Discussing Cooperation!
They all said that children and women were the easiest people to make money from!
But there was one crucial question: did you have the life to spend it?
The world of Naruto was nothing like Earth, where the laws were well established. Here, might made right, and only the strong were respected.
If a little brat like him rashly went to negotiate a partnership, being thrown out was the mildest possible outcome. Most likely, they would seize the formula, then find somewhere to kill him and silence him!
After all, a war orphan dying was no big deal!
The Uchiha Clan weren't the only ones who acted arrogantly and tyrannically.
And this was one of the main reasons he had never dared to bring out the formula for profit.
But he truly had no other choice now. He couldn't wait several years until he had the strength and confidence to make money from it, because by then it would already be too late. Besides, he probably wouldn't need to make money this way anymore.
That left only one path: seeking wealth through danger!
He would sacrifice long-term future profits in exchange for important immediate gains and a rapid increase in strength!
That was the choice most suitable for him right now!
As for the risks and suspicion this approach might bring him, he could only consider those later and do his best to distance himself from them!
But who should he cooperate with?
When it came to a partner, Aoba thought of Jonin Mikawa almost immediately.
He believed that anyone else might harm him, but Jonin Mikawa wouldn't. Cooperating with Jonin Mikawa would also bring him greater profits.
The problem was that Jonin Mikawa came from a civilian background. He had neither connections nor business experience, and he couldn't provide much investment.
Most importantly, Aoba was worried that Jonin Mikawa might encounter danger!
After all, wealth moved people's hearts. If the business grew large, what could a civilian-born Special Jonin like Mikawa use to stand against those wealthy and powerful clans?
Besides, business was business. Even the Hokage couldn't openly favor one side.
Wait!
The Hokage!!!
Aoba's eyes suddenly lit up!
That's right. I can cooperate with the Hokage—or rather, with Konoha!
As long as he transformed his personal interests into the village's common interests, then it was easy to imagine that no one would dare interfere, even if they had a few extra lives!
After all, the Hokage was the highest leader of all Konoha!
Those who dared bare their fangs, like the Uchiha... Just look at what kind of state they were in now.
Besides, it was good to enjoy the shade beneath a great tree. With the Fourth Hokage's mild temperament, he surely wouldn't have the nerve to make his greed look too ugly. A certain amount of profit was guaranteed!
For the sake of safety, however, Aoba still decided to bring in Jonin Mikawa as a witness. Otherwise, how could he possibly meet Lord Hokage, who had countless affairs to deal with every day?
After sorting out his thoughts, he touched the last of his savings tucked inside his clothes, gritted his teeth, and plunged into the medicinal herb shop beside him.
By the time he returned home, he had another set of medicinal-bath ingredients, mixed with some other herbs as usual. He also had the shopkeeper grind everything into powder separately according to his instructions.
This batch of herbs completely turned him into a pauper!
He had only five taels left to his name—he couldn't even afford a string of three-colored dango!
If Jonin Mikawa didn't come to deliver his relief money tomorrow, he would probably have to start eating dirt.
Next, he mixed all the medicinal powders he needed together and packed them up.
After all, it never hurt to be wary of others. This batch of herbs was meant to verify the results. If someone stole it, he would truly suffer a double loss!
He trusted the Fourth Hokage's character, but he didn't trust Danzo's integrity, nor that of the two advisers!
Early the next morning, Aoba carried a small stool to the doorway and sat there, eagerly waiting for Jonin Mikawa to come find him.
But the entire morning passed without even a ghost in sight!
This made him anxious. To meet the Hokage and establish a partnership, he had bet his entire fortune. At that moment, even if hunger made him dizzy and drool run down his mouth, he no longer had the money to fill his stomach.
Fortunately, Jonin Mikawa didn't keep him waiting much longer. With a whoosh, he appeared right in front of him.
"You were... waiting for me?"
Seeing the sudden light burst from Aoba's eyes, Mikawa felt extremely puzzled. He was even afraid that Aoba might rush over and bite him the next moment.
Faced with Jonin Mikawa's question, Aoba nodded rapidly, then said with great seriousness, "I have something important to discuss with Lord Hokage..."
"I need to see him now!"
He had to appear a little more desperate. The Hokage was so busy—how would he have time to humor him? Besides, he truly couldn't wait another day. Without the medicinal bath to supplement his training over the past two days, he had been utterly listless by the second day's training. Inferior Self-Healing Body could only accelerate the healing of his injuries; it couldn't eliminate fatigue.
"Reason!"
Jonin Mikawa said it very bluntly. He couldn't take Aoba to see Lord Hokage just because Aoba wanted to meet him. Even Mikawa himself couldn't easily meet the Hokage. Without a sufficiently important reason, he wouldn't agree.
Clearly, Aoba had anticipated this, so he emphasized the effects of the medicinal bath and fabricated a story impossible to verify.
"Are you sure this thing really has effects as good as you claim?"
After listening, Jonin Mikawa didn't dwell on the story. Instead, he first asked suspiciously about the medicinal effects, disbelief written all over his face.
"I'm sure! I spent all one hundred thousand in compensation from the Uchiha on medicinal herbs. If you don't believe me, you can have someone examine my body."
To sell the formula, he was willing to go all out—even to offer himself as proof.
Jonin Mikawa still didn't quite believe him, but he knew Aoba wasn't a child who lied about everything. So he stepped forward and briefly squeezed him in several places.
He was checking Aoba's bones and muscles. Generally speaking, after prolonged, high-intensity training, a few squeezes were enough to tell whether the body had suffered hidden injuries.
However, the results of the initial examination left him astonished!
He had personally seen Aoba's training volume several times and had even shown himself a few times to offer reminders.
What he hadn't expected was that under such high-intensity training, Aoba's body was actually in surprisingly good condition.
Could it really be thanks to that ridiculous medicinal bath?
Jonin Mikawa looked at Aoba reluctantly, then said in a deep voice, "Punch me with all your strength!"
He wanted to see how much Aoba had improved during this period. If it truly proved effective, he might even take Aoba to meet the Hokage himself.
This would be like adding wings to the village's future!
With a bang!
Aoba didn't hesitate. He put all his strength into it and struck out with a swift punch.
Although he displayed no techniques, that was precisely the point. Mikawa wanted the most direct impression of his speed, strength, and other qualities.
After effortlessly blocking Aoba's fist, Jonin Mikawa couldn't help comparing Aoba's progress over this period in his mind.
Then he reached a result that astonished him!
P.S. Thanks to fellow reader Master of the Nine Tribulations Sword for the two-hundred-point reward. Next week, the book will receive a featured category recommendation. Please give me some recommendation votes! If you haven't favorited the book, please do so, and consider investing as well. A book recommendation or reward would be even better.
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