Chapter 241 : Is Konoha still Konoha?
Before Konoha's Ninja and residents could rejoice for a few days, news arrived from the front: traces of Hidden Mist Ninja activity were discovered on the battlefield.
This indicated that the Hidden Mist Village had also joined the war.
With the war reaching this stage, Konoha's weakness was apparent throughout the Ninja World. The Hidden Mist, isolated overseas for years, wouldn't miss this opportunity to join the war and carve a large piece of meat from Konoha; when else would be a better time?
Konoha, having just caught its breath, immediately tightened its belt to deal with the prepared Hidden Mist. Its military strength once again became stretched thin, and even the supply of logistical resources began to destabilize.
Especially in terms of medical support, experienced Medical Ninja suffered severe losses, and medicines became increasingly expensive and difficult to obtain.
Although there wasn't a noticeable shortage yet, if the consumption continued at this rate, a predicament of insufficient doctors and medicine was inevitable.
In this difficult situation, the heads of Konoha's major Ninja Clans received an invitation from the Uchiha...
Uchiha Clan Compound, Clan Head's Residence.
The Inuzuka Clan Head naturally walked into the reception room, nodded to Uchiha Fugaku, and glanced at the cushions arranged in a circle.
He then walked to the front, unceremoniously occupying the seat to Fugaku's right, and quickly drank the hot tea brought by the maid.
Hyūga Terumori, sitting properly across from him and sipping his tea delicately, couldn't bear to watch, secretly regretting that such good tea was wasted on a boor.
After a few more minutes, representatives from various major clans arrived one after another.
Even the Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, and Utatane Ninja Clans, who usually didn't get along with the Uchiha, had people present.
After all, if they didn't come, the nature of this gathering would be quite different.
"Thank you all for taking the time to attend and for your punctuality."
Uchiha Fugaku politely stated, then went straight to the point: "I won't waste time with pleasantries. Please, everyone, take a look."
A young man walked in through the main door of the reception room. It was Uchiha Fūyō, a capable subordinate whom Fugaku admired, and many people present still remembered him.
Fūyō bowed to everyone present, then knelt properly on the tatami near the door, rolled up his sleeve, pulled out a Kunai, and slashed his forearm. Blood immediately gushed out.
Ah, this...?
The sudden and abstract act left everyone a bit confused, but they patiently continued to watch.
Immediately after, Fūyō took out a talisman filled with green incantations from his chest, placed it on the wound, and injected his own Chakra.
The talisman glowed with a faint green light, and gentle energy emanated from it, softly wrapping around the wound, causing the damaged flesh to heal at a visible rate.
After about half a cup of tea's time, the paper talisman lost its effect and fell off. The deep, bone-exposing cut had mostly healed, leaving only a shallow scar.
Clatter.
The young Shimura Clan Head's eyes were wide, and the teacup in his hand dropped to his lap, rolling around. Tea spilled from the cup, wetting a small patch of his trousers.
He was completely oblivious, staring blankly at Fūyō's perfectly healed forearm.
The usually calm and smooth Nara Clan Head almost stood up, looking at Fugaku with burning eyes.
He knew too well how many lives this paper talisman could save on the battlefield, especially now with medical supplies tight. Possessing a single talisman was like having a second life.
Even if it might have drawbacks like overexerting the body, similar to some Medical Ninjutsu, what of it?
One had to survive on the battlefield first to even consider such trivial matters!
"Fugaku Clan Head, this is...?" Hyūga Terumori also found it hard to sit still, his silvery-white eyes filled with urgency.
Heaven knew how much the Hyuga had suffered in close-quarters combat on the battlefield due to their focus on taijutsu. If they had this item, how many fewer people would die?!
"This is a 'healing talisman.' It only requires a certain amount of Chakra to activate and can heal internal and external injuries to a certain extent. The Uchiha can now achieve stable mass production."
Fugaku maintained a straight face, feigning composure as he took a sip of tea, but the pride in his eyes was impossible to hide: "It's just a small trinket my son, Naraku, researched. I hope you'll excuse the display."
Boasting!
These two words popped into everyone's minds simultaneously, but they couldn't bother to inwardly criticize Fugaku's pretense. They urgently wanted to know the daily production of the "healing talisman," its price, and whether their families could afford it.
Their Clan Member fighting on the front lines desperately needed medical assistance.
Fugaku, of course, knew what they were thinking. He said solemnly: "You don't need to worry about the production. With the Uchiha's current manufacturing speed, it's enough to supply the Ninja on the front lines."
"Given Konoha's difficult war situation, during the war, the Uchiha will sell them at cost price."
...Konoha, Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was carefully examining a healing talisman, and then personally cut his palm to test it, finding that it was indeed consistent with what the Sarutobi Clan elder who attended the gathering had said.
"--It's actually this effective...?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer suppress the shock in his heart.
As a Hokage who had been in office for many years and endured the ravages of war, he was acutely aware of the terrifying effect this talisman could have on the battlefield.
If healing talismans were widely distributed among Konoha Ninja, in future battles, their own casualties would be far lower than the enemy's.
As time went on, this advantage would grow larger and larger, eventually wearing down other Villages with sheer numbers of lives.
"--But..." Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, the wrinkles on his face deepening.
"--Why was it an Uchiha who researched such a crucial item?"
How could Ninja who used the talisman not associate "Uchiha" with "healing talisman"?
One or two people thinking this might not be a problem, but how many casualties are there in a war beyond one or two?
Hundreds and thousands of Konoha Ninja, and the families and clans behind them, would become loyal supporters of the Uchiha.
At that point, would Konoha still be Konoha?
...No matter how complex Hiruzen Sarutobi's feelings were, he couldn't stop the Uchiha Clan from continuously producing and selling healing talismans.
Aside from the fixed quotas supplied to the major Ninja Clans, the Uchiha also retained a significant quantity, specifically for Ninja from commoner backgrounds or smaller families, also at cost price.
This portion was essentially in short supply; each batch of healing talismans that appeared in stores would be snatched up within fifteen minutes.
Ninja do not fear death, but no one wants to go to the battlefield, or have their family members go, without a life-saving trump card.
Moreover, the Uchiha's initiative to lower prices made it affordable even for ordinary Genin.
This display of profound righteousness greatly increased the commoner Ninja's goodwill, causing the Uchiha's public reputation in the Village to rise another notch since the opening of intermarriage.
Everyone praised the Uchiha Clan for their selflessness and dedication, truly a model for Konoha's Ninja Clans.
Thinking about the Uchiha's current revered status in the Village, and then comparing it to a few years ago, Fugaku always felt as if it were a world away.
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