Chapter 27 New Medicine

The medicinal herbs currently used by Konoha are primarily provided by the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, along with special products from various smaller and mid-sized clans. The village itself then produces the final product. However, the Uchiha clan is not on the procurement list.

Promoting this new medicine rashly would undoubtedly cause a significant uproar and spark discussions within the village. While the village-produced medicine's effectiveness is mediocre, its main advantage is that it is controlled by the village. On the other hand, this new medicine is under the control of the Uchiha clan, and considering the village's relationship with the Uchiha clan...

"Tsunade! You must understand the interests involved in promoting this new medicine. The attitudes of various clans towards related matters are extremely complex!"

"Tch! Boring interest balance. From what I know, some ingredients in this new medicine overlap with those used in the previous one. Additionally, the variety of ingredients used in the new medicine is more diverse and complex. The impact on the interests of the village clans should be minimal."

The reason she supported this new medicine so strongly was closely related to the medical reforms she initiated. Adding medical ninjas to squads was a pioneering move that, although effective, had limited time to take root and achieve significant scale effects.

She urgently needed an impressive achievement to compel the village to increase investment in medical ninjutsu, medical ninjas, various medical drugs, and equipment. Medical ninjas are not omnipotent, and not everyone has her vast energy reserves and medical expertise. Newly trained medical ninjas can only perform basic medical ninjutsu, like stopping bleeding and simple healing, with effectiveness varying by individual. Therefore, she was eager to add this new medicine to the standard ninja medical kits to save more comrades and make the village recognize the importance of strengthening their medical system.

As for guarding against the Uchiha clan, she had been influenced by her granduncle, Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, and had some reservations about the Uchiha. But compared to her granduncle and her current teacher, the Third Hokage, her caution was minimal. Moreover, this was a beneficial matter for both the ninjas and the clans in the village. Even the medical system she pioneered would greatly benefit, so she had no reason to reject it.

"Tsunade! It's not as simple as you think. Let me explain to you..." Without any concealment, the Third Hokage slowly explained the stakes involved to his increasingly 'outstanding' disciple. The seemingly simple procurement of medicinal herbs actually involved the village's influence on various clans and their positions on certain matters.

The village clans listed their special medicinal products in the village's procurement list, implicitly handing over economic power to the village. The influence of the Hokage on the village clans was significant: if the clan leader disregarded the 'Will of Fire,' should the elders consider replacing him? What if everyone united against the Uchiha? What about support in times of war? Opinions on the Third Hokage himself?

These collective influences allowed the Hokage to maneuver the village clans. Whether it was special medicinal herbs or products, the Land of Fire had abundant resources, always offering alternatives.

"How filthy!"

"Tsunade, you…!"

Had she not been his disciple and held a special identity, he would have wanted to… However, considering his wife Biwako's fondness for Tsunade, he immediately abandoned the thought of severely reprimanding his 'rebellious disciple.' Yes, the wife of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Biwako Sarutobi, was from the Senju clan and married him under the witness of the Second Hokage. Over the years, she had always favored Tsunade, to the extent that even their son Shinnosuke complained that Tsunade was her real daughter, picked up outside.

When Uchiha Toshiro watched the anime, he wondered why the slender Third Hokage had such a tall son, Asuma Sarutobi. He later learned the truth from overhearing adult conversations in his clan.

"So what do you plan to do? Are you going to ignore this good medicine just to target the Uchiha, increasing ninja casualties?"

After taking a deep puff of his pipe and exhaling a long stream of smoke, the Third Hokage hid his face in the purple haze. "The village will definitely promote the new medicine, it's just a matter of how it's done." He emphasized the words 'the village.'

"Oh! I heard that the Uchiha clan applied for the clinical trial under the name of a clan secret medicine. Do you intend to take it directly?" Tsunade watched the Third Hokage with amusement. If that were the case, things would get interesting. She loved watching the drama unfold.

Sighing, the Third Hokage found the situation extremely troublesome. Recalling the differing opinions from the recent meeting with Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado, he felt a headache coming. 

Danzo's brute-force approach was to arrest Uchiha Mika and extract the medicinal information from her or steal the formula from her home for replication. Koharu's idea was to rally various village clans to pressure the Uchiha into contributing the formula for the village's benefit. In contrast, Homura's plan was more reasonable: the village would supply the new medicine's raw materials, the Uchiha would produce it, and it would be distributed to the ninjas.

Danzo's approach was too straightforward. The Uchiha's reaction would be unpredictable, and stealing from them would not sit well with the village clans. The Uchiha weren't outsiders; how would they view theft within the village? Besides, the Uchiha weren't blind.

Koharu's plan was too forceful, risking widening the rift between the village and the Uchiha, detrimental to village unity. Homura's idea was the most feasible and acceptable to the village, though whether the Uchiha would agree was unknown.

Three individuals, three attitudes, three ideas—they encapsulated the village's stance towards the Uchiha clan.