"What are you staring at me for?" Raizen suddenly noticed Guren's gaze fixed on him and asked curiously.
"N-nothing!" Caught off guard, a trace of fluster flickered in Guren's eyes. She quickly shifted the subject. "Um... why hasn't that lady from earlier come out yet?"
"Guren-san, are you referring to Keiko-san?" Raizen blinked playfully.
"The one who was just here," Guren replied.
Raizen laughed and asked, "Guren-san, how long does it usually take you to bathe?"
"About half an hour or so?" Guren estimated after a moment's thought.
Raizen pointed to the clock. "Well, there you have it! It hasn't even been half an hour since you came back from looking at the rooms."
Not long after, Uzumaki Keiko stepped out, dressed in a pink casual outfit. She walked up to Raizen, her face radiating pure joy.
"Raizen-sama, look at me! Doesn't it look good?" Keiko straightened her posture, her chest held high with pride.
"Congratulations, Keiko-san. You've finally gotten your wish," Raizen said with a smile.
Beside them, Guren's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
Was this the same woman from before? Her skin was fair and supple, her face full of collagen—she didn't look like a woman pushing thirty at all. She looked like an eighteen-year-old girl next door!
"Is this for real? This completely defies common sense!"
"It's very real, Lady Ninja."
"Don't be too envious! Serve Raizen-sama well, and you'll receive your own rewards eventually," Keiko said to Guren with a beaming smile, not forgetting to give Raizen a cheeky wink.
"This is incredible." Guren's gaze turned fervent. Her "flat chest" had always been a point of insecurity for her; now that there was a chance for secondary development, she absolutely couldn't miss out.
She turned her burning gaze toward Raizen. "Raizen-sama, could you... give me two bottles as well?"
Seeing the heat in her eyes, Raizen smiled. "I can give them to you, but they cost one million Ryo per bottle."
"Are you sure you want to buy them?"
"One million Ryo a bottle!" Hearing the price, Guren's excitement instantly deflated. Her entire life savings wouldn't even come close to a million Ryo.
Orochimaru's Hidden Sound Village had only recently been established and had little reputation. With no civilians hiring them for missions, the whole group was living on a tight budget; their pockets were essentially empty.
Raizen noticed Guren's embarrassment and chuckled. "If you don't have the money, you can wait until the mission is complete. Once you receive your reward, you can buy them then. I'll make sure to reserve a few bottles for you, so you don't have to worry about them selling out."
Guren shook her head. "Waiting until the mission is finished takes too long. I can't wait that long. I'm going to find a way to make some money."
"And how do you plan to do that?" Raizen asked, curious.
"I plan to sell pink crystals." A faint smile played on Guren's lips. "My ninjutsu can create crystals; I can sell them for profit."
"Selling crystals?"
Raizen thought for a moment. "Can the crystals produced by your ninjutsu match the quality of natural crystals?"
Guren laughed. "As long as I double the chakra output, the crystals I create are indistinguishable from natural ones."
As she spoke, a shimmering crystal condensed in Guren's palm.
Raizen took the crystal and examined it. His eyes widened in surprise. "Holy... Congratulations, Guren-san. You're a walking, inexhaustible gold mine."
Guren shook her head at his words. "Creating crystals that approach the quality of natural ones consumes a massive amount of chakra. It's not something I can do in bulk."
"It's not a sustainable way to make a fortune."
"However, if I work hard during this period, earning a million Ryo shouldn't be an issue."
Since she was here on a mission, her safety was guaranteed, and she didn't need to hoard chakra for potential combat. Living within the Hidden Leaf meant she could afford to expend her reserves to generate crystals for cash.
"Guren-san, if you're willing, I can purchase the crystals you produce."
"I'll buy them at twenty percent below the market price for natural crystals. How does that sound?"
Raizen suggested as he weighed the crystal in his hand. The quality was close to natural, but since it was artificial, the price had to be lower, and he needed his own profit margin.
"Deal!" Guren blurted out.
The moment the word left her mouth, Guren felt a jolt of shock.
What's happening? Why did I agree without even trying to bargain?
"Excellent. Let's sign a sales contract then!"
Raizen had Keiko bring paper and a pen and drafted a contract on the spot.
"Please sign and leave a thumbprint, Guren-san."
"Um, alright." Guren took the pen subconsciously, signed her name, and pressed her thumb onto the paper.
In no time, the contract was finalized in duplicate.
"A pleasure doing business with you, Guren-san." Raizen extended his hand.
"Likewise." Guren reached out her slender hand and shook Raizen's.
After the handshake, Guren's mind went blank for a second again. Her heart was full of confusion; she felt like something was "off" about her behavior, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was strange or wrong.
Raizen had Keiko file the contract and then turned back to the dazed Guren. "Guren-san, you don't need to push yourself too hard. You can produce as many crystals as you like each day; I won't set a limit."
"Whatever you give me, I'll buy."
"It would be best if you could shape them directly into mirrors or other decorative items. The price will be higher that way."
Guren forced down the odd feeling in her chest and nodded. "I understand. I'll try to manufacture them like that."
"However... Boss Raizen, would it be possible to get one bottle of that miraculous juice as an advance?"
Guren looked at Raizen expectantly.
Raizen thought for a moment. "No problem. I trust you."
With a wave of his hand, a bottle of Papaya Nutritious Juice appeared. He handed it to Guren.
"Here you go, Guren-san. May you grow younger by the day, with skin as soft as silk and a perfectly curved figure."
"Thank you, Boss Raizen!" Guren accepted the bottle with excitement, bowing in gratitude.
Raizen added, "By the way, I should remind you of one thing. Drinking this has another effect—it stimulates lactation."
"If you feel any swelling or discomfort later, don't worry; it's a normal occurrence, not a side effect. If you're unsure how to handle it, you can ask Keiko-san."
"She's a mother; she knows plenty about dealing with that. You can consult her."
Keiko laughed. "It's actually very easy to resolve."
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