The evening, after dinner, is the time for family conversation before going to sleep.
Ino emerged from the bathroom with her skin exceptionally fair. Even though her son was already six or seven years old, she maintained a perfect figure and skin.
Now, if she went to a strange place, no one would believe that she was the mother of a six or seven-year-old child.
"Sai, today I accompanied Sakura to a new pharmacy in Konoha. Sakura sold the medicinal materials Sasuke brought back. Is Sakura having financial difficulties lately?"
Ino, wearing pajamas and sitting gracefully on the sofa, asked Sai, who was looking at some documents.
While looking at the documents, Sai replied, "Sakura... I'm not too sure, but the medical director's salary shouldn't be low. It doesn't seem like she's facing difficulties."
Ino, dissatisfied, said, "Idiot, Sakura's house was bought on a loan. She not only has to repay the loan, but also work and deal with Sarada's school expenses... I mean, aren't you busy with Anbu matters? Do you know if the village is paying Sasuke a salary?"
"Sasuke's salary..."
Upon hearing the question, Sai looked up at Ino, recalled for a moment, and shook his head, saying, "Not sure. Naruto is handling Sasuke's matters, and I occasionally help pass information... Probably, there isn't any."
"Oh..."
Ino sighed. She initially wanted Sai to talk to Naruto, but then remembered that if she did that, Naruto would definitely go directly to Sakura, and with Sakura's strong personality, she would stubbornly insist there's no problem...
If Sakura genuinely needed help from her friends, she would definitely sell the medicinal materials to the Nara Family, as the Nara Family specializes in the medicinal materials business.
"By the way, Sai, a new pharmacy opened recently in the village. They sell secret medicines that are very expensive, but judging by the effects, they seem extremely potent, including some..."
Yamanaka Ino recalled the pharmacy she visited today and began talking to Sai, telling him about the effects of the secret medicines sold there.
After listening, Sai also put down the documents in his hand, his expression slightly serious as he pondered: "...If it's really as you say, Ino, then this pharmacy needs attention. These secret medicines are extremely rare, and even the village doesn't have many with such effects."
Coming from the Root, Sai naturally had a good understanding of secret medicines. If the secret medicines sold at that pharmacy were indeed as effective as Ino described, there must be a very powerful group backing the pharmacy.
It's impossible for one person to develop so many secret medicines. Sai didn't believe this; even with so many Konoha Ninjas, the total number of secret medicines was less than ten, and several belonged to the Ninja Race, rarely seen by other ninjas.
"Indeed, the pharmacy owner is quite arrogant, claiming that if the medicines don't work, they will refund double the money."
Ino immediately said, "Sakura should report to Naruto and purchase some in the name of the village to test their effects. If useful, they could be given to those performing dangerous tasks... However, they are too expensive, even the cheaper ones cost several hundred thousand ryo."
This was the only thing Ino complained about. If they were cheaper, she would directly buy a couple to test effects; but several hundred thousand ryo, even her family would have to consider.
An A-Class task pays just a few hundred thousand ryo, and four people must share it. Plus, there are almost no A-Class or S-Class tasks involving countries anymore; the earning efficiency for ninjas has dropped by half compared to ten years ago.
Though their family has other businesses, spending nearly a million ryo at once is something Ino wouldn't do.
"Well, let's not talk about those things anymore; it's getting late..."
Ino's tone suddenly softened, her expression acquiring a hint of bashful red, and she slightly lowered her voice, saying to Sai, "Sai, should we go rest~"
"Mmm... you go ahead and sleep, Ino, I need to finish these documents, and I have a report for Naruto tomorrow..."
Sai didn't see Ino's expression; he had picked up the documents again and didn't raise his head.
His action made Ino angrily snort and stomp into the room in her slippers.
Hearing Ino's loud stomping on the floor, Sai raised his head, asking, "What now?" Uncertain of any issues, he continued looking at the documents.
The next day
After sending Sarada to school, Sakura tidied up and went to work.
After touring Konoha Hospital and finding nothing that urgently required her, Sakura headed to the Hokage Building.
With no wars or assassinations happening, the sudden emergence of a pharmacy selling such potent secret medicines in Konoha Village was enough for the village to take notice.
"Naruto."
Arriving at the Hokage Office door, Sakura knocked twice and walked inside, seeing another pile of documents on Naruto's desk, along with instant noodle boxes left from last night, she remarked,
"Honestly, remember to clean up after eating. You've become Hokage and still act so slovenly...."
"Hahaha, there were too many things to do, so I forgot." Naruto chuckled, scratching his head, and then asked, "Sakura, what's the matter?"
"It's nothing much, really. I saw an advertisement for a pharmacy in the newspaper and went to check it out. I discovered that while the pharmacy is buying medicinal materials, it's also selling a lot of secret medicines...."
Sakura recounted yesterday's events, which immediately caught Shikamaru and Naruto's attention.
After exchanging glances, Shikamaru spoke first, "Sakura, how are the effects of those secret medicines?"
Sakura shook her head, saying, "Too expensive, I can't afford them. To know their effects, we'll need to buy some and test them. If the effects match what the pharmacy owner claims, the village could consider procuring some...."
Supporting his chin with both hands, Naruto said, "Yeah, that could reduce the danger in ninja tasks. Let's do this: we'll purchase some using the village's budget. Sakura, the evaluation of the secret medicines' effects is your responsibility. If they match, then...."
Before Uzumaki Naruto could finish speaking, he suddenly frowned, seemingly sensing something, then immediately performed a Double-Handed Seal on the table, using Summoning Jutsu.
Poof.
A small toad suddenly appeared on the table, greeting Naruto, "Master Naruto, I'm Gama Kichi's son, Gama Jiro. Nice to meet you..."
Naruto immediately expressed nostalgia, saying, "Oh, so it's you. Is Gama Kichi looking for me?"
"Dad says Fukasaku Sage needs to see you, but he sent me to check if you're busy recently?"
Naruto immediately asked in confusion, "Hmm? Fukasaku Sage, did he say what it's about?"
Gama Jiro replied, "He didn't say, probably just wants to ask you something."
Hearing this, Uzumaki Naruto glanced at Shikamaru. As Hokage, he had plenty to do, and now there were two days' worth of unresolved tasks piling up. If he left for a while, the work would only accumulate more.
However, Shikamaru shrugged with a smile and said, "I'll handle things here for you. Maybe there's something important at Mount Myoboku, so you should go quickly, Naruto."
"Haha, that's really helpful of you, Shikamaru."
Uzumaki Naruto scratched his head sheepishly and laughed. Originally, these were his responsibilities, but given his relationship with Shikamaru, there was no need for formalities.
"Gama Jiro, after you go back, have Gama Kichi use the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to summon me over."
With that, Uzumaki Naruto dispelled the Summoning Jutsu, sending Gama Jiro back. Then he turned to Sakura and said, "Sakura, handle the Secret Medicine issue as we discussed earlier. Once it's procured, I'll leave the analysis to you."
Sakura nodded and said, "Don't worry, Naruto."
Just as she finished speaking, with a puff, Uzumaki Naruto transformed into a cloud of smoke. Sakura and Shikamaru knew at once that Naruto had already gone to Mount Myoboku.
Then Nara Shikamaru used Naruto's seal to issue a directive for Sakura, instructing her to go to the finance department to get the money.
Mount Myoboku
Puff!
A cloud of smoke appeared, and Uzumaki Naruto stepped out from within. Seeing the large dark toad in front of him, he excitedly waved and greeted, "Gama Kichi, long time no see. I didn't expect you're a father now."
"Idiot, toads grow much faster than humans. I already have four sons now, Naruto."
Gama Kichi's voice came from above, but what surprised Naruto was Gama Kichi saying he had four sons.
Naruto laughed and said, "Hahaha, there was a time you could sit on my head, but not anymore... By the way, Gama Kichi, what's Fukasaku Sage want with me?"
"Not sure, you should go ask Fukasaku Sage directly."
After Gama Kichi finished, Uzumaki Naruto waved goodbye and walked inside.
He hadn't been to Mount Myoboku for a long time, not since he was training in Sage Mode. Ever since he got married, he had never come back here.
Finding Fukasaku Sage's dwelling, Uzumaki Naruto knocked on the door. After a few seconds, the door opened, and seeing Uzumaki Naruto, Shima Sage joyfully said, "Kid, long time no see. How did you know I just finished cooking? Come in and have a bite..."
"Uh... maybe later, Shima Sage. Fukasaku Sage asked me here for something."
Thinking about the bug dishes, Naruto's face turned green and he quickly found an excuse to decline. At this moment, Fukasaku Sage also jumped out and said to Uzumaki Naruto,
"Little Naruto, it's good that you're here. I thought you were too busy lately, and was about to notify another contractor."
"Fukasaku Sage, is there something going on?"
"The Great Toad Sage wants to see you and ask you some things about the ninja world. Follow me."
With those words, Fukasaku Sage started walking towards the Great Toad Sage's dwelling.
Uzumaki Naruto hurriedly followed, and as they walked, he asked, "That forgetful old man, is he still giving prophecies?"
"Occasionally, but mostly they're insignificant prophecies. This time it might be because of a nightmare that he wants to ask you about the ninja world."
Fukasaku Sage replied as they walked, quickly arriving at the Great Toad Sage's place.
"Great Lord, Great Lord!"
Fukasaku Sage exerted considerable effort to wake the Great Toad Sage, then said to him, "Great Lord, Little Naruto is here. Is there something you want to ask him?"
"Little Naruto..."
The Great Toad Sage muttered the name, then after a while slowly recalled, "Oh, it's Little Naruto, long time no see..."
"What a forgetful old man..."
Uzumaki Naruto sighed and then waved an arm in greeting, "Old man, what's the matter with calling me over?"
The Great Toad Sage reminisced for a moment, then asked, "Hmm... Little Naruto, has anything happened recently in the ninja world? Or is there some strange enemy?"
"Strange enemy... doesn't seem like it, mostly bandits and wandering ninjas. But the village has dealt with them all..."
Uzumaki Naruto thought back but couldn't recall any strange enemies. The most troublesome ones were some wandering ninjas, but they were soon handled by Konoha Ninjas.
"Hmm... Little Naruto, I had a very strange prophetic dream this time. There will be an enemy with a tail and scales, and this enemy is very dangerous, potentially causing irreparable damage to the ninja world..."
The last part was something the Great Toad Sage added on his own, but it felt that if even Mount Myoboku were destroyed, the ninja world wouldn't fare much better.
"Huh? Tail and scales... Old man, is this even a human? Could it be some kind of monster?"
In Naruto's mind appeared a giant lizard, but there weren't any particularly strong lizards in the ninja world.
"It's human, just with those features. And in my dream, even Mount Myoboku was destroyed by this enemy..."
The Great Toad Sage paused, then continued, "Mount Myoboku is outside the ninja world, yet even here isn't safe... Little Naruto..."
Hearing this, Uzumaki Naruto roughly understood and his expression grew slightly serious. He said to the Great Toad Sage, "Ah, I get it, old man. I'll have the village investigate and gather information on this once I'm back."