Shimura Danzo walked out of the shop grumbling nonstop.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was set and grim.
He had known the procurement mission wouldn't be as simple as he imagined, but starting off on the wrong foot and running into a profiteer at the very first shop was a real blow to their confidence.
And with ninja wars growing worse, merchants clearly knew their stock would sell itself. If you didn't buy, other shinobi would. It felt just like a cutthroat electronics bazaar.
"Come on, Danzo. Next shop. This is a task Lord Tobirama gave us."
Hiruzen pulled himself together and urged Danzo toward the next storefront.
Time flew, and the morning rushed by.
After a busy morning they finally closed a deal for ration pill ingredients. The price was a bit higher than they'd hoped, but barely acceptable.
As for the haggling, it was pure torment. Lines and tricks they expected and never expected kept popping up. Those merchants were making a big profit, yet they wouldn't stop claiming they were selling at a loss.
Hiruzen and Danzo were traditional Warring States shinobi and still young. They weren't good at wrangling. This really wasn't work for ordinary people. They would have preferred cutting down enemies on a battlefield.
By noon, exhausted, they went to a restaurant for lunch and a short rest.
While waiting for the dishes, a familiar word drifted from other tables.
Tulips.
"Brother, I told you, flipping tulips really makes big money. Just stockpile a batch, wait a day or two for the price to jump, then resell it."
"Say no more. A toast to you."
"By the way, Brother, when should we unload our tulips?"
"We're just getting started. Word is it's not only nobles in the Land of Fire who like tulips. The Grass, Rice Fields, and Rain countries too. I hear even the Earth and Lightning countries are catching on."
"Really? Then we're going to make a killing."
"Exactly. Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime."
Hearing the whispers at the next table, the desire that had been stirred in Danzo the previous night rose again.
Tulips really did seem to make big money, and easily at that.
He had racked his brains haggling with profiteers all morning. It was exhausting. Should he give this a try?
"Danzo, stop thinking about tulips. We're shinobi. You saw those profiteers this morning. If you charge into the market rashly, you'll get burned."
With a glance, Hiruzen read Danzo's thoughts. Danzo clearly wanted to dabble in the tulip trade again.
Out of shinobi caution, he warned Danzo not to drift off. The priority was finishing the procurement. The afternoon was packed with work.
But good advice often sounds harsh.
Hiruzen's admonition carried a lecturing tone that irked Danzo. They were equals. What right did Hiruzen have to point fingers? Did he think he was better?
"I know, I know. You're so naggy."
Danzo snapped, dismissing Hiruzen's warning in his heart. The only reason he didn't argue was because the restaurant was crowded and he didn't want a scene.
"Good."
Hiruzen exhaled in relief, pleased he had dissuaded Danzo.
But that expression only annoyed Danzo more.
If you think I can't do it, I'll prove you wrong.
Such is a youth's simple, stubborn competitiveness.
"Miso soup, coming up!"
The miso soup arrived quickly. They had ordered it on purpose to soothe their throats after a morning of wrangling.
They set aside their dispute for the moment and sipped their soup.
"Miso soup is delicious."
"Miso soup is delicious."
Lunch followed quickly, and they ate heartily.
After a short rest, they headed out to resume the afternoon's "battle." Just as they stepped out of the restaurant, Danzo spoke up.
"Hiruzen, the two of us working together is too slow. Let's split up. We've already set a rough floor price. If we each go haggle, we'll be faster."
That was his pretext. He wanted to get Hiruzen out of the way so he could take a look at the tulip business himself.
Hiruzen was too timid to even look, always pressing him down. How annoying. And so rigid and old-fashioned. I, Shimura Danzo, won't argue with you.
"That's... not impossible. Let's do it."
As expected, after a brief thought Hiruzen agreed. Splitting up would indeed be more efficient.
"This place is lively."
Once Hiruzen was out of the way, Danzo headed straight for the tulip market he'd been dreaming about. The place bustled with people and a constant roar of trading that opened his eyes.
Everywhere he looked were flushed speculators, and all around he heard the excited chatter of traders and scalpers.
Stories of overnight riches reached his ears and sent his imagination racing. Tulips were more lucrative than he had imagined.
"Right now the market is laser-focused on noble pain points, finding a grip in a niche, using technical advantages to open a brand-new track, linking upstream and downstream to integrate resources internally, forming a positive feedback loop ecosystem, and breaking through their mindset."
"Tulip prices are only halfway up the mountain. No, not even halfway. I've already bought the dip."
An unknown speculator preached his theory. Passing by, Danzo was shaken by the strange, novel jargon. It sounded so professional.
After wandering the market for a long while, Danzo reached a conclusion.
Nobles from the Land of Fire, the small neighboring countries, and even the distant Earth and Lightning countries were all chasing tulips.
Merchants were selling tulips across the shinobi world.
In short, the tulip market was teeming with life and surging with energy.
"I think this is an opportunity."
True to his bold nature, Danzo queued for a bit and reached a vendor.
"What?"
"Starting at one million ryō?"
"Isn't that outrageous?"
The opening price stunned him.
"One million ryō."
"Shinobi, what did you expect? Tulips are what nobles use to proclaim status now. It's no longer a time for buying single stems. If you want one or two, go to the low-end markets. Those are inferior flowers for the poor who want to pose. Nobles don't buy so little. They buy by the room. I also offer professional storage. The fee isn't high."
Danzo hesitated. He did want to try the tulip trade, but the entry price was too steep. One million ryō was a lot.
"Hey, you up front, what are you doing? If you can't afford it, stop wasting time."
"Yeah, move it."
"Penny-pinching shinobi shouldn't butt in."
Impatient voices rose behind him.
For a moment Danzo was at a loss. In his mind, Hiruzen's lecturing face appeared again. "Danzo, you have no business in tulips."
"I... I... Who says I don't have money?"
"One million ryō. I'll buy it."
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