make a trade."
Naruto was slightly taken aback by her words.
But he could understand.
After all, he had once stayed in the Hidden Mist Village under the identity of Gen Shisei for a period of time.
In terms of familiarity, few people could compare to him.
He could be considered a successor to the Mizukage.
Naruto suddenly smiled and said, "Alright, let's talk about a trade, a business worth hundreds of millions."
Although the Hidden Mist Village had suffered heavy losses, it was rich in resources.
Today, I'll teach you what the Maritime Silk Road is all about.