"This is really tricky, how did this guy make it, I have no clue at all..."
Tsunade rubbed her brow with some frustration. Initially, she was interested because of Sakura's message, and seeing the effects of the secret medicine once she returned. But after researching for a while, although knowing the ingredients, she just couldn't make it.
Her patience was rapidly drained, especially since she was putting in so much effort and getting nowhere.
Sakura also contemplated while resting her chin on her hand, "Lady Tsunade, could it be a different method? I remember Fireworks mentioned that she saw Boss Yoichi conjure flames in his palm to refine the secret medicine, maybe we're missing the most crucial method..."
Uchiha Yoichi's secret medicine is too expensive, the cheapest one costs three hundred thousand ryo, at least equivalent to Konoha's A-Class tasks. But now, there's peace in the world, there aren't that many A-Class tasks to generate revenue for the village.
Before the Fourth Great Ninja War, Konoha's funding from the Daimyo and task rewards made up about half each, but now if task rewards make up twenty percent, it's considered good; essentially, support from the Land of Fire Daimyo is required for the village to keep running.
That's why Shikamaru intended to ask Sakura to try and research a substitute for this secret medicine, which could save the village a considerable amount of money. It might even allow more ninjas to use the secret medicine, otherwise, only a few could have it.
But Sakura and Tsunade researched for a long time and never succeeded once.
"Forget it, there's no point in continuing, we're missing the key step, we can't even make a substitute for the simplest secret medicine."
Tsunade shook her head and said, at seventy years old, she was supposed to be enjoying the peaceful days of the Ninja World, but instead, she was called back to Konoha Hospital to perform boring experiments again and again.
It's been over a month with no progress at all, and in a few months, there probably won't be any either.
"Lady Tsunade..."
Sakura called out but didn't know what to say, so she shook her head and gave up; she also felt there wasn't much hope, having tried every method during this period.
"Then let's relax a bit, Lady Tsunade. Want to visit Ino's flower shop?"
Hearing this, Tsunade's eyes lit up, and she replied, "Nice suggestion, Sakura. Let's find Ino and have a drink together afterward!"
"...Haha, I didn't say anything about having a drink, Lady Tsunade..."
Sakura forced a smile, but seeing Tsunade had already made up her mind and was leaving in high spirits, she could only follow along.
Lady Tsunade has been through a lot; today she decided not to disrupt Tsunade's good mood.
The two women tidied up quickly and left Konoha Hospital to go to Yamanaka Ino's flower shop.
However, upon arrival, Sakura and Tsunade found that they were out of luck, the flower shop was temporarily closed, and there was no one inside; so Sakura had to accompany Tsunade to the Izakaya, looks like she would have to drink something after all.
Yamanaka Ino was currently at Uchiha Yoichi's Izakaya. She rarely did ninja tasks; besides running the flower shop, she took care of her home. After learning that Uchiha Yoichi's Izakaya was renovated and opened, she visited twice.
Every time she came, she would encounter Uchiha Yoichi drinking, hardly anyone was in the shop. And since Yamanaka Ino didn't want to drink alone, she greeted and sat with Uchiha Yoichi.
In the past, Yamanaka Ino, being a married woman, would never have done such a thing—sitting at the same table and drinking with another man while her husband was busy—but now her mood was rarely good, the mysterious feeling Uchiha Yoichi gave her, and his advice on her issues with Sai, made her approach Yoichi when she saw him drinking.
"Boss, do you always drink alone?"
Uchiha Yoichi glanced at the charming housewife and casually replied, "It's relaxation after a busy day, but you, being a housewife, should be at home during the day, not at an Izakaya."
Yamanaka Ino's forehead immediately twitched as she clenched her fist, "I'm not a housewife, I'm an employed ninja!"
But she believed Uchiha Yoichi was busy, because he was heavily scented with medicine, which could be smelled without being overwhelming, and rather it helped her relax.
"Boss, can you give me some advice to help me and Sai through this so-called seven-year..."
After drinking a glass, the tipsy Ino with a flushed complexion and her charming figure became more appealing.
Yoichi glanced at her and said, "What can I do? I already told you before, why not go travel with him..."
"Sai's busy with tasks, he has no time..."
"Then go help him complete his tasks, you're a ninja too, right."
"I can't go out, I have to take care of the home..."
"Then you should..."
Uchiha Yoichi proposed several methods that could help Yamanaka Ino ease family issues, but for various reasons, they were all rejected by her.
He was well aware of Yamanaka Ino's family situation, so he stood in her shoes and suggested those 'good solutions' that could not be realized.
Victor's plan had already started. His medical company secretly purchased death row prisoners from the Five Great Countries under the guise of experimental drugs and then offered them to the Artificial Divine Tree.
Moreover, he entrusted some underground organizations to steal Hashirama Cells from Konoha.
Sai had initially been busy investigating Uchiha Yoichi's background before he came to Konoha. In addition, many underground organizations were showing intentions toward Hashirama Cells, making Sai even busier.
Uchiha Yoichi intentionally marked some bounty ninjas with the Shell Organization emblem for Sai to discover, making him busier.
If a mysterious organization lurking under the Five Great Ninja Villages were detected by Konoha, they wouldn't let it go.
So, after Sai noticed the Shell Organization message, he dispatched many operatives to investigate. However, due to the reduction of Anbu members, they gained only a little information and made little progress.
This bit of information was even deliberately leaked to Konoha by a Kamui Clone, but it was enough to alert Konoha.
With this important intel, Sai planned to personally infiltrate the Land of Valleys to investigate thoroughly, currently discussing this matter with Naruto and Shikamaru.
"This won't work, that won't work, the issues between you and your spouse are more difficult than saving the Ninja World, so just go back and figure it out yourselves! Don't bother me anymore!"
After suggesting a string of methods only to have them rejected, Uchiha Yoichi feigned an impatient expression.
Seeing this, Yamanaka Ino hesitantly said, "It's indeed difficult to achieve, Boss, do you have any other ideas? Please suggest just one more, I already consider you a friend..."
"Anyone can say sweet words; I am not your friend, not even an acquaintance."
Seeing that he had baited enough, Uchiha Yoichi said, "Alright, I'll give you one last idea; pretend to have an affair to make your husband nervous. This way, he will care about you, and as for the fake affair partner, you can ask a friend.... I remember ninjas are able to use Transformation Jutsu, right? This should be doable."
Yamanaka Ino showed a hesitant expression and asked, "Pretend to have an affair... will that work?"
Uchiha Yoichi asked, "Let me ask you, if you saw your husband with another woman, what would you feel?"
Yamanaka Ino angrily clashed her fists, saying, "I'd beat him to death!"
"What if he's with another woman right now?"
"Then he's dead for sure!"
"That's precisely it. If he truly loves you, he'll undoubtedly react in the same way, rushing to your side nervously. Then, have your friend explain things clearly, and it will all be resolved. As for the spokesperson, you can have your son convey the message, making it more convincing to your husband!"
After hearing this, Yamanaka Ino was taken aback for a while, then showed a delighted expression, clashing her fists with her palm, saying, "Good idea, you do have a good method. You should have said this earlier!"
Uchiha Yoichi shook his head, "Earlier you called me a friend, now you say 'you guy' the moment you turn your back...."
"Well, well, don't mind those details. If it works, I'll invite you to dinner, thank you!"
After finishing her words, Yamanaka Ino got up immediately, then intended to leave here to find Sakura for help.
But after taking two steps, she suddenly felt dizzy from the alcohol, staggering sideways unconsciously; however, there right next to her was Uchiha Yoichi's seat, and she leaned against Uchiha Yoichi inadvertently.
Immediately, the heavy ball rested on Uchiha Yoichi's shoulder, giving him a sense of softness.
Feeling the press on her ball, Yamanaka Ino's face blushed, the alcohol cleared halfway, quickly stood upright, and said with unstoppable blush, "I-I'll leave now!"
After Yamanaka Ino left hastily, Uchiha Yoichi chuckled, thinking to himself: 'Next, the Kamui Clone should act. It's been about five years ahead of schedule. I wonder if Isshiki's vessel has matured and whether it will appear recklessly....'
Comparing Isshiki's cultivation of the Ten-tailed with Victor's Artificial Divine Tree, it is just an appetizer. Once the Artificial Divine Tree matures, Victor loses his value.
His Regeneration Technique and other research results have all been seized by the Kamui Clone.
According to the current cultivation scale, if Victor's people can obtain Hashirama Cells, the Artificial Divine Tree can mature within three months. At that point, he can harvest the Chakra Fruit and attempt to refine Elixir using the Artificial Divine Tree Fruit.
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Night falls.
A dozen or so figures bypassed the Konoha Security Team members, stealthily moving toward the cemetery in the village again.