Chapter 45

Minato's expression grew more solemn, as if a stone were weighing on his heart. "I understand."

"I'll train twice as hard, strengthen myself, and prepare for the crises to come."

"I can't let you carry something like this alone, Xunjing."

As a member of the Ninja World, Minato had a responsibility to step forward.

Xunjing patted his shoulder, his tone softening. "Just take things one step at a time. Don't push yourself too hard. We still have time."

"With the resources of two worlds right in front of us, as long as we make good use of them, we'll find a way to handle those future troubles."

Minato's reckless determination worried Xunjing a little.

If he trained too brutally and truly damaged his body, the losses would outweigh the gains.

As for the Otsutsuki problem?

Xunjing did not take it seriously at all.

Those things would not appear for another few decades, no matter what.

Even without the resources he had acquired from the Pirate World, if his Heaven Rewards Hard Work ability still could not deal with the likes of Momoshiki Otsutsuki decades from now, he might as well bash his head into a block of tofu.

The things he had said earlier were merely meant to motivate Minato and Kushina, to give them something to strive toward in their training.

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

Minato sensed Xunjing's goodwill and grinned.

He understood perfectly well where to draw the line.

"I won't hold you back either!"

Kushina, who had only just caught her breath, tightened her little face and stared at Xunjing as she waved her tiny fist. "Don't even think about carrying everything by yourself. I'm going to help you!"

"Sure!"

Xunjing laughed heartily and rubbed Kushina's head. "Then I'll be counting on you from now on!"

"Oh, right—"

Kushina changed the subject. "That method you mentioned earlier, the one that can make body training easier for us... it's Sea King meat, right?"

In the information Xunjing had just given them, he had praised the stuff to the skies.

He said it worked wonders for strengthening the muscles and bones, and even used the powerful martial artists of the Pirate World as examples.

Wasn't he practically telling her and Minato that this was good stuff and they should use it quickly?

"That's right."

Xunjing nodded. "Sea Kings are packed with nutrients and vitality. Eating their meat while training your body can multiply the results several times over."

"It played a huge part in helping me recover from the problems I'd had since birth."

"If you train alongside the Life-Nourishing Art, the effects can increase severalfold."

"Enough talk. I'll teach you the Life-Nourishing Art."

"Oh, and this is food made from Sea King meat. Fill your stomachs first, then we'll get to work."

With that, Xunjing flipped his hand and pulled out three large plates from the Space-Time Gate.

Each plate was filled with delicacies made from Sea King meat.

He gave one plate to each of them.

"Wow! It smells amazing! Then I won't hold back!"

Kushina took hers, sniffed deeply, and her eyes immediately lit up.

She had been exhausted from practicing the basic body techniques and her stomach was already rumbling with hunger. Without another word, she dug in.

"Thanks!"

Minato thanked him as well.

"No need to be polite!"

Seeing the two of them start eating, Xunjing joined in too.

Before long, the three huge plates had been cleaned out.

Minato and Kushina both rubbed their round bellies, their faces full of satisfaction.

"I'm full, I'm full! This stuff is incredibly filling!"

"And—"

Minato continued, "my stomach feels warm, and a current of heat is spreading through my entire body. It feels like all my cells really love this energy."

Compared to the meat he had eaten before, this was like heaven and earth.

Minato swallowed his final bite of meat, his eyes shining.

"This is completely different. The difference is enormous."

He could not help muttering, "No wonder Master Xunjing had so much confidence in this stuff."

With her cheeks puffed out, Kushina nodded vigorously as she chewed. "Mm-hmm! I feel it too. My whole body feels warm!"

Xunjing smiled, clapped his hands, and cut off their musings. "All right, you're done eating. Time for the real work. I'll teach you a Life-Nourishing Art."

"This set can help you fully digest the nutrients and life energy in the meat. It can also strengthen your body, improve your natural constitution, boost vitality, and extend your lifespan. The benefits are too numerous to list."

"Watch carefully."

With that, Xunjing immediately assumed a stance. As he demonstrated the movements, he explained the training techniques clearly and thoroughly.

Only after he had demonstrated the complete set from beginning to end and confirmed that the two had memorized it firmly did he begin guiding them through it step by step.

More than an hour passed. Minato and Kushina had both reached the threshold of the Life-Nourishing Art, and they had digested most of the energy from the Sea King meat in their stomachs.

Only then did Xunjing call a halt.

Next, he taught them the techniques for tree climbing and water walking, beginning their chakra control training.

By the time this combination of training was over, it was already noon.

They ate more Sea King meat, then continued practicing in the afternoon at the same pace as the morning.

The training was anything but easy, yet neither Minato nor Kushina complained of being tired even once.

What surprised Xunjing most was Kushina. The ruthlessness and perseverance she displayed today made her seem like a completely different person from before.

Xunjing muttered inwardly, It seems the news about that future really shook her... She matured a great deal all at once.

"Good. This saves me some trouble."

A trace of gratification flashed through his eyes.

At the same time, that morning.

On Konoha's busiest street, right beside the Police Force headquarters, the Uchiha pharmacy officially opened for business.

Because Xunjing had given her advance notice, Uchiha Chisato had long arranged for clan members to spread the word beforehand.

News of the medicine's powerful effects had already spread, attracting the interest of many people.

Though most did not fully believe it, the Uchiha Clan had always had an excellent reputation, so quite a few people still came to see for themselves.

The moment the shop opened, the scene exploded.

The first people to pay for the medicine gave it a try and found that the effects had not been exaggerated in the slightest. Everything was genuine.

In an instant, the crowd erupted.

"These Nutrient Pills are incredible! It's one thing for them to be so nutritious, but they're also incredibly easy to absorb. After eating one, it feels like my entire body has been nourished!"

"The Body-Tempering Potion is powerful too!"

"The Nourishing Potion is the real treasure! One dose cured all my old ailments, even those long-standing hidden injuries!"

For a time, the entire street was in an uproar.

Countless ninja rushed forward like madmen to snatch up the medicine.

Even though the Uchiha had prepared ample stock in advance, everything in the store was still sold out in an instant.

The day's revenue soared past twenty million.

Of course, they had stocked more goods on the first day, and the number of customers was also at its highest.

The daily supply would definitely shrink considerably afterward.

Unless Xunjing could devise a more efficient production method or train enough trustworthy people to make the medicine, the supply would not be able to increase anytime soon.

The Uchiha pharmacy had only just begun operating. If it could sell out every day, it would bring in at least five million ryo daily.

That was equivalent to the reward for five S-rank missions.

They were making a fortune.

With this one pharmacy alone, the Uchiha Clan would never need to worry about money again.

Naturally, this matter could not be hidden from the Third Hokage, Danzo, and Konoha's various clans.

Most ninja clans and ninja had their eyes fixed on the astonishing effects of this batch of medicine.

Take the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, for example. The Akimichi Clan in particular was extremely interested in the Nutrient Pills.

At this moment, the leaders of the three clans had gathered in the Akimichi residence.

"Shikayama, Uya, both of you try these! These are the Nutrient Pills sold at the Uchiha shop today!"

Akimichi Torifu poured two pills from the medicine bottle and handed them to the two old friends sitting across from him, continuing as he spoke:

"The nutritional value of these is thirty percent higher than even our Akimichi Clan's best Secret Military Rations Pills."

"More importantly, they have virtually no side effects, are easy to absorb after consumption, and can replenish all kinds of nutrients the body needs."