The Deal Was Struck

Once Shinbu Kosuke's injuries had healed a little more, the two set out that night for a secret Grass Fruit base.

Lu Zeming chose not to fly, conserving his strength.

The base was a fortified military stronghold. Guards stood openly at its perimeter while others lurked out of sight. Shinbu Kosuke had to give the passwords and countersigns, then show his pass, before they were allowed inside.

Beyond the entrance lay a vast spread of tents. Heavy guards watched the perimeter, and patrols moved between them.

Shinbu Kosuke led Lu Zeming toward the large tent at the center. As they passed a smaller tent, Lu Zeming heard agonized screams and groans coming from within.

Shinbu Kosuke's expression dimmed.

"That's the wounded soldiers' tent. Medicine is desperately scarce right now, and so are medical ninja. A lot of the wounded get nothing more than a quick bandage. They have to endure the rest on their own."

"How did I forget? You have wounded soldiers, and we have medicine! To be honest, we can produce Wound-Healing Pills too. You'd be interested in those, wouldn't you?"

"Wound-Healing Pills? I've never heard of them."

"A new pill I developed. It's like a Soldier Pill, except it heals injuries!"

There was no newly developed medicine, of course. Lu Zeming had made up the name on the spot.

Still, with his skill as a renowned physician, he was confident he could develop a pill that treated wounds and relieved pain.

Side effects? What side effects? Those were just rumors.

Shinbu Kosuke was thrilled. "That's wonderful! With Wound-Healing Pills, our injured brothers won't have to suffer so much!"

By then, they had reached the large tent. Someone had already gone in to announce their arrival.

After permission came for them to enter, Lu Zeming was asked to surrender all his weapons.

Shinbu Kosuke looked uncomfortable, but these were exceptional times. He did not intervene.

Lu Zeming shook his head inwardly. In the end, we're not on the same side.

After handing over his weapons, Lu Zeming was invited inside.

Shinbu Teiichi, Shinbu Mutsuto, and the heads of the Kazama, Fujimoto, and Inoue families were all there.

To Lu Zeming's surprise, a middle-aged ninja from Iwagakure sat beside Shinbu Teiichi.

Unlike the other ninja, the man carried little air of bloodshed about him. He seemed more like a scholar.

"Young Lu Zeming, we meet again! Come, sit down. We were waiting for you!"

Shinbu Teiichi greeted him warmly.

Lu Zeming did not stand on ceremony. He picked a low table and sat down.

"You should know everyone else. This is Iwasaki, a military adviser we invited from Iwagakure."

Lu Zeming gave a slight nod and said nothing more.

Shinbu Teiichi had food and wine laid out, but Lu Zeming ate nothing. He merely toyed with the chopsticks in his hand.

Only after several rounds of drinks and dishes did Shinbu Teiichi get down to business.

"You brought the goods, didn't you? Let me see them. I'm counting on this shipment to turn the tide!"

Lu Zeming did not answer. He looked at Iwasaki instead.

Shinbu Teiichi laughed. "Iwasaki is one of us. Go ahead and take them out!"

Lu Zeming still did not move. "I brought the goods. Do you have the money ready?"

"Of course!"

Shinbu Teiichi clapped his hands, and seven large chests were carried in.

When they were opened, they were full of green banknotes.

Lu Zeming sneered. "You expect to fool me with Land of Grass currency? If you want to break our deal, I can't stop you. I'll just take the goods to the Shinomiya family and see whether they're interested!"

Shinbu Teiichi's face darkened at once.

Iwasaki spoke up. "Young man, you're welcome to try the Shinomiya family. Perhaps you don't know that the Land of Grass produces a great many medicinal herbs."

"So what?"

"So what? It isn't hard to turn herbs into Soldier Pills. Yet have you ever heard of the Land of Grass being a major producer of them? No, because the Shinomiya family controls the herb and Soldier Pill trade here. Or, to be precise, Konoha does."

"How would approaching the Shinomiya family about a deal be any different from walking to your death?"

Lu Zeming's heart sank.

No wonder those three Konoha ninja had come looking for him.

Suppressing his alarm, Lu Zeming asked, "So you're saying I have no choice but to trade with you?"

"Exactly."

"Bullshit. There are five great nations and more than thirty smaller ones. Which of them doesn't need Soldier Pills? Don't flatter yourselves. I won't have trouble finding a buyer!"

Iwasaki looked awkward, but he held his ground. "If you don't sell to us, I doubt you'll even make it out of the Land of Grass!"

"We'll see about that!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Lu Zeming's aura surged. He rose into the air, hovering like a god.

The chopsticks in his hand and those on the other tables flew up as if summoned, circling around him.

Their pointed ends aimed at everyone in the tent, poised to shoot forward at any moment.

The sight left everyone staring in disbelief.

For once, shock showed on Shinbu Teiichi's face. "How... how did you grow so strong so quickly?"

"That's none of your concern. I only want to know whether you're buying. If not, I'll find someone else!"

Shinbu Teiichi looked at Iwasaki.

Iwasaki's thoughts raced. He had not expected the boy to be able to fly, much less possess such strength. Their plan to block his trade routes would no longer work.

Iwasaki gave a nearly imperceptible nod. Only then did Shinbu Teiichi say, "A misunderstanding. It was all a misunderstanding. Of course we'll do business. It's just that, with the war, we can't get our hands on that much currency from the five great nations right away!"

"I told you last time that you could pay with Ninjutsu or books I need. Failing that, bulk goods like grain, salt, and iron will do!"

Shinbu Teiichi gritted his teeth. "Fine. We'll do it your way!"

Shinbu Teiichi clapped his hands again. This time, only two chests were brought in.

One contained books and Ninjutsu Scrolls. The other held currency from the Land of Fire.

Lu Zeming looked through them briefly. The books concerned medicinal herbs and Runes. Of the two scrolls, one contained the A-rank Great Waterfall Technique; the other contained the Four Symbols Seal.

There were twenty million ryo in cash.

Together, the contents of the two chests were worth exactly as much as five thousand Super Soldier Pills.

Satisfied, Lu Zeming took out the Sealing Scroll that held his goods and brought out five thousand Super Soldier Pills.

The large tent filled with a medicinal fragrance that left everyone feeling refreshed.

The two sides then agreed on a time for the next delivery and a price for the Wound-Healing Pills.

The Wound-Healing Pills were cheaper, though only compared with the Super Soldier Pills: eight thousand ryo each.

Shinbu Teiichi hesitated for a long time before gritting his teeth and agreeing.

Lu Zeming packed up his payment and was about to leave when Iwasaki stopped him.

"Iwagakure is also very interested in your Super Soldier Pills, young man."

"Oh, you want to buy some? Certainly. Twenty thousand ryo apiece."

Iwasaki's mouth twitched. "Ten thousand apiece for the Shinbu family and twenty thousand for Iwagakure? Aren't you being a little greedy?"

Lu Zeming shrugged. "The Shinbu family is from the Land of Grass, like me. You're a foreigner. Naturally, you pay more!"

Iwasaki was left speechless.

In truth, Lu Zeming had not meant to turn him down outright. The village lacked ingredients, and its production capacity was limited. Foraging for wild herbs was not a long-term solution, while the herbs they had planted needed time to mature.

Supplying the Shinbu family was already a struggle. He had none to spare for Iwagakure.

I'll have to hurry along the herbs when I get back!

With that in mind, Lu Zeming left the Grass Fruit camp, stepped onto his long blade, and flew toward Flower Village.

It was already the early hours of the morning when he returned. Lu Zeming checked in with Kumi Uzumaki, who managed the village, then went to rest.

At dawn the next day, Kumi Uzumaki rushed into Lu Zeming's room in a panic.

"Something's wrong! People... so many people!"

Lu Zeming jolted upright. "Is Konoha attacking?"