The evening after dinner was usually a time for family bonding before heading to bed.
Ino emerged from the bathroom, her fair skin glowing. Despite having a six- or seven-year-old son, her appearance and figure remained impeccable. Strangers wouldn't believe she was a mother.
"Sai, today I went with Sakura to a new pharmacy in Konoha. She sold the herbs Sasuke brought back. Do you think Sakura's having financial difficulties?"
Ino, dressed in her nightwear, gracefully settled on the sofa as she addressed her husband, who was engrossed in paperwork.
Sai, without looking up, replied, "Sakura? I'm not sure. As the head of the medical department, she should have a decent salary. It doesn't seem like she's struggling."
Ino frowned. "You're so dense. Sakura's house is under mortgage. She's juggling loan payments, work, and taking care of Sarada's schooling. Do you even know if the village is paying Sasuke?"
"Sasuke's salary?" Sai paused, lifting his head to think before shaking it. "Not sure. Naruto handles Sasuke's affairs. I only help relay information occasionally. I doubt he's being paid."
Ino sighed, leaning back. She considered asking Sai to bring this up with Naruto but quickly realized it would only backfire.
Naruto would likely confront Sakura directly, and her prideful friend would insist she was fine. If Sakura really needed help, she would have sold the herbs to the Nara family, who specialized in medicinal trades.
...
"By the way, Sai, the pharmacy we visited today had some very expensive remedies. They claimed to have incredible effects," Ino said, recounting the shop's offerings and their alleged benefits.
Hearing this, Sai set down his paperwork, his expression turning serious. "If what you're saying is true, the village needs to investigate this pharmacy. Remedies with those effects are exceedingly rare, even in Konoha."
As a former member of Root, Sai was familiar with the intricacies of secret medicines. If the pharmacy's claims were legitimate, it couldn't be the work of a lone individual. There had to be a powerful organization supporting it.
"It's true! The shopkeeper even said they'd refund double the price if the remedies didn't work," Ino said indignantly. "Sakura's planning to report it to Naruto and have the village test the medicines. If they're effective, the village might procure them for dangerous missions. But they're so expensive—even the cheapest costs tens of thousands of ryo!"
Ino grumbled about the exorbitant prices. If they were cheaper, she might have bought some out of curiosity. However, spending tens of thousands of ryo—nearly the payout of an A-rank mission—was no small decision, especially with the decline in high-ranking missions
...
The next morning, after Sarada left for school, Sakura prepared for work.
After making her rounds at the hospital and finding nothing urgent, she headed to the Hokage's office.
"Naruto," she called after knocking twice and entering. She was greeted by the sight of her old friend buried in paperwork, with empty ramen cups from the previous night still on his desk.
"Ugh, Naruto! Clean up after yourself! You're Hokage now—you can't keep living like a slob!"
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Ahaha, sorry, Sakura. Too much work, and I forgot. What brings you here?"
Sakura explained her visit to the pharmacy, recounting its offerings and the conversation with the shopkeeper. Both Naruto and Shikamaru immediately became serious.
After exchanging a glance, Shikamaru asked, "Sakura, how effective are these remedies?"
"They're too expensive for me to afford. If the village wants to verify their effectiveness, you'll need to purchase some for testing," Sakura admitted.
Naruto leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. "If they're as good as advertised, they could reduce the risks of missions. Alright, we'll allocate village funds to buy some. Sakura, we'll leave it to you to analyze their effects."
Just as Naruto was about to continue, he frowned, sensing something. Forming a quick seal, he summoned a toad with a puff of smoke.
"Naruto-sama, I'm Gamakichi's son, Gamajiro. It's an honor to meet you!" the young toad announced.
Naruto smiled warmly. "Ah, Gamakichi has a son now? What brings you here?"
"Father asked me to inform you that Fukasaku-sama wishes to speak with you. Are you available?"
Naruto tilted his head in confusion. "Fukasaku-sama? Did he say what it's about?"
"No, he only said it was important."
Naruto turned to Shikamaru, who shrugged. "I'll handle things here. If it's urgent, you should go."
Naruto grinned. "Thanks, Shikamaru!"
To Gamajiro, he said, "Let your father know to summon me with Reverse Summoning."
With a puff of smoke, Gamajiro disappeared, and Naruto turned back to Sakura. "Sakura, proceed with the plan. I'll leave the testing to you."
Moments later, with another puff of smoke, Naruto vanished, transported to Mount Myōboku.
...
Mount Myōboku
Naruto materialized amidst the familiar sights of Mount Myōboku. Spotting Gamakichi, he waved enthusiastically. "Gamakichi! Long time no see! I can't believe you're a dad now!"
"Of course, you idiot! Toads grow faster than humans. I have four kids now!" Gamakichi replied with a chuckle.
Naruto laughed. "Last time I saw you, you could sit on my head. Guess those days are long gone. So, what does Fukasaku-sama need?"
"I'm not sure. You'd better ask him yourself," Gamakichi said, gesturing toward the elder's dwelling.
Naruto headed inside, where Fukasaku greeted him warmly. "Naruto, it's been a while! I thought you'd be too busy to visit."
"What's the matter, Fukasaku-sama?"
"The Great Toad Sage had a troubling dream and wishes to speak with you," Fukasaku explained, leading Naruto to the sage's chamber.
"Little Naruto," the Great Toad Sage rumbled after being roused from its slumber. "It's been a long time. What news do you bring from the ninja world?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary—just bandits and rogue ninjas. Nothing major," Naruto replied.
The sage furrowed its brow. "I had a strange dream—a prophecy. A being with a tail and scales, a human-like figure, will bring destruction. Even Mount Myōboku will not be spared."
Naruto frowned. "A person with a tail and scales? Sounds like a monster. Are you sure it's human?"
The sage nodded gravely. "It was human, but with these features. This enemy is dangerous and may cause irreversible harm to the ninja world."
Naruto's expression hardened. "I understand, Sage. I'll investigate and have the village look into this immediately."
(End of Chapter)
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"So, you're back already?"
Shikamaru glanced at Naruto, who had just appeared back at his desk, and asked in mild surprise. He had assumed Naruto would be gone for a few hours.
"Yeah, I spoke with them briefly and came right back. Shikamaru, this time the old man at Mount Myōboku—the Great Toad Sage—had another prophecy. It might be serious," Naruto said with a serious expression, causing Shikamaru to stiffen.
"The Great Toad Sage? You mean the one who predicted Kaguya's emergence?"
"That's right. His prophecies are highly accurate," Naruto confirmed. "This time, he foresaw a powerful enemy—possibly stronger than Kaguya. In his vision, even Mount Myōboku was destroyed."
"This sounds... dire. What do we know?"
"The prophecy wasn't detailed, but I managed to get some specifics about the enemy's features."
Naruto pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. It depicted a figure with distinct features: a long tail, dorsal fins, crystalline scales, a sage-like cloak, and orbs resembling Truth-Seeking Balls hovering behind its back.
"The features... they seem reminiscent of Kaguya, don't they? Has Sasuke reported anything unusual?" Shikamaru asked, studying the drawing closely.
"No, nothing yet. I'll inform him as soon as he sends his next message. He'll need to keep an eye out," Naruto replied with a sigh. "We've had peace for so long, but it seems Sasuke's concerns were justified."
Shikamaru nodded. "If this enemy frightened Kaguya and appears in the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, they must be formidable."
After receiving funds from the village, Sakura left the Hokage's office to purchase a few secret medicines. However, with a budget of only two million ryo, she realized she could only afford a couple.
"Sakura!"
Hearing a familiar voice, Sakura turned to see Ino rushing up to her, wrapping an arm around hers.
"Ino, weren't you supposed to be at the hospital today?"
"I finished early! Are you heading home?"
Sakura shook her head, lifting the envelope in her hand. "I'm on my way to the pharmacy to buy some of their secret remedies. If their effects are as advertised, the village might stock up on them for emergencies."
Ino raised an eyebrow. "Already? But those remedies are expensive. Does the village have that kind of budget?"
Sakura gave a small laugh. "We'll test a few first. If the results are disappointing, that'll be the end of it."
The two women soon arrived at Yoichi's pharmacy. As they entered, they noticed the shopkeeper, Yoichi, shaking his head as he dismissed a dejected customer.
"Business seems decent for your third day," Ino remarked, her tone light and slightly teasing.
Yoichi shook his head. "Not really. That guy was trying to scam me by selling worthless herbs at a premium. But enough about him—what brings you two here today?"
Sakura stepped forward. "We're not here to sell anything. We'd like to purchase some secret medicines."
Yoichi's demeanor softened slightly. "Welcome. Here's the list. Let me know what you'd like, and I'll fetch it for you."
Sakura reviewed the list, her brows furrowing at the steep prices.
Ino, already familiar with the prices, couldn't help but protest, "These prices are outrageous! Can't you lower them a little?"
"There are cheaper versions, but their effects are proportionally weaker. If you're interested, I can make them to order," Yoichi replied matter-of-factly.
His bluntness only served to irritate Ino. "You—!"
Sakura quickly intervened, picking out three remedies. "We'll take a recovery pill, a strength-boosting pill, and an energy pill."
"Very well."
Yoichi retrieved three small bottles, placing them on the counter. "That'll be 1.89 million ryo."
Sakura winced internally at the price but handed over the money without complaint. After all, the village needed to test these remedies.
As they turned to leave, Ino suddenly stopped. "Hey, shouldn't you come with us to test these? What if the results don't match your claims?"
Yoichi raised an eyebrow. "You think I'd run? This shop cost me a small fortune. I'm not in it for the money."
Ino's irritation flared. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying we're money-obsessed?!"
Yoichi shrugged nonchalantly. "I'll come along if you agree to help me test a new remedy of mine. Otherwise, I have other things to do."
Intrigued, Sakura asked, "What kind of remedy?"
"Dragon Power Pill," Yoichi said, holding up a jade bottle. "It's designed to imbue an ordinary person with the strength of a dragon."
...
The trio arrived at Konoha Hospital, where Sakura gathered a few colleagues to assist. Yoichi suggested testing the Dragon Power Pill first, claiming it required the most immediate evaluation.
Sakura asked, "How do you propose we test it?"
"Have an ordinary person take the pill and spar against a strong ninja," Yoichi replied simply.
Skeptical, Ino folded her arms. "You're expecting a single pill to turn a civilian into a match for a ninja?"
"Exactly."
Though doubtful, Sakura found a willing participant—a hospital researcher named Moriki.
"Are you sure this won't have any side effects?" Moriki asked nervously.
"None whatsoever," Yoichi assured him.
With some hesitation, Moriki swallowed the pill. Within moments, his body began to transform. His muscles bulged, his frame expanded, and his lab coat tore slightly as he grew into a two-meter-tall powerhouse.
"Ahhh!!"
The room fell silent as everyone gawked at the transformed researcher.
"Moriki, how do you feel?" Sakura asked cautiously.
"Strong. Really strong," Moriki replied, flexing his newfound muscles.
Sakura nodded, observing him closely. "No signs of mental instability. Let's test his strength."
At her instruction, Moriki struck the ground with his fist.
BOOM!
The ground beneath him shattered, creating a crater several meters wide and deep. Cracks spread out like a spiderweb, shaking the entire area.
Ino, who had been preparing to berate Yoichi, yelped as the ground beneath her feet crumbled. She nearly fell but was caught by a firm arm around her waist.
Looking up, she saw Yoichi holding her steady. Her cheeks flushed.
"You okay?" he asked, his tone neutral.
"Y-yeah," Ino stammered, quickly stepping back.
Meanwhile, Sakura's analytical mind was racing. "This level of enhancement is remarkable. If it truly has no side effects, it could revolutionize how we handle missions."
Yoichi smirked. "Told you my remedies were worth the price."
(End of Chapter)
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