The Eroded Suna-nin

After several months together, now that it was time to part ways, Yakura’s Squad truly felt reluctant to leave the Yasunori Trading Company.

During the mission, Yakura’s Squad had perfectly protected the safety of Yasunori Sakai and the other main leaders. Whether greedy bandits or desert beasts, none could get past Yakura’s Squad to attack the Yasunori Trading Company.

Although the mission fee for hiring Yakura’s Squad had not been small, given Pakura’s strength, she had been worth far more than the price.

After receiving her orders, Pakura came to Yasunori Sakai, explained the situation, and said goodbye. "Then, Sakai, after tomorrow, a new mission squad will come to replace us."

"Oh my, after spending so long together, hearing that Jonin Pakura is leaving so suddenly really does make me reluctant to part with you."

Sakai put on a troubled smile and continued, "After the war, even doing business in the Land of Fire felt unsafe. But ever since we were protected by the team led by Jonin Pakura, even sleeping has become much more peaceful."

Upon hearing this, the four members of Yakura’s Squad all smiled. This was the best evaluation of their squad, as well as recognition for their hard work on the mission.

"Since I only learned of your departure so suddenly, I did not have time to prepare any proper gifts. Please accept these modest tokens."

Sakai took out four gift boxes from the side and handed one to each of the four women. It was the first time the other three team members had received gifts individually, and they could not help looking toward Pakura.

The Suna-nin also had ninja rules. Accepting gifts in private was already a violation of the Suna-nin’s ninja code.

However, ninja rules depended on the occasion. The Yasunori Trading Company was Sunagakure’s largest trading partner, and many desert escort missions were commissions the company gave to the Suna-nin.

If they refused the gifts, it would inevitably seem tactless, as though they looked down on the Yasunori Trading Company. That could affect the relationship between the company and Sunagakure.

Pakura nodded and told her disciples, "Take them. It is fine to accept the gifts Sakai has given us."

Yasunori Sakai chuckled when he heard that, then turned serious as he said to Pakura, "Jonin Pakura, the Patriarch has just sent me an order to discuss something with Lord Kazekage. If possible, please allow me to travel to Sunagakure with you."

The real Yasunori Family had long since been moved to the Tea Country by Android 18. The people remaining in the Land of Fire were all substitutes arranged by Android 18, specifically to conceal the truth and provide identification.

After trading with the Suna-nin, the Yasunori Family’s influence had rapidly expanded. However, this was merely one of Hyuga Mirai’s shell trading companies. This time, Yasunori Sakai was going to see Rasa in order to reveal the manufacturing method for the Medical Talisman to the Suna-nin.

Hyuga Mirai had already leaked this thing into the Black Market, but those idiots seemed to have kept it remarkably secret. There was no helping it; he could only use his own shell company to spread the Medical Talisman.

Naturally, Pakura had no objections to Yasunori Sakai accompanying them to Sunagakure.

Thus, the next day, the group set out for Sunagakure. Pakura strictly observed ninja protocol and did not ask why Yasunori Sakai was going to Sunagakure. She merely escorted him to the village before arriving together at the Kazekage’s Office Building.

Pakura needed to hand over her mission, after which she only had to wait for new arrangements.

During the months she had been away from the village, the reputation she had built during the war had gradually faded. Rasa had not been idle in Sunagakure during that time. On the contrary, only after establishing sufficient authority did he transfer Pakura back.

Rasa was somewhat surprised by Yasunori Sakai’s arrival. He asked, "Yasunori-kun, it is not yet time for the next trade. Have you found another new mineral vein?"

The Yasunori Trading Company had practically taken over all of Sunagakure’s external procurement resources, delivering everything directly to their doorstep. This left Rasa and the other Suna-nin higher-ups extremely satisfied. It saved them the time of going out to purchase supplies, and the prices were considerably cheaper.

Because of this, the Yasunori Trading Company had practically become Sunagakure’s best friend. Yet whether it was Rasa or the other Suna-nin higher-ups, none of them seemed able to see the danger of handing over their procurement channels.

"This has nothing to do with mineral veins. This time, I received a letter from the Patriarch. He wishes to sell Sunagakure a Ninjutsu that the Yasunori Family purchased from the Black Market."

After speaking, Yasunori Sakai took a scroll from his robes. It contained information on the invention and usage of the Medical Talisman, as well as Konoha’s application of it, but it alone lacked the method for making Medical Talismans.

After reading it, Rasa looked at Yasunori Sakai with a grave expression and said in a low voice, "Yasunori-kun, please speak plainly."

"Sigh, since Lord Kazekage has said so, then I will be direct."

Yasunori Sakai said helplessly, "The Yasunori Family currently only wants to do business and make money. We merely acquired this Ninjutsu by chance. But if we inform Konoha, the Yasunori House will lose a large sum of money. So the Patriarch sent me to ask Lord Kazekage whether your village is interested in Medical Talismans."

Of course they were interested!

Rasa’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. During their battles with Konoha, they had also seized several Medical Talismans. However, the Sealing Technique used in Medical Talismans was completely different from Exploding Tags. Without specific production steps, even if Chiyo studied them for years, she would be unable to replicate them.

Rasa could make this decision himself. There was no need to consult the other higher-ups.

The transaction with the Suna-nin was successful, essentially taking back all the minor gains the Suna-nin had enjoyed recently. And Rasa paid very happily, because they had obtained the extremely valuable method for making Medical Talismans.

Naturally, Hyuga Mirai was not trading with Sunagakure alone. In fact, Android 18 had already sent people to the three Great ninja villages of Kumo-nin, Iwa-nin, and mist ninja. Even Takigakure and Kusagakure had not been spared.

Among the Medical Talisman information being sold, Hyuga Mirai slightly exaggerated the Medical Talisman’s capabilities and downplayed the role of Medical-nin. That way, after they produced them and discovered that the effects failed to meet expectations, they would likely sell them externally.

Only once the number of Medical Talismans increased would they flow into the market.

At that point, the usefulness of the Medical Machine would be infinitely amplified, while the functions ordinary Medical-nin could perform would be replaced by Medical Machines.

Hyuga Mirai had absolute confidence that none of the Five Great Ninja Villages could replicate the Medical Machine. Android 18 could remotely control every machine, and once they were used, the physical data of the ninjas in those villages would be recorded by Android 18.

As Sunagakure gradually accepted Hyuga Mirai’s high-tech products step by step, they would become frogs in warm water. Even with great strength, they would find it difficult to leap out of the boiling water of technological capital.