Chapter 7 – Even a Good Product Needs Selling
After school, Taichi rushed home, eager to check on his experimental chickens and fish.
First, he compared the two chickens. Both had clear signs of recovery, but the one fed with allicin extract showed no redness or swelling at all—its wound had obviously healed from inflammation.
Then he examined the three fish. The results were similar: all were improving, but the one treated with the highest concentration of allicin already showed signs of complete wound closure.
"Incredible… is allicin really this effective, or is it just that the allicin in this ninja world is absurdly potent?" Taichi marveled to himself. Either way, his money-making plan now had solid proof behind it.
He savored his excitement for a while before picking up yesterday's tools and crushing today's batch of fresh garlic. After a round of pounding and mixing, he produced a small bottle of garlic oil.
Holding the bottle, Taichi could almost see stacks of cash waving at him. But a thought struck him—Wait, if I hand it over like this, anyone could sniff it and know exactly what it is.
Not safe.
So he rummaged around his home, found some harmless yet pungent-smelling ingredients, and mixed them into the bottle. After shaking it well, he took another whiff.
The smell was now a bizarre cocktail of odd aromas—no one could possibly guess what it was. Perfect.
Tomorrow, he didn't have ninja school, which meant he could head to the orphanage and discuss his money-making scheme with Nonō.
But first—daily training couldn't be skipped.
---
The next morning, after finishing his usual exercises, Taichi grabbed the bottle of allicin extract and set off for the orphanage.
When he arrived, Nonō had gone out with a few older kids to buy supplies. While waiting, Taichi gathered the younger children in the courtyard for a story session.
Morning sunlight streamed over the yard as Taichi sat cross-legged beneath the old tree. A dozen bright-eyed kids crowded around him.
"And then—Sun Wukong leapt in one somersault, covering a hundred and eight thousand li!" Taichi gestured dramatically, earning a chorus of gasps.
"That's faster than a ninja, right?" asked Yami, a little girl with twin pigtails.
"Way faster! And he can pluck a single hair and turn it into a whole army of monkeys!" Taichi grinned, scratching his head like the Monkey King, making the children burst into giggles.
"But… if a demon tries to eat a child, can he make it in time?" asked little Tai nervously, clutching his shirt hem.
"Of course!" Taichi ruffled his hair. "One swing of his golden staff—bam! Demon down!" He sprang up and mimed a sweeping strike, making the kids squeal and lean back. Questions tumbled out all at once: "Then what happened?" "Did Tang Monk scold him?"
The wind rustled the leaves, mixing Taichi's voice with the children's laughter and startling a sparrow from its perch under the eaves.
---
The front gate creaked open. Taichi looked up to see Nonō and the older kids carrying big bags inside.
"Alright, that's it for today—next time we'll continue!" he told the kids, who reluctantly dispersed.
"Nonō-neechan, why so many things?" Taichi asked, taking a bag from her.
"Oh, Taichi—you came early," she smiled. "The orphanage funds are running low, and the store was having a big sale today, so I stocked up."
Her words made Taichi's heart sink. Whenever the orphanage's money ran short, Nonō would disappear for a while—off to do missions for the Root.
But remembering why he'd come here, Taichi's mood lifted.
"Actually, I came to talk about something that might solve our funding problem."
"Really?" Nonō raised an eyebrow. She could hardly believe a six-year-old might have an answer to such a problem.
Once the supplies were put away, she led Taichi into the office and closed the door.
Taichi took the bottle from his pocket and began his prepared pitch.
"You're telling me this works better than any antiseptic or anti-inflammatory in the hospital?" she asked in disbelief.
"Much better," Taichi said confidently. "I tested it—on a chicken with a bacterial infection, it cleared the swelling in just one day."
Nonō stared at the small bottle, silent for a long moment.
Finally, she asked, "What's your plan?"
"Do you think we can produce this ourselves here at the orphanage?"
"Absolutely not," she said firmly. "Something with this much value would make us a target. We couldn't protect it."
"I figured as much," Taichi nodded. "Then our only option is to find a powerful person to partner with—someone trustworthy, with a good reputation." He looked at her meaningfully. "Do you know anyone like that?"
Nonō thought for a long while but couldn't think of anyone she knew who fit the bill.
"Big sis, what about Lady Tsunade?" Taichi suggested. "She's not only the Third Hokage's disciple but also one of the most skilled medical-nin in the world. She'd definitely recognize the value of this garlic extract."
Nonō considered it, then nodded in agreement. "But we don't know her personally… or even where to find her."
"That part," Taichi said with a sly grin, "I might have a lead on…"
After tidying up a few matters at the orphanage, Taichi pulled Nonō along to the entrance of Konoha's largest gambling hall. They found a discreet spot and began their stakeout.
"Taichi, are you sure Lady Tsunade will be in there?" Nonō asked, uncertainty in her voice.
"Let's just wait. If luck's on our side, we'll see her today." Taichi's own tone wasn't all that confident. "Big sis, you remember what we agreed on earlier, right?"
"Mhm."
"Good. You'll do the talking when we approach her—I'll be backup."
—
By midday, the doors to the gambling hall swung open and out stepped a statuesque blonde beauty. Her… assets were impossible to miss, as was her iconic outfit. Taichi and Nonō exchanged a glance, nodded to each other, and quietly followed her.
They trailed her into a side alley, only for Tsunade to suddenly turn around, arms crossed.
"Hey, you two. You've been tailing me since I left the gambling hall—don't tell me you're here to make sure I pay my tab?" Her tone was sharp, eyes narrowing.
Hearing that, black lines practically formed on Taichi's forehead. So she lost a lot today… She wouldn't just take our 'invention' without paying, right? he thought wryly.
Nonō stepped forward. "Lady Tsunade, I'm Yakushi Nonō, head of the orphanage. This boy here is Matsushita Taichi, one of our former children."
She briefly explained the situation.
"So," Tsunade summarized flatly, "you want me to recommend this miracle medicine to the Hokage."
At this point in her life, Tsunade was still deep in the slump caused by losing her brother and lover—crippled by hemophobia, and with zero interest in village affairs.
"Find someone else." She turned away to leave.
Nonō froze, at a loss for words.
Then Taichi stepped forward. "Lady Tsunade, as the First Hokage's granddaughter and one of the Legendary Sannin, can you really stand by and watch patients—people who could be cured—die because they can't get the right medicine? Do you think that's something the First Hokage would want to see?"
If an adult had said this, Tsunade would have brushed it off without a thought. But when she turned and saw Taichi speaking… for a moment, she saw Nawaki standing there, the same stubborn light in his eyes. The same… irritating earnestness.
"Fine. Hand over this 'miracle medicine' of yours."
Taichi nudged the still-stunned Nonō.
She fished the small bottle from her pocket and handed it to Tsunade.
Tsunade popped the stopper and took a whiff—only to have a bizarre, indescribable odor slam into her senses. She quickly plugged it back up and held it at arm's length, giving Taichi a long, unimpressed look. "Clever little brat, aren't you?"
Taichi just scratched his head and grinned sheepishly. He knew his little "masking trick" wouldn't fool her.
"All right. I'll test its effects myself, then I'll come find you."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade. Thank you for your time," Taichi and Nonō both bowed deeply.
When they straightened, she was already gone. As expected of one of the Sannin…
"Taichi, you were really daring just now. I was half-afraid she'd smack you into the wall," Nonō said, ruffling his hair.
"Haha… I didn't think much about it at the time," Taichi admitted, though now he felt a little nervous.
"All that's left is to wait. I'll head home—still have training this afternoon."
"All right."