Aphrodisiac

Ten minutes later, Yan Xiao, who had originally been imposing and full of vigor, suddenly swayed. His aura rapidly weakened, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

"How is it? Do you feel anything wrong?" Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly asked with concern.

"My Chakra is down to one-tenth. Also, my physical strength has been exhausted, and recovery is slow." Yan Xiao's hoarse voice came from beneath his mask, as though even speaking took effort.

"Only Chakra and physical exhaustion?" Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered.

"He didn't fight just now. I estimate he'll recover in a day or two," Sarutobi Toru interjected.

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand, and another Anbu appeared in the room.

"Fūen, escort Yan Xiao back. Yan Xiao, this counts as completing a B-rank mission. Take the next three days off, then report back in three days!"

"Also, today's matter is classified. It must not be leaked!"

"Yes." The two agreed, and Fūen led Yan Xiao out of the room.

Seeing that even the Anbu had left, excitement appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face. "Is this medicine difficult to produce?"

"Not particularly. The cost is around 100,000 Ryo, though mass production could lower it somewhat. Developing it took roughly 1 million Ryo in funding. Tsunade and I put in all our pocket money, so don't forget to reimburse us!"

"Don't worry. Forget 1 million Ryo—even 10 million Ryo would be fine. I'll also count it as an S-rank mission for you and add it to your record once you graduate," Sarutobi Hiruzen said cheerfully.

A cost of 100,000 Ryo was no small sum, but ninja was a high-risk, high-income profession. Any Chunin could easily afford that amount, and even a Genin could pay it after saving for a few years.

Moreover, the stronger the user, the greater the boost this medicine provided. While it was active, it almost raised one's combat strength by an entire tier. A Genin could reach Chunin level, a Chunin could rise to Jōnin level, and even a Jōnin could trade blows with him, the Hokage.

Though it only lasted ten minutes, ten minutes was more than enough to determine life and death for ninjas, a fragile profession with high offense and low defense.

After all, there were only a few tough monsters like the Third Raikage in the entire Shinobi World who could fight for three days and three nights.

It could be said that this medicine would increase Konoha's combat strength by more than thirty percent.

"It's best not to make the medicine available to Genin, so they retain their drive to strive. And those under sixteen shouldn't use it either—it would damage their future potential."

The smile faded from Sarutobi Hiruzen's face. Indeed, false strength could easily make people lose their will to improve. As for harming young people's potential, that was something he had never considered.

In the Hokage World, there were countless cases of sacrificing potential for immediate combat power. No one in the whole world thought there was anything wrong with that, but in Sarutobi Toru's eyes, it was nothing but killing the goose that laid the golden egg—utterly stupid.

Ninja villages in particular kept praising prodigies who graduated early. Yet such children often overdrew their bodies' potential at a young age, only to progress slowly once they reached their prime, unable to achieve anything great.

Sarutobi Toru could not change the atmosphere of the whole world yet, but he could at least remind his uncle.

If he had not known there would be no war for at least another decade, he would never have been willing to graduate early!

"Fine. I'll prohibit Genin and ninjas under sixteen from using the medicine," Sarutobi Hiruzen said seriously.

The corners of Sarutobi Toru's mouth curled upward. "Actually, there's no need to prohibit Genin from using it. Just raise the price enough that they can't afford it!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes lit up, but he said righteously, "How can we exploit our fellow Konoha citizens? Konoha ninjas are all family!"

"Still, the cost of producing medicine cannot be the only consideration. Labor and research expenses must also be included."

Well, with skin that thick, no wonder he could become Hokage!

After discussing Super Adrenaline, Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up the Blue Pill and asked, "What does this one do? Restore Chakra?"

"Oh, this? It's an Aphrodisiac Pill."

"Uh... I didn't hear that clearly. What kind of medicine is it? Something that strengthens Yang Release Chakra?"

"An~ aphro~disiac~! The kind that lets a man go seven times in one night!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression became indescribable. In the end, he looked speechlessly at his nephew and asked, "You're presenting an aphrodisiac as a research achievement?"

Sarutobi Toru snorted coldly and said to his ignorant Hokage uncle, "The pill in your hand costs no more than ten Ryo to make. But if its effects get out, even at ten times the price, demand will still exceed supply. In the future, selling medicine alone could bring in as much as thirty percent of Konoha's budget!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked unconvinced. Having never seen the astronomical profits of little blue pills on Earth, of course he did not truly believe it.

But Sarutobi Toru was brimming with confidence. Not only was this custom-made pill no less effective than Earth's Blue Pill, it also had nourishing properties. It was absolutely a lifesaving blessing for middle-aged men.

Seeing the hesitation on his uncle's face, Sarutobi Toru said, "If you don't believe me, just try selling some first. If it doesn't sell, I won't ask for a laboratory!"

"You'll get your laboratory. Your Super Adrenaline has already proven your ability. But you haven't forgotten the most important thing in the ninja world, have you?"

"Of course not." Sarutobi Toru took two sheets of paper covered in writing from his pocket and placed them on the table. "These are the formulas. Don't let them get destroyed later."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, left behind the words, "To the Training Ground!" and vanished from the spot.

Watching the direction his uncle had disappeared in, Sarutobi Toru smiled faintly and instantly followed.

At the Training Ground, Sarutobi Hiruzen casually tossed aside his Hokage robe, hanging it on a wooden post and revealing a neat ninja outfit beneath.

"Come! Let me see how much you've grown over the past year!"

"Then watch carefully, Uncle Hiruzen. Don't blink~ your~ eyes~."

As Sarutobi Toru said "blink," his figure flashed like a ghost directly in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Kunai in his hand instantly stabbing toward Sarutobi Hiruzen's lower abdomen.

As Sarutobi Toru said "your," after three consecutive Kunai thrusts had all been blocked, he had already circled behind Sarutobi Hiruzen. Yet Sarutobi Hiruzen kicked him away, forcing him back several steps.

As Sarutobi Toru said "eyes," he had abruptly returned to the front. A flurry of Kunai thrusts forced Sarutobi Hiruzen back three steps before, with a sudden Bang, he turned into a wooden post and vanished before Sarutobi Toru's eyes.

Sarutobi Toru turned around and saw Sarutobi Hiruzen standing seven or eight meters behind him. With a casual toss, his Kunai transformed into a rain of Kunai that filled the sky and flew toward Sarutobi Toru.

Fuck! Using ninjutsu on a ninja student! Sarutobi Toru cursed inwardly. His body moved, and he retreated more than ten meters in rapid succession. At the same time, the Kunai in his hand danced, leaving afterimages as they knocked several incoming Kunai aside. He barely escaped the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Suddenly, Sarutobi Toru felt the ground beneath his feet give way. Without thinking, he exerted force and pushed off. Two years of Chakra control training and his superhuman speed came into play, and he instantly leaped three meters away. The ground beneath him opened up, and a hand withdrew into it.

"The Double Suicide Decapitation Technique? No, this is bad! It's a Shadow Clone!" Before Sarutobi Toru, who had just escaped, could make another move, his back turned cold as a Kunai pressed against the center of his back.