"Danzo, you're not thinking of going into the tulip trade, are you?"
"This is a business where you can make a few million ryō easily. Aren't you tempted?"
For a shinobi at their level, each mission paid only in the tens of thousands of ryō, maybe a bit more, and that had to be split among the squad. A single mission paying a million would be striking it rich overnight.
And now the chance to get rich overnight was right in front of them.
Who wouldn't want that? Who wouldn't be tempted?
"I… uh… that figure really is outrageous."
Hiruzen swallowed as he spoke. A few million ryō was astronomical to him too. Who didn't like money?
"Right? With an opportunity this good in front of us, if we don't at least look into it, that would be too wasteful. And Hiruzen, have you forgotten Lord Tobirama's test? If we make a big profit here, even just one or two million would be enough to show him our ability."
Danzo's radical, risk-taking streak surfaced. He wanted to learn about the tulip business. If they could really make money, that would be fantastic. It was not only for the money. More importantly, he wanted Senju Tobirama to look at him differently, recognize his ability, and take him as a disciple.
Hiruzen's heart heated as he listened. The picture Danzo painted was tempting. Just imagining it excited him: making a big profit, earning Lord Tobirama's regard, becoming his disciple, even his father praising him. It felt wonderful.
But after a brief think, Hiruzen forced down his greed and recovered his reason. His father had told him to act with caution in all things, and that shinobi should do the work shinobi are meant to do. Their only concern should be completing the mission efficiently. Commerce was not a field shinobi could meddle in lightly. If this business could make a fortune it would be great, but what if it lost money?
"Danzo, we are shinobi. This isn't something we can casually meddle in. If we make money, that's good, but what if we lose? There is no business that never loses."
Doused by Hiruzen's words, the flames in Danzo's heart cooled, though he still could not stop thinking about tulips. He wanted to improve too badly. He wanted Senju Tobirama to look at him anew. He wanted to become his disciple.
"But Hiruzen, we…"
"No buts, Danzo. I absolutely disagree with your idea. Our top priority now is to buy everything on the list. There's no need to create complications."
"You're so stubborn. Hiruzen, you'll regret this."
Rationally, he admitted Hiruzen was right. Their most important task was completing the procurement assigned by Lord Tobirama and by their fathers, and they should avoid complications. But emotionally, Danzo hated Hiruzen's tone and shouted his displeasure.
Hiruzen did not care. He was sticking to what was right.
The air between them turned awkward. Until the banquet ended, they hardly spoke.
Afterward, the Daimyo arranged lodging for them. The delivery was done; the remaining job was buying supplies, which was tiring work, so they went to bed early.
At dawn, despite their squabble, Hiruzen and Danzo got up early to purchase supplies together.
First came ingredients for ration pills. These were the most common consumables for shinobi, able to quickly restore chakra and even serve as temporary rations. When on a mission, carrying a few ration pills was basic habit.
"Fresh faces. I can fleece them."
The shopkeeper eyed their still-youthful looks. They seemed like young shinobi newly out from their clans. He could overcharge.
"Honored shinobi, what would you like to buy?"
"Ingredients for making ration pills. We need a large quantity, about…"
Hiruzen emphasized the volume, the meaning clear. He was a big customer and expected a discount.
"Oh, then you've come to the right place. Last year there was flooding in the north of the Land of Fire. That's the main production area for ration pill ingredients, and it suffered heavy losses. Other shops will find it hard to meet a quantity this large."
He then quoted a price.
On hearing it, Danzo, still in a cold war with Hiruzen, flew into a rage. He whipped out a shuriken and leveled it at the shopkeeper.
"You profiteer, how dare you jack up the price. You think I'm a rookie who doesn't know the market? At that price we'd be paying at least two hundred thousand ryō extra. I'll kill you."
Hiruzen pressed down Danzo's hand and signaled him to calm down. This was the capital. Making a scene here would end badly.
Realizing these shinobi were not to be trifled with, the shopkeeper gave an awkward laugh. He had raised the price a little, but nothing like what Danzo claimed. He would have earned around a hundred thousand extra. The floods in the main production area had indeed pushed prices up this year.
"Young people are hot-tempered. If you're not satisfied, we can keep negotiating."
Hiruzen used his specialty and cut the quoted price in half on the spot.
The shopkeeper's face darkened. He now felt these youngsters were just here to make trouble. In years of conflict, an in-demand, general-purpose commodity like ration pill ingredients never lacked buyers.
"Impossible at that price."
He shook his head and quoted another number. Hiruzen and Danzo still shook their heads and countered. Back and forth they went, haggling until their mouths were dry. Danzo nearly pulled his shuriken again in impatience, but the shopkeeper would not budge. This was the capital. What shinobi would dare act here? With years in business, he could tell Danzo was only brandishing his weapon for show.
In the end, Hiruzen and Danzo still shook their heads. They felt the price could go lower. You had to compare among several shops. They would try another.
"Hiruzen, that swindler's last offer still nets him at least two hundred thousand extra. That's enough for me to take on a mission."
"Damn it. I risk my life on missions, and these merchants make the same money just by flapping their lips."
Danzo grumbled on and on. A steady, seasoned shinobi would not say such things aloud even knowing nobles and merchants lived well and made money easily, but Danzo was still young, his edges not yet worn away.
Right now he felt only one thing.
Damn it. Doing business is where the money is.
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