In Sunagakure, a newly constructed hospital stood on the outskirts of the village. Due to its remote location, this was far from an ideal site for a hospital.
The reason this spot was chosen was simply because of its open space and suitability for building a basement.
At this moment, in the hospital's basement, Sōmi stood beside a medical staff member.
Under the bright yellow light, the white coat of the medical professional appeared almost dazzling. He respectfully reported the experimental results to Sōmi.
"Lord Sōmi!"
"We've divided the secret medicine you brought back into three different grades."
"The first grade can increase a Chūnin's Chakra reserves by 50%. It also has stimulating effects and suppresses pain. The side effects are relatively mild, merely causing fatigue, weakness, and soreness throughout the body afterward."
"The second grade can more than double a Chūnin's Chakra reserves. While it effectively numbs pain, its side effects are more severe."
"The potent effects of the drug can cause varying degrees of damage to the body's Chakra pathways and muscle tissue. In severe cases, it can lead to irreversible consequences, even permanent disability."
"As for the third grade..."
The man in the white coat swallowed nervously before continuing, as if still haunted by the memory of the experiment.
"The third grade can increase a Chūnin's Chakra reserves by at least threefold!"
"The first two grades take effect almost instantly, but the third grade behaves differently. While it starts by tripling Chakra reserves, its ultimate effect varies from person to person."
"This secret medicine appears to tap into the body's full potential. For individuals with exceptionally strong constitutions, taking this medicine could result in a terrifying tenfold increase in Chakra reserves!"
"However, as the drug's potency increases, the body's potential is gradually drained and burned away, ultimately leaving behind nothing but a withered corpse..."
"This medicine, which almost guarantees death upon consumption, has crossed into the realm of the sinister..."
The medical professional concluded grimly.
"What about Genin-level individuals?"
Sōmi asked calmly.
"For Genin-level ninja, we still recommend using standard soldier pills."
"Genin have not fully developed their bodies and cannot perform powerful techniques. Without the ability to effectively utilize such immense power, the excess Chakra would simply overflow and go to waste."
"Therefore, there's no need for Genin to use this secret medicine."
As the medical professional explained, Sōmi's gaze fell on the three pills lying on the table.
The pills were over twice the size of standard soldier pills. Their base color was a glossy black, but the stronger the effect, the more pronounced the blue luminescence on their surface.
The third-grade pill, in particular, resembled a black metallic sphere with a radiant blue glow.
The blue light transitioned from scattered specks to a crystalline, celestial brilliance.
"Good!"
"Now that the effects of the medicine are clear, make sure to record the quantities of all three grades meticulously. Whenever there's a change in the inventory, submit a copy of the updated records to Lord Kazekage."
With that, Sōmi turned and headed toward the surface without looking back.
Chūnin formed the backbone of every ninja village and were the most numerous rank within the villages.
Most Genin remained at their rank temporarily due to physical immaturity or limited aptitude. With enough time and training, their strength would naturally reach the Chūnin level.
Of course, this didn't apply to Genin from Konohagakure...
In Sunagakure's bustling market district, beneath a sand wall, a middle-aged woman in her forties sat on a small stool. In front of her was a pot of fire, above which rested a round, flat griddle pan.
Flames roared beneath the pan, leaping wildly.
"Young man! You've got good taste. This is only my second time setting up a stall here, but I remember you. Last time, you were my first customer!"
The middle-aged woman immediately recognized Sasori and began introducing her dish with a friendly tone.
"This stir-fry is not just about cooking the ingredients; it's about refining oneself."
"Moving between tongues of fire, cooking amidst fierce flames... Mastery requires roasting, and life originates from nirvana. Only by tempering oneself can one create a true delicacy."
Sōmi and Sasori stood before the roaring flames, while Sasori fixed his intense gaze on the ingredients sizzling in the pan.
At this moment, the woman wielding the spatula seemed like a monk seated solemnly amidst blazing fire.
She faced the flames with calm composure. As the lard melted, she guided the fire from the edge of the pan to its center. Under her precise control, the flames kissed every onion and caressed every tender piece of meat—a fiery celebration.
The ingredients rolling in the iron pan were lamb offal, and her hands danced amidst the flames as if performing a ritual. Her arms, smooth and unblemished, seemed to symbolize the cleansing of karmic burdens, infusing the dish with a touch of hellish flavor.
A one-foot-high flame was perfect for frying onions, a two-foot flame for intestines, and a three- to four-foot flame for lamb liver and spices, extracting the best aroma.
As the flames soared higher than a person, passing girls gasped, covering their mouths in amazement. It seemed they were witnessing such wild cooking for the first time.
When the finished stir-fried lamb offal was placed on a small table nearby, Sōmi was genuinely surprised.
The dish was vibrant and rich in color, featuring a medley of red, green, brown, purple, and black. It glistened with oil, looked juicy and tender, and had a perfect balance of crispy edges and soft interiors.
Upon tasting it, the bell peppers and onions imparted a unique fragrance to the lamb offal, blending with the spicy flavor. It was rich but not greasy, spicy with a hint of sweetness, and bursting with flavor—a dish worthy of praise!
"Not bad, Sasori!"
"I didn't expect you to find such a normal delicacy! I misjudged you!"
Sōmi, chewing vigorously on the lamb offal, changed his impression of Sasori as a purveyor of dark culinary arts. This smoky, fiery, and delicious street food stand was a rare find.
Sōmi rarely ventured out to explore the village. Whenever new food appeared, Sasori was always the first to discover it and would bring Sōmi along to try it.
However, after experiencing dishes like smoked horse sausage and stargazy pie, Sōmi had developed an instinctive aversion to Sasori's food recommendations.
This time, Sōmi had reluctantly agreed to accompany Sasori, only to find the food surprisingly to his liking.
In response to Sōmi's praise, Sasori merely let out a light snort, as if annoyed by Sōmi's previous doubts about his taste.
As an artist, how could Sasori be like ordinary people who only cared about flavor?
For him, the cooking process was paramount. Preparing ingredients required the chef's soul!
Just like crafting his puppets, only such food could be considered art and worthy of Sasori's memory.
Thanks to Sōmi and Sasori's enthusiastic enjoyment, nearby customers were drawn to the stall. Watching the duo relish the food, they quickly filled the remaining tables.
The middle-aged woman hurried to serve the new customers, her hands moving deftly without missing a beat.
"Huh?"
"Isn't that the teacher?"
"And the woman beside him... Is that Karin's mother?"
"Why is Karin being held by the teacher?"
Suddenly, Sōmi's gaze caught sight of a familiar figure across the street.
Many villagers paused to bow respectfully upon seeing the Kazekage, making it easy for Sōmi to notice, even with just a glance.
"Huh?!"
"Dad?!"
"Why is Karin calling him Dad?!"
Sōmi, initially focused, was startled when he heard Karin utter the word "Dad."
Beside the Kazekage, Karin's mother walked with a gentle smile, appearing like an obedient and caring wife.
Even dressed in a white robe, Karin's mother couldn't conceal her full, curvaceous figure, exuding vitality like a parched field revitalized by a rushing torrent.
At that moment, a line flashed through Sōmi's mind:
"To meet you today, my lady, is a blessing from heaven. Might I ask... would you share my bed tonight?"
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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