While conversing with Keishu, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Hiruzen Sarutobi found himself drawn into a topic that was far more delicate than politics, war funds, or even matters of national defense. Keishu, in his usual reserved manner, hinted at the secret medicinal tea and casually expressed curiosity about its taste.
"Lord Daimyo, I understand," Hiruzen replied almost immediately, his sharp mind catching the hidden meaning behind the Daimyo's words.
The older man's lips curved upward beneath the fan covering half his face. "I'm glad you understand."
Keishu's expression remained hidden, but Hiruzen caught the flicker in his eyes. Men's troubles in this regard were always subtle, never spoken aloud. They carried with them a sense of shame, as though revealing them meant stripping away one's dignity. Keishu, however, had too many beautiful wives and concubines at home. Despite his position of power, he was, in the end, still human—still a man with human weaknesses.
Fearing Hiruzen might overlook this implied request, Keishu lowered his fan slightly and reminded him: "Hiruzen, I've already sent my men to prepare this year's funds for Konoha. They'll be ready for you by the time of your next visit."
"Lord Daimyo," Hiruzen bowed respectfully, "I will return as soon as possible."
Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't expected Keishu to ask for the tea so directly—though it was wrapped in subtlety, the intent was obvious. The Daimyo probably wanted to test whether the rumors were true, whether the tea worked as claimed.
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The Hokage's Careful Calculations
Back in Konoha, Hiruzen returned to his residence and sat quietly at his desk. From a small wooden box, he carefully pulled out a pouch of medicinal tea—supplies gifted to him by Orochimaru. With surgical precision, he used tweezers to extract a few dark, fragrant leaves.
He stared at them for a long moment, torn between generosity and pragmatism.
He wasn't foolish. The Daimyo had only asked to taste it. Why should he part with too much? A small amount, enough for a glass or two, would more than suffice.
"Wasn't it just to taste it? Let him taste it," Hiruzen muttered to himself.
He measured again. The leaves in the cup looked like enough for three drinks. His lips twitched.
"That's too much," he grumbled and promptly removed a portion.
From across the room, Biwako Sarutobi watched her husband with her arms crossed, her patience waning as he meticulously picked through tea leaves as though performing heart surgery. When Hiruzen adjusted the amount for the third time, Biwako pressed her hand against her forehead in exasperation.
"This man," she sighed.
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At the Daimyo's Estate
On his next trip to the Daimyo's estate, Hiruzen delivered both the medicinal tea and Konoha's annual financial collection.
Keishu accepted the gift with keen interest. He examined the small packet in his hand, raising a brow. "Is that all?"
The tea was barely enough for two brews at most. His eyes flicked toward Hiruzen's tense expression—the way his jaw tightened, the way his hand hovered protectively near the tea pouch as though it contained his very soul.
Could the ingredients be that valuable?
The Daimyo's suspicion only deepened.
Once Hiruzen departed, Keishu wasted no time. He ordered his servants to prepare hot water, then brewed the medicinal tea himself. The aroma was unlike anything he had ever smelled—rich, earthy, and tinged with a subtle sweetness that lingered even before the first sip.
He lifted the porcelain cup, inhaled deeply, and drank.
Almost instantly, warmth spread through his chest and down to his limbs. His blood felt as though it burned with renewed vigor, his body surging with vitality he hadn't felt in years. The weakness that had plagued him for so long evaporated like mist in sunlight.
That night, Keishu was a different man.
His wives and concubines, long accustomed to his gentle restraint, were instead confronted with boundless energy and determination. Keishu spent the night moving from one chamber to another, leaving laughter and exhausted sighs in his wake. Servants whispered, wives blushed, and the entire estate buzzed with the unbelievable stamina of their lord.
By morning, the Daimyo sat back against his cushions, gazing at the last remaining leaves of the tea. His hands trembled slightly as he clutched the pouch.
"This… is truly divine tea," he whispered to himself.
He had to have more.
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Gossip Spreads Like Wildfire
Of course, secrets never stayed hidden for long in aristocratic circles. Servants gossiped. Concubines bragged. What began as whispers soon turned into exaggerated tales.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire, they said, transformed into a god of war at midnight. His vigor was so overwhelming that his wives couldn't rise from bed the next day. His stamina rivaled that of legendary heroes; some even compared him to Susanoo or Raijin.
The stories spread from one noble household to the next. Curiosity bloomed. Envy grew. Soon, the lords and wealthy merchants who had been quietly watching Konoha's mysterious tea business could no longer restrain themselves. They dispatched their most trusted men to Konoha, all seeking the miraculous healing tea.
Money was no obstacle. They were prepared to pay any price—anything to experience the midnight transformation for themselves.
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Hokage Building, Konoha
"Ha?" Orochimaru blinked, his golden eyes widening in disbelief.
Before him, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat with a faint blush staining his cheeks. His expression was both embarrassed and conflicted, like a man caught red-handed in something unseemly.
"Hiruzen-sensei… you're not joking, are you?" Orochimaru asked cautiously.
Why are you blushing, sensei?
Then realization struck. Orochimaru's face stiffened, his mouth twitching as an uncomfortable silence settled between them.
"Orochimaru," Hiruzen finally said, coughing into his fist, "these are nobles who want to buy medicinal tea. It's fortunate you haven't yet departed for your escort mission to the Land of Waves."
Hiruzen never imagined the matter would spiral this way. Was he out of touch with the times? Or was this simply one of those mysterious aspects of noble culture he would never understand?
No—it was simpler than that. He thought back to the effects of the tea, and clarity dawned.
Men's suffering in this matter was silent but profound. When dignity was at stake, when vitality faded, no price was too high. If Orochimaru hadn't been regularly supplying him with the tea, even Hiruzen might have considered buying it at a premium.
This was more than medicine. It was dignity. And dignity had no price.
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Orochimaru's Principles
But Orochimaru was silent, his gaze sharp as he studied Hiruzen. Selling aphrodisiacs? Wasn't that beneath him?
He was a scientist. A pursuer of truth. Even when he dabbled in adult novels, he had done so under a pen name, never attaching his reputation to something so vulgar.
This had begun as a joke—mischief at Hiruzen-sensei's expense. Orochimaru hadn't expected his playful additions to the tea to create such astonishing effects, let alone to spark what was clearly a booming business opportunity.
Still… profit was profit. And if nobles were willing to throw their fortunes away for it, why not take advantage?
"Why not let Qing He and the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company handle production and sales?" Orochimaru mused aloud. "I have no intention of personally selling… aphrodisiac tea."
He proposed instead that Konoha's own clans share in the business.
The Ino–Shika–Chō trio was already thriving in skincare. Outsiders flocked to Konoha for cheaper White Snake products, reselling them at modest markups in neighboring regions. Neither Orochimaru nor the clans interfered. After all, merchants would be merchants.
"Hmm… Orochimaru, do as you think best," Hiruzen agreed.
He understood the risk. If word spread that Orochimaru herself had created such a tea, her reputation as a young kunoichi genius could be damaged. Better to obscure the truth, allow the clans to profit, and protect Orochimaru's image.
After all, she had already achieved remarkable things: perfecting the Akimichi clan's Three-Colored Pills, strengthening the Iburi clan, and discovering long-hidden jutsu even Tobirama had not known.
Her star was rising fast.
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The Iburi Clan's Secret
The Iburi clan had shocked everyone by unveiling their true strength after joining Konoha. Their Bloodline Limit alone was formidable, but their secret techniques elevated them further.
Smoke Body Tremor. Smoke Clone. Smoke Transformation. Smoke Senbon. Techniques that blurred the line between substance and insubstantiality.
And above them all—the Smoke Dragon Technique.
A jutsu requiring multiple Iburi to merge into a massive dragon-shaped construct of smoke, impervious to physical and elemental attacks alike. Fire, Water, Earth, and Lightning Release—all useless against it. Only Wind Release could tear through its form.
Hiruzen had witnessed its might firsthand, awed by both its destructive power and its severe chakra cost.
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Back to Business
Turning back to the matter of medicinal tea, Hiruzen asked, "To whom do you intend to entrust the business? Do you already have clans in mind?"
Orochimaru nodded. "The Aburame clan, the Uchiha clan, the Sarutobi clan, and the Shimura clan."
"The Aburame?" Hiruzen echoed, intrigued.
"Yes. Many of the ingredients involve insects or insect-related compounds. Their control techniques can drastically reduce costs." Orochimaru's tone was calm, calculating. "As for the Uchiha, Sarutobi, and Shimura clans—they would provide the necessary labor."
"Labor?" Hiruzen repeated, his mouth twitching.
He was pleased to hear his clan included, but the word stung. Were his proud Sarutobi to become mere tea laborers? He imagined Monkey King Enma glaring at him, transforming into the Ruyi Jingu Bang and chasing him down for even entertaining the thought.
Still, Orochimaru's logic was sound. Without effort, there could be no gain.
"Very well," Hiruzen conceded.
"Then I'll leave the business in your hands, sensei." Orochimaru swiftly jotted down the tea formula and handed it over. "I'll take ten percent of the net profits."
"Ten… percent?" Hiruzen blinked, realizing too late what trap he had walked into.
But Orochimaru was already on her feet, smiling as she headed for the door. "I must go. Tsunade and Jiraiya are waiting. Our mission to the Land of Waves won't wait forever."
She left cheerfully, the very picture of a young genius brimming with confidence.
Hiruzen sat in silence, staring at the formula in his hand. Convincing the Aburame, Uchiha, and Shimura clans to join forces for the sake of tea… and not just any tea, but that tea.
Where would he put his old face?
Then an image of Danzo Shimura popped into his mind. The thought of his old rival's expression was enough to erase his worries. Hiruzen chuckled softly and nodded.
"Yes… this will work."
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