C14

Kain had not sold gold for a while, but there was no rush. His savings were still plentiful, and he knew it wasn't the right time yet. Gaining wholesale agent qualifications for medicines and food was a complex process, but Kain had professional companies running errands for him. Besides, in the year 2000, many parts of the world were facing shortages of medicines, and the wholesale pharmaceutical industry in the United States was still in its infancy. Kain aimed his trading ambitions beyond the U.S. to regions in need of supplies, such as Mexico and parts of West Asia.

Word of Kain's plans to open a pharmaceutical and food trading wholesale company had slowly spread, though the news no longer elicited much surprise. Most people were mildly interested, but they quickly lost focus, assuming it was just another business endeavor. After all, Kain had inherited shares in a large-scale private hospital built by the Pent family, but he showed no interest in managing hospitals. As usual, that part of the business remained tied to his family name, and he had other ventures in mind.

"Spending money is like running water," Kain mused as he calculated the expenses he'd accrued over the past few days. While the company was successfully established and the qualifications for drug wholesale and trade had been processed smoothly, keeping up with these ventures wasn't cheap. Kain had even hired several people with expertise in pharmaceutical wholesale and cross-border trade. His accountants and lawyers were also ready, ensuring that the company would be able to operate efficiently once all legal procedures were complete.

Though Kain's company was primarily a facade to deceive those around him during the early stages, it would eventually become irrelevant. His real focus was on his future biopharmaceutical company. This first business venture was merely a stepping stone to something far greater. What Kain really hoped for was that the medical ninjutsu he'd encountered in the ninja world would provide a breakthrough in drug development.

The potential was immense. Ninja world wars often led to innovative developments, like the poisons created by Sand Village puppeteers. These toxins were eventually deciphered and countered by skilled medical ninjas. Kain imagined the impact someone like Tsunade, one of the greatest medical ninjas, could have if she were to focus on curing diseases like cancer. The ninja world had vast potential in medical research, and Kain was eager to tap into it.

In the past few days, aside from appearing at school briefly, Kain had been busy balancing his company and the futures market. Though running a company drained his funds, Kain made substantial profits from the futures market. After many all-night research sessions with Carl, the two had earned at least two million dollars from gold and oil trades. War always had economic consequences, and though Kain felt guilty for capitalizing on such chaos, the money was irresistible.

To celebrate their growing fortune, Kain, Carl, and Connor opened a bottle of champagne, raising a toast to condemn the war, even though they were profiting from it. Connor, who had always been a bit lenient, even let the two boys have a couple of drinks despite their age.

The drug wholesale and trading company was progressing steadily. Although the qualifications for operations hadn't been finalized, it was only a matter of time before they were approved. Kain discussed future plans with his employees, deciding that Mexico and parts of West Asia would be the company's initial target markets. There, the demand for medicine was high, and Kain's company could thrive with careful management. To incentivize his sales staff, Kain offered high commissions, knowing that the promise of big money would motivate them to perform.

With the trading system cooling down after dropping coordinates in the ninja world, Kain knew it would be at least two years before he could find another trading world. Yet, he wasn't worried. The ninja world alone had enough resources and opportunities to keep him occupied for a while.

Ten days after his return, Kain checked his space backpack and, once everything was in order, traveled back to the ninja world using the trading system. After leaving the hotel in The Town, he headed straight to the warehouse he had rented, preparing to hire help for transporting his goods to Konoha.

"It's been almost two days since I left here," Kain thought. "The time ratio between the worlds is strange, but it's manageable. There's still plenty of time."

To ensure everything went smoothly, Kain issued a mission in Konoha, hiring a Chūnin team to assist him in transporting his goods. The trip between The Town and Konoha wasn't far, but Kain had a large quantity of supplies to move, and hiring ninjas ensured his safety. If any bandits attacked, the ninjas would protect Kain, while Kain would focus on safeguarding the goods.

After arriving at Konoha's gates, the guards checked Kain's cargo before allowing him to pass. He directed the convoy to his two stores in Konoha and arranged for the workers to unload the supplies.

"Boss, is this a new shipment?" asked Aya, the store manager. Her full name was Aya Senju, though the Senju surname had disappeared from official records when she was young.

"It is," Kain replied, handing her a list. "Check the boxes against this list and make sure everything is stocked. The rest can go into the storage room in the back."

Aya quickly set to work, directing the staff to move the goods to the back room, which doubled as Kain's living quarters and had a side entrance leading to the street. Kain had acquired these properties from Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had mortgaged four nearby houses to Kain in exchange for medicine, alleviating some of Konoha's financial struggles during the war.

While Aya managed the supplies, Kain walked through the store, noting that many shelves were completely empty. The demand was clearly high, and Aya hadn't been slacking off. Almost everything had been sold within the past few days, and it was evident that supplies were still in short supply. Kain considered raising prices slightly to capitalize on the situation.

After Aya organized the stockroom, Kain called her over and reviewed the inventory list. He decided to increase the prices of nearly half the items by 50% and raise the rest by 25%.

"Boss, isn't that a bit steep?" Aya asked, surprised by the large markup.

Kain sighed, feigning the helplessness of a businessman forced to make tough decisions. "Aya, it's wartime. External pressures are significant. Without ninja escorts, I wouldn't even dare transport these goods myself."

Aya thought it over and realized that Kain had a point. The other shops in Konoha were almost entirely out of stock, and Kain was the only one capable of bringing in supplies from the outside. Additionally, hiring ninjas for protection added to the expenses.

"You're right," she nodded. "It makes sense."

"Aya," Kain said, leaning in slightly. "I know you're concerned about the price hikes. Don't worry—store employees and your family can still purchase goods at the original price. Just keep it quiet."

"Thank you, boss!" Aya said, grateful for the gesture.

Though Aya wanted to bow in thanks, Kain waved her off. Small favors like this helped him build loyalty among his workers, and once his business expanded, he planned to hire more people. He also saw potential in recruiting civilians from the Senju clan, believing it would be a wise move in the long run. He had big plans for Tsunade as well, hoping to involve her in future medical research projects.

Just then, Kain noticed a red-haired girl standing by the door, peering inside. She had been watching for a while but hadn't come in.

"Aya, who is that?" Kain asked, motioning toward the mysterious girl.