49: Chapter 49 TestingEarly morning, in the guest room where the three members of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were staying.
Shikamaru yawned as he finished washing up, only to find an antique scroll on the small table in his room.
He opened it with a puzzled look, his pupils shrinking slightly—inside were several volumes of ancient chess manuals that had long been lost and annotations on several exceptionally ingenious strategic endgames.
After only a few cursory glances, his lazy expression turned focused."Tsk.this thing is really."
He muttered to himself.
In the next room, Choji was admiring several jars of sauce labeled "Secret Recipe of the Land of Waves," and his favorability towards the Apocalypse Merchant Guild was skyrocketing.
He carefully opened a jar, and a rich, unique aroma instantly filled the air."This scent.I've never smelled anything like it before!It's wonderful!"
Meanwhile, in Ino's room, a maid from the merchant guild brought over a bouquet of exquisite and rare star-shaped lilies with a shimmering luster, stating that it was a special request from the guild master.
Ino accepted the bouquet, inhaling its delicate fragrance, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face.The unpleasantness that Sakura had stirred up last night had dissipated considerably.Naruto really did remember her preferences, and he was so thoughtful.
The group didn't forget their mission, so after tidying up, they set off for the abandoned shipyard area on the southern coast mentioned in the mission.
Beside the massive, abandoned ship skeleton, Shikamaru, with a senbon in his mouth, frowned as he carefully examined several blurry, seemingly deliberately left footprints at his feet, and then looked up at several pieces of debris that had been slightly moved.
"Something's not right.It's too clean.It's like someone deliberately left these clues to lead us in circles and buy us time."
He rubbed his messy hair, feeling utterly exasperated."The other side is skilled in counter-surveillance.The traces they left behind are enough to pique our interest, but they don't have any real specific target."
Choji munched on seaweed-flavored potato chips, a specialty of the Land of Waves, provided by the Apocalypse Merchant Guild, and mumbled, "The scenery here.is quite nice, but it's a bit winding.Asuma-san, how much longer do we have to walk?" He was more concerned about when lunch would start.
Asuma calmly surveyed his surroundings.Experience told him that this was indeed a meticulously planned scheme."Be patient, Choji.This is how investigations are supposed to be."
"Ino, please check the interiors of the other nearby wrecked ships, and be careful."
"Huh?Oh, okay, Asuma-sensei!"
Ino snapped out of her reverie, appearing somewhat absent-minded.
She focused her attention and quickly searched the several huge abandoned ship compartments.
"No.no other clues were found, only some rats and small animals."
Just then, Sakura appeared at the entrance of the shipyard.
"Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, Mr.Asuma."
Sakura approached lightly, holding a scroll in her hand."Lady Tsunade asked me to deliver some supplementary intelligence that the merchant guild has just gathered regarding suspicious individuals who have been active in this area recently.I hope it will be helpful to your investigation."
She deliberately handed the scroll to Ino, her smile gentle: "Ino, here.This was compiled by our Chamber of Commerce's intelligence department after a lot of effort."
"Broad forehead, thanks." Ino took the scroll, her tone somewhat stiff.She looked Sakura up and down, feeling that this girl was different from when she was in Konoha.
It's not just that her figure seems to be more.well-endowed, but more importantly, her temperament has changed.She's become less boisterous and more composed, with a subtle and alluring charm.
Especially when she mentioned our chamber of commerce, the natural way she did it made Ino feel inexplicably choked up.
"Are you settling in well here?" Ino couldn't help but ask.
Sakura's smile deepened, tinged with a blush: "It's great, Naruto-sama and Tsunade-sama are taking good care of me."
"Especially Naruto-sama, knowing that I have a weak foundation, often takes time out of his busy schedule to personally guide my training."
Ino's smile faltered.Personal guidance?The image of Sakura's flushed cheeks pressed against Naruto in the study last night flashed through her mind!
A surge of anger welled up inside her.She was the one who met Naruto first!It was in the flower shop in Konoha that she and Naruto had those intimate interactions!
Why is that woman with the wide forehead able to get so close to Naruto now?And she's even acting like the lady of the house!
Shikamaru, sensing the invisible aura between the two, rubbed his temples with a headache."Ugh, women are such a hassle."
Choji looked blankly at Sakura, then at Ino who looked unwell, and stuffed a handful of potato chips into his mouth.
During the information exchange, Sakura seemed to open up, "unintentionally" revealing to Ino several of the Chamber of Commerce's recent very successful business cases, and continuously emphasizing her close connection with Naruto and the core of the Chamber of Commerce.
Ino listened, feeling a surge of bitterness welling up inside her.
She found herself completely unable to join the conversation.The shrewd and capable Naruto that Sakura described seemed to be a completely different person from the boy she remembered working at the flower shop.This sense of unfamiliarity, coupled with Sakura's proximity to the source, gave her a strong sense of crisis.
Shikamaru casually strolled over to Sakura, yawning as he asked, "Sakura, besides seafood, what other specialties does the Land of Waves have?The merchant guild seems to be operating very well, and the locals seem quite supportive."
He appeared to be chatting casually, but in reality, he was subtly gathering information about the Tianqi Chamber of Commerce's actual influence and operating model in the area.
He needed to assess whether this suddenly rising power meant an opportunity or a threat to his clan and Konoha.
Sakura wasn't very wary of Shikamaru, since he always gave the impression of being someone who hated trouble.
Moreover, her vanity in front of her rival Ino led her to reveal some trivial information that indirectly demonstrated the power of the Chamber of Commerce.
Shikamaru on the surface is stillHe appeared lazy and casual, occasionally offering a few words like "Oh, I see" or "That's really impressive," but in his mind he was quickly analyzing and integrating the information.
"Economically, they practically control the lifeline of the Land of Waves and extend their influence outwards; militarily, they openly possess the formidable Tsunade and the unfathomable Iron Boat, while secretly they likely have intelligence experts like Hibari and a powerful armed force.Politically, they can influence the Daimyo."
The framework that Naruto Uzumaki built in such a short time was far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.Konoha, or rather the entire ninja world, seemed to have underestimated this former underdog.
Choji felt that the Apocalypse Merchant Guild was a great place to enjoy life, and his affection for Naruto continued to rise based on the delicious food.
By evening, the investigation had still made no substantial progress.
Back at the accommodations arranged by the Chamber of Commerce, Ino couldn't help but complain to Shikamaru: "Shikamaru, what kind of person do you think Naruto is."
Shikamaru lay on the tatami mat, staring at the ceiling: "Troublesome guy.Smart, resourceful, ambitious.Most importantly, he knows exactly what he wants."
He rolled over and looked at Ino."Ino, I advise you to stay away from him.He's not the same kind of person as the other guys you used to know."
Ino pouted, unconvinced: "I know he's not simple!But.but he's also very special to me!"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes: "He's 'special' to everyone who's useful.Our Nara family's medicinal herbs, the Akimichi family's specialty ingredients, and your Yamanaka family's flowers and intelligence network.See, isn't he making contact with all of them?"
Ino was stunned.
Shikamaru sat up, unusually serious, and said, "He's using us to curry favor with the ancient clans of Konoha, or rather, to demonstrate his strength.It's an opportunity, but also a trap.Ino, don't get yourself caught in it."
Ino fell silent.Shikamaru's words were like a bucket of cold water, calming her feverish mind a little.
But Naruto's image still lingered in her heart.
Sakura's "competition for favor" successfully provoked Ino, while Shikamaru had clearly realized the value of the merchant guild.
As for Choji.it's never a bad thing to have good relationships.
"It seems it's time to extend a clearer olive branch to the Nara and Akimichi families," Naruto pondered.Shikamaru's chess manual and Choji's sauce were merely appetizers; he needed something more substantial to solidify their shared interests.
"Hibari, through our channels in Konoha, sent a long-term medicinal herb procurement intention to the Nara family in the name of the Chamber of Commerce.The price is 10% higher than the market price, but they require priority supply rights and quality assurance."
"In addition, draft a plan to cooperate with the Akimichi clan to develop specialty foods of the Land of Waves and sell them to neighboring countries, with generous profit sharing."
"Yes, President." Hibari acknowledged the order and added, "Ms.Ino is very satisfied with the flowers you sent."
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