Konoha: This Uchiha is extremely sneaky

Chapter 33 Stalemate

In the evening, the setting sun shone on the village.

The barking of cats and dogs could be heard from the village.

The sounds of children laughing and playing, the darkening sky, and the rising smoke from the chimneys created a scene reminiscent of a dreamlike fairyland.

The smoke from cooking fires is a reflection of life and a bond of emotions. It is forever a longing in a ninja's dreams and a call from family.

At the dining table in the home of Uchiha Toshiro in Konoha Village, at the Uchiha residence.

"How is it, Meixiang? It tastes alright, doesn't it?"

In his past life, he had lived a long period of solitude. Tired of the street food, he had to cook for himself to satisfy his increasingly delicate stomach. Although his culinary skills couldn't compare to those of professional chefs in high-end restaurants, he could still cook a few simple home-style dishes.

It was a piece of cake for him.

"It's absolutely delicious! I never knew Toshiro was so talented at cooking!"

Putting down her chopsticks, Uchiha Mika looked at the boy across the table, and a worry in her heart was relieved.

Just as the boy worried that his existence would hinder his "aunt's" important life events, Uchiha Mika indeed restrained herself from romantic feelings. On one hand, this was undoubtedly due to the shyness unique to young girls. On the other hand, Toshiro's presence was also a significant factor.

"Sister Meixiang looks very tired today. Is it because of the new drug? Does the clan not agree to its widespread use?"

With just a little thought, Toshiro roughly guessed the reason for the matter, though it differed slightly from what he had imagined.

"The family is fine; the problem lies with the village. The village wants the family to only be responsible for the production of this new drug, while leaving the procurement and sales of raw materials entirely to them!"

Regarding the new drug, which she had poured nearly two years of her life into, Uchiha Mika originally had high hopes that she could use it to improve the relationship between the village and her clan, and also to save the lives of more of her comrades.

But things didn't go as planned. While Toshiro's explanation convinced the clan, problems arose in the village. The rift between the village and the clan seemed irreparable…

[Is production being handled solely by the clan? This isn't the bottom layer of that so-called "smile curve" from my previous life. This is incredibly greedy; after all, this new drug was developed by the Uchiha clan.]

"They even suggested paying a large sum of money to buy the formula for this new drug from the Uchiha clan..."

[This is even more absurd. Why did the Uchiha agree to promote this new drug? They hoped to use it to rebuild relationships with the various clans in the village and salvage their appalling reputation among the villagers.]

"Several elders in the clan disagreed, and they even had a big argument in the clan chief's office..."

Seeing Uchiha Mika's slightly dimmed eyes, Toshiro couldn't help but secretly berate himself for coming up with such a terrible idea. "It's better to avoid trouble," he thought, truly a wise saying.

"Mika-nee, what's the medical department's response?"

"Hey! The medical department? They did order a batch of new drugs, but not a large quantity!"

She was momentarily taken aback by Toshiro's sudden question, and only answered after a moment's thought.

"Then there's no problem! With the help of the medical department, promoting this new drug won't be too difficult."

"It's not that simple. Without the village's help, it would be extremely difficult for the family to promote this medicine on its own!"

Thinking of her clan's dismal reputation in the village, Uchiha Mika said with an almost pessimistic tone.

"The medical department's help is enough!"

The medical department generally treats wounded soldiers evacuated from the battlefield or during missions. Anyone with even slightly serious injuries wouldn't make it to Konoha, let alone be sent to the medical department for treatment.

"Mika-nee, do you think the ninjas of Konoha are afraid of death?"

Uchiha Toshiro asked confidently.

"fear death?"

Upon hearing this question...

She was momentarily at a loss.

Were the village ninjas afraid of death? No, they were not, all for the sake of protecting the village. In the First Shinobi World War and the Second Shinobi World War, village and clan alike, ninjas went to the battlefield one after another to protect their village and peace, never to return to Konoha.

Aren't you afraid? As a medical ninja, though her surname was Uchiha, she not only treated other Uchiha ninjas but also many of her comrades from the village. Some were successful, others not. Regardless of their surname, whenever a wounded soldier couldn't hold on any longer, the lingering affection and reluctance in their eyes at the moment of parting deeply moved her, whether she knew them or not. Those were husbands waiting anxiously for their wives, fathers adored by their children.

Seeing his aunt's bewildered expression, Toshiro quickly explained.

"The village only allows our family to be in charge of producing this new drug. They're simply taking advantage of our poor 'reputation' and the inability to promote it!"

"With the medical department as a starting point, I believe those ninjas who frequently participate in dangerous missions will come seeking our services. Once we have the first one, there will be a second, and a third; it just takes a little longer..."

"The village can't possibly forbid ninjas from buying a superior medicine with their own money. And even outside of Konoha, there are plenty of medicinal herb merchants in the Land of Fire!"

Hearing Uchiha Toshiro's explanation, Uchiha Mika's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Suddenly, she slammed her chopsticks on the table with a "bang," pushed herself up with both hands, and prepared to leave.

"Wait a minute, Sister Meixiang, don't be in such a hurry, let me finish!"

Upon hearing Toshiro's words, Mika Uchiha paused, her brows furrowing slightly as she pondered.

He then sat back down at the dining table, staring intently at him with piercing eyes, as if he wanted to unleash the bloodline limit inherited by the Uchiha clan.

"Don't worry, Sister Meixiang! What you need to do now is actually very simple! Take some time to teach the person in charge of making secret medicines in the clan how to prepare this new medicine. Convince the clan chief to allocate some funds for you so that you can purchase a batch of medicinal herbs before the village realizes what's happening."

"Isn't what we're doing a bit inappropriate? Isn't this obviously going against the village?" Suddenly, it seemed like they realized something.

"How can you say we're going against the village? We're just contributing our own Uchiha strength to protect the ninja, the village, and everyone!" Toshiro said, rolling his eyes.

"Yes! When applying for funds from the clan chief, be sure to repeat the 'nice words' I just said to him as well."

Have you thought of a name for the family's secret medicine yet?

"Hmm! Let's go with something simple. How about 'Uchiha Secret Medicine'? Simple and clear! Doesn't the clan like to print its crest everywhere? Let's print it on the secret medicine too."

"There's no need to rush. You just had a meeting with the security forces and the clan chief, and now you're rushing over there again. It'll raise suspicion. You can go tomorrow."

"How could those nice words be useless? Those nice words are the most important. They can shut the Hokage up, and remember not to tell the clan head that the idea came from me..."

At the dinner table, Uchiha Toshiro began to ramble on and on, while Uchiha Mika stared at him intently with a happy and gratified expression.

[Nisan-sama, Toshiro has really grown up...]

(End of this chapter)