Trade confirmed

Orochimaru emerged from the shadows, indirectly showing that they had no intention of launching a surprise attack. Of course, he might also have realized that Karn was no ninja and posed little threat.

If they could talk, the first step was a success.

Karn breathed a sigh of relief and walked over with Yahiko, though he still kept his distance after entering.

To Orochimaru, that degree of caution was only natural. In fact, he was no less wary of Karn.

Jiraiya looked Karn over and asked, "What are you after?"

Karn replied, "I'm a merchant. I got lost in the Land of Rain and later ran into these kids. They told me about Konoha ninjas fighting the Rain Ninja, so I asked him to bring me to you."

"A merchant? Near a battlefield?"

"Because I got lost. To be honest, this is my first time in the Land of Rain, and I had no idea there was a war going on nearby. The goods I want to trade are most valuable to ninjas. I'm going to take a few samples out of my backpack now, so please don't overreact."

After giving them that warning, Karn reached into his backpack, using it as cover while he actually retrieved a few samples from his Spatial Backpack.

"There are only two categories of goods: medicine and food. Anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, fever reducers, vitamins, and some medical supplies. As for food, I only have rice, flour, oil, sugar, and salt, but I have plenty of them."

Several boxes of medicine had instructions written in Japanese. When Jace heard Karn's request, he assumed that Karn intended to ship the medicine to Japan. But Karn offered no further explanation, and Jace did not press him.

"Medicine?"

Tsunade became a little interested at the mention of medicine. She was a medical ninja herself, and few in Konoha could match her current medical expertise. Konoha's medical system had yet to develop, and its medical ninjas were scattered here and there. As for medicines, they were mostly preparations made from herbs.

There were virtually no mass-produced, ready-made capsules or pills.

"What do these medicines do?"

Karn handed all the samples to Tsunade and said, "The instructions are on the packaging, and the effects are exactly as described. These are samples, so you're welcome to try them. I can even take them myself."

For the moment, the three of them ignored the food. It was not unimportant, but it mattered less than the medicine.

Konoha still had a reasonably adequate food supply, but its supply of medicine had truly broken down. Even if wounded soldiers survived the battlefield, many would die after returning to camp because they lacked treatment.

As Tsunade read through the instructions one by one, her expression grew increasingly grave. After reading the last box, she immediately looked up and asked Karn, "Do these medicines really work as described?"

"Of course they do. These are samples. You can try them on some wounded patients."

Karn said solemnly, "I'm a merchant, and I have plenty more of these goods. I won't exaggerate their effects or deceive my customers. That would be bad for business."

Seeing Tsunade's expression, Jiraiya and Orochimaru knew how important Karn's medicines were even without reading the instructions. Otherwise, she would never have looked like that.

Karn took a sheet of paper from inside his clothes and handed it to Tsunade. "Here's the list of goods and quantities available for trade. Other than that, I have nothing more to add."

After studying Karn's hair for a while, Jiraiya asked, "Are you a merchant from the Land of Lightning?"

"No. I have no connection to the Land of Lightning. I'm from the United States, across the sea, though very few people in the Shinobi World have heard of it." Karn knew this would not fool them for now, but if he named some random country in the Shinobi World, they might actually send ANBU to investigate.

Tsunade looked up and said to Karn, "If the medicines work as described, I can purchase the entire first batch on Konoha's behalf."

At present, Konoha could not buy medicine even with money to spend. The shortage of medical ninjas was the biggest reason the wounded could not hold on, and the medicines Karn sold could largely replace lower-level medical ninjas.

"If possible, I'd like you to come with us to the Konoha Camp."

"I can, but you must guarantee my safety. I'm not a ninja, but I do have a way to escape. If you try anything against me, I'll cancel the deal immediately, and you'll never be able to buy my medicine again."

Karn spoke solemnly to the three of them. If he sensed even the slightest sign that something was wrong, he would leave the Hokage Universe immediately.

"Don't worry. I'll guarantee your safety, on my name as Tsunade, a Konoha jonin," Tsunade said decisively. These medicines could save the lives of the vast majority of their wounded ninjas, and she would never allow anyone to ruin this opportunity.

"Then the deal is confirmed?"

As he spoke, Karn sought confirmation from Tsunade once more.

"Yes. Let's trade." As soon as Tsunade finished speaking, the Trading System showed that the world's trading coordinates had been successfully bound, with Tsunade as the bound target.

Then Tsunade turned to Jiraiya and Orochimaru. "Jiraiya, Orochimaru, we need to get back right away."

"What about this kid?"

Instead of answering Tsunade, Jiraiya asked about Yahiko, who stood beside Karn. Karn, however, stepped aside to distance himself and said,

"He has nothing to do with me. We were just heading the same way."

After Karn said that, all three of them turned their gazes on Yahiko. With several people looking at him at once, Yahiko immediately felt considerable pressure.

But driven by his dream and the words Mr. Karn had just said to him, Yahiko stood with his head lowered and his body trembling for a long while before finally shouting,

"P-please teach us ninjutsu! I want to learn ninjutsu and change this weeping country!"

Tsunade and Orochimaru sighed silently. They had thought this kid might bring them a little surprise as well, but apparently, he was just another naive child.

Jiraiya's expression, however, grew a little more serious. "Where is your family?"

Yahiko fell silent for a moment, but still answered honestly. "They were killed by ninjas in this war."

Orochimaru shook his head. "Forget about this kid, Jiraiya. We still have missions waiting when we get back."

Tsunade shared his attitude and told Jiraiya, "That's right, Jiraiya. We need to return immediately."

"Well..."

Looking at the determination and dreams in Yahiko's eyes, Jiraiya wavered. He knew that returning to camp immediately was the right choice.

But then he remembered the Child of Prophecy the Great Toad Sage had spoken of, and his gaze softened as he looked at Yahiko.

"I'll stay, Tsunade, Orochimaru. The war is almost over now. Let me look after them." By then, Konan and Nagato had poked their heads out from behind the stone pillars, revealing themselves to the three ninjas.

But after Jiraiya announced his decision, Tsunade's and Orochimaru's expressions shifted slightly.

Tsunade demanded angrily, "Jiraiya, do you know what you're saying?!"