C9

"Are these medical supplies and medicine?"

The ninja in the camp, especially those with experience on the battlefield, easily recognized bandages, wound medicine patches, and similar basic supplies. However, some of the capsules, granular medicines, and even sprays were not immediately identifiable. Fortunately, there were instructions labeled on the packaging, so the ninjas began inspecting the items more closely. These were not ordinary supplies; they could change the course of how medical treatment was administered during the war.

As the ninjas rummaged through the supplies, Tsunade, who had been keenly observing them, began explaining to the group. "These are emergency medicines designed specifically for the battlefield. They have various functions such as stopping bleeding, reducing inflammation, and treating fever. With these medicines, we can significantly reduce the current shortage of medical ninjas." She paused for a moment, letting the weight of her words settle in. "Combined with basic first-aid techniques and simple suturing methods, we can reduce the casualty rate on the battlefield by several times."

A Jōnin from the Nara clan raised an eyebrow. "Is this medicine really as effective as it's described to be?"

Tsunade replied calmly, "I'm not certain yet. These are just samples for us to try. But if the results align with the descriptions, I would strongly recommend we purchase these in bulk. Otherwise, with the current state of our medical corps, we simply won't have enough manpower to treat all the wounded in the camp." Her tone grew more somber, and though she didn't finish her sentence, everyone in the tent knew the grim reality of what she was implying. The medical team had been stretched thin, with some ninjas succumbing to their injuries simply because there weren't enough resources to treat them in time.

The weight of her words was heavy on the minds of those present, especially after witnessing firsthand the overwhelming number of casualties and the immense toll the war had taken on their medical staff. Among the wounded were countless members of prominent ninja clans, and the thought of being unable to save their comrades was too much to bear.

Shimura Danzō, ever the skeptic, spoke up, his voice low and serious. "And what about the man who provided these? What do we know of his origins?"

Tsunade shrugged slightly. "He claims to come from across the sea—from a place called the United States—but who knows what really exists on the other side of the world? One thing I can confidently say is that these medicines didn't come from another ninja village. If they had, Konoha would've heard something about them by now."

She leaned back and crossed her arms. "That said, he's a strange one. He has no chakra and doesn't appear to be trained in ninjutsu. He doesn't seem to be affiliated with any other village and certainly doesn't have the look of a spy. He's just a businessman—or so he claims."

Danzō wasn't convinced. "A businessman? And yet he conveniently appears near the battlefield, offering us supplies? What if he's more than he seems? Yamanaka Jōnin—" He was about to issue a command to probe deeper when Orochimaru intervened with a sly grin.

"Assistant Danzō, there's no need to be so hasty. If you scare him off or eliminate him prematurely, we might miss out on what could be a beneficial arrangement for Konoha. Let's face it: the man poses little threat by himself. His supplies, on the other hand, could turn the tide in this war. If we don't take advantage, it might be Rain Shinobi who benefit from this discovery instead."

The room fell silent as Orochimaru's words sank in. The other Jōnin present began to murmur among themselves, their skepticism starting to wane. There was wisdom in Orochimaru's assessment. If these medicines were as valuable as they seemed, and if Rain Shinobi were to get their hands on them, Konoha's current advantage could be lost.

Danzō's face darkened as he considered the possibility of Rain Shinobi benefiting from their negligence. "Fine," he muttered after a long pause. "Tsunade, verify the effectiveness of these supplies. If they prove to be legitimate, send a report to Lord Sarutobi and the other elders. Large-scale procurement will require their authorization, and we must ensure everything is above board."

Tsunade nodded. "Understood. I'll also gather a list of all the supplies he provided, including food, and prepare a report on them as well."

With that, the meeting came to an end, and the group dispersed. As Tsunade stepped out of the tent, she couldn't help but smirk slightly. Seeing Danzō frustrated always gave her a strange sense of satisfaction. That, and the thought of making a real difference with these new medicines, lightened her mood significantly.

"Orochimaru," she called out as she caught up with him. "What's next for you?"

He glanced at her, his golden eyes thoughtful. "If things go as planned, I'll be sent to deal with Sand Shinobi next."

Tsunade nodded. Thinking of her younger brother, she hesitated for a moment before asking, "Orochimaru, when we get back, would you consider taking on Nawaki as your disciple? He's been dying to train under you."

Orochimaru smirked. "If he can pass my evaluation, perhaps. At the very least, he has already proven his discernment by not choosing Jiraiya as a mentor."

With that, the matter was settled.

Tsunade returned to her tent, where Kain was waiting patiently. "The meeting went well. If the medicines check out, Konoha will make a large-scale purchase. I hope you don't mind waiting for a while longer."

"Of course," Kain replied with a calm smile. "Inspections are a necessary part of any transaction."

Internally, however, Kain was already calculating his next moves. The deal with Konoha had progressed smoothly so far, and soon, he would have an established presence in this world. From there, he could expand his operations, perhaps even setting up trading posts in other countries. The potential profits from selling materials between the two worlds were astronomical, especially if he could maintain a monopoly on these medicines.

He had bigger plans too. If he could learn more about the advanced medical techniques in this world—particularly the unique blend of chakra-based healing—he could revolutionize medicine back in his own world. It wasn't beyond reason to think that with the help of skilled medical-nin, he could cure previously incurable diseases or even extend life spans.

Back at the medical camp, the harsh reality of the war was all too evident. Hundreds of wounded shinobi lay in rows, and the few medical-nin available were struggling to keep up. As Kain observed the state of affairs, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of admiration and sadness for the ninja around him. These were warriors trained to fight, but here they were, some barely clinging to life due to a lack of medical resources.

After assisting with suturing the wounds of three shinobi and applying some of his own medicine, Kain walked out of the tent, frowning slightly. He washed the blood from his hands and took a deep breath, calming himself. When Tsunade approached him, he spoke quietly, "The medicine's effectiveness is just about confirmed, Tsunade. But I need to reiterate—I'm just a businessman, not a doctor."