Chapter 23

"Medical Ninjutsu and those other medical techniques can just be hobbies for you to study in your spare time. When you have time, you should focus more on improving your strength. That's the foundation of your future security and livelihood."

"Only when you're strong enough will I feel comfortable entrusting Mikoto to you."

"Even the future of the Uchiha clan will have to rely on you."

If Uchiha Yan had not been so young, the Elder would have wanted to push him directly into the position of the next clan head.

Compared to him, Fugaku was far too lacking.

He had never been very satisfied with this junior. Back when the clan head wanted to match Mikoto and Fugaku, he had dragged his feet and refused to give his approval, ultimately giving that brat Yan a chance instead.

"I'll remember that."

Uchiha Yan nodded solemnly.

After spending several hours with the Elder, listening to him recount plenty of the Uchiha clan's old history and analyze the clan's current situation, Uchiha Yan finally took his leave and returned home.

"Yan, don't put too much pressure on yourself. You're still young, and you're already very impressive. I believe in you! Grandpa's just worrying needlessly."

On the way home, Mikoto quickly comforted him, afraid that the pressure from her grandfather had been too much.

"Heh, don't worry."

Uchiha Yan chuckled and reached out to pinch Mikoto's cheek. "I don't feel any pressure. I have confidence in myself."

At Uchiha Yan's home.

Uchiha Meixin sat in the living room, calculating the accounts. Her brows were tightly furrowed as she looked up at Uchiha Senichi. "Honey, we're almost out of money. What should we do?"

Their family's foundation had actually always been quite solid. Senichi's standing in the clan was not low, and his salary and resources were fairly substantial.

But even that could not withstand such spending.

Over the past two years, the expenses for medicinal baths for their entire family alone had been considerable, not to mention that they had also been funding Uchiha Yan's underground laboratory for more than half a year.

All of it required money to be poured in.

"Ugh, what a headache."

Uchiha Senichi rubbed his forehead. "I'll think of something else and find a way to bring in some money."

If all else failed, he could find an opportunity to leave the village and wipe out a few bandit dens overflowing with wealth.

That should at least keep them going for a while.

They couldn't possibly cut the medicinal baths, could they?

That was absolutely out of the question.

They were the key to improving the strength of the entire family.

"Why don't you suspend my medicinal baths first? I've already reached Kage Level, so my current strength should be sufficient for the time being."

Uchiha Senichi broached the subject tentatively.

Uchiha Meixin sighed and nodded. "For now, that's all we can do. I've also reached the level of an Elite Jōnin, and my physical foundation has improved considerably. Taking a break won't matter."

Parents always thought of their children first.

"Making money? Is the family short on funds? Dad, Mom, you can't stop your medicinal baths."

Uchiha Yan happened to enter with Mikoto and immediately asked the question.

Senichi and Meixin looked up at the same time and said with a smile, "Yan, Mikoto, you're back! It's nothing. You don't need to worry about such a minor matter. Your mother and I can handle it."

Mikoto felt somewhat guilty and said in a low voice, "Sister Meixin, Uncle Senichi, this is all because I didn't think things through. I didn't realize the medicinal materials would cost so much. I'll tell Grandpa and bring some money over. I'll pay for my own medicinal baths from now on."

She felt that she could not escape responsibility for this matter.

Meixin hurriedly stood up and took Mikoto's hand, smiling as she patted her head. "Silly girl, what does this have to do with you? How much could the medicinal materials for you possibly cost?"

She paused before continuing, "The real expenses are for your uncle, me, and Yan. Don't take every responsibility upon yourself."

As she spoke, she shot Uchiha Yan a glare.

Meixin pulled Mikoto down to sit. "Besides, we're family now. You're also a member of this household. Isn't it only natural for us to provide you with medicinal baths?"

"Don't go back and get money, or where would that leave our pride? What would your grandfather think of us?"

"That's the end of this matter. If you keep talking about it, I'll get angry."

Uchiha Senichi hurriedly nodded in agreement. "Mikoto, don't overthink it. This really isn't your problem."

He turned toward Uchiha Yan and said irritably, "You brat, your laboratory has been costing the most money lately. The equipment alone is killing us. Why don't you put it on hold for now?"

Those devices were outrageously expensive, and they were not necessarily available for purchase.

"Sure."

Uchiha Yan agreed without hesitation and nodded. "The equipment we already have will be enough to make do with for now."

He continued, "I'll think of a way to make money."

"Actually, I'd already guessed that the family wouldn't be able to hold out for long, so I made a plan in advance. I'll go get it and let you take a look. You can choose a few projects we can implement now."

After saying that, he quickly went upstairs, brought down a stack of documents, handed them to his parents, and spread them open for them to see.

"Oh?"

Senichi and Meixin exchanged a glance. They opened the thick plan, somewhat surprised. "You brat, you'd already planned all this out? Then I'll have to see how you intend to make money."

They had only turned a few pages before the contents completely captured their attention.

"Pharmaceuticals?"

Uchiha Senichi stared at the list in his hands, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"Highly concentrated liquor? You even wrote down the brewing recipe? Heh, this stuff is no ordinary thing."

"Three hundred and sixty recipes, plus a chain restaurant plan?"

"An improved **talisman production process, a fully automated production line..."

"An improved space scroll design?"

"And this... a concept for Medical Talismans?"

When he reached the final few items, he could not help looking up at his son, his face filled with disbelief.

"Brat, the things at the beginning are fairly reliable, but did you get carried away when you wrote the latter ones?"

"I believe you can improve **talismans, but that fully automated production line... isn't that a little ridiculous?"

"Can this thing really be made?"

If it could truly be completed, wouldn't that amount to conjuring a whole pile of **talismans out of thin air?

"And when did you learn about space scrolls? Why don't I remember the clan ever teaching you that?"

"The Medical Talisman is even more outrageous. If this thing can really be made, it won't just sell well—it'll definitely become a strategic resource. But the problem is... can it actually work?"

Even a Medical Ninja of Tsunade's caliber had never mentioned such a concept, much less directly produced talismans.

But after thinking it over, Uchiha Senichi felt that his monstrous son might actually be able to make it work.

After all, that brat had already given him more than enough surprises.

Uchiha Meixin, who was standing nearby, also frowned slightly and nodded. "Putting everything else aside, the idea of a Medical Talisman is indeed bold. If it can really be realized, little Yan, you may become famous throughout the entire Ninja World."

This thing was far too important.

She then asked, "The restaurant and pharmaceutical businesses are feasible, but the startup capital won't be a small amount. As for the pharmaceuticals, what do you plan to sell? Military Ration Pills?"

Opening a restaurant would also require a considerable investment.

If they opened it within the clan compound, they could save on the cost of renting a location.

But the Uchiha clan had always been exclusionary, and outsiders generally would not come here of their own accord.

Opening a restaurant in the clan compound was not very realistic.

Uchiha Yan immediately turned to ask his father, "Dad, the Second Elder is in charge of commerce within the clan, right?"

Uchiha Yan lightly tapped his fingers on the table and calmly put forward his idea.

"We can also bring pharmaceuticals and talismans into the clan's operations. We'll focus on production, while the clan handles sales."

He paused before adding, "The Uchiha have merchant caravans and businesses throughout the world. The distribution channels are already in place, so we won't have to build a market from scratch. What do you think?"

He did not actually care much about money. As long as there was enough to spend, that was fine.

The problem was—there was not enough to spend now.

And a large number of experiments would soon be waiting to burn through money. The medicinal materials and resources needed for his family's cultivation would also be a considerable expense.

They really did need to establish a profitable business.

Bringing the Uchiha clan into it had another advantage: the risks and pressure could be shared. He had already attracted enough attention recently, so keeping a low profile would do him no harm.

Uchiha Senichi and Meixin exchanged a glance, and Senichi nodded first. "The plan is workable. We'll do as you say."