C12

"Didn't notice anyone else?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked again, his expression solemn as he confirmed the situation with Anbu. Despite repeated questioning, the response remained the same.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," Anbu replied while half-kneeling in front of him. "We checked all individuals entering and exiting Kain's rented warehouse in town. We still haven't identified who delivered the medical supplies."

Anbu's tracking mission had, by all accounts, failed, and they had come up empty-handed. Sarutobi Hiruzen's brow furrowed in thought, murmuring, "He managed to hide it from you three? Whoever it is must be incredibly skilled. Which ninja could it be? Who would go to such lengths to help him in Konoha?"

In less than a day, hundreds of boxes of medical supplies had arrived in town. Although they might have been prepared beforehand, Anbu had already thoroughly inspected the warehouse that Kain had rented. The fact that they found nothing was troubling.

Mitokado Homura spoke next, his voice thoughtful. "If a ninja from another power is behind this, it's hard to believe they'd go through all this effort just to help Konoha. Koharu has already instructed Konoha Hospital to meticulously check all the medicines. There's little chance they'll find any foul play."

Utatane Koharu added, "These medicines are unlike anything we've seen in the ninja world before. Hiruzen, should we continue sending Anbu to other nations to gather intelligence on this mysterious supplier?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a slow drag from his pipe before responding. "For now, let's proceed cautiously. We're still in the middle of the war. As long as the medicines are legitimate, Konoha stands to gain."

The deal was relatively small in terms of cost—30 million ryo, some houses in Konoha, and a portion of the gold seized from the battlefield. The gold came from rich veins in the Land of Wind, often looted during skirmishes with the Sand Shinobi Village. Konoha regularly raided Sand Shinobi Village's logistics and domestic caravans, collecting gold and other ores.

Just then, an Anbu member entered the Hokage's office and immediately reported, "Lord Hokage, there's news from Konoha Hospital. Lady Tsunade has inspected half of the medicine, and all of it is qualified for use. The wounded have already begun receiving treatment. The remaining half should be fully tested by noon tomorrow."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, finally allowing himself a small smile. "Inform Tsunade to send some of the medicine and supplies to the medical ninjas heading to the Land of Grass battlefield. The pressure on the front lines is intense."

"Yes, Lord Hokage," the Anbu responded before disappearing from the room.

With the influx of medical supplies, Konoha Hospital was able to ease some of the burden it had been under. Tsunade had also employed numerous careful Konoha women, training them in bandaging, suturing, and other supportive roles alongside the medical ninjas. This greatly reduced the workload on the medical ninjas, improving overall efficiency.

Meanwhile, Kain was unaware of the hospital's progress. His focus was on a different goal—opening two stores in Konoha. After surveying the area, he realized that the location of his stores wasn't too remote. With the right investments, he could even develop the area into a bustling street of business and entertainment. However, he needed to recruit staff to help manage his enterprises. Kain knew he couldn't personally oversee the day-to-day operations of the stores, especially considering the scale of his activities in both worlds. Unsure of how to proceed, he decided to seek advice from Tsunade.

That afternoon, Kain went to Konoha Hospital, hoping to catch Tsunade when she finished her work. After asking around, he learned that she was still busy, so he waited patiently at the hospital entrance. As dusk settled, Tsunade finally emerged.

"Kain? What are you doing here?" Tsunade asked as she approached.

"I have something I'd like to consult with you about—specifically, recruiting staff."

Before Kain could continue, Tsunade interrupted him. "Let's talk about it over dinner. I'm starving and haven't had a chance to eat yet."

Kain followed Tsunade to a local izakaya, where they sat down for a meal. Once Tsunade placed her order, Kain explained his situation. "I need to recruit some staff to help run my stores. It's nothing too complicated, but they need to be trustworthy and detail-oriented. I'll start with five people for now, but I'll need more as the business grows. Of course, they'll be fairly compensated."

Tsunade thought for a moment. "That sounds simple enough. I can help you find some people by tomorrow. By the way, thank you for sharing your first aid methods for the battlefield. They've been invaluable."

Kain nodded, appreciating her gratitude. "I'm glad to hear it."

As Tsunade sipped her drink, a thought crossed her mind. Many families in the Senju clan had lost their primary breadwinners due to the war. Although Konoha provided pensions, they were hardly enough to support these families long-term. The Senju clan had been supporting these widowed families, but even the clan's savings were not endless. With Kain's offer in mind, Tsunade realized this could be a perfect opportunity for those families.

"I have a suggestion," she said. "I'd like to recommend some people from my clan. Most of them are widows whose husbands died in battle. They could really use the work, and they're reliable."

Kain considered her offer and then nodded in agreement. "That sounds good. Let's go with them. I'll meet them tomorrow. Thank you for the help, Tsunade."

After settling the bill, Kain stood up to leave. "I have other matters to attend to, so I'll head out now."

Tsunade watched him go and then muttered to herself, "That guy, always leaving as soon as business is done."

The following morning, the women Tsunade had recommended arrived at Kain's store. There were five of them, all from families that had suffered greatly in the ninja wars. Although they no longer carried the Senju surname, they remained a resilient and active group, even after losing many of their men to the battlefield.

Kain took the time to ask each of them their names before appointing the most stable-looking woman as the store manager. The others were assigned roles as clerks, cashiers, and cleaners. He then spent a little time explaining how the store would operate. For now, it would primarily sell non-staple food items, but as business grew, they would expand to other snacks and goods. Kain had meticulously planned the entire operation and knew exactly how much profit he could generate by purchasing and reselling items.

Once everything was in place, Kain left the village to prepare the next shipment of food for his stores. With his new staff in position, he was ready to begin the next phase of his business venture, all while keeping a close eye on the ongoing war and its opportunities.