The morning sun had barely risen over the capital of the Land of Fire, yet Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo were already awake. The previous evening's banquet had long ended, leaving them a night's rest in the guest quarters provided by the Daimyo.
Yet even as they dressed and prepared for the day, tension hung in the air. Danzo, his dark eyes alight with excitement, seemed ready to burst with an idea. Hiruzen, on the other hand, had the quiet, cautious expression of a boy already familiar with the dangers of impulsive action.
"Danzo…" Hiruzen said carefully, narrowing his eyes, "you're not seriously thinking of starting… a tulip business, are you?"
Danzo's lips curled into a small, ambitious smile. "Of course I am!" he said, his voice bubbling with uncontainable energy. "Do you realize what this is, Hiruzen? This is the chance to make millions of taels in one go! How could anyone resist?"
Hiruzen blinked. He had to remind himself that Danzo was still young. At their current age, missions paid a few hundred thousand taels at most, and even that had to be split among the team. A reward of one million taels from a single opportunity—one could consider that instant wealth. And here it was, standing before them like a gleaming carrot.
Who wouldn't be tempted?
"…Hrm," Hiruzen muttered, swallowing hard. His mind involuntarily conjured images of silver coins, piles of gold, and the power and prestige that came with them. Several million taels was an astronomical figure by any standard, and even a young ninja like him couldn't help but feel his heart quicken.
Danzo, sensing his friend's hesitation, leaned forward. "Hiruzen, don't you see? This is more than just money. Remember Lord Tobirama's test? If we can make even one or two million ryō, he'll have no choice but to notice us. He'll see our abilities, respect our initiative, and perhaps…" Danzo's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, "…maybe even take us on as his disciples."
The sparkle in Danzo's eyes was undeniable. He had always been ambitious, but now the vision of wealth, recognition, and ultimate power painted his mind in vivid colors. He wanted to climb the ladder, surpass all expectations, and claim his place in the world. The tulip business was not just a means to profit—it was a ladder to greatness.
Hiruzen felt a strange warmth in his chest as he listened. Danzo's enthusiasm was infectious. The thought of gaining recognition from Lord Tobirama, earning massive sums, and perhaps even impressing his father… It was intoxicating. Even Hiruzen, usually calm and pragmatic, felt a pang of desire.
But after a brief moment, he forced himself to think rationally.
His father had always drilled one lesson into him: be careful in all things, and a ninja's primary duty was to complete the task efficiently. Business, markets, and tulips—these were not a ninja's concern. The lure of wealth was tempting, yes, but what if it ended in loss? A failure could damage more than just their pockets; it could bring disgrace upon their clans.
Hiruzen's expression hardened. He turned to Danzo, his voice firm. "Danzo, we are ninjas. This… this is not a field we can meddle in casually. Making money would be good, yes, but there are no guarantees in business. You could just as easily lose everything."
Danzo's fiery excitement dimmed slightly. Hiruzen's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over a blazing flame. Still, the idea had already taken root in his mind. He couldn't ignore it. To earn wealth, to prove himself to Tobirama, to become recognized—it was almost irresistible.
"But Hiruzen… we—"
"No buts, Danzo. Right now, our most important task is to purchase the supplies listed by Lord Tobirama. Nothing else. No complications. Understood?"
Danzo pouted, his expression defiant. "You're so stubborn! Hiruzen, you'll regret this someday!"
Intellectually, he knew Hiruzen was right. They had responsibilities and missions to complete. But emotionally… he hated it. Hated that his friend had the audacity to squash his ambition so casually.
Hiruzen simply ignored him. He had made his decision and stood firmly by it. A ninja's focus must never waver.
For a tense moment, silence hung between them until the banquet ended.
---
Early Morning: The Shopping Begins
The next day, the two young ninjas rose early and set out together to begin their mission: purchasing all the supplies on Lord Tobirama's list. Despite the minor disagreement the night before, they moved as a team, disciplined and focused.
Their first stop was the shop selling raw materials for Bingliangwan, the staple ration pills every ninja carried. Essential for restoring chakra and providing sustenance on missions, Bingliang Pills were as critical to ninjas as swords and shuriken.
"This place looks a bit unfamiliar," Danzo muttered, scanning the shop. His instincts told him this might be an opportunity—or a trap. "I'm going to make sure they're not overcharging us."
Hiruzen rolled his eyes. "Just buy the supplies. Don't make trouble."
The shopkeeper, a stout man with sharp eyes, studied the two young visitors warily. "Young masters, what will you need today?"
Hiruzen stepped forward. "We require a large quantity of raw materials for Bingliang Pills. Enough to supply our clan's missions for months." His tone implied they were serious buyers, not idle wanderers.
The shopkeeper rubbed his chin. "Ah… last year's flood damaged the northern plantations—the main source of these ingredients. Large quantities are scarce, and prices have risen accordingly." He gave them a number.
Danzo's eyes flared. "You dare raise the price like this? Do you take us for fools? Two million taels extra? You're profiteering!"
Without thinking, he drew a shuriken and waved it threateningly. "I'll kill you if you cheat us!"
Hiruzen quickly grabbed his hand. "Calm down! This is the capital. There will be no advantage to causing a scene. Stop embarrassing us!"
The shopkeeper, sensing the young ninja were not to be trifled with, smirked. He hadn't raised the price nearly as much as Danzo thought—just one million taels extra due to the flood damage. Still, he knew better than to escalate the situation further.
"Young masters, please, let's negotiate calmly," he said.
Hiruzen, with the patience of a seasoned negotiator, used a mixture of intimidation, logic, and negotiation techniques to gradually cut the price in half. Each round of haggling drew a darker expression from the shopkeeper, who realized these were no ordinary youths—they were skilled, disciplined, and unafraid to push hard.
Hours passed as they negotiated, their voices growing hoarse. Danzo's hand twitched repeatedly toward his shuriken, itching to assert his ninja strength, but each time Hiruzen restrained him. In the end, they secured the ingredients at a fair price, though Danzo grumbled about "unearned profits."
"Hurizen, just now that profiteer tried to bleed us for two hundred thousand ryō extra! That alone could fund a mission!" Danzo muttered indignantly.
"Calm down," Hiruzen replied. "These merchants live in luxury, yes, but our focus must remain on completing the task efficiently. Leave greed for later, Danzo."
Danzo sighed but nodded. The cold realities of commerce had been a lesson—even a shinobi had to learn patience when money and markets were involved.
Still… in his heart, the fire of ambition for wealth, recognition, and the tulip business smoldered, waiting for the right opportunity to flare again.
And Hiruzen knew, deep down, that one day, he would witness Danzo's plans unfold in ways he could not yet imagine.
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