Meanwhile, Konoha High Command had gathered together.
"That little brat sure knows how to stir up trouble!" Danzo slapped the table, roaring with anger, though a trace of worry lingered in his eyes.
The information Xian Yu had brought back was extremely important, and the Daimyo Ginseng he'd mentioned was an invaluable treasure beyond measure.
But it had also caused them a huge headache!
According to Anbu reports, Amegakure had dispatched a team of ninjas to Great Warm Valley a day earlier.
The team consisted of one elite jonin as leader, three jonin, and nine chunin.
It was common knowledge that, aside from the guards needed within their villages, the major ninja villages rarely had high-ranking ninjas sitting around with nothing to do.
The fact that Amegakure could mobilize such a team at short notice showed just how determined they were.
"Calm down, Danzo. Now isn't the time to get angry," Utatane Koharu said unhurriedly.
"Actually, this isn't entirely bad. Great Warm Valley is within the Land of Fire, after all, and it's closest to Konoha. Our ninjas should have plenty of time to get there," Mitokado Homura said, adjusting his glasses as he analyzed the situation.
Torifu Akimichi chuckled. "Xiao Yu's a pretty capable kid, isn't he? Don't be angry. It's bad for your health."
Danzo glanced at the other man's broad, heavyset frame and thought, Easy for you to say. You've got plenty of room in that belly for a heart.
"According to the records, several decades ago an ordinary man did become famous for his longevity. Some say he lived to be ninety-two, while others claim he lived past a hundred and fifty. The most exaggerated accounts say he lived for several centuries. Legend has it that he once took a Daimyo Ginseng. But Konoha hadn't been founded yet, so we have very few records on the subject," Utatane Koharu reported from the Medical Team's findings.
Danzo's expression remained grave. "According to messages from our Anbu spies, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure have each dispatched a squad to Great Warm Valley as well. Only Kirigakure, too far away, has made no move."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said calmly, "I've already sent my personal Anbu guard unit to Great Warm Valley. Shimura Xian Yu has done us a great service this time. The Daimyo Ginseng may not mean much to the other villages, since their Kage are all still young, but it's crucial to Konoha!"
"Hiruzen!" Danzo and the others were stunned.
The Hokage's guards were an important force responsible for protecting his safety! And he'd sent them all away.
Torifu Akimichi added, "That's not all. Since speed is essential, we didn't have time to notify you. The Ino-Shika-Cho Team has already left with the Anbu. Given the timing, they should be nearly there by now."
"Hiruzen, are you planning to give it to that person..." Danzo seemed to have realized something.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded. Konoha was determined to get the Daimyo Ginseng!
While the four sides were sharpening their claws and baring their fangs, our young Xian Yu did something no one could have expected.
"Well, now, peace brings profit. Here you go." As he spoke, Xian Yu tossed the sandalwood box, Daimyo Ginseng and all, over to them.
"Little Ninja, sir... what are you doing?" The old village chief grew flustered.
Hua Qi hurriedly caught it. He carefully examined the Daimyo Ginseng inside the sandalwood box, then called over a young man to double-check that everything was in order. Once it was, he was the one left bewildered.
"What do you mean by this?" Hua Qi couldn't believe it. There had to be some kind of trick!
"What do you mean, what do I mean? You wanted to take the job, didn't you? Then you can escort it. Just don't forget to pay the village chief," Xian Yu said, spreading his hands as if it were no big deal.
"Chief, don't worry. Konoha's ninjas will be here soon, and we'll see that you get fair treatment. Whether they buy it or steal it, Konoha will stay neutral. You were going to sell it anyway, so as long as they're willing to pay, what difference does it make who you sell it to?" Xian Yu couldn't help it.
His plan had been thrown off.
He'd originally intended to put on a show in front of everyone by swallowing the Daimyo Ginseng whole... and cheating with the Space Backpack.
That way, everyone would think he'd already eaten the Daimyo Ginseng.
But the moment he took it, something strange happened... A line of text appeared beside the ginseng. A line only he could see...
That had never happened before!
Maybe it was a new feature unlocked after the Treasure Chest System swallowed those gemstones?
"[Century-Old Ginseng]: 101 years old. Greatly replenishes vitality, strengthens the spleen and lungs, promotes the production of bodily fluids, calms the mind, and enhances intelligence. Due to a mutation, it resembles the Daimyo Ginseng."
Just look at it! Sure, this thing was highly nourishing, but it had nothing to do with the legendary Daimyo Ginseng. It only looked similar. A fake!
Better to toss this hot potato to them and let them deal with it...
Who knew which village would go through all that trouble, only to take home a piece of "tonic" for some old man or woman?
Just thinking about it was a delight...
Besides, Xian Yu's Diamond Shop had a 120-year-old ginseng for sale at 1,000 diamonds.
Even if he searched the pharmacies in a big city, he could still find a few genuine ones. They started at eight million ryo, with the price depending mainly on their age. The only real challenge was finding an authentic one.
Why fight to the death over it?
Xian Yu knew this stuff. It was nourishing, sure, but all that talk about extending your life was nonsense...
A few hours later, Konoha's ninjas were the first to arrive.
They were led by a young man with a pineapple-shaped head who was clearly from the Nara Clan. There was also a horizontally expansive fat man with markings on his cheeks like Naruto's whiskers—no doubt, he was from the Akimichi Clan. The third was from the Yamanaka Clan. The famous Ino-Shika-Cho Team had been deployed. Thirty Anbu Ninjas followed behind them.
None of them, however, had appeared in the original story.
After finding a chance to report the situation there...
The thirteen ninjas from Amegakure arrived soon afterward. Once they learned what was going on, they were completely dumbfounded.
"You can decide what to do, gentlemen. Konoha won't get involved. But it's not easy for a village like this to grow Child Ginseng. Whoever wants the Daimyo Ginseng can buy it for just ten or twenty million ryo. Surely your villages don't need to steal it?"
"..." The air fell silent.
No one had expected this. The Daimyo Ginseng had indeed appeared before, and every village had at least some records of it. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths.
But the Rain Ninjas, who didn't know the truth, couldn't figure out why the Konoha Ninjas were acting like this.
Wasn't the original script supposed to be that Konoha took the Daimyo Ginseng and ran, then they chased after them?
But now, look at the numbers on the other side... Damn, this was their home turf, and they had the advantage in numbers. If a fight broke out, reinforcements would reach them quickly, too! Any village that went in alone couldn't win, and Konoha had made it clear that they didn't want the Daimyo Ginseng. As long as someone paid, they wouldn't interfere.
Soon, the Iwa, Suna, and Kumo Ninjas arrived as well.
After a round of haggling, the ninjas sent out on missions naturally weren't carrying tens of millions with them. In the end, more than a dozen wealthy Suna Ninjas pooled their money and even put up several valuable ninja tools as collateral. That was how they managed to scrape together the equivalent of around fifteen million and take the Daimyo Ginseng away.
As for whatever unspeakable things might happen with the other villages on their way back to the Land of Wind, all Xian Yu could say was: how delightful.
Before you continue