The Desperate Plight of a Black-Market Supply Cutoff and the Paper-Release Envoy's Open Plot

Land of Rain border, Konoha's temporary base.

The air was filled with a damp, moldy smell that refused to disperse, mixed with the scent of disinfectant.

Namikaze Minato stood at the entrance of the medical tent without going inside. It was quiet within, save for Izumo Kamizuki's heavy, hurried breathing. It sounded like an old bellows, each intake labored beyond measure.

The wound infection had entered its third day.

The conventional antibiotics had already stopped working, and the high fever refused to break. The medical ninja accompanying them had just come out and shaken his head at him.

"Lord Minato, the situation is very bad. The tissue necrosis inside the wound is accelerating. At this rate, even amputation might not save his life. We need specialized military-grade anti-infection medicine—at least three doses."

Minato nodded to show that he understood.

Specialized military-grade anti-infection medicine. The words stabbed into his temple like a needle.

Three days ago, he had sent the village a highest-priority supply request. It had sunk without a trace.

Two days ago, he had used all his personal savings and sent Namiashi Raidō to search the Underground Black Market in the Land of Rain. He had returned empty-handed.

Namiashi Raidō's exact words had been, "Lord Minato, the entire Underground Black Market is out of stock. It's not just medicine—even Soldier Pills are hard to find in large quantities. It's as if an invisible hand strangled every channel."

Minato knew exactly whose hand it was.

He leaned against the damp tent post and looked up at the murky sky. Rain could fall again at any moment.

This feeling of helplessness was more suffocating than facing a thousand enemies alone on the battlefield. On the battlefield, the Kunai in his hand and the techniques on his body could decide life or