While Kurenai and the others were tasting Raw Cola, and Tsunade was planning to change her luck through gambling,
elsewhere in Konoha Village,
inside the back room of Yakiniku Q, several people sat facing one another across a long table.
On the left were the proprietress of Yakiniku Q and Teuchi from Ichiraku Ramen.
On the right were Mikami Tajima, who had already been discharged from the hospital, and Mikami Aoi, who had specially taken leave from the library to come help.
On the table lay two contracts, the ink still not dry.
"Then, regarding the contract terms, I take it everyone has no objections? On my side, I'll supply Konoha Raw Cola to both of your shops on a weekly basis. After deducting production costs, the remaining profits will be split fifty-fifty…"
Mikami Tajima cleared his throat lightly and spoke.
The proprietress of Yakiniku Q thought briefly. "The profit split is fine. I've also had people sample that drink of yours, and it really is popular. It's just… can the supply be increased a bit? Only three or four hundred bottles a week feels nowhere near enough."
"Well… right now, I don't have enough manpower, and both mixing the drink and bottling it by hand take time. We'll think of a way to expand production as soon as possible."
"Alright then. No problem on my side. What do you think, Mr. Teuchi?"
"I have no objections either."
Teuchi squinted and smiled. "Mr. Mikami was a regular customer at Ichiraku Ramen before. Being able to cooperate on Raw Cola now is a happy thing."
Soon,
the three parties signed and stamped their contracts, each keeping a copy, then shook hands and said goodbye.
Only after leaving Yakiniku Q
did Mikami Tajima say to Mikami Aoi beside him, "That boy Yuu really is quick-witted. How do you think he came up with this idea? Just a small sparkling drink, and it's already opened up a market in the village so quickly. It's only been a week, and all 500 bottles from the first trial batch are sold out!"
"Yes. Yuu has always been clever."
Mikami Aoi smiled as she answered.
Mikami Tajima nodded, then frowned a little. "Unfortunately, production really is a problem. I already showed the machine blueprints that boy drew to a few craftsmen, and they all said it'd be difficult to forge. If we keep bottling by hand, it's still a bit too slow."
The technology tree of the Naruto world was unusually crooked. Although Yuu had mentioned a fully automated "blowing-filling integrated line" in his plan, that kind of thing was completely new to the ninja world. It would need to be custom-made, and there was no guarantee it would work.
So for now, Mikami Tajima could only use a small workshop approach, hiring people to bottle it by hand. He personally handled random inspections to ensure quality control.
"It's alright. We can take it slowly.
"Didn't Yuu write the later plans clearly? We'll follow them step by step. First, stabilize the Konoha market. Once reputation and production both catch up a little, we can try the Fire Capital and Tanzaku Town. If we can really sell Raw Cola across the entire Land of Fire…"
Longing flashed in Mikami Aoi's eyes, but it quickly dimmed, touched by worry.
"Sigh. That child has already been away from the village for two months, hasn't he? I wonder how he's doing on the front line…"
"…"
At that, the excitement on Mikami Tajima's face also faded. He nodded silently and looked toward the southwest.
"Don't worry, Aoi. That boy is smarter than us, talented too, and he has Jōnin Namikaze Minato watching over him. He'll definitely find a way to protect himself."
…
The location was near the Wildfire City outpost.
Bright sunlight spilled down, illuminating a training ground temporarily cleared within the forest.
In the field, two figures wielding short blades were crossing and colliding at astonishing speed.
They were Mikami Yuu and Kakashi.
After this period of real combat on the border, Kakashi's swordsmanship had improved quite a bit. His strikes were precise, fast, and ruthless, carrying the distinctive killing aura of Hatake Swordsmanship.
But Mikami Yuu, facing him, was also an expert in Hatake Swordsmanship. And compared to Kakashi, his blade work carried a greater sense of smoothness and completeness. Again and again, he predicted Kakashi's intentions in advance, then blocked or countered accordingly, his timing just right.
For a while,
only the crisp clang of metal and the sharp whistle of blades tearing through the air could be heard.
Finally,
at a certain moment, Yuu used the principles of Super Strength. A streak of blade-light stabbed directly toward Kakashi's centerline. At the critical instant, Kakashi leaned back while raising his blade to deflect Yuu's short sword. At the same time, he was pushed back several meters by the enormous force before finally stabilizing himself.
Before Kakashi could say anything,
Obito, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn't hold back anymore and jumped out.
"Kakashi! Switch out! If you can't handle it, step down and rest!"
"…Shut up, dead last."
Kakashi glanced coldly at Obito, then sheathed his sword and stepped aside.
Obito immediately jumped into the field with impatience, activated his Sharingan, and began fighting.
How should one put it…
A few months earlier, Team Minato's daily training generally involved Mikami Yuu and Obito taking turns fighting Kakashi. After all, Kakashi carried the title of "assistant instructor," and his visible strength was indeed a notch above the others.
But recently,
especially after the battle with Pakura, the person being rotated against had unknowingly become Mikami Yuu.
Mm… from another angle, it also meant Yuu was using these two guys as alternating sparring partners. One for swordsmanship and taijutsu training, the other for ninjutsu training.
It was worth mentioning that after awakening the Sharingan, Obito's strength had indeed improved. The Sharingan's boost wasn't limited to perception; it also improved chakra reserves, chakra control, and more. That allowed Obito to leap from "early chūnin" to "mid chūnin" in one go.
Yuu had originally thought of using Obito to train his own resistance to genjutsu, but Obito, staring at him with those two-tomoe eyes, said he didn't know genjutsu. So Yuu had no choice but to give up.
As for Rin, she was currently practicing Super Strength alone against a wooden training dummy at the edge of the field. Her chakra-wrapped fists struck the dummy's chest again and again, leaving fist marks of varying depth. It looked like she was starting to get the hang of it.
Near noon,
training came to a temporary end.
At that moment, Minato appeared at the edge of the field as if teleporting. He carried several stacked lunch boxes in his hand, wearing his signature gentle smile.
"Good work, everyone. Come eat."
"Oh!"
Obito was the first to cheer and rush over. He grabbed his portion and opened it eagerly.
"Wow, this is so generous! There's even fried chicken! Awesome!"
Yuu and the others also walked over, took their lunch boxes, found a nearby spot in the shade, and began eating.
~~~
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