Chapter 91: Old platinum is Great
"Not bad, you've bulked up after the New Year!"
Inside the Kazekage's office, Saito was seated at his desk, sizing up Obito who had just arrived to report in.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"Lord Madara is such a saint—after one trip home, Obito's body is fully replenished."
"As expected of something grown from Hashirama cells, the treatment is on another level. Wonder if he'll get topped up again next time… If only I'd drawn a vial of blood before sending Obito back for New Year."
"What a loss!"
"He-he, Lord Kazekage, did you summon me for something?"
Obito, uncomfortable under Saito's stare, finally spoke up.
How to put it… the way Saito looked at him now was exactly how he looked at… poop!
Yearning! Regret! And anticipation!
"Heh, nothing much—just checking on Hidden Sand's finest talent. I saw everything you did for the Village this past year."
"Therefore, the Village has decided…"
"To give me a raise!"
Before Saito could finish, Obito blurted out eagerly.
"???"
"Seriously, you're a White Zetsu—no food, no drink—what do you need money for? Two thousand a month isn't enough? Does Lord Madara eat that much?"
"Are you short on cash?"
At Saito's question, Obito scratched his head sheepishly.
"It's not that—I want to buy the latest Old Platinum Oral Liquid for my… elder."
"???"
"Old Platinum Oral Liquid?"
"Yeah! You've heard of it, Lord Kazekage? They say it's not even sold in Hidden Sand; you have to get it in New City."
"It's the Village lab's newest research—slows aging, sharpens the mind."
"Every payday I go to New City to buy a box, but it's so pricey I can only afford one. I work here, yet I've never seen it in the labs. Did you set the lab up somewhere else? Any staff discount?"
"..."
After that torrent, Saito was still processing—dazed.
But he was certain.
This so-called old platinum he'd never heard of had Kakuzu's fingerprints all over it… Meanwhile, inside New City's business tower.
In the product showroom—
Shelves glittered with every item Hidden Sand had ever sold.
No labels.
Because Minister Kakuzu had said:
"Products must be diverse! Slap on a description and you lock them in—how do you sell to people who don't need them?"
Now, in the medicine aisle—
Kakuzu was walking with a wealthy merchant from the Land of Fire.
"Haha, Mr. Inoue, coming to New City for pharmaceuticals was the right call."
"During the Second Great Ninja War we learned the value of medical care. While other Villages fought, we built a Ninja hospital—two years ahead of Konoha, first among the Five Great."
"The Kazekage declared: medicine is the foundation of life! We pour over a billion ryō into it yearly—guaranteeing we can cure anything."
"Even our busiest nurses master the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique—does Konoha boast that?"
"What? Your father's sick?"
"Can't get out of bed? Barely remembers you?"
"Splendid!"
"I mean—perfect timing! Let me introduce our newest product: old platinum!"
"Developed by Elder Chiyo herself—the greatest poisoner alive."
"Poison and medicine are two sides of the same tag, right? Know poison, know cure!"
"She spent three years scouring the Ninja World for herbs, tasting each, nearly dying dozens of times. After eighty failures, the eighty-first brew succeeded."
"We sank seven hundred million ryō into it!"
"How much? You asked the right question. The Kazekage wanted it priced higher, but I slashed it to just 9,998 a box!"
"Effect? Depends on the user. For your dad… ten boxes per meal, minimum."
"Too many? Not at all—each box holds only three milliliters!"
"Concentrated essence, my friend!"
Nearby, Rasa and Karura watched Kakuzu work in awe.
"Hey, Rasa."
Karura poked him and whispered,
"Wasn't the price 998? Why's he saying 9,998?"
"He spotted a fat sheep."
Karura: "..."
"Is it really that amazing?"
"Take it with a grain of salt."
"So what is it?"
"Weeds from the food-cave—Chakra-ripened, nutrient-rich—then juiced by the minister."
Karura: "..."
"Does it actually work?"
"Sure—ten boxes at once will keep anyone breathing!"
"..."
Back in the Kazekage's office—
Saito had just finished psyching Obito out.
Both sides walked away happy.
Obito promised intel on Root; Saito promised a hundred boxes of old platinum.
At first Saito offered something else—anything had to be better.
But Obito refused: his elder loved the stuff; he'd seen him sneak sips!"
In the end Saito generously provided a hundred crates.
"Sigh—labor costs keep rising."
"I'll have to attack on two fronts."
"That Yakushi Nonō—what's so great about Konoha? She goes back and Danzo breathes down her neck, threatening her every day."
"Nowhere as stress-free as Hidden Sand!"
"Someone, come!"
An Anbu Ninja appeared.
"Recall Commander Sunasuke—there's a mission for him."
"Yes, sir."
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