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Three days later, as soon as his ability refreshed, Yōichi left the village. His luck was relatively good; out of three attempts with the Pickpocket ability, he managed to steal the ability to absorb natural energy twice, with the unlucky draw being a smelly sock just once.
The enhancement from the two physiques significantly improved Yōichi's perception, absorption, and control over natural energy.
The first time he absorbed natural energy, Yōichi felt its overwhelming force constantly trying to erode his body. Only by balancing it with his chakra could he avoid being consumed by the natural energy.
However, after successively stealing the ability to absorb natural energy twice more, Yōichi's control over and affinity with natural energy significantly increased. He could now freely control the absorption of natural energy.
He speculated that if he managed to steal the ability to absorb natural energy five times, he could perfectly control natural energy, just like the ancestor of that clan from six hundred years ago.
As for this month's refreshed ability, Yōichi was somewhat looking forward to it.
[Lucky Scratch Off]: Can randomly get an item every day.]
The ability's description was brief, suggesting it worked similarly to a random lottery.
After leaving the village, Yōichi tried out the Lucky Scratch Off ability.
[Ability activated successfully, congratulations on winning a salmon meal set. Would you like to retrieve it?]
"Alright, alright, this is what you give me, huh!"
Yōichi's lips twitched. He should have known better. The ability's upper limit was infinite, and so was its lower limit.
It could draw something as valuable as a two-dimensional foil weapon, or something as worthless as a pile of dung. With no limit on the items, what one could draw depended entirely on luck.
A salmon meal set was, at least, better than dung.
————————————
In the following period, Yōichi didn't rush back to the Land of Rivers but took a detour to the Uchiha Pharmaceutical Factory while passing through the Land of Fire.
The factory had signed contracts with thirteen merchants supplying medicinal herbs, allowing the Uchiha clan to permit price increases every three years, provided the herbs were supplied to the Uchiha first.
This thirty-year contract essentially monopolized the future business of medicinal herb merchants in the Land of Fire and surrounding countries.
Seeing a long-term stable business deal, the merchants were naturally willing to sign.
Once the trading contract was signed, these people would have to think twice before reneging, lest their heads become harder than the Uchiha clan's shuriken.
"Yōichi-kun, we have enough medicinal herbs stocked to keep the factory running for four months. And in three months, they'll deliver another batch. If we produce too much and can't sell it all..."
"Don't worry, it will definitely sell, Junshu-kun."
Yōichi was not concerned about this, assuring Junshu, "This comes recommended by Tsunade. When you advertise, focus on a few key points: the top medical sage in the ninja world spent five years, pouring her heart and soul into these health products.
Whose recommendation is this? The medical sage, the first in medical skills in the ninja world. Hearing this, wouldn't you be tempted?"
Junshu thought for a moment. Just Tsunade's name alone was very persuasive, plus the mention of five years and heartfelt effort, he indeed felt tempted, "I might actually buy it, just for Lady Tsunade's reputation, to give it a try."
"Merchants, nobles, and officials all think like you. After all, Tsunade has stopped taking surgeries for the past two years. You can also release news that the medical sage Tsunade has devoted all her effort to researching these three medicines."
Yōichi taught Junshu a few tricks, essentially to fully leverage Tsunade's reputation; after all, even rival villages admired her medical skills.
Tsunade was unlikely to see the ads, and these products weren't meant for ninjas anyway. They'd avoid targeting ninjas when releasing them.
Yōichi stayed at the pharmaceutical factory for nearly twenty days, relaxing and watching the time. Only when it was about time did he head to the underground exchange in the Land of Wind.
As for the items drawn in the past ten days, Yōichi was somewhat at a loss for words.
[Senzu Beans], [Yixing Teapot], [A half-smoked cigarette discarded], [Master Roshi's Sunglasses], [300 pounds of Sea King beast belly meat], [Three pounds of sunflower seeds], [A manual for making Saiyan battle armor], [Three pounds of carp], [An empty turtle shell].
Among the items drawn in the past twenty days, only [Senzu Beans] and [A manual for making Saiyan battle armor] were considered lucky breaks.
[300 pounds of Sea King beast belly meat] was also not bad; he could try cooking it when he got back.
After retrieving these three items, Yōichi carefully stored them away, considering the rest to disappear with the next ability refresh as they held no value.
Yōichi didn't hold out much hope. Getting a Senzu Bean was rare enough; just one could bring someone back to full health as if given a second life, provided they hadn't died.
He wasn't in a hurry while traveling. Having confirmed the Third Kazekage's death, finding Sasori's whereabouts would be a bonus, but not finding him wouldn't be an issue.
The other six reconnaissance squads spent a month on a fruitless endeavor. They should have realized that information about a village leader wouldn't be easy to obtain.
Four days later.
Yōichi arrived at the underground exchange in the Land of Wind, right on the monthly mark.
Seeing Yōichi, the old man at the exchange fetched a scroll, placing it on the table with a heh-heh laugh, "Your timing is perfect. Just as you wanted, we found information on that genius puppeteer who posted a request with us.
Half a month ago, he was seen in the Land of Craftsmen. We can't be sure where he is now, but this is what we've gathered and speculated about his whereabouts over the last half-month."
Yōichi took the scroll and asked, "What kind of request did he post?"
"We don't disclose our clients' information. All I can tell you is that the genius puppeteer was looking for someone."
After speaking, the old man at the exchange sized up Yōichi and then asked, "Interested in becoming a bounty hunter? There's a high-value bounty recently, worth eighty million ryō, attracting quite a few hunters."
Eighty million ryō was roughly equivalent to two elite Jōnin renowned across the ninja world. Yōichi, curious, asked, "What's the bounty for? It's quite high."
"It's for a bounty hunter, but that bastard, I don't know what got into his head, he killed the client. Now, our top priority is to find him and take him out to salvage our reputation."
"I don't have time, find someone else!"
[End of Chapter]
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After obtaining information on Sasori from the underground exchange, Yōichi learned of his appearances only in the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Craftsmen.
Although the Sand Village was also searching for the missing Sasori, compared to the Third Kazekage, this genius puppeteer wasn't considered as crucial.
With the information in hand, Yōichi set off towards the Land of Rivers, where negotiations were reaching their conclusion.
Given the new Daimyo of the Land of Rivers favored the Land of Fire and that the Leaf Village targeted only the Sand Village without opposing the Rain Village, the Leaf and Rain Villages almost aligned themselves together in the tripartite negotiations.
After the latest round of negotiations, Jiraiya and Shikaku achieved a significant victory.
"Shikaku, with even the Rain Village siding with us and Minister Yoshikuni suggesting we take a firmer stance to exclude the Sand Village, forming an alliance among the three of us seems feasible," Jiraiya shared with Shikaku.
He wasn't adept at negotiations and was there merely as a show of strength for the Leaf Village.
Having survived an encounter with Hanzo and earning the title of one of the Sannin, his reputation alone was enough to intimidate the Sand Village.
"Minister Yoshikuni mentioned that if we could take over the Sand Village's share, the Daimyo's office is willing to increase financial support for the Leaf by one hundred million ryo," Shikaku relayed.
Although the Wind Country and Sand Village had been forced to reduce their shares significantly in previous negotiations, they still earned about four to five hundred million ryo annually from the Cloud River Iron Mine. (The mine's name, this was the reason everything started)
If the Land of Fire could swallow this portion and allocate one hundred million ryo to the Leaf, it seemed feasible.
"Although one hundred million ryo is substantial, the Sand Village likely won't give up without a fight. Forcing them out completely would probably mean war," Shikaku reasoned after some thought, shaking his head.
"We've already gained a significant advantage. If we fully exclude the Sand Village, the Rain Village might be the first to object. After all, Hanzo isn't foolish. If only the Rain and Leaf Villages remain, he'll surely worry about being next."
The proposal was impractical, and the village wouldn't agree. Their mission was to secure advantages for the Land of Fire, not to risk everything to make the Daimyo richer.
"So, it seems we've reached our limit," Jiraiya concluded regretfully. "It looks like the Sand Village is even more anxious than us. Shikaku, the Third Kazekage hasn't shown up yet. Do you think the Sand Village is plotting something?"
The Nara clan had always been the village's strategists. During the Second Shinobi World War, they helped the Leaf achieve numerous victories.
Shikaku, though not yet twenty, was already as sharp as his father, according to the Hokage.
"I don't know, Jiraiya-sama. We lack information. Have the reconnaissance squads not sent any messages back?" Shikaku inquired.
Jiraiya shook his head. "There's been a response, but no findings. One squad even lost contact. I've sent the Anbu for support. I'm just worried the Third Kazekage is plotting something, and we're unprepared."
"What about that Chūnin from the Uchiha? Any news from him?" Shikaku pressed.
"If the other squads found nothing, how could he? Moreover, Yōichi hasn't been in touch with the Anbu. I have no idea where he is now."
Just as Jiraiya finished speaking, someone knocked on the door.
Upon entering with permission, the ninja immediately reported to Jiraiya, "Lord Jiraiya, Chūnin Uchiha Yōichi has returned. He says he has completed his mission."
"What?"
Both Shikaku and Jiraiya were astonished, finding it hard to believe that Yōichi had completed a mission they had little hope for.
"Let's see."
They promptly left to meet Yōichi.
In the hall, upon seeing Yōichi drinking water, Jiraiya anxiously asked, "Yōichi, you've gathered information on the Third Kazekage?"
"Yes, is it appropriate to discuss here?"
Seeing Shikaku nod, Yōichi confirmed, "The Third Kazekage is dead, and the likely culprit is Sasori, the genius puppeteer from the Sand Village."
"Dead, dead?!"
Hearing this, Jiraiya and Shikaku were stunned, seeking clarification, "Yōichi, did you just say the Third Kazekage is dead?"
"Yes, he's already dead!"
"And the culprit... is Sasori from the Sand Village?"
Yōichi shook his head, "It's just a possibility. Sasori likely has defected. This is my speculation, but the Third Kazekage's death is certain."
Jiraiya frowned, "How did you gather this information? How can you be sure the Third Kazekage is truly dead?"
"The Third Kazekage once had a red serpent summon named Shin from Ryūchi Cave. After being betrayed and used by the Third Kazekage for false achievements, Shin disappeared.
Though betrayed, their summoning contract wasn't annulled. I located Ryūchi Cave and had Shin attempt to summon the Third Kazekage using the Reverse Summoning Technique before I tamed it, but there was no response."
No response meant the summoner was dead, as the Reverse Summoning Technique is generally irrefutable. Even if the summon could refuse, the summoner would be aware, something Jiraiya understood well.
"Now that you mention it, he did have a serpent summon before becoming the Third Kazekage, but I'm not sure if it was from Ryūchi Cave. So, Uchiha, you spent a month in Ryūchi Cave?"
Jiraiya inquired, stroking his chin.
Yōichi presented a scroll, "Not only that, but I also investigated Sasori's whereabouts. The Sand Village is searching for him too. Compared to the Third Kazekage, though Sasori is a genius puppeteer and Chiyo's grandson, he's somewhat insignificant."
"I see," Jiraiya took the scroll, seriously telling Yōichi, "I'll confirm with the village. If needed, your summon might need to appear. Once the information is verified, you'll have made a significant contribution."
[End of Chapter]
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