Konoha's Future Cash Cow: The So-Called Advantages of Biotechnology

"Huh?" Jiraiya stared at the clod of dirt in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand, his face full of confusion.

Since when had Mount Myoboku started producing this?

He was a member of Mount Myoboku too. How had he not known?!

Orochimaru and Tsunade were equally baffled.

Clearly, they had no idea what was going on either.

Hiruzen Sarutobi squeezed the clod, scattering crumbs of dirt across the table.

Jiraiya pressed a finger into the powder and brought it to his nose for a sniff. Only after confirming it several times did he say, "Teacher, this is just a clod of dirt, isn't it?"

"It is."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "But we're going to sell this dirt for the price of gold—perhaps even several times the price of gold."

Jiraiya scratched his head. "Uh... Teacher, plenty of nobles are pretty stupid, sure, but they aren't stupid enough to fall for that, are they?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled.

"We are ninja who wield Chakra and possess the most cutting-edge technology in the Shinobi World. Especially in biological medicine, we have an overwhelming advantage."

"Even if the raw materials are cheap, as long as technology gives them irreplaceable scarcity, along with precisely tailored functions and the premium of an identity-bound product, what's so difficult about turning stone into gold?"

"This is technology-based pricing, not cost-based logic."

Orochimaru's eyes lit up at the mention of technology.

This was also the project Hiruzen Sarutobi had selected after extensive research.

It was not that he looked down on the heroes of the world.

Kumogakure's Nintaijutsu, Iwagakure's Dust Release, Kirigakure's Kekkei Genkai, and Sunagakure's Puppet Technique all had their own specialties. It was not as though they lacked innovation.

But their strengths all lay in military matters.

As for medicine related to civilian life, their development was practically nonexistent.

Compared to Konoha, which had begun developing biology during the era of the Second Hokage, they were worlds apart.

And with Tsunade and Orochimaru, two geniuses in biomedicine, as well as the Nara Clan and Akimichi Clan, two ninja clans with expertise in medicine and pharmaceuticals...

Monopolizing the "Noble Healthcare" market would not be difficult.

Hiruzen Sarutobi explained further, "What do nobles want most?"

"Nothing more than a healthy body to prolong their privileges, along with a status symbol they can show off to others. As long as we meet their needs, we won't have to worry about them voluntarily bringing us money."

"The effects need not be drastic, but as long as they can feel something immediately, and we match it with the right sales pitch, they'll pay."

"An immediate sensation represents effectiveness, while the gradual mildness afterward doesn't mean the product is weak. It means slow nourishment, strengthening the foundation and cultivating vitality, a design with no side effects. That only makes it seem more prestigious..."

Orochimaru nodded slightly as he listened.

It sounded a little like the lines he usually used to sweet-talk his subordinates.

Tsunade's eyes lit up. "I think I understand what you mean, Teacher!"

Tsunade had actually done something similar before.

Because she loved gambling, she sometimes racked up considerable debts at casinos. Some nobles would seize the chance, settle her debts, and then ask her to treat them.

Some nobles would even ask for medicine. Tsunade would use medical ninjutsu to treat them a little, casually roll up a mud pill for them, and they would be so grateful that they eagerly handed over silver.

Jiraiya had once complained about Tsunade.

He was clearly Konoha's model worker as well as a novelist, yet he made money nowhere near as quickly as Tsunade did.

"You can meet and carefully research the specific effects."

"What I'm giving you is only the general idea."

"The core is establishing a purchasing cycle. What I mentioned—the First, the Second, the Three Great Sage Regions, and so on—is meant to appeal to the nobles' demand for a premium."

Orochimaru gave a sinister smile. "That suits the way those nobles think..."

"If there are plenty of cheap materials with a good gimmick, that would be ideal." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "For example, harmless snake scales. Deliberately leave one or two uncrushed pieces inside, and those nobles will think our products are made of genuine ingredients."

"Konoha's reputation for having once been prosperous, plus the resources of the Three Great Sage Regions—we need to make use of them."

Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed at himself. "I'm living proof too!"

"Even if other Hidden Villages follow suit later, they still won't be able to compete with us with this moat in place. Of course, that also requires the medicines you make to truly hit those nobles' pain points."

"The price of raw materials has to be kept as low as possible. We're here to make money, not to work ourselves to the bone for them."

Jiraiya nodded as if he only half understood. "I don't know about anything else, but there's a kind of toad oil on Mount Myoboku that helps replenish yang energy. I've been taking it all along..."

"They have so much of the stuff piled up in the back mountains that they can only burn it. Big Sister stuffed a whole lot of it on me..."

Tsunade shot Jiraiya a disdainful look. "You look pretty robust, but who would've thought... ah~"

"No, it's for healthcare! I'm not sick!" Jiraiya's face instantly turned beet red, and he rushed to defend his dignity.

"Enough, idiot. How exactly do you intend to prove that? This isn't a bathhouse!"

Orochimaru laughed rather loudly. "I'll give you credit for this one. You shouldn't have any problem negotiating with Mount Myoboku for their endorsement, right?"

After receiving Jiraiya's confirmation, Orochimaru added, "Ryūchi Cave has a large amount of shed snake skin. It has calming effects, so we can put that waste to use and feed it to those nobles."

"As for Shikkotsu Forest, I don't know whether there's any waste material we can use... After all, every Katsuyu is actually part of the Great Sage's body."

Tsunade smiled. "Actually, whether it comes from the Three Great Sage Regions isn't important. What matters is that we can make these pills through waste utilization without expending too many medical resources, right?"

"Teacher, there's no need to worry about that. Those nobles without Chakra can't handle the medicines used by ninja..." Tsunade's thoughts continued to branch out. "That gives us an advantage in procurement costs, but it's also a technical challenge. We need to adjust it according to what their bodies can tolerate."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Tsunade a thumbs-up.

As expected, everyone had their specialty. Tsunade grasped matters in this field with just a hint.

"For the pill base, we can refer to the Akimichi Clan's Spinach Pill. The Nara Clan's Calming Drink is also pretty good..." Tsunade continued brainstorming. She had already begun to think in every direction.

"This time, Tsunade and Orochimaru, the two of you will take the lead. You must take the process of cooperating with the Akimichi Clan and Nara Clan seriously."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Tsunade, I know you've always wanted to establish a Medical Corps. But you also know that having a purely medical ninja in a three-person squad is simply unrealistic."

"Not everyone has your talent—both combat talent and medical ability."

Tsunade sighed and nodded.

She also knew that her proposal when she was younger had come from good intentions, but it did not fit reality.

When two three-person squads clashed, if the medical ninja lacked offensive power and also needed protection, then the squad would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage instead.

After all, the Shinobi World had no concept of a "tank." There was practically no such thing as healing while taking hits. Evasion and mobility were far more common.

"Once the project officially begins, I'll support you in leading the Medical Department throughout the village. Every squad will select one member, and every Jonin will receive emergency medical training from the village."

Tsunade exclaimed, "That's great! Leave it to me, Old Man!"

"Orochimaru, you'll be responsible for pricing..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued assigning tasks. "Let me make this clear: we're only targeting major nobles. We can't use too many ninja on this project and disrupt the village's normal operations."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Orochimaru nodded. Ninja were, by nature, primarily combat personnel, while the precious medical ninja also had to be used to maintain the day-to-day operations of the hospital.

They could not possibly spare large numbers of people to make medicine for these nobles.

By targeting major nobles, who were fewer in number but paid higher prices, they would use less manpower. It also made more sense for the quality of these "jointly produced by the Three Great Sage Regions" pills.

Scarcity was an indispensable part of this project.

Orochimaru was even thinking that if the pills became famous, they could use them to infiltrate the enemy nation's Daimyo Mansion and obtain intelligence from the enemy's headquarters.

They would not even need to deliberately pry. A few clues alone could reveal a great deal of movement.

"You must value this opportunity to cooperate with the Nara Clan and Akimichi Clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly, "It's not just about getting funding from the nobles. Some of the technologies developed through this collaboration—optimizing ingredients and dosages for specific purposes, strengthening functions—may also be transferable to the military field."

"Special-effect Military Ration Pills, medicines that refresh the mind and relieve pain, and so on..."

"You need to establish a higher strategic perspective. This is military technology pre-research and iteration. Strive to achieve two-way technological gains from a single research investment."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused. "For example, the Medical Tag you mentioned before... As far as I know, the difficulty lies in storing medical Chakra and releasing it slowly, right?"

Tsunade nodded. Her teacher really did know a lot.

"Yes. Compared to the explosive release of the Fire Nature Chakra in an Explosive Tag, both 'slow release' and 'storage' are difficult when making a Medical Tag."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "If we can successfully establish Noble Healthcare, then I don't think the birth of the Medical Tag will be far away."

"Once our pills gain the recognition of those major nobles, their retainers will naturally develop demand as well."

"The people closest to them are their women."

Tsunade looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in confusion. What did those two things have to do with each other?

"Break the Medical Tag down. First solve the smallest unit—the technology for storing and slowly releasing medical Chakra—to meet the needs of those noblewomen. That is what we call 'Cosmetics.'"

Hiruzen Sarutobi guided her patiently. "Then use the recouped funds for military research..."

Although noblewomen's status was heavily tied to and dependent on their husbands, that did not mean they lacked purchasing power.

In a feudal system, a noblewoman's makeup, clothing, and beauty were a calling card for a man's power. They displayed his strength to the outside world and were necessary expenditures for maintaining the family's dignity and personal authority.

It was the same in nature as renovating an estate or acquiring ceremonial regalia.

For the women themselves, beauty could also raise their bargaining power in marriage alliances, much like a ninja's strength.

Therefore, if there were "super cosmetics" that could improve their looks, noblewomen certainly would not hesitate to spend the silver in their pockets.

Tsunade suddenly understood. "Forget noblewomen—even many female ninja have asked me about staying young..."

"Exactly. These small but refined projects won't consume too much manpower, and military and civilian applications can be converted between each other. Once they start running, the benefits to the village will be enormous."

Tsunade slapped the table, then heavily smacked Orochimaru's shoulder with her other hand. "The two of us need to work hard!"

Orochimaru's face darkened. This woman had no sense of restraint, but he still forced a smile. "Naturally..."

He was also extremely tempted by this endless stream of future cash.

Research, ninjutsu improvements, and development—all of it, except for the occasional lucky breakthrough, required enormous amounts of manpower and resources.

"Then what am I supposed to do, Teacher?" Jiraiya pointed at himself.

"As for you..." Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered. "I hear you write books. How are they selling?"

Jiraiya looked miserable. "Not that well, I guess, but I believe they'll become bestsellers someday!"

"Aren't those anonymous short romance stories you write quite popular?"

Orochimaru's expression was teasing. "Why not change tracks? Serious literature doesn't suit you..."

"What? Stinky Snake, how do you know what I write?" Jiraiya bristled like an angry cat. "Are you secretly in love with me? You actually snooped on my privacy!"

As everyone knew, one of the most embarrassing situations for a novelist was having relatives or friends see them writing that kind of thing.

"Don't underestimate my intelligence network..." Orochimaru raised his brows mysteriously. "Back to the point, I think you're very talented in this area. Write the pills and Cosmetics we're making into your stories. It would be very beneficial for promotion."

Jiraiya asked suspiciously, "Do I really have talent? Honestly, even I think what I write is too fake."

He secretly glanced at Tsunade. "I don't have any romantic experience..."

"No, you do, Jiraiya."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up as he encouraged him. "It is precisely because you've never been in love that you possess a science-fiction-like yearning for that beauty!"

"Do as Orochimaru says, Jiraiya! Your teacher looks forward to you becoming a famous romance novelist in the Shinobi World..."

Jiraiya made a pained face. "Why doesn't that sound like a compliment, Teacher?!"

"Still, since it's for the village, I can only sacrifice my literary talent..." Jiraiya instantly went from dejected to confident. "First, I'll make a name for myself with romance and build a fanbase to help the village. Then I'll write Serious Literature and become a master of my generation!"

"Mm, it's decided. That's the plan!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes.

Even in the Shinobi World, was there this sort of hierarchy between novels and authors?

Reality truly was harsh...

"I should pick a pen name. Let me think, what would be good..."

Jiraiya muttered, "Mount Myoboku Golden Toad Shakes Heaven and Splits Earth Immortal? Shinobi Field Romantic Ink Scroll Worldly Carefree Traveler?"

"You're already past the age for chuunibyou, Jiraiya... With the way you are, won't you lead your disciples—and my future disciples—astray?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand in disgust and said faintly, "I think Young Master Zi will do!"

"That name isn't bad..." Jiraiya froze. "It sounds rather pure. It suits me..."

"I'll handle the daimyo. You'll be responsible for the specific research and development..."

"For Konoha, Team Hiruzen is reuniting. Let's work hard together!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi held out his palm. Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were stunned for a moment before understanding and stacking their hands together.

When they were young, they often did this.

"Team Hiruzen, let's go!"